DME and flying out of Toronto

[poohbear37]

We usually fly out of Buffalo for Disney. However I've checked Sunwing and it would work out a little less to fly out of Toronto, taking into account the exchange and not having to stay over night. How does the DME work with Canadian flights. Do we pick up our luggage take it through customs and then put it back on and Disney delivers it? Do we have to take it on the bus going back? Thanks

 

[KWMWSW]

I may be wrong but I believe you clear US Customs and Immigration when you are in Toronto. Therefore you will be able to utilize the DME as if you were flying out of th states.

 

[crashbb]

MOST airlines use the US customs pre-clearance facility in Toronto. Thus, your luggage arrives at a "domestic" carousel at MCO and, provided you put on the yellow DME tags, it will be transported by DME as if you came off the flight from Buffalo (or any other US city).

Somemost charter airlines, however, do not use the US customs pre-clearance facility at YYZ. Therefore, you have to pick up your luggage and go through customs (and immigration) at MCO. I believe that there is a second luggage belt that you can put your luggage on after your clear customs/immigrations which brings your luggage to the main terminal and from which DME will pick up your luggage, however, I've never done this, so I'm not sure. People on the UK board (who clear US customs/immigration at MCO) may have more information if you are flying one of these airlines.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Somemost charter airlines, however, do not use the US customs pre-clearance facility at YYZ. Therefore, you have to pick up your luggage and go through customs (and immigration) at MCO. I believe that there is a second luggage belt that you can put your luggage on after your clear customs/immigrations which brings your luggage to the main terminal and from which DME will pick up your luggage, however, I've never done this, so I'm not sure. People on the UK board (who clear US customs/immigration at MCO) may have more information if you are flying one of these airlines.

That is true and it's something my family and I went through when we flew Canada 3000 from YYZ - MCO.

 

[disneyba]

Not sure about Sunwing, but we flew Air Transat out of Toronto, and it is one of the airlines that does not preclear you through U.S. Customs before leaving Canada.

When you land at MCO's international arrival airside terminal and are not precleared, it is a hassle. My family and I have been through this routine several times over the years. You have an extra baggage pickup, customs check, baggage deposit on a conveyor belt, and another full TSA security check before you can board the shuttle to the main terminal. Onerous with little children or elderly and time consuming, especially if you arrive on a large plane.

So, we are now planning our next trip, but we will not fly out of Canada with any airline that does not preclear us through U.S. Customs.

You might want to contact Sunwing and find out. Westjet and Air Canada preclear, so maybe Sunwing does too.

If you can preclear U.S. Customs in Toronto, your bags will go straight through to your Disney Hotel. You will not have to go through the process I described above. You shouldn't see your bags at MCO at all.

On your return trip, certain airlines (all American ones I believe) will let you check your bags in at the hotel and get your boarding passes too. But if you are flying Sunwing, you will have to take your baggage with you on the DME bus and check it in as you usually would at the airport.

Hope this helps. Have a good trip!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Clearing Customs at MCO would not be so bad if you did not need to pick up your checked bags a 2nd time and going through that extra security search before entering terminal. I mean we went through the security screaning back in Toronto, just cleared Customs a few minutes before, so what more do they need to look at?

 

[crashbb]

On your return trip, certain airlines (all American ones I believe) will let you check your bags in at the hotel and get your boarding passes too. But if you are flying Sunwing, you will have to take your baggage with you on the DME bus and check it in as you usually would at the airport.

Hope this helps. Have a good trip!

Not all US airlines allow for resort check in - I know that Southwest does not. Also, if your final destination is Canada (or any other non-US country) you cannot use the RAC even if you are flying an airline that usually allows it.

 

[Rita007]

We flew Sunwing out of Toronto last October....simply put the yellow tags on the bags and did not see them again until they were nicely stashed in our Disney hotel room. We had to haul all our own bags on the way back which was really only a pain getting from our room onto the bus to the airport.

Flying Sunwing, we cleared US customs before we left the airport in Toronto. Enjoy the ME!

 

[fan1080]

AS was already mentioned, just as long as you can pre-clear US Customs you will not need to collect your bags in Orlando.

Coming home you will not be able to use DME.