Special Effects

Here are all of the known FastPass+ and entry point lights and sounds (special effects or “surprise and delight” effects) known currently at Walt Disney World with MagicBands.

General speaking, almost all MagicBands make the normal green lights with sounds at touch points, as seen in the “Normal Effects” section. Limited Edition bands, which usually have a set number produced and coming in a special box, can make special effects randomly as certain touch points throughout Disney. These have special colored lights and new sounds associated with just that band usually at a specific park, which I’ve noted below the title of the MagicBand.

Disney calls these effects “Surprise & Delight” and say that they happen randomly, but through trial and error I’ve figured out where you are most likely going to see the effects work. Disney makes no promises that the effect will work every time you use it at a touch point, and some people have purchased a band to later find out that the effect never works for them, so buyer beware.

Many of the videos below are courtesy of Disney MagicBand Effects.

Click or touch each link below to see a video of the effect that a specific MagicBand can possibly make.

Normal Effects

Open Edition / Limited Release / Promotional
Every touch point
Open Edition / Limited Release / Promotional
Haunted Mansion touch point

 

 

Limited Edition Effects

2014 Star Wars Weekends: Yoda
Hollywood Studios
2014 Star Wars Weekends: Darth Vader
Hollywood Studios
Olaf Santa
Hollywood Studios / Magic Kingdom
Olaf In Summer
Hollywood Studios
2014 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
Magic Kingdom
2014 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Magic Kingdom
2015 Flower & Garden Festival
Epcot
2015 Star Wars Weekends: Jedi Mickey
Hollywood Studios
Star Wars Weekends 2015: Jedi Donald
Hollywood Studios
2015 Galactic Gathering: Red Lightsaber
Hollywood Studios
2015 Galactic Gathering: Green Lightsaber
Hollywood Studios
2015 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Magic Kingdom
2015 Epcot Food & Wine Festival
Epcot
2015 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Magic Kingdom
2015 Happy Holidays
All Park Entries
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Hollywood Studios
2016 Valentine’s Day
All Park Entries
2016 Easter
All Park Entries
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
Epcot
25th Anniversary Disney Vacation Club (all four)
All Park Entries
2016 Awaken Summer
All Touch Points
2016, May the 4th Be With You
Hollywood Studios
2016, Revenge of the 5th
Hollywood Studios
Alice Through The Looking Glass
All Park Entries
Finding Dory
All Park Entries
Dooney & Bourke (original four)
All Park Entries
2016 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom 45th Anniversary
Magic Kingdom
2016 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Magic Kingdom
D23 Destination D: Amazing Adventures
Animal Kingdom
It’s a Small World 45th Anniversary
Magic Kingdom
Star Wars: Rogue One
Hollywood Studios
2016 Valentine’s Day
All Park Entries
Beauty and the Beast: Belle (Yellow, Live Action)
All Park Entries
Haunted Mansion 45th Anniversary
Magic Kingdom
2017 Easter
All Park Entries
2017 Flower & Garden Festival
Epcot
Beauty and the Beast: Belle and Beast (Live Action)
All Park Entries
Beauty and the Beast: Belle (Blue, Live Action)
All Park Entries
Dumbo 45th Anniversary
Magic Kingdom
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
All Park Entries
Pandora: Opening Day
Animal Kingdom
Pandora: Annual Passholders
Animal Kingdom
Enchanted Tiki Room 45th Anniversary
Magic Kingdom
Pandora: Valley of Mo’ara
Animal Kingdom
Cars 3
All Park Entries
Pandora: Nighttime
Animal Kingdom
Walt Disney World Railroad 45th Anniversary
Magic Kingdom
2017 Epcot Food & Wine Festival (Limited Release)
Epcot
2017 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party: Glow
Magic Kingdom
Epcot 35th Anniversary: Orange
Epcot
Epcot 35th Anniversary: Red
Epcot
2017 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party: Black
Magic Kingdom
2017 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Magic Kingdom
Pandora: Patches
Animal Kingdom
Coco
All Park Entries
Epcot 35th Anniversary: White
Epcot
Star Wars: The Last Jedi – White
Hollywood Studios
Star Wars: The Last Jedi – Black
Hollywood Studios
2018 Valentine’s Day
All Park Entries
Black Panther
All Park Entries
2018 Flower & Garden: Annual Passholder
Epcot
2018 Flower & Garden: Mickey Mouse
Epcot
Animal Kingdom 20th Anniversary
Animal Kingdom
2018 Flower & Garden: Minnie Mouse
Epcot
Pandora: Shaman
Animal Kingdom
Avengers: Infinity War – Thanos
All Park Entries
Solo: A Star Wars Story – Enfys Nest
Hollywood Studios
Incredibles 2
All Park Entries
Dooney & Bourke Princess Ear Hats
All Park Entries
Dooney & Bourke DVC Travel Patches
All Park Entries
2018 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
Magic Kingdom
Walt Disney’s Animation Celebration Pin Event
All Park Entries
2018 Epcot Food & Wine Festival (Limited Release)
Epcot
Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!
Hollywood Studios
2018 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Magic Kingdom
Club 33
All Park Entries
Ralph Breaks The Internet
All Park Entries
Dooney & Bourke Dogs
All Park Entries
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
All Park Entries
Mary Poppins Returns
All Park Entries
2019 Valentine’s Day – Lava
All Park Entries
2019 Epcot Festival of the Arts
Epcot
2019 Epcot Flower & Garden Minnie Mouse
Epcot
2019 Epcot Flower & Garden Figment AP
Epcot
2019 Epcot Flower & Garden Mickey Mouse
All Park Entries
2019 Epcot Illuminations Farewell
Epcot
2020 Princess Half-Marathon Weekend
Epcot
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Annual Passholder
Hollywood Studios

