Calgary to Orlando - magical express question

[waltdisneymama]

Hello everyone! I just wanted to make sure that I had this information correct: We are flying from Calgary to Orlando next month. I think that when we went in 2008, we had to claim our bags and go through customs in Orlando and then recheck our bags for magical express. Is it correct that now, though, customs will be handled in Calgary and we will be able to just go to the magical express centre without having to do anything else? Thanks to anyone able to answer!!

 

[sherilaine]

We flew to LAX last year and yes, you go through U.S. Customs at YYC, so when we arrived in LA we were treated as any other domestic flight - we got our bags and off we went...

Only thing to watch out for - either from stories on these boards or local media reports - is slower than normal customs processing times due to budget cuts - I am sure that over the next few weeks of Spring Breaks, it will become clear what we should expect.

 

[waltdisneymama]

Thanks, Sherilaine! But for magical express, is it correct,do you know, that now we put on the yellow tags for our checked bags in Calgary and then don't handle or see the bags again until they are delivered to our Disney hotel? When we went in 2008, I think we claimed our bags and then put the yellow tags on and rechecked the bags...just wanting to make sure I don't miss a step...

 

[Lizziejane]

I know this doesn't exactly answer your question as we are in Winnipeg. But when we last went in 2010, we checked our bags here and didn't see them again until they were delivered to our room. We went through customs in Winnipeg (had a connecting flight through Denver). I would try researching a little on Calgary airport - most major Canadian airports have pre-clearing stations - meaning you go through customs at this side, rather than the U.S. side. Call the airport and ask!

 

[Lizziejane]

Another thought - if you do have to claim your luggage in Orlando and go through customs there, why would you re-check it? re-check it with whom? it's not flying anywhere else! simply carry it down to the magical express line, and have them load it on the bus you get on.

 

[Fivers]

That is odd. Whenever we've flown from Calgary to the US we've always done customs in Calgary. We went to Orlando last year from Calgary but went through Toronto. We did go through customs in Toronto, and had ME pick up our bags on the other end. We're also headed to Orlando next month from Calgary (direct flight this time! ) and are counting on putting our ME tags on and doing customs here!

 

[minnie mum]

You SHOULD pre-clear Customs in Calgary, as long as these budget cuts in the States don't cause the US Customs to close at that location.

Put your ME tags on your bags and then forget about them once you've cleared customs. They usually get to your resort 4 hours or so after you check in.

The only exception to this is if your flight arrives at MCO after 10pm. In that case you have to pick up your own bags at MCO and bring them with you to the ME desk and have them stored in the baggage compartment under the bus.

 

[waltdisneymama]

Thank you very much, everyone! Sounds like I should be able to put the ME tags on in Calgary and forget about them, so that's good