Hi Rebecca,
I'm so happy to help with another question about your upcoming trip, thanks for stopping by!
Disney bands (known as MagicBands in the United States) are a fun accessory that allows Guests to open their Disney Resort hotel room with a tap of the wrist, tap for theme park entry at the turnstiles, scan to add PhotoPass photos and touch for payment for merchandise and dining.
Rebecca, you are correct - a few years ago, changes were made and Canadians (and International Guests) can no longer pre-order Disney bands to be picked up at the Front Desk upon arrival. If you'd like to purchase a Disney band onsite, each resort gift shop has a small selection of Disney bands for sale. You can also check the following merchandise locations for a larger selection:
The Disney bands do come with a small charge so you can easily link them to a My Disney Experience account while you're out. I recommend bringing a portable charger if you have one - this way you can charge your Disney band for a bit while you're enjoying the theme parks.
If you prefer to opt out of a Disney band, no problem at all! You can speak to a Cast Member at the Front Desk and get a Key to the World card. This card can be used in place of a Disney band - it has all of the same functions minus the lights and haptics. Your phone can also be used to do all of these things (the door unlock feature might take a minute to locate within the app) so you have a few options to choose from!
I hope this information helps, Rebecca. Please let me know if you have any other questions, I'm happy to help!
Happy planning,
Candace