Daughter with Anxiety & Tourettes- MCO assistance.

[Randel_Raines]

Hi folks,
First ever post on the DIS and sorry if it’s a ramble.

In August my 10yr old daughter and I are visiting Disney from England for 3 weeks, daddy daughter trip.
Since our last trip 3 years ago, my daughter sadly developed physical tics; a form of tourette’s as well as becoming extremely anxious. She lost some of her happy go lucky spark as well. I am praying that Disney can help reignite her spark again.
I am wondering if anyone knows if there are any fast track options/meet and greet in MCO airport, the customs and immigration queues are testing for most people at the best of times entering the US.

I just know that if we get stuck in the holding zones queues straight after a 10+hrs trip she will really struggle.

I’ve had a look on the website and searches but no details. Tried to call and no luck either.

Thanks in advance

 

[Maria_Ohana]

Is there anyway you can apply for Global Entry/TSA precheck? We have it here in the states and it helps you get thru security really quick. I believe for Global Entry very little issues or wait with Immigration.

 

[Randel_Raines]

Is there anyway you can apply for Global Entry/TSA precheck? We have it here in the states and it helps you get thru security really quick. I believe for Global Entry very little issues or wait with Immigration.

Sadly it’s for US citizens only.

 

[leiaorgana]

Global Entry isn’t for US citizens only. I’m from the U.K. too and we applied for Global Entry in March for our trip in two weeks time but the back log for it is that high atm that it’s looking less and less likely we’ll be approved in time to do our interviews on arrival for it at MCO this time.

Even if you applied for it now it’s unlikely you’d be approved for it for August but I guess you could try.

 

[Randel_Raines]

Global Entry isn’t for US citizens only. I’m from the U.K. too and we applied for Global Entry in March for our trip in two weeks time but the back log for it is that high atm that it’s looking less and less likely we’ll be approved in time to do our interviews on arrival for it at MCO this time.

Even if you applied for it now it’s unlikely you’d be approved for it for August but I guess you could try.

Arh ok thanks. I must have misread the information.

 

[leiaorgana]

There’s some more information on Global Entry on the UK part of the board if you want to take a look:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/uk-access-to-global-entry.3872228/

 

[tetera]

.

 

[RoseGold]

I appreciate these optimistic posts, but I think you need to be realistic. Orlando in general is struggling to hire enough staff, and IMO MCO is one of the worst airports I regularly encounter, even before Covid. I leave more time for MCO than any other airport.

I will never check a bag there. Security almost made me miss a flight, and I am an experienced traveler with pre check.

I’ve never done customs at MCO, but I think you need to be ready for the possibility that it could be pretty bad. Maybe you get lucky, and maybe you don’t.

As you may know, you have to clear customs at your first US airport, not your final destination. Maybe that’s not MCO?

 

[Randel_Raines]

I appreciate these optimistic posts, but I think you need to be realistic. Orlando in general is struggling to hire enough staff, and IMO MCO is one of the worst airports I regularly encounter, even before Covid. I leave more time for MCO than any other airport.

I will never check a bag there. Security almost made me miss a flight, and I am an experienced traveler with pre check.

I’ve never done customs at MCO, but I think you need to be ready for the possibility that it could be pretty bad. Maybe you get lucky, and maybe you don’t.

As you may know, you have to clear customs at your first US airport, not your final destination. Maybe that’s not MCO?

I’ve travelled to the US pretty much at least every other year for over 20yrs and aware that you have to clear customs at first point of entry. I was just asking as it’s the first time travelling since my daughter developed her quirks.

Some people may have some tips/recent experience travelling with children with disabilities/ special requirements.

 

[RoseGold]

I’ve travelled to the US pretty much at least every other year for over 20yrs and aware that you have to clear customs at first point of entry. I was just asking as it’s the first time travelling since my daughter developed her quirks.

Well, maybe you are going through customs elsewhere? I'd try to enter at pretty much any airport over MCO. My pick would be CLT or IAD.

When MCO is running well, it's great. But that hasn't been my experience.

 

[Randel_Raines]

Well, maybe you are going through customs elsewhere? I'd try to enter at pretty much any airport over MCO. My pick would be CLT or IAD.

When MCO is running well, it's great. But that hasn't been my experience.

I’m going on vacation with my daughter from the UK, i am not going to fly indirect. So it has to be Orlando for me.
I’m sure we will be fine, just no harm in asking.

 

[leiaorgana]

Well, maybe you are going through customs elsewhere? I'd try to enter at pretty much any airport over MCO. My pick would be CLT or IAD.

