International fine print DME?

[LovesHerTaurus]

I'm so confused by the international DME rules.

I go through customs to fly Winnipeg Canada -> Chicago
Then I stay in security Chicago->Orlando

It says if you are hitting customs first at the Orlando airport, I claim my luggage myself, then go through security, then give my luggage back to... someone?

Why can't I keep our luggage ourselves, hop on DME, and get to my resort with my luggage in my hands? Or is there a special perk to leaving your luggage with DME to transport separately?

 

[drew64]

You would retrieve your bags in Chicago and then give them back so you woudl arrive in Orlando on a US domestic flight so can just have the yellow DME tags on and let them pick up your luggage and deliver it.

 

[crashbb]

Actually, you won't collect your luggage in Chicago (unless you are on come charter airlines).

You'll pre-clear US customs and immigration in Winnipeg. When you land in Chicago, it is as if you arrived on a US domestic flight - no collecting luggage and going through customs/immigration.

If you put the yellow DME tags on your luggage (in Winnipeg), they'll be treated as if you were traveling on a domestic US flight.

 

[LovesHerTaurus]

That is a load off my mind!!

Thanks!

 

[seashoreCM]

I'm so confused by the international DME rules.

I go through customs to fly Winnipeg Canada -> Chicago
Then I stay in security Chicago->Orlando

It says if you are hitting customs first at the Orlando airport, I claim my luggage myself, then go through security, then give my luggage back to... someone?

Why can't I keep our luggage ourselves, hop on DME, and get to my resort with my luggage in my hands? Or is there a special perk to leaving your luggage with DME to transport separately?

Yes it is a special perk, leaving your luggage with DME.

When you must clear or re-clear customs in Orlando, no one (other than a zealous customs agent) prevents you from carrying your bags right out of the customs station, onto the tram, and into the main terminal and down to the DME welcoming area yourself. But (before 10 PM) that is a lot more work for you compared with putting the bags on the other conveyor belt before leaving the Orlando customs station and then DME will take them.

If you don't have to clear or reclear customs in Orlando and you arrive there before 10 PM, your (edited later) yellow tagged checked bags are taken to your resort by DME and there is nowhere you can view them let alone grab them.

Arriving in Orlando after 10 PM, all passengers, domestic and international, must go to the carousels if they did not have any prior chance to grab their baggage for example at a customs station, or at the plane door for gate checked baggage.

 

[LovesHerTaurus]

Yes it is a special perk, leaving your luggage with DME.

When you must clear or re-clear customs in Orlando, no one (other than a zealous customs agent) prevents you from carrying your bags right out of the customs station, onto the tram, and into the main terminal and down to the DME welcoming area yourself. But (before 10 PM) that is a lot more work for you compared with putting the bags on the other conveyor belt before leaving the Orlando customs station and then DME will take them.

If you don't have to clear or reclear customs in Orlando and you arrive there before 10 PM, your checked bags are taken to your resort by DME and there is nowhere you can view them let alone grab them.

Arriving in Orlando after 10 PM, all passengers, domestic and international, must go to the carousels if they did not have any prior chance to grab their baggage for example at a customs station, or at the plane door for gate checked baggage.

Fiancees are for carrying bags....

teeheehee

If luggage can take up to 3 hours to reach my room though I would have a fit. My wedding dress is going in a suitcase and we arrive at the airport at 2:30, steaming appointment at 4:30 while kids go wild in the pool, and then off to MK

 

[seashoreCM]

OT:

Fiancees are for carrying bags...:

(I'm feeling naughty)
Don't look now but that means you!
My turn to say, "heh heh heh"!

The suggestion has been made to international travelers to not put the yellow DME tags on until getting to customs. While this lessens the chance of tag mutilation, it is possible that your bags are whisked away by the customs agent before you have a chance to apply the tags.

Oh, a reminder that things you will need for your first 24 hours should be in a carry-on (or in a checked bag without yellow tag).

 

[crashbb]

OT:

(I'm feeling naughty)
Don't look now but that means you!
My turn to say, "heh heh heh"!

The suggestion has been made to international travelers to not put the yellow DME tags on until getting to customs. While this lessens the chance of tag mutilation, it is possible that your bags are whisked away by the customs agent before you have a chance to apply the tags.

As I stated above, the OP will pre-clear US customs/immigration in Winnipeg. The suggestion to wait until after customs to put on the DME tags is useless in this instance.

OP - I think you might be cutting things close, even if you don't use the the DME luggage transfer. The average time for DME is about 70 minutes (giving you a window of 50 minutes to unpack and get to your steaming appointment). However, that assumes that you do not wait for your luggage (which you plan to do), which would add at least 10 to 20 minutes. All that assumes that your plane isn't delayed at all (well the times don't change, but your window shrinks as the plane is delayed).

 

[TagsMissy]

I'm so confused by the international DME rules.

I go through customs to fly Winnipeg Canada -> Chicago
Then I stay in security Chicago->Orlando

It says if you are hitting customs first at the Orlando airport, I claim my luggage myself, then go through security, then give my luggage back to... someone?

Why can't I keep our luggage ourselves, hop on DME, and get to my resort with my luggage in my hands? Or is there a special perk to leaving your luggage with DME to transport separately?

unless you are flying some weird charter you clear US customs in Canada and your luggage will go through to MCO and if you have tagged them to the resort. There is no issue with DME for Canadians. Now if for some reason you are on some charter that doesn't preclear you will do customs at your firs tpoint of entry to the US... now keep in mind DME only cares about the final leg of the flight; not in the initial leg assuming there's a plane/flight change. So when we fly YVR-MCO there is always a connection we only tell DME the final leg flight number.

 

[LovesHerTaurus]

Ok ok I'll carry all the bags. But I get to travel on his back, with my daughters each carrying a coffee for me since I'll have been up since 3am

Plane arrives 2:38, deplane around 2:45. Find luggage (without DME tags!). Grab them, dash to the bus.

My plan includes a fax to the hotel 3 days before with our little room request list, and begging them to please call our steamer and makeup people to let them know the room number we will have and why... MY disney magic request!

I assume I can get to the hotel by 3:45, check in (turns out I can't do online check in!! BUT I'm going to call them and let them know why all this is so weird).

Get in room. Have steaming appointment. Honey tries on his tux. I cry. We go to Magic Kingdom. I cry. We do rides until we realize we haven't eaten since noon. I see nighttime parade and fireworks. Cry more. Go to hotel and sleep for 4 hours. Then get up at 3am for hair and makeup.

I can't see any other option. Any one have suggestions? One thought I had was renting a one way limo to pick us up, do a quick food stop/wine/beer stop on way to hotel. A little extra money but would it buy us a little extra time?