Magical Express and connecting flight in the US?

[Step]

I'm posting this in the transportation forum too:

Prior to my flight change our connecting flight was in Ottawa, so I knew we would be going through customs when we arrived in Orlando. I also knew we would have to check our bags personally and bring them unto the ME bus ourselves.

Our new connecting flight is in Newark. Does this mean we'll have to go through customs when we arrive there? If so, does that mean our bags can be put unto the ME bus by disney staff? We'll be flying from the States to another destination in the States at that point right?

 

[bavaria]

Just in case you don't see my follow up question there - what is your point of origin in Canada? if you are going through any of the big 7 airports, you clear US customs in Canada 99% of the time.

ie Prince Rupert - Vancouver - Chicago - Orlando = preclear in Vancouver

 

[Step]

Unfortunately I'm leaving from Halifax, and their preclearance program starts 5 days after I leave!

 

[bavaria]

Got it! bad timing on their part - for your next trip it will definitely change the impact ie connection times, etc. You won't need to worry about clearing in the US and waiting in potentially long lines - meaning that you can have a shorter connection time. (The long lines will be at the START of your trip! )

 

[Step]

Yes. My worry is that I only have from 5pm to 6:18pm at Newark, and I have to get my baggage and clear customs in that time.

 

[Tinkershelly]

I feel your pain! I leave the 28th for WDW through Newark. Unfortunately you do need to clear customs in Newark. That shouldn't be too much of a problem, but then you need to go through security, which may be the big time eater. I flew through Newark last month with a 2 hour layover and made it with plenty of time to have lunch and shop a bit, but that was before the enhanced security issues in mid-August.

Good luck, and perhaps you should find out if there is a later connection to Orlando that you could take if you miss your scheduled flight.

 

[Step]

I am tempted to get a passport just to speed things up. I wish I had the $200 to do so! Ah well, passports aren't required until January 2007. I'll ask my TA about what I would do if I missed my flight. I have Travel insurance and I think they cover that sort of thing.

Luckily I won't have to eat during that time cause both my flights are over 2 hours and continental provides food for flights of that length.

 

[seashoreCM]

Since it is impossible to know exactly when you see your luggage for the last time, put the yellow tags on a moment before you get to the (first) customs station to minimize confusion. Your baggage will be delivered to the resort in the same fashion as for U.S. citizens. For most Canadians customs is done before leaving Canada; for most other non-U.S. citizens customs is done upon arrival in Orlando. Announcements will be made en route if things are different.

If due to customs at an intermediate point you should miss the next flight, the airline must still honor your ticket and endeavor to get you to your destination (when it is one itinerary and receipt for all flight segments). With that in mind the airline should modify your ticket at your request free of charge to allow extra connection time if needed.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[bavaria]

If due to customs at an intermediate point you should miss the next flight, the airline must still honor your ticket and endeavor to get you to your destination (when it is one itinerary and receipt for all flight segments). With that in mind the airline should modify your ticket at your request free of charge to allow extra connection time if needed.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

But there is no guarantee that there will be space on the next flight, and the flight that was missed may in fact be the last flight out of the day. I still stand by my original suggestion - RUN, Step, RUN!

 

[Step]

Since it is impossible to know exactly when you see your luggage for the last time, put the yellow tags on a moment before you get to the (first) customs station to minimize confusion. Your baggage will be delivered to the resort in the same fashion as for U.S. citizens. For most Canadians customs is done before leaving Canada; for most other non-U.S. citizens customs is done upon arrival in Orlando. Announcements will be made en route if things are different.

If due to customs at an intermediate point you should miss the next flight, the airline must still honor your ticket and endeavor to get you to your destination (when it is one itinerary and receipt for all flight segments). With that in mind the airline should modify your ticket at your request free of charge to allow extra connection time if needed.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

Thanks, that makes me feel a bit better. I would hate to be stranded cause they took to long clearing me through customs.

So you are saying I should put my ME tags on when I pick up my luggage at Newark, before I go through customs?

 

[Step]

Well, they can't just leave me stranded if it's their fault. They shouldn't have such a short time between flights if it takes more time to clear customs. That's just stupid.

 

[OntFamily]

Since it is impossible to know exactly when you see your luggage for the last time, put the yellow tags on a moment before you get to the (first) customs station to minimize confusion. Your baggage will be delivered to the resort in the same fashion as for U.S. citizens. For most Canadians customs is done before leaving Canada; for most other non-U.S. citizens customs is done upon arrival in Orlando. Announcements will be made en route if things are different.

It will be easy to know the last time you will see yur luggaage. It will be immediately after you clear US customs. It appears the OP clears US customs in Newark. Thus, once US Customs are cleared and you drop your bag on a conveyor - your bags will be next seen in your Disney resort room (provided the yellow tag is on the bag, when you leave the bag on the conveyor).

Also, the OP expressed a desire to have a passport to speed things up. Don't worry about it. The speed increase will be minimal (less than one or two minutes - ie the time it takes to type your name into a computer keyboard).

Your correct - when preclearance starts in YHZ, the process will become even simplier.

I hear your concern on timing in Newark. Don't dawdle in the terminal and you'll probably be OK.

 

[seashoreCM]

It will be easy to know the last time you will see yur luggaage. OK.

(copied from another thread)
You will still want to put the yellow tags on before handing the luggage to the customs inspector, since you are not sure whether he will whisk it away to the conveyor (procedure may differ at different airports) after inspecting it giving you no further chance to put on the yellow tags.

 

[Tinkershelly]

We used ME in December and put the yellow ME tags on the luggage before checking in in Halifax. We cleared customs in Boston that trip, but it wasn't a problem having them on the bags at that time. We picked up the bags, cleared customs, rechecked the bags and didn't see them until they showed up in our room. I plan to follow the same procedure this trip and attach the tags before we leave home. That is just one less thing to think about while trying to "run for the border" in Newark.

Have a great trip and remember that this should be the last time we need to clear customs halfway through our trip! Only two weeks from today until POP for me

 

[Step]

Wow, another person from Halifax at Disney the same time as me! I wish I was leaving after Oct. 4th though, when we can pre-clear in YHZ.

 

[Tinkershelly]

Luckily I won't have to eat during that time cause both my flights are over 2 hours and continental provides food for flights of that length.

Don't depend on getting an actual meal on either leg of the flight. They will serve beverages and pretzels on the Halifax-Newark portion, and at best they will serve beverages and a small bun with a see-through thin slice of turkey on it for the Newark-Orlando leg.

For what it's worth, I would plan to eat and pee before leaving the Halifax airport as the ERJ-145 is a comfy plane but it lacks the space for a galley and large enough lavatory for my comfort

Have a great time at WDW and don't worry about the flights. You've done all you can, let Continental do it's job.