This week has brought some interesting pieces of Disney news, as well as some of the most exciting news Disney fans have received in months. Today we’re going to talk a little bit about the news of the week and what it means for guests.

Disney has always been on top of new technological innovations, and they recently announced their newest creation. Later this year, the Disney MagicMobile service will launch on Apple products. This service will be available through the My Disney Experience app, and will function as a MagicBand. You can use the service to enter the parks, purchase food and merchandise as well as hold FastPasses.

Never fear, if you’re a big fan of using MagicBands during your Walt Disney World vacations, or you just like sporting all of the cool designs they have, the MagicBands will continue to work just as they have when this new system comes out. You’ll also have the opportunity to use both programs interchangeably if that works best for you.

You use the system by tapping your phone or smart watch to an access point, just as the MagicBands are used. After rolling out MagicMobile on Apple products in phases, it will then become available on different systems. Other tried and true Disney features will also stay, like the digital room key feature on My Disney Experience as well as the Key to the World cards available at the front desk of Walt Disney World Resort hotels. MagicMobile is essentially being added to the ways guests can be interconnected with the resort without taking anything away.

There’s not a lot for us to add about this. Disney World has been slowly transitioning away from MagicBands for a while now and this seems like another step in that direction while still keeping all of the infrastructure in place. I do think they’d probably like a do-over with the billions of dollars sunk into My Disney Experience, instead investing into actual experiences in the park. It’s safe to say that this was the game changer they anticipated.

All that said, Disney is clearly trying to make the best of the situation. Realizing that most people already have their phones constantly on them instead of a chunky bracelet that Disney has to make is a smart step. While I will never be sold on FastPass+ or other changes that have come via My Disney Experience, at least they are showing some adaptability.

In other news, Bob Chapek announced that Disneyland park will most likely be able to open by late April. Finally getting a word on an opening date for the California theme parks is huge news, and I’m sure thousands of people have been waiting eagerly for this moment. Considering that California has been one of the most tightly restricted states in the country, having restrictions loosen enough to open these large theme parks is a real sign that things are actually slowly returning to normal.

Of course, Downtown Disney has been open for outdoor dining and shopping, as well as parts of Disney California Adventure. On March 18th, Disney California Adventure will open all of their lands (except for Avengers Campus) for the A Touch of Disney event in the park, while attractions will remain closed.

As far as potential opening dates, I would guess the last week in April as of now. This is purely an educated guess and nothing more. Spending about a month to get Cast Members trained and ready plus letting the county move up a tier or two to increase capacity makes the most sense. We will be sure to update you when there is a more concrete opening date!

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been waiting for this Disneyland news since the day the parks closed. Covid completely shifted the course of my life, and the reopening of Disneyland Resort is a big step towards my life getting back on track. I hope you’re just as excited about this news as we are here at Wandering In Disney!

What are your thoughts on the new MagicMobile service and the Disneyland opening announcement? Let us know your thoughts, along with any questions you might have, in the comments below! Planning a trip to Disneyland Resort? Check out our Disneyland Trip Planning Guide to help you out. If you enjoy what you are reading here on Wandering in Disney please share this post with your friends and like our social media pages. You can also subscribe to the blog via WordPress or email. All of those links are on the right side of this page. Thank you for reading, we really appreciate it!