 

158 Comments

      • I bought the run Disney limited edition band for marathon weekend 2020 in January
        I didn’t notice it did anything different from the one I got given at the hotel
        With my booking. But then I didn’t realise this little trick
        Are you aware if the RunDisney limited ed from January 2020 does anything special? I’ll try it again when I can next visit the parks

    • Honest question: why does Disney still charge more on Limited Edition bands if they no longer bother giving them extra effects? In the past, I could see them using the addition of these special effects as justification for the higher price tag (since it requires work to design and program the effects) but now, what’s that extra $5 going towards?

  1. so….just to clarify….all of the magic bands have a standard sound and light when used at entry and FP locations….but in order to get special sounds/lights you have to purchase one of the few special release bands? My daughter wants the open release Anna band and I want to make sure it lights up and makes some sort of sound when she uses it! Thanks for keeping such a great site up with so much information!

    • Only Limited Edition bands make lights and sounds. Most MagicBands are Open Edition (such as Anna) and will NOT make lights and sounds. Limited Edition bands come in a cardboard box and there are currently none for sale in the parks right now. Hope that helps?

    • You are actually wrong. The D&B Mickey 90th anniversary – mickeys dog Pluto will bark at terminal. I know cause I have it and 100s more. Lol

  2. Do the 2015 Jedi Donald and Jedi Mickey only work at Hollywood Studios FP+ locations? Do they work as you enter the park? Do they work at other parks?

  3. I guess I am just confused from this part of the post:

    “Any solid color MagicBand, graphic MagicBand, or Limited Release MagicBand will make the normal lights/sounds appear:”

    So…no lights/sound from ANY of the bands currently for sale. (because no limited edition ones) That’s a bummer. My kiddos really wanted to just see the mickey light up and make some sort of sound. 🙁 Thanks for your help!

  4. I thought the first video showed a solid color “standard” MagicBand (gray) making sounds/lights when passing through a FP+ sensor. Don’t all standard/open bands make that same standard light/color/sound effect when activating the sensor? It’s only the Limited Edition that do something different (i.e., you hear Olaf, Vader, Jedi Mickey, etc.)

    • The Haunted Mansion FP+ touchpoint makes lights/sounds no matter what band you use. It’s a special thing just for that ride. Otherwise you need a special LE band to make anything happen.

