DME - International Traveller

[AbbyAnder]

Hi,

I had previously asked this question on another thread, but I think it was off topic...

We're arriving in MCO from Australia at 6.10pm. We will have transited through LAX (with a 4 hours layover) prior to the LAX - MCO flight. (Note: We're flying Delta).

My questions were 1) "will my luggage be collected from the carousel?" and 2) How long is the walk from the Delta gates to the DME counter?

The reason I'm asking is that we're flying in from Australia (by the time we arrive we would have been travelling for 25 hours straight with a 5 & 6 year old).

I think if I asked them to walk too far after that long travelling, I may be met with a mini rebellion.

As a sidebar, do they show any preview videos, etc on the bus or is it a straight coach ride?

Any help/feedback, will be greatly appreciated.

[Edd]

The walk from the Delta direct to DME from the third floor past the security is down an escalator to the second floor and than a right run for about 500 feet and than down an escalator or elevator to the first floor and the DME. Should take you about 6 - 8 minutes after you pass security on the 3rd floor to the DME if you tagged your luggage to go to Disney. Another 400 feet if you have to pick up your luggage at the carousels.

[crashbb]

Since you live in Australia, you will not be able to tag your luggage BUT, since you are connecting via LAX you will also not have to collect your luggage.

WDW will not be sending you tags (since they only mail them to Canada and the US), but you can give a description of your luggage (along with your airline luggage tags) to the CM you check in with and they will go get your luggage.

Since you connect in LAX (and go through US customs/immigration there) you will be arriving at MCO on a domestic flight and can proceed directly to DME check in.

[AbbyAnder]

Thanks for that (I'll have to remember to make the luggage a little more obvious than just 'the black wheelie bag').

Does the luggage come on the coach, or does it follow on a truck to be distributed to the resorts?

What would be the process for checking out? Given that it's a domestic that will connect through to an international flight, will I be able to check out at the resort (we're staying at CSR).

[kaytieeldr]

All luggage is transported by GPS-tracked trucks - so, no, it won't be on the bus with you. It will get to you, though.

[Tozzie]

Originally Posted by AbbyAnder

Thanks for that (I'll have to remember to make the luggage a little more obvious than just 'the black wheelie bag').

Does the luggage come on the coach, or does it follow on a truck to be distributed to the resorts?

What would be the process for checking out? Given that it's a domestic that will connect through to an international flight, will I be able to check out at the resort (we're staying at CSR).

If I were you I would put a ribbon around your luggage and if you can take a digital photo of it so you can show it to the CM at DME they also have a array of photos of typical luggage types they will show you to pick out which ones most resemble yours. As for being able to check your luggage at the hotel I am not sure about that one, you would have to ask at the RAC desk to see.

[crashbb]

You won't be able to use BAGS (i.e. check in your bags) since you have in International destination. You can however, do online check-in for your flight. If you don't have a computer (or phone than can get onto the internet) you can get someone at the front desk of the resort to do it for you.

[seashoreCM]

Clearing (or re-clearing) customs in Orlando is similar to clearing customs elsewhere and does not prevent DME from transporting your bags directly to your resort for you. At Orlando International there is another conveyor belt to put the bags on if you don't want to take them out of the customs station and onto the tram to the main terminal and over to DME yourself.

You can use the yellow tags going to Disney but the glitch is that Disney doesn't send any to international guests (I think Canada is an exception).

The kids will probably sleep on the plane for several hours and not be that cranky upon arrival.

[crashbb]

Originally Posted by seashoreCM

Clearing (or re-clearing) customs in Orlando is similar to clearing customs elsewhere and does not prevent DME from transporting your bags directly to your resort for you. At Orlando International there is another conveyor belt to put the bags on if you don't want to take them out of the customs station and onto the tram to the main terminal and over to DME yourself.

I wonder if you meant this for a different thread as it totally does not apply to the OP?

The OP will be arriving at MCO on a domestic flight and will not have anything to with customs/immigration at MCO or the second conveyor belt.

OP - after LAX you do not have to touch your luggage again until it appears in your resort room (though you will have to describe to the DME CM, as has been stated).

[seashoreCM]

Originally Posted by crashbb

I wonder if you meant this for a different thread as it totally does not apply to the OP?

The OP will be arriving at MCO on a domestic flight and will not have anything to with customs/immigration at MCO or the second conveyor belt.

If you clear customs in a connecting city it is good to have what seems like a long layover there as you don't know how long the customs lines will be or what to do in short order if the bags did not appear on the first conveyor belt there.

[AbbyAnder]

Hi,
Thanks for the feedback.

I had thought about the ribbon (learnt that the hard way collecting bags after a cruise!), but hadn't considered taking a photo, which would obviously make it a lot easier.

We're happy for the 4 hour layover in LAX because we haven't been through the fingerprinting/photo process and I'm sure that will take a bit of time, not to mention changing terminals.

Thanks again

[Missytara]

You must give them your baggage claim tickets at the ME desk; a description won't do.


And I would believe, since they are first flying back into LAX and clearing customs before they head to Australia, then they are on a domestic flight and can use it on the way home - am I correct?

[crashbb]

Originally Posted by Missytara

You must give them your baggage claim tickets at the ME desk; a description won't do.


And I would believe, since they are first flying back into LAX and clearing customs before they head to Australia, then they are on a domestic flight and can use it on the way home - am I correct?

No. If your final destination is outside of the US you cannot use BAGS (or at least that is what I was told when I tried).

And they won't be clearing customs at LAX - they'll clear it when they arrive in Australia.

[Missytara]

Gotcha!!!! I have only flown to Europe, not in the other direction.

[uva185]

Originally Posted by AbbyAnder

Hi,
Thanks for the feedback.

I had thought about the ribbon (learnt that the hard way collecting bags after a cruise!), but hadn't considered taking a photo, which would obviously make it a lot easier.

We're happy for the 4 hour layover in LAX because we haven't been through the fingerprinting/photo process and I'm sure that will take a bit of time, not to mention changing terminals.

Thanks again

If you are connecting to a Delta domestic flight you will not need to change terminals and luckily you will be able to avoid the chaos in the International Terminal. The Delta flight from SYD arrives in Terminal 5 and Delta's domestic departures also depart from Terminal 5. Clearing customs is much easier in Terminal 5 than the International Terminal.