Hi Kate and welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel.
It's always lovely to be able to answer a question from a fellow Brit!
Yes, you can absolutely charge meals and snacks to your room using your MagicBand regardless of whether you will be using a Disney Dining Plan, or not.
If you’re staying at a Disney Resort hotel, you can charge purchases to your room by touching your MagicBand or card against a sensor called a touch point and entering a PIN code to uniquely identify yourself. You self-select your PIN upon check-in at your Walt Disney World Resort hotel.
You can read more about
MagicBands on the Walt Disney World website. The
MagicBands & Cards - Frequently Asked Questions section might also be useful to read prior to your arrival at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Wishing you a magical holiday filled with memories which will last a lifetime!
Emma