      • … are you not understanding what they’re asking? Because, yes, they definitely ALL light up green (if you are good to go) or red (if there’s an issue)… so… why are you continually answering as if it’ll do nothing??

  5. Can you tell me if Mickey Mouse Americana (which says limited release) on the Disney Store website will light up & make noise? If so, what is the noise? Thanks!

    Also any word if any more new bands will be released soon? (non-holiday)

    • No sorry, only Limited Edition bands make the lights/sounds, not Limited Release. The only new non-holiday one I know of that is coming is the Orange Bird MagicBand this December.

  6. We just purchased the Mickey Americana at animal kingdom for our son as a gift and they said it made noise when used, are you saying this is not the case?

  7. Do you have any notification system setup so I know when these Limited Edition bands come out? I’m starting to collect the lights/sounds MB but don’t want to miss any. Great page. Thanks for doing this!

      • Do you know if the bands will always make the sounds at those locations or does it only make that noise for a limited time before the readers change over? Meaning, is it only for a number of weeks/ months, or should it make the sounds year after year?
        Thank you

  8. Hi Ethan,
    I think your site is great! Headed to DW for a trip with my family the last week of Feb and have spent so much time browsing the info you provide. I know you do it because it is a passion but but you also do it well…Just like Disney.

    I had noticed you mentioning the purple “2.0” magic bands on one of your posts. Do you know if all the current magic bands are thinner? We have 2 young children and the “1.0” flavor we had for our last trip about 18 months ago was a little awkward due to the thick top part where the Mickey head is. We are set to get the screened character MB’s (thinking Minnie Mouse Signature for our daughter and Sorcerer Mickey for our son) from disneystore.com but wanted to know if these would also be the thinner version?

    Any info you have would be appreciated.

    Keep up the magical work…

    Mike

    • They are just now transitioning away from the 1.0 bands to the 2.0 bands and it’s hard to know for sure which one you’ll get. Any new design since October will be the thin design, as well as any band from the MagicBand On Demand stations. Also, I know the bands they send to Annual Passholders (and possibly now to resort guests) are the new thin designs as well.

      From what you are telling me about the designs you want for your kids though, they sound like they might come on 1.0 bands unfortunately. If you can wait, it might be worth it to take the kids to a MagicBand On Demand station at the Magic Kingdom and let them pick out a design they want… it will be fun and you’re guaranteed to get them the more comfortable 2.0 designs.

      Thanks for visiting the site!

  9. I’m fairly certain that you answered this, but I want to double check. My new Valentine band will light pink and make a kissing noise forever? Woo hoo!!!

  10. I saw purple magic band on Disney store but was wondering if this is a color you can only purchase? Or can you pick purple now when you customize your magic bands?

  11. Any vids of the sounds from Zootopia MBs? I hear it, but it so quick and the parks are so noisy, but I was pretty sure the entrance sound (a tinny version of Try Anything I think) is different from the FP sound (didn’t catch it).

    • Zootopia doesn’t make lights/sounds, as it’s not a Limited Edition band (it’s a Limited Release instead, which is different).

      If you did hear something different, please record a video and send it my way so I can listen and see if it’s something new.

  12. I know you get tired of answering these questions, but do the May the 4th Be with You and Revenge of the 5th bands only make special sounds at Hollywood Studios or do they do that at all parks?

      • Thanks!!!!! This is true of all the Star Wars bands, right? Just asking because I’m taking a couple of kids to WDW who love Star Wars, so I’d spring for the bands if they made cool noises every time, but we won’t be in DHS much, so probably not worth it. Do you have any advice about which bands 5- and 6-year-old boys really like? Thanks so much!

