Magical Express, luggage & customs

[dwnnp]

We are flying out from ottawa direct to MCO on Westjet. I am assuming that we'll go thru customs when we arrive in orlando- does anyone know if this is correct? Does this mean that we will have to drag our stuff to the bus and to our resort room ourselves?? or after going thru customs can we hand the bags back to disney somehow and have them show up a few hrs later at our room???? I have not received the luggage tags or magical express tickets yet and we are leaving saturday morning- should i be concerned??? if i call reservations would they be able to tell me if this stuff has even been sent out? does it really matter?

TIA for any info!
can't wait till saturday

 

[Disneydaddycanada]

I would be calling if you have not received your me package yet. I received mine about a month ago adn we don't leave till Dec 12th. From the feedback on the boards it comes 30 days before departure. Concerning the custom issue I can't really help, in Toronto we go through customs at the Toronto airport. We have always used ME and brought are own luggage to the bus. The advantage is that you have your luggage right away. I have read alot of threads were they don't show up for hours and sometimes days.

I will assume that they will tell you to go the ME counter at Orlando airport with your luggage and they will take of the rest.
It should work out, but I would call just so they have your info.

Have a great time....I will be right behind you, leaving in 17 days.

 

[abirdd]

YOW to MCO - you clear customs here in Ottawa! If you have your ME tags by then, and you use them - your luggage would go directly to the hotel. In the event they ME tags do not arrive, then you would need to pick up your bags at the carousel. You take them with you down to the ME check in desk - and I believe they can be taken from you and sent along to your hotel about 3 hours later per usual. Otherwise, you can take the luggage with you on the ME buses (it goes underneath, tour bus style) and then you just take to your room.

We leave on Tuesday, and our luggage tags arrived about a month ago via UPS. Our actual bag tags and hotel confirmation documents arrived via regular mail about 3 weeks ago. We booked directly with Disney. Did you book your package directly with Disney, or via WestJet vacations?

Did you just miss getting the ME tags, and received your hotel docs? If you received neither, I would get on the phone right away with reservations - to make sure everything is a okay with your file.

 

[Debbie]

Actually, as long as you have your ME reservation, you do not have to pick up your luggage. Take your luggage tags to the ME desk hand them to the ME rep, along with a description of your luggage (I took digital pics, too, just in case). They will then pull the luggage and send it off to the hotel. It could take a little longer, but it works. You can, of course, scoop your own luggage and drag it to the ME desk.

BTW, I would call and confirm my ME reservation, too.

 

[dwnnp]

thanks for all your replies,

i did call the ME and they said that nothing was mailed to me because my address was incomplete in the computer (they said it did not say what country i was in !!!???) and they did confirm that they have our reservations and all the info needed and suggested that we just give them our baggage claim tickets when we get to the desk, and they'll get our luggage to our room.... i may take digital pics of the bags b4 we go, good idea Debbie!

abirdd: what airline have you flown on that you cleared customs in ottawa? we flew earlier this year on american airlines and cleared customs in ottawa as well but we thought maybe it was just because it was a U.S. plane?? i hope this will be the case for westjet too....

 

[Allegro]

thanks for all your replies,

i did call the ME and they said that nothing was mailed to me because my address was incomplete in the computer (they said it did not say what country i was in !!!???) and they did confirm that they have our reservations and all the info needed and suggested that we just give them our baggage claim tickets when we get to the desk, and they'll get our luggage to our room.... i may take digital pics of the bags b4 we go, good idea Debbie!

abirdd: what airline have you flown on that you cleared customs in ottawa? we flew earlier this year on american airlines and cleared customs in ottawa as well but we thought maybe it was just because it was a U.S. plane?? i hope this will be the case for westjet too....

I've flown through the US a lot and regardless of airline you will clear customs in Ottawa. It's not an airline thing it's a bilateral agreement between Canada and the US. You have nothing to worry about.

 

[dwnnp]

I've flown through the US a lot and regardless of airline you will clear customs in Ottawa. It's not an airline thing it's a bilateral agreement between Canada and the US. You have nothing to worry about.

Awesome
that's good to know
thanx!

 

[abirdd]

abirdd: what airline have you flown on that you cleared customs in ottawa? we flew earlier this year on american airlines and cleared customs in ottawa as well but we thought maybe it was just because it was a U.S. plane?? i hope this will be the case for westjet too....

I'm glad everything is sorted out! In terms of flying out of Ottawa, as long as you are going directly into the States, you clear customs at home. DH hates business travel when it takes him via Toronto or Montreal first, since their customs line ups are FAR worse than anything you'd ever see in Ottawa!!

Enjoy your trip... we're coming down right behind you