Question about DME and customs process

[LuzzBightyear]

We will be traveling from the Maritimes to Orlando via Montreal or Toronto, and I always thought I would clear customs in Montreal or Toronto airports. Also, looking at the map of the Orlando airport, I cannot see any area for US customs and Immigration. So I assumed when we landed in Orlando, the process was essentially the same as if I arrived in Orlando from a US destination in that Disney's Magical Express would just pick up our bags and we could hop on the bus

However, I was looking at DME information on Disney's website and I saw the following:

"International Guests flying into Orlando International Airport from another country must follow the U.S. Customs and Border Protection process and claim luggage after disembarking the plane. "


What is the deal with that?

 

[glendalais]

We will be traveling from the Maritimes to Orlando via Montreal or Toronto, and I always thought I would clear customs in Montreal or Toronto airports. Also, looking at the map of the Orlando airport, I cannot see any area for US customs and Immigration. So I assumed when we landed in Orlando, the process was essentially the same as if I arrived in Orlando from a US destination in that Disney's Magical Express would just pick up our bags and we could hop on the bus

However, I was looking at DME information on Disney's website and I saw the following:

"International Guests flying into Orlando International Airport from another country must follow the U.S. Customs and Border Protection process and claim luggage after disembarking the plane. "


What is the deal with that?

You can safely ignore that part - Canada doesn't really figure into Disney's definition of "international", lol.

If you are flying through YUL or YYZ, you will clear United States customs and immigration formalities there. Upon your arrival at MCO, Disney's Magical Express representatives will claim your pre-tagged baggage and transport it to your Walt Disney World Resort hotel. You simply need to disembark the plane and proceed to the Disney's Magical Express desk located on Level 1, Side B.

The "international" procedures don't apply to Guests arriving from select airports in Canada and Bermuda which have USCIS/USCBP Preclearance facilities.

 

[LuzzBightyear]

The "international" procedures don't apply to Guests arriving from select airports in Canada and Bermuda which have USCIS/USCBP Preclearance facilities.

Works for me. Thanks for the info!

 

[ccudmore]

But keep in mind that you won't be able to use the airport luggage checkin at the resort on the way home. You'll have to bring your bags on the DME bus with you and check them with the airline.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I always thought that part you mentioned about International guests needing to clear Customs and etc once they arrive in Orlando is a bit misleading, since it doesn't apply to Canadians and some European coutries that have the same pre-clearence at select Airports over there.

 

[yxe dad]

I always thought that part you mentioned about International guests needing to clear Customs and etc once they arrive in Orlando is a bit misleading, since it doesn't apply to Canadians and some European coutries that have the same pre-clearence at select Airports over there.

It's not misleading, not all Canadian airports that fly directly into MCO have USCIS/USCBP Preclearance facilities.

 

[glendalais]

It's not misleading, not all Canadian airports that fly directly into MCO have USCIS/USCBP Preclearance facilities.

Nor does it apply to any other airport with US Preclearance facilities other than those in Canada or Bermuda.

Disney's Magical Express no longer sends information packets (which include luggage tags) to Guests originating from outside of the United States, with the exception of those coming from Canada or Bermuda.

As such, for example, Guests flying to the United States from Shannon or Dublin Airports in Ireland, both of which have US Preclearance facilities, don't have to clear customs with their luggage at Orlando, but they still have to retreive the bags themselves off the luggage carousels and bring them to the Disney's Magical Express counter to be sent to the hotels - Disney can not retreive the bags for them automatically.

 

[crashbb]

On the way home, are Canadian flights still under the International 4 hour pick up rule? Or are we picked up 3 hours before our flight.

 

[glendalais]

On the way home, are Canadian flights still under the International 4 hour pick up rule? Or are we picked up 3 hours before our flight.

Any Guest utilizing Disney's Magical Express service to Orlando International Airport who indicate that they will be departing on a flight bound for any destination outside the United States, including Canada, will be scheduled for pickup from their Walt Disney World Resort hotel approximately four hours prior to departure.

This is part of the agreement reached between Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc. and the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.

 

[LuzzBightyear]

Any Guest utilizing Disney's Magical Express service to Orlando International Airport who indicate that they will be departing on a flight bound for any destination outside the United States, including Canada, will be scheduled for pickup from their Walt Disney World Resort hotel approximately four hours prior to departure.

This is part of the agreement reached between Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc. and the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.

Wow, glad I read that before I booked an 8am flight back home!

 

[LuzzBightyear]

It's not misleading, not all Canadian airports that fly directly into MCO have USCIS/USCBP Preclearance facilities.

Just out of curiosity, I was looking at the airport map, and did not see any customs and immigration area. It appears that each of the 4 sets of gates have both international and domestic carriers. Where do people from outside the US go if not precleared? This might be an issue for me if I can get a direct flight from Moncton as was mentioned in another thread

 

[disneyba]

There is a U.S. Customs area at one of the four airside terminals. It is for all flights that have not pre-cleared. We ran into this situation in 2007, flying Air Transat out of Toronto. I don't know if it has changed, but at that time Air Transat was one of the Canadian airlines that did not get pre-clearance at Pearson.

When we landed at the MCO airside terminal, we had to claim our luggage, proceed through the Customs checkpoint, and then put our bags back on a conveyor belt.

Then, we had to go through a TSA security check before boarding the tram to the main terminal. Never did get the point of that.

Customs was okay, but the TSA check was crowded and unpleasant.

If you can, avoid the whole process. It is a time delay and an annoyance, especially with little children. Make sure your airline pre-clears.