When MCO is running well, it's great. But that hasn't been my experience.

Most people from the U.K. fly directly to MCO since the majority of the major airlines do direct routes....

 

[RoseGold]

Even before Covid, MCO had the longest customs waits in the US. Covid and the Orlando labor shortage has not appeared to help MCO, in my recent experience. If customs waits are an issue for OP's particular needs, a different airport is an option OP can consider.

It's your trip, so obviously you make the decision that is best for your family. I don't have these needs, and would try to avoid customs at MCO if I could.

https://www.orlandoweekly.com/news/...s-wait-time-of-any-airport-in-the-us-26187180

 

[leiaorgana]

I’m going on vacation with my daughter from the UK, i am not going to fly indirect. So it has to be Orlando for me.
I’m sure we will be fine, just no harm in asking.

I found this number on another disabilities site that was recommended to call if you have any questions about getting through security etc but it might be pricey to call from the U.K. :

TSA Cares Help Line at +1 (855) 787-2227.

I also saw something about yellow sunflower lanyards that are recognised at some U.K. airports that might help you flying out and back but are only recognised at the airport in Miami currently but it might be worth looking into in case it works for your daughter:

https://www.flyingwithababy.com/travel-with-kids-with-special-needs-flying-with-hidden-disabilities/

 

[SueM in MN]

I found this number on another disabilities site that was recommended to call if you have any questions about getting through security etc but it might be pricey to call from the U.K. :

TSA Cares Help Line at +1 (855) 787-2227.

I also saw something about yellow sunflower lanyards that are recognised at some U.K. airports that might help you flying out and back but are only recognised at the airport in Miami currently but it might be worth looking into in case it works for your daughter:

https://www.flyingwithababy.com/travel-with-kids-with-special-needs-flying-with-hidden-disabilities/

We have used TSA Cares at our home airport (Minneapolis- St. Paul). TSA Cares can help with going thru Security, but won’t help with Customs - I am not aware of a similar service to TSA Cares for Customs.

Before COVID, TSA Cares was very helpful at our home airport and met us at the airline check in desk or right after. We‘ve traveled twice from that airport since COVID. In our trips after COVID, no one from TSA Cares met us at the airport, even though we contacted them the same way as we did pre-COVID. I think the reason is probably staffing.

The TSA Cares webpage has a form to fill out to request assistance.
After filling out the form, we had email confirmation that our information was received for both the Minneapolis- St. Paul and Orlando airports. Despite that, we have NEVER had any assistance from TSA Cares at the Orlando airport.

The yellow sunflower lanyard is unlikely to mean anything at any US location. Some individual airports have started to adopt it, but it’s not widespread in the US.

 

[namedafteru]

I know several airports in Canada have US custom offices so you have to clear US customs before you board the plane to the States. I believe the Dublin airport has it as well. Not sure where in the UK you are flying from, but that might be worth looking into. It's so much easier.

 

[Sparkly]

Sunflower lanyard is recognised at MCO, perhaps because they have a lot of UK travellers passing through. I haven't been since before the pandemic, but I remember them acknowledging the one I had one that I got from London Gatwick.

 

[SueM in MN]

Sunflower lanyard is recognised at MCO, perhaps because they have a lot of UK travellers passing through. I haven't been since before the pandemic, but I remember them acknowledging the one I had one that I got from London Gatwick.

Orlando airport is one of the airports that indicated they recognize the yellow sunflower - possible, as you suggested, because of the number of international visitors.

Link to Orlando Airport yellow sunflower page

 

[DisneyOma]

Sunflower lanyard is recognised at MCO, perhaps because they have a lot of UK travellers passing through. I haven't been since before the pandemic, but I remember them acknowledging the one I had one that I got from London Gatwick.

Orlando airport is one of the airports that indicated they recognize the yellow sunflower - possible, as you suggested, because of the number of international visitors.

Link to Orlando Airport yellow sunflower page

Is there a specific sunflower pattern they are looking for, as there are dozens of sunflower pattern lanyards out there.

 

[SueM in MN]

Is there a specific sunflower pattern they are looking for, as there are dozens of sunflower pattern lanyards out there.

They are looking for the specific one that is part of the program.
according to the link I posted, they are available at the Orlando airport.

»Airport staff are trained to recognize the lanyards and to be understanding if additional help is needed.
Lanyards are available at the Main Terminal Information Booths, located on Level 3 (Departures Level, prior to the security checkpoint).
Wearing a lanyard DOES NOT guarantee fast tracking through security or any preferential treatment. Passengers are still required to arrange special assistance with their airlines and TSA Cares.