The Disney Store was launched in Glendale, California in 1987 and became a destination for Disney fans of all ages. Today, Disney encompasses major franchises like Star Wars, Avatar, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
shopDisney.com is the best place to get authentic Disney merch, no matter what your favourite franchise is. So is shopDisney Canada shipping available to consumers?
Although expedited shipping isn’t available for international orders yet, shopDisney delivers a large selection of its items to Canada. However, the full US selection of shopDisney items isn’t available to Canadians yet.
Below, I’ll show you how to exploit this loophole, so you’ll never have to deal with international shipping restrictions again.
Can I Order shopDisney In Canada?
shopDisney is the largest online retailer of Disney merch in the world, and is one of the only places where you can get authentic Disney merch. When shopDisney first launched, the brand did not ship internationally. However, the company has since expanded globally and ships around the world.
According to shopDisney, “Most items ordered via Standard Delivery will ship to Canada. Exceptions include items shipped from locations other than our main warehouse.”
This means that shopDisney does deliver to Canada.
Given this information, I was a bit surprised to see the number of online blogs claiming that shopDisney doesn’t deliver to Canada. The website and company clearly state that most of the site’s selection can be delivered to Canada.
However, as the notice states, direct shipping to Canada is not available for items that ship from secondary warehouses. Unfortunately, this means that Canadian Disney fans won’t have access to the complete selection of shopDisney merchandise.
This can be particularly frustrating for those who are trying to purchase rare collector’s items.
What Countries Does shopDisney Deliver To
shopDisney now delivers to countries around the globe, which is good news for fans. However, there are a number of restricted countries where shopDisney doesn’t ship. Most of these countries don’t have a great postal delivery service, which makes shipping to them a logistical headache.
For a full list of the countries that shopDisney does and doesn’t ship to, refer to shopDisney’s international shipping fact sheet, as it’s constantly being updated to reflect changes.
How To Buy shopDisney In Canada With A Package Forwarder
Although shopDisney doesn’t offer its full online selection to Canadians, you’ll be able to find the majority of the company’s products online as a Canadian. However, let’s just say that there’s a specialty item that shopDisney won’t deliver to Canada… What then?
Thankfully, there’s a relatively simple way to get around any and all international shipping restrictions. Most recently, I used this method to help my cousin place a huge online order with Brandy Melville – a retailer which doesn’t traditionally ship to Canada.
The process involves using a package forwarding service, which serves as a “middleman” for the order and is located in the US. Once the package forwarder receives your order, they will be able to forward the package to your Canadian address across the border.
Here’s a quick outline of the steps you’ll need to follow to buy restricted shopDisney items in Canada:
- Sign up for a package forwarder with a US warehouse
- Use a VPN server to mask your location
- Shop online with the shopDisney store
- Ship your order to the package forwarder
- Forward your shipment to Canada
Now, let’s go through each of these steps together so there’s no confusion.
Step 1: Sign Up For A Package Forwarder In The US
Before you sign up for a package forwarder, double-check that the item on the shopDisney store is, in fact, restricted. Package forwarding can be rather expensive and takes a considerable amount of time, so you don’t want to waste your time with it unless it’s absolutely necessary.
To determine whether or not the item ships to Canada, expand the ‘Shipping’ tab on the individual product page. Here, you’ll be able to see any restricted countries and see whether or not the item can be shipped to Canada.
If the item can’t be shipped to Canada, then you’ll need to proceed with a package forwarder. There are a number of forwarding companies that maintain US warehouses, including:
- Planet Express
- AmForward
- Stackry
- NY Box
- In Out Parcel
- USA 2 Me
Looking for more? Check out my post on the best package-forwarding companies that ship to Canada.
All of these companies offer the same service, but some are better suited to consumers based on how often they use the service, the shipping speed they’re looking for, and whether or not they want the ability to consolidate their orders.
Once you sign up for the package forwarding service, your account will be assigned a virtual mailbox, which looks similar to a P.O. box number. This is what you’ll enter as your shipping address when you checkout on shopDisney’s website.
Step 2: Use A VPN Server In The US To Mask Your Location
To prevent any undue problems while accessing the shopDisney online store, I recommend using a VPN like ExpressVPN to mask your computer or smartphone’s IP address.
Otherwise, the website will be able to see that you’re visiting from Canada and may automatically restrict you from seeing items which can’t be shipped to Canada.
When you connect to a VPN server in the US, your internet data will be re-routed through the server in the US, which will trick the online store into thinking that you’re an American consumer.
I believe ExpressVPN also offers a free trial period, which you can always utilize to make your order, before cancelling the trial to prevent your account from being billed.
Step 3: Access The shopDisney Online Store & Shop
Now that you have a validated virtual address and you’re connected to a US-based VPN server, you’ll be able to shop the entire collection on shopDisney. Pick out the restricted items that the company normally doesn’t ship to Canada and add them all to your shopping cart as normal.
Step 4: Deliver Your Order To Your Virtual Mailbox
For the most part, the online checkout will be the same as if you were ordering from online Canadian retailers. However, you’ll want to use your virtual address as the shipping address instead of your Canadian residence.
Since this virtual address is located in the US, it won’t trigger an error with the online store, and your checkout should be able to proceed as normal. You shouldn’t have any problems using your Canadian address as your billing address, though.
Step 5: Forward Your shopDisney Order To Canada
Domestic shopDisney orders usually ship quickly, so your package forwarder should receive the package within a few days to a week of placing your order. Once the package arrives, it will be safely stored in a secure unit, and you’ll be notified.
From here, you’ll be prompted to ship it to its destination country, which is Canada. You’ll be given several shipping options, depending on how quickly you want to receive your order, and you may also be able to purchase insurance on your package for a few dollars extra (which I recommend taking advantage of).
International shipping can be a bit risky, and many packages are damaged in transit. Paying a few dollars extra for insurance can help protect your investment, especially if you’ve just purchased a rare collector’s item.
How Long Does It Take For shopDisney To Ship To Canada?
International shipping through a package forwarding company can take quite a bit of time. If you pay for expedited shipping, you’ll still have to wait at least 10 to 14 days for your package to arrive. This is mostly due to backups at the customs department.
On the other hand, if you opt for a budget shipping option, you may have to wait up to two months to get your package. This is why I don’t recommend using package forwarding unless you absolutely have to.
Do I Need To Pay Shipping Duties On My shopDisney Order?
Thanks to the 2020 US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, shipping duties aren’t as expensive as they once were for international shipping. As long as your order is less than $150, then you won’t have to pay any duties. However, if your item is above $150, you’ll need to pay the shipping on the overage amount.
Here’s the current schedule of shipping duties and fees on orders over $150 being imported into Canada:
| Shipment Category | Shipping Duties |
| Electronics | 0% |
| Toys | 8% |
| Jewelry | 8% |
| Appliances | 8% |
| Fashion | 18% |
| Health & Beauty Products | 18% |
Most of the items you’ll order from shopDisney are going to fall under the ‘fashion’ or ‘toys’ category, which means you’ll have to pay 8% or 18% shipping duties if your order is worth more than $150.
If you owe money, then the customs department will send an invoice with your shipment, asking you to remit payment as soon as possible.
Conclusion
Since most of shopDisney’s online collection is available to Canadians, most won’t have to resort to using a package forwarding company. However, it’s good to know about this method in case you come across any rare items that can’t be shipped across the border.
Looking for more shipping hacks?
Keep on reading to see my proven method for shipping wine internationally!
