Clearing customs at MCO and ME

[Rellagirl]

Hi everyone. We are heading back to the world for our 4th trip. So excited since it is just the 2 of us this time. We usually drive across the border then take a domestic flight. The last time, we connected in Montreal so we cleared US Customs from there. This time we have a direct flight from the maritimes to MCO. So my question is do we need to get our bags once we land and bring them with us to Customs, then take them to the ME bus with us? Or is it like Montreal, where we were basically shown a picture of our suitcases and filled out a small form on the plane? Either way is ok with us, we would like to know whether we should leave the yellow tags off or not.

 

[archrd]

If you are going from Halifax on a direct flight you clear customs there before you leave and make sure to out the yellow tags on before you check in for your flight. Once you get to orlando you go directly to the magical express area and head for your resort.

 

[Rellagirl]

Thanks for the info Archrd. I guess I should have been more specific. I wasn't aware that any of the maritme airports could clear us for US Customs. Good to know for next time if we go from Hfx. We are flying out of Moncton and I know they don't. Do you (or anyone else) know about the tags since we will need to go through Customs in Orlando?

 

[archrd]

When we used to fly from halifax-Toronto-orlando I believe we would put our tags on in Halifax before we left. I didn't realize that there was a direct flight from Moncton.....which airline are you going with?

 

[Rellagirl]

We are going with Westjet. They have a direct on Thursday for some winter months. It's a late afternoon flight. It's also direct coming back on Thursday and leaves in the morning. I wonder if you cleared US Customs when you reached Toronto? That's what we did last time but it was in Montreal.

 

[archrd]

We are going with Westjet. They have a direct on Thursday for some winter months. It's a late afternoon flight. It's also direct coming back on Thursday and leaves in the morning. I wonder if you cleared US Customs when you reached Toronto? That's what we did last time but it was in Montreal.

Yes we did clear in Toronto. I just looked on the Moncton Airport website and on the terminal map it appears that they have Canada Customs so I wonder if you go through there? It may be worth giving the airport a call and asking once this storm calms down and things are back to normal for them. It has been a few years since I flew out of there.

 

[archrd]

Never mind ....just looked further into that and I would say that you will go through customs in Orlando once you get there. So that is something which I have never done as we always go through Toronto or direct from Halifax.

 

[tiggerrr]

Hi everyone. We are heading back to the world for our 4th trip. So excited since it is just the 2 of us this time. We usually drive across the border then take a domestic flight. The last time, we connected in Montreal so we cleared US Customs from there. This time we have a direct flight from the maritimes to MCO. So my question is do we need to get our bags once we land and bring them with us to Customs, then take them to the ME bus with us? Or is it like Montreal, where we were basically shown a picture of our suitcases and filled out a small form on the plane? Either way is ok with us, we would like to know whether we should leave the yellow tags off or not.

We have had to clear customs in Orlando before when coming from Canada, and we took Magical Express when we did so. Here is the process:

You will be given the blue US Customs declaration form at the airport or on the plane to fill out. When you arrive in Orlando, you will immediately clear US Customs and Immigration when you get off the plane. This requires you to collect your baggage from the carousel within the Customs area. The yellow tags don't matter at this point because Disney will not take your bags directly off the plane if you have to clear customs.

Immediately after clearing Customs, you will recheck your bags on the carousel outside. The reason for this is that all arrivals take place at an airside terminal that is separated from the landside terminal by a train. That train is shared by people who have already cleared security, so you are not permitted to have your checked bags on it.

After you re-check your bags, you will then re-clear security to enter the secure area and take the train landside. This includes not having liquids over the size limit. So, if you have a bottle of water that you bought in Moncton or you have duty free, make sure you pack it in your checked bag while you are in US Customs and before you re-check your bag.

After taking the train to the landside terminal, you will then proceed to a carousel to claim your checked bags again. You can then take your bags to DME for loading on the bus. Or, as I understand it, if you have the yellow tags on at this point, Disney will be there to collect your bags at the landside point and you can skip the "second" bag claim. We decided to wait and not use the yellow tags, since it only added a few minutes to our wait and we didn't have to wait the 4 hours for DME to deliver.