Maybe all the Canadian airlines leaving from YYZ pre-clear now. But I will not fly an airline out of Canada into Orlando that does not pre-clear. Too much of a hassle.

I'm not sure about Magical Express. The time we took it, we flew out of Syracuse, NY, so we were already cleared at the border. But my guess is that if your flight is not pre-cleared and you have to go through Customs at MCO, you will have trouble getting ME to take your luggage. Another reason to fly with an airline that pre-clears before you leave Canada.

 

[dis_guy]

Any Guest utilizing Disney's Magical Express service to Orlando International Airport who indicate that they will be departing on a flight bound for any destination outside the United States, including Canada, will be scheduled for pickup from their Walt Disney World Resort hotel approximately four hours prior to departure.

This is part of the agreement reached between Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc. and the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.

Which is why I only mention our last leg to MCO and our first leg from MCO. As far as DME is concerned, we are flying to and from Denver, which is all they really need to know and we get the 3 hr pick up time. I guess with a direct flight you'll get the 4 hr pickup time? Makes a connecting flight look more desirable than a direct one from this perspective.

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

The last time I was down in WDW in 2009 I actually question the person from DME on the phone about the 4 hours for Canadians. I was told that it is part of there agreement with MCO that all International departures should be there 4 hours ahead of time. The funny thing is I wasn't the only one there at that time too, about 5 minutes after I arrived about 10 people with DCL tags on there bags came over to where I was Waiting for the WestJet counter to open. Also when I used supper shuttle to get from a hotel in Anaheim last spring to get to the airport they picked me up 4 hours before my flight too, but we did make a stop at another airport on the way as well.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

It's not misleading, not all Canadian airports that fly directly into MCO have USCIS/USCBP Preclearance facilities.

Well I thought they should put a note under that statement saying some cities in Canada, Europe and exempt from clearing US Customs at MCO because of the pre-clearence facilities.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

There is a U.S. Customs area at one of the four airside terminals. It is for all flights that have not pre-cleared. We ran into this situation in 2007, flying Air Transat out of Toronto. I don't know if it has changed, but at that time Air Transat was one of the Canadian airlines that did not get pre-clearance at Pearson.

When we landed at the MCO airside terminal, we had to claim our luggage, proceed through the Customs checkpoint, and then put our bags back on a conveyor belt.

Then, we had to go through a TSA security check before boarding the tram to the main terminal. Never did get the point of that.

Customs was okay, but the TSA check was crowded and unpleasant.

If you can, avoid the whole process. It is a time delay and an annoyance, especially with little children. Make sure your airline pre-clears.

Maybe all the Canadian airlines leaving from YYZ pre-clear now. But I will not fly an airline out of Canada into Orlando that does not pre-clear. Too much of a hassle.

I'm not sure about Magical Express. The time we took it, we flew out of Syracuse, NY, so we were already cleared at the border. But my guess is that if your flight is not pre-cleared and you have to go through Customs at MCO, you will have trouble getting ME to take your luggage. Another reason to fly with an airline that pre-clears before you leave Canada.

It's been a long time since we flew on Air Transat, however when we have used them getting to Orlando International Airport or St. Petersburg - Clearwater International Airport, we cleared US Customs in Toronto and that was when they were still located in the old Terminal 1.

The only airline we flew to Orlando International Airport that made us clear Customs there was Canada 3000 and I agree with you 100% that if you can avoid clearing Customs there then you should. Now part of the problem is that when we landed so did another flight from Europe, plus at the 1st location where we picked up our checked bags we didn't see them and the one employee standing there didn't care when when we told him that, however they eventually showed up. Anyway I always thought if they didn't make us pick up our checked bags a 2nd time in the main terminal then it wouldn't be so bad, although since we got them once chances are they won't be lost. Plus I never understood why we needed to go through another security screening since we did that in Toronto and the fact we had just cleared US Customs a few minutes before.

 

[Applemomma]

On the way home, are Canadian flights still under the International 4 hour pick up rule? Or are we picked up 3 hours before our flight.

We were picked up three hours before our flight last month but perhaps that was because we were not flying a "Canadian airline" but Continental (Orlando/Newark/Halifax)

 

[glendalais]

We were picked up three hours before our flight last month but perhaps that was because we were not flying a "Canadian airline" but Continental (Orlando/Newark/Halifax)

It's actually because you were departing MCO to a domestic destination (Newark).

The pickup rules only concerns flights departing Orlando International Airport. Guests travelling to a destination within the United States and then transferring to an international flight are thus considered as domestic travellers since the portion departing from MCO is a domestic flight.

 

[crashbb]

It's actually because you were departing MCO to a domestic destination (Newark).

The pickup rules only concerns flights departing Orlando International Airport. Guests travelling to a destination within the United States and then transferring to an international flight are thus considered as domestic travellers since the portion departing from MCO is a domestic flight.

Interesting. That isn't what happened with me. I was told that since my final destination wasn't in the US, it wasn't considered a domestic flight and I was given the 4 hour window. Since my luggage was checked through to Canada, it wasn't considered domestic (had I stopped in DC and then continued to Canada the next day, it would have been considered domestic).

 

[ccudmore]

Interesting. That isn't what happened with me. I was told that since my final destination wasn't in the US, it wasn't considered a domestic flight and I was given the 4 hour window. Since my luggage was checked through to Canada, it wasn't considered domestic (had I stopped in DC and then continued to Canada the next day, it would have been considered domestic).

We had the same experience. Because we had to allow for the extra time to check our bags at the airport we had to do the 4 hour pick-up, even though it was a flight through a US hub (MCO -> PHL -> YOW).