  13. Has anyone noticed that none of the special effects have worked for about two months? I have yoda, olaf, flower and garden, and Dory……none of them have worked since August

  14. I just got back from WDW with plain magic bands (just purple..) and at entry points throughout the trip I would get the multiple colors to come up about 50% of the time… similar to the DVC 25th anniversary one u have shown. I am a DVC member so is it possible this is somehow attached to my band electronically even though I didn’t get the actual magicband? A cast member said to me “ohh u got a magic moment!” when all the colors came up .. so is it also just random? Just curious 🙂

  15. Was in the parks the last few days and noticed something odd. I have a regular purple magic band in epcot and magic kingdom it was light the entry points purple? Anyone else have this happen? Didn’t have my phone with me to grab a video

      • Hi Ethan,

        Yes I am a dvc member, not sure if that makes a difference or not. I’m still kicking myself for not getting a video of it. Really surprised me when it happened. I’ll be back in may and will be prepared if it does it again. Lol sorry about the last post, autocorrect butchered it.

  16. Ethan-Thanks for the video collection. Do you know of a place that has a table or matrix listing which LE bands light, sound at each location (park, resort, etc.)? That would be pretty cool to see which LE bands work across which locations.

    I’d love to get a Star Wars LE to replace our “normal 1.0” bands, but can’t justify for working only at 1 park. So it would be great to see which ones are more useful!

  17. I notice the lights and sound does not always work I have the pandora band my son has dead men tell no lies band and they dont always light up mine at animal kingdom his at magic kingdom.

    • The purple Pandora band only works at the front gate, the blue and both teal ones that came out afterwards work inside the park at the attractions (only in Animal Kingdom). The Pirates band only works at the entry points (in all 4 parks) but not at any attractions. Problem is that they don’t have the effects turned on at the front gates all the time so you won’t get to see it all too often. You also have to make sure you don’t have more than 6 or 7 active bands on your account otherwise that can mess with the effects working too.

  18. Hi Ethan,
    Thank you for putting up this page and breaking everything down and for all the videos. Do they make a magic band that lights up at all the park entrances and at the fast pass kiosk? Do they currently sell any of these bands still? Thank you for your help!

  19. Hello!

    Does anyone know if there is a special sound/color for the Dooney & Bourke Madame Leota Magic Band?

    Thanks!

  20. Hello do you know why some magic bands can only be bought in store only ? If it says this can they be purchased at any disney store in any state and shipped or must be purchased in a Disney world store only ?

  21. Hello just browsing for upcoming trip to Disney and saw a Walt Disney magic band limited edition. Does it do anything special other than the regular lights and sounds?

  22. Hi. Just to clarify— you had mentioned numerous times that only limited edition bands make sounds. Just purchased the 2017 dooney and Bourke magic band… I’m seeing videos of this band making a sound?? I’m confused ??‍♀️

    • Just to clarify my above statement— the magic band I’m talking about says “limited release” inside the box but there are videos of the same band making sound at entry points??

      • Sorry yes there is one Limited Release band that makes sounds. It’s a Dooney & Bourke from the Food & Wine Festival. If you are seeing a video of another Dooney making special effects, can you post the link to the video please so I can look? Thanks!

  23. Hi

    Do you know or do you had a extra it a small world 45th limited edition Magic Band for Sale. A new one? my kid love small world and we can’t find it anywhere.

  24. Was gonna buy the lightsaber bands on eBay for several hundred dollars. Afraid the sounds won’t work, is it a waste of money on those now? From a sound and special effects standpoint that is…

  25. Hi Ethan, I wanted to ask you a quick question. For context in February 9 (the release date) I purchased the 2018 Dooney and Bourke Passport limited release magic band. I love it but a cast member on the Disney parks blog promised that both 2018 Dooney and Bourke magic bands would make the “Surprise & Delight”. I have used the band at all 4 parks, and got nothing. In the beginning of this page you said “….but through trial and error I’ve figured out where you are most likely going to see the effects work.” So where, in your opinion will I get the best chance at a “Surprise & delight”? fast pass, entrance, or is one park more likely to get a special effect than another? Thanks again.
    P.S I love your site and have been following it for forever.

    • Well a band that is sold in all four parks will only make special effects at touch point entrances only. But unfortunately none of the 2018 D&B bands do any special effects. I think the Parks Blog misinformed you. Thank you for visiting my website!