 

[Girlfriday17]

If you are going from Halifax on a direct flight you clear customs there before you leave and make sure to out the yellow tags on before you check in for your flight. Once you get to orlando you go directly to the magical express area and head for your resort.

We go from Calgary to MCO. I don't see my luggage until it's in my room at WDW. You go through your checks before you leave Canada. Just like arcrd said. On the way home you have to go to Customs and make your declarations at the first entry back into Canada (when you land at a home or the Canadian Airport you make your connection at). They give you a declaration card on the plane ride home. If it's a direct flight with Westjet you may even get the new Disney themed plane

 

[tiggerrr]

We go from Calgary to MCO. I don't see my luggage until it's in my room at WDW. You go through your checks before you leave Canada. Just like arcrd said. On the way home you have to go to Customs and make your declarations at the first entry back into Canada (when you land at a home or the Canadian Airport you make your connection at). They give you a declaration card on the plane ride home. If it's a direct flight with Westjet you may even get the new Disney themed plane

Except that the OP has indicated that they have a direct flight from Moncton, which does not have US pre-clearance facilities like Calgary does. So they will clear US Customs in Orlando.

 

[Rellagirl]

We have had to clear customs in Orlando before when coming from Canada, and we took Magical Express when we did so. Here is the process:

You will be given the blue US Customs declaration form at the airport or on the plane to fill out. When you arrive in Orlando, you will immediately clear US Customs and Immigration when you get off the plane. This requires you to collect your baggage from the carousel within the Customs area. The yellow tags don't matter at this point because Disney will not take your bags directly off the plane if you have to clear customs.

Immediately after clearing Customs, you will recheck your bags on the carousel outside. The reason for this is that all arrivals take place at an airside terminal that is separated from the landside terminal by a train. That train is shared by people who have already cleared security, so you are not permitted to have your checked bags on it.

After you re-check your bags, you will then re-clear security to enter the secure area and take the train landside. This includes not having liquids over the size limit. So, if you have a bottle of water that you bought in Moncton or you have duty free, make sure you pack it in your checked bag while you are in US Customs and before you re-check your bag.

After taking the train to the landside terminal, you will then proceed to a carousel to claim your checked bags again. You can then take your bags to DME for loading on the bus. Or, as I understand it, if you have the yellow tags on at this point, Disney will be there to collect your bags at the landside point and you can skip the "second" bag claim. We decided to wait and not use the yellow tags, since it only added a few minutes to our wait and we didn't have to wait the 4 hours for DME to deliver.

Thank you tiggerrr. This explanation is really helpful!

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

Calgary International Airport
Edmonton International Airport
Halifax Stanfield International Airport
Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport
Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport
Toronto Pearson International Airport
Vancouver International Airport
Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport

This is a list of airports from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_border_preclearance that have preclrence facilities in Canadain aiprorts. If you are not flying through any of the above airports you will have to go through customs in MCO.

 

[DVCALMA]

Hello, Halifax has pre clearance for U.S. customs but Moncton does not. If you fly from Moncton or Halifax and connect through Montreal or Toronto you will do the pre clearance there. If you fly from a city that does not have pre clearance you will go through U.S. customs where you land in the U.S.. Westjet has had a direct to Orlando last couple of years. It was seasonal and not sure if it continues or if any others do as well. Some of the charter airlines go to other southern destinations but not sure of Florida

 

[DVCALMA]

Hello, Halifax has pre clearance for U.S. customs but Moncton does not. If you fly from Moncton or Halifax and connect through Montreal or Toronto you will do the pre clearance there. If you fly from a city that does not have pre clearance you will go through U.S. customs where you land in the U.S.. Westjet has had a direct to Orlando last couple of years. It was seasonal and not sure if it continues or if any others do as well. Some of the charter airlines go to other southern destinations but not sure of Florida. Have a good time.