US Airways and Magical Express

[disneykid4ever]

Help! I've looked through a lot of posts and still am confused! We will be flying on US Airways from Ottawa to Orlando with a stop over in Philadelphia. We want to use Magical Express. When do we have to clear customs, in Ottawa or in Philadelphia or Orlando? Or all three? Also how will Magical Express work in this situation? Will they still pickup the bags for us or should we do it?

What about on our return flight with Canjet? It will be direct from Orlando to Ottawa, when will we clear customs?

Thanks in advance for all your help!!

 

[tophee99]

You will have to clear customs in Orlando on the way down and Ottawa on the return trip. Can't help you with Magic Express....sorry!!!

 

[dancin Disney style]

I would be inclined to think you would clear US customs in Ottawa not Orlando as you will be taking a domestic flight (Philly to Orlando) in to Orlando. You certainly will only do it once. Check with either the Ottawa airport authority or a travel agent. On your return, you will definitely visit Canada customs in Ottawa.

ME--- check with them, but they will likely tell you that they will handle your bags. If you feel more comfortable pick them up yourself and take them to the bus. If you don't pick them up yourself, make sure you have a carry on bag with toiletries and bathing suits etc. that you keep with you.

 

[Disney Daniel]

I agree with dancin Disney style. You will clear customs in Ottawa on your way down and back. You will be pre cleared by US Customs officials prior to boarding your flight to Philadelphia and then once you are back in Canada, you will clear Canadian customs after your Orlando to Ottawa flight has landed.

 

[tophee99]

I'm pretty sure that you don't clear customs on your outbound plane in Ottawa........my SIL and her family flew to Orlando in April and they had to clear customs in Orlando on the way down and in Canada upon their return. They had a stop over in Charlotte, NC, but didn't have to disembark, so customs were in Orlando. I'd call your TA or the airport to be sure. Either way........have a great time!!!

 

[ferris198]

We did Toronto to Orlando on United with a stop over in North Carolina in January. We cleared Customs in Toronto, and our luggage was tagged to Orlando.
When we arrived at Orlando we just went to the ME desk, described our luggage and got on the bus to our resort.
Our luggage tool about 3 hours to arrive in our room, which was fine with us as we had had a long travel day and were just hanging out at the resort.
On the way back we did customs at Toronto.

 

[disneykid4ever]

Thanks for all the info everyone! I do have one more question, though. Is it okay to put the yellow Magical Express tags on our luggage before going through customs? Do they care or look at that kind of thing; will there be a hassle about it? It seems silly, like why should it be a big deal to them, but I just wanted to double-check!

Thanks!

 

[disneykid4ever]

bumping

 

[dancin Disney style]

Thanks for all the info everyone! I do have one more question, though. Is it okay to put the yellow Magical Express tags on our luggage before going through customs? Do they care or look at that kind of thing; will there be a hassle about it? It seems silly, like why should it be a big deal to them, but I just wanted to double-check!

Thanks!

I doubt that customs will care. Think about all the people that put ribbons and things--me included--on their bags as a way of distinguishing them. Do remember that they do randomly perform secondary searches that you will not be present for so make sure that the tags are not placed in such a way that customs would have to remove them to get in your bag. If that were to happen the tags would not be replaced.

 

[PBX1]

Sorry, not trying to hijack this thread, but we are flying out of Buffalo to Orlando (instead of out of Toronto). Do we have to clear customs anywhere or just when we drive over the border? We are using the Magical Express too and I heard they can't pick up your luggage if it hasn't been cleared.

Thanks!

 

[dancin Disney style]

Sorry, not trying to hijack this thread, but we are flying out of Buffalo to Orlando (instead of out of Toronto). Do we have to clear customs anywhere or just when we drive over the border? We are using the Magical Express too and I heard they can't pick up your luggage if it hasn't been cleared.

Thanks!

You will clear customs at the border when you drive over. That's it, very easy. When you fly BUF to MCO it is a domestic flight so your bags only go thru security before being loaded on the plane. DME will pick up your bags if the yellow tags are on them.

 

[runner26.2]

Put the yellow tags on your luggage BEFORE you leave ottawa. Customs won't care, the airline doesn't care and its a whole lot easier than trying to do it at any other time, especially since you might not see your bags until they magically appear in your room at WDW

 

[runner26.2]

Sorry, not trying to hijack this thread, but we are flying out of Buffalo to Orlando (instead of out of Toronto). Do we have to clear customs anywhere or just when we drive over the border? We are using the Magical Express too and I heard they can't pick up your luggage if it hasn't been cleared.

Thanks!

You clear customs when you drive across the bridge and speak with the agent in the kiosk. That's it you are done then. YOu will still have to go through security at the airport but not customs.