      • The 2018 Dooney & Bourke DVC LE magic band rings a doorbell and lights up a different color (I don’t recall which as my daughter was the wearer).

  26. Hi there! Got the Black Panther one, and have used it at both MK and DAK, no special effect. Is there something I am missing or do I need to reach out to Disney?

    • The effects can be random. They won’t happen every time. And the Black Panther special effects only works are entry points, not FastPass+.

  27. Something happened different when I went to Monsters Inc Fastpass. i didn’t get a video though. It was definitely a incredibles or monsters inc specific sound. I have a regular orange band from a resort stay

  28. I’ve had the Epcot flower and garden Mickey magic band, LE of 4000, and I have yet to hear or see any effects when I go to the park. I am an annual passholder and frequent the parks often. Have you come across any fixes for this issue? I have been to Epcot several times just as further information.

  29. Do we know yet if the Jessica Rabbit MagicBand has a special effect? Because I’m on the fence about buying it but I think a special effect would tip me over the edge, lol.

  30. I’m sad to report that after we purchased about 20 LE magicbands, spending a lot of money on them, we experienced front gate attendants at WDW who quickly bypassed the special effects and rushed my family through the line. None of them worked at fast pass touchpads either. We wasted a lot of money and excitement on this disappointing premium.

    • i purchased the dooney princess hat limited editions because of the effects and it didnt work once on my week stay last week. defintely a bummer.

    • YouTube, same link as the other video but click the channel, it’s the second most recent upload. It makes an AWESOME effect prob my favorite I’ve ever seen

  31. i purchased the dooney and burke princess ears limited edition and the special effects did not work once at any of the parks on my 7 day trip last week. have you come across any that are supposed to work and do not? anything i could do about it? thanks

  32. I haven’t seen it mentioned here, but for dvc members with open edition magic band (at least that I know of) light up purple instead of green for all parks. I don’t think there’s any special sounds though, just a solid purple light instead of green.

  33. I’m purchasing the Hollywood Studios 30th MagicBand on May 1st. I also have Fastpasses later in the day. If I link my MagicBand right after I purchase it, will the special effects work the same day?

  34. Does anyone know what the Captain Marvel one does? or do you think not many people bought it so there is no video of it. I am hoping I can find one when I head down in two weeks

  35. I have the 2019 Illuminations limited edition band and it does not do anything special at EPCOT entries. I’ve been pretty disappointed ;(.

  36. Is there a difference between limited edition and limited release? Do we know if the new Galaxy’s Edge band has any special effects?

  37. Does the Walt Disney World Passport Collection MagicBand 2 by Dooney & Bourke – Limited Release do anything special or is it just a regular band?

  38. Has Disney stopped adding sound and light effects to newly released limited edition magic bands? Seems it’s been awhile now.

  39. Does anyone know if Limited AP bands work only for passholders? My mom is a HUGE Figment fan and I’d love to get her the AP Figment band online, but she isn’t a passholder herself. Do AP bands pair with non-AP tickets, or would this be a waste of money?

  40. I have the Dooney & Bourke limited release from 2018. Is that supposed to do something? I have not experienced anything with it yet.

  41. I got the Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge band with a barcode SKU of 400909964111 as a paid upgrade to my annual free passholder band a few weeks ago. I didn’t notice any special lights, but this week in the FastPass entrance to Flight of Passage at Animal Kingdom, it made Tie Fighter fly-by sound effect. It’s the first of all the bands I’ve had that did anything special, including limited edition and release bands since 2016.

  42. So do all Limited Editions make sounds or have a cool lighting? I have a princess marathon weekend 2020 one, is that one different?

  43. Does anyone Happen to know if any effects for the 2019 Epcot magic bands work as of late? Specifically the 2019 figment flower and garden pass holder magic band?

  44. Can you do the Epcot Food & Wine Festival 2021 (Limited Release), Stitch Crashes Disney (Limited Release), Disney Soul (Limited Edition)

  45. Do any Magic Band Plus Limited Edition bands have special effects? Or was that a legacy feature exclusive to the older bands?

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