Immigration at Orlando airport

[dbriggsq]

Hi

Now that the green visa waiver forms are not being used has anyone had experience of what immigration at Orlando airport is like.

Is it any quicker? Presumably they still take photos and fingerprints.

Thanks

 

[2Tiggies]

Although I have been since they started the ESTAs, we still had the forms on our flight. They are not doing away with the fingerprints and photos. I don't think the ESTA system is going to save any time. It is simply a new method of capturing the information electronically.

 

[tashasmum]

We didn't have the green forms in July. The only difference we saw was that there was only one line for immigration instead of you queueing infront of the individual kiosks. The lady at the front directs you to the next available person. Still had photos and fingerprints. We were through quite quickly but were one of the first off the plane, sat just behind PE at the front, but then had to wait for luggage.

 

[rpbert1]

Yep, just one queue, so get of as quick as you can. fortunatley there was no other planes in when we arrived, and where of the plane quite quick, got photo and fingerprinting, and luggage was there when we got through Passport control, and straight to garage and a few minute to get the car and we where away

 

[brer_rabbit]

Sounds like a much better system now, when I went in May it was the old system of queueing up behind each desk and took FOREVER I could see my poor suitcase going round the luggage carousel!!!

 

[rpbert1]

It is better, as we always picked the wrong queue, and usually waited ages

 

[TraceyL]

Landed at 3:20pm - were outside waiting for CotD to pick us up at 4pm

DOn;t know if it was the lack of VW forms but I've never been through so fast as last month

 

[dbriggsq]

Landed at 3:20pm - were outside waiting for CotD to pick us up at 4pm

DOn;t know if it was the lack of VW forms but I've never been through so fast as last month

That sounds good - we've been in some really long queues when we've been at the back of the plane. Looking forward to test it out when we go in November.

 

[diddldonna]

I hope it's better as it's always the worst part with tired and fed up children and stressed out adults, we just want to start our holiday.

Just a question do they ask for the esta numbers?

 

[TraceyL]

Just a question do they ask for the esta numbers?

Nope

 

[kevin harrison]

Do they have an area where the disabled can go? There is no chance in a month of Sundays that my 3 year old Autistic son will stand in a line for any length of time.

 

[2Tiggies]

Do they have an area where the disabled can go? There is no chance in a month of Sundays that my 3 year old Autistic son will stand in a line for any length of time.

That's what I was wondering, but as per the thread about Second Carousel, it sounds like there isn't. I find that hard to believe so perhaps those who have used it have simply not been on the thread to report it. Even Heathrow always had someone standing there to call forward those with prams, wheelchairs, etc to the front of the lines. I don't know if they still do it there but they always did when DD was a baby. Same with Edinburgh. Have you tried posting on the transportation board to get some 'local' input?

 

[tashasmum]

Do they have an area where the disabled can go? There is no chance in a month of Sundays that my 3 year old Autistic son will stand in a line for any length of time.

There wasn't one when we went in july, everybody was just in the one queue. It is possible that there will be someone around that could maybe point you into a different queue or to the front but i don't remember seeing it when we were there.

 

[kevin harrison]

That's what I was wondering, but as per the thread about Second Carousel, it sounds like there isn't. I find that hard to believe so perhaps those who have used it have simply not been on the thread to report it. Even Heathrow always had someone standing there to call forward those with prams, wheelchairs, etc to the front of the lines. I don't know if they still do it there but they always did when DD was a baby. Same with Edinburgh. Have you tried posting on the transportation board to get some 'local' input?

At Heathrow and Gatwick, you get given a pass and you make yourself known to customer services and they help you through.

 

[2Tiggies]

At Heathrow and Gatwick, you get given a pass and you make yourself known to customer services and they help you through.

That sounds about right. I haven't used Heathrow for about 6 years now so they may have changed the system to make it more efficient. They used to have someone mannng the queue, just looking for you and calling you forward.

I do hope they can help you at MCO Kevin. You have enough to deal with as it is. On reflection, it doesn't make sense that they wouldn't. I have never noticed, but then I haven't looked for it. We have also been through customs within less than 30 minutes so another reason why I may not have noticed. Last year we stepped off the plane and went straight to an available desk with no wait at all. Minutes later there was a swarm of people, but we were one of the first off the plane and possibly no other flights had beaten us to it at the time.

 

[kevin harrison]

That sounds about right. I haven't used Heathrow for about 6 years now so they may have changed the system to make it more efficient. They used to have someone mannng the queue, just looking for you and calling you forward.

I do hope they can help you at MCO Kevin. You have enough to deal with as it is.

Normally I really stand my ground and argue if I feel that my son's disability or other's isn't being understood or taken seriously , but probably not the best idea at immigration !

 

[2Tiggies]

Normally I really stand my ground and argue if I feel that my son's disability or other's isn't being understood or taken seriously , but probably not the best idea at immigration !

No, probably not the best place to argue. I am sure they will have something in place. Perhaps you could ask at check in just in case they are able to issue you with something to speed up the process. I do feel for you, and I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like. We are tired enough when we arrive and we have good health and nothing to worry about.

 

[tttessa]

Was at Thomas Cook yesterday - Virgin keep changing our holiday - and the lady told me green forms still HAD to be filled out and she hadn't heard of anyone not having to do it..... My initial query was an innocent, do I have to put the address of Virgin villa centre in my Esta now they are not doing the green forms.... I told her of all these threads and she went off to check - then said - they might have suspended the green forms after all...

Wonder when she's going to tell me that Virgin are having "contractual problems" at Emerald Island???

Tessa

 

[2Tiggies]

Was at Thomas Cook yesterday - Virgin keep changing our holiday - and the lady told me green forms still HAD to be filled out and she hadn't heard of anyone not having to do it..... My initial query was an innocent, do I have to put the address of Virgin villa centre in my Esta now they are not doing the green forms.... I told her of all these threads and she went off to check - then said - they might have suspended the green forms after all...

Wonder when she's going to tell me that Virgin are having "contractual problems" at Emerald Island???

Tessa

Oh my goodness! There has been a thread on here in the last month or so about unblelievable things customers have been told by their travel agents. I can't remember what it was called but if you can find it, it's a good read.

I think it might have been something like 'You won't believe what I overheard in the travel agent'

 

[Head_in_the_clouds]

Kev, in May there was a line next to the US residents line that said VIP's and Dignitaries and all the people in wheelchairs were going through that line with no wait. Don't know if they would let your son be a VIP for the day?