US Flight Questions

[mabba18]

Hi,

We're gearing up for our WDW trip. Just one month to go. Anyway, we seem to have everything all sorted out, but we still have some questions for more seasoned travellers.

The only thing we are unsure about is flying to the US. We've been to the States, driving, a few times, but we've never flown. We have all the proper documentation, and expect no problems. What we are wondering is where will we "cross" the border? We are flying out of Ottawa to Orlando via Detroit. From what I understand, we will be screened in Ottawa, then that's it. Then coming back we'll have to get out bags go through screening in Detroit, and recheck our bags. Is this correct?

We are also wondering about bringing food across. We know that fauna are out (not that we'd try to back bananas!). Are dried goods(cereal, muffins, granola bars etc.) are okay? What about dairy products (UHT milk)?

Finally, we will be using DME, but we'd rather handle our own bags. We'll only have 1 bag each, and don't fancy them being out of sight for 3+hours. If we don't attach the tags, then we collect them ourselves, and they end up on the same bus as us, right?

That's it, we hope. Thanks for any help!

 

[crashbb]

YOW-DFW-MCO:
You will go through pre-clearance in Ottawa, then stick your baggage on the conveyor belt to be put on the plane and not see it again until MCO. At MCO, you just take your baggage off the carousel and walk out of the airport (occasionally you might be asked to show your luggage tags, but I've had that happen on less then 1% of my US flights).

MCO-DFW-YOW:
You hand over your baggage when you check in at MCO and don't see it again until you get to YOW. At this point, you will go through immigration and customs (okay, the immigration bit happens before you get your luggage). You will not see your luggage at DFW or go through any customs/immigration. Ottawa is your first point of entry in Canada - it doesn't matter how many stops you took in the US on your way there.

I'm doubtful that milk/dairy is allowed across the border, but, I've never actually had any of my bags searched for food when crossing the border (and I sometimes still have a piece of fruit that I meant to eat while waiting to board).

 

[mabba18]

Hi, thanks for the quick answer!

I'm glad to hear that things will be less complicated then we were thinking. I guess we'll just take what we want for food, and if it gets seized, then c'est la vie!