Magical Express and delays with TSA.

[Chip_Dale]

There is recent talks that wait to go through TSA can be up to 3 hours. Will Disney change their pick up time back to airport in order to make it through the check point in order to catch your flight.

 

[Alesia]

Where are you hearing that? Is it from a reliable source?

3 hours to get through security sounds very far-fetched to me (even at MCO.) 45 minutes is certainly possible. An hour is rare, but not outside the realm of possibility. But 3 hours? I would need to see some reliable evidence to believe that.

 

[PoohGal05]

When I called DME to ask for another set of bag tags, I asked the CM I spoke to if I could request to be picked up earlier because of the time it's taking to get to security. She said it wasn't a problem. She told me the day before check out we would receive a notice on our door about our DME pick up time. She said if the time was not the time I requested, call DME and they would change the time. I'm going to make sure of the earlier time when we check in with ME on our arrival day.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I usually call the day before pick up and have them change the time to 30 minutes earlier. I've, all but one time, been the first on the bus and then had to go to 2-4 other resorts before leaving for the airport. I like to be at the airport at least 2 hours before my flight, at any airport, so that I can have a snack and relax before boarding.

I've read a few threads now that the talk is of 3 hour waits at MCO. I have a really hard time believing that is happening. Could happen once or twice, sure things happen but if it were a regular thing I think the airlines would have a whole lot to say about it. They would have thousands of passengers to reroute. Lately the wait at security has been longer for sure. I was through there in Dec and March and both times it was long. March being the worst at 40ish minutes but the line in Dec was actually longer. I talked to several friends lately that also said the wait at security was between 20-50 minutes. Different sides of the airport and different times of day.

 

[LeslieF]

Midway and O'Hare in Chicago has been horrible! They are saying to get to the airport 3 hours before your flight. Because we fly so early in the morning both leaving and coming home we have never had a problem, even 2 weeks ago. One tip for those bringing their bags to the airport is to use curbside checkin. The Southwest desk was SO long when we arrived to MCO that we went outside and tipped $5 just to get ahead of all those other people still waiting to check in their bags!

 

[WiscMomof2]

Midway and O'Hare in Chicago has been horrible! They are saying to get to the airport 3 hours before your flight. Because we fly so early in the morning both leaving and coming home we have never had a problem, even 2 weeks ago. One tip for those bringing their bags to the airport is to use curbside checkin. The Southwest desk was SO long when we arrived to MCO that we went outside and tipped $5 just to get ahead of all those other people still waiting to check in their bags!

Agreed. We used curbside check in when we've stayed offsite and it is such a time saver. Not having to visit the SWA check in counter is one of the best things I like about ME. We live about halfway between O'Hare and Milwaukee airports and avoid O'Hare whenever possible. Milwaukee airport is sooooo much easier to navigate.

 

[LeslieF]

We love Midway. Avoid O'Hare at all costs!

 

[AngiTN]

Where are you hearing that? Is it from a reliable source?

3 hours to get through security sounds very far-fetched to me (even at MCO.) 45 minutes is certainly possible. An hour is rare, but not outside the realm of possibility. But 3 hours? I would need to see some reliable evidence to believe that.

Just turn on the news. It's all over.
http://www.today.com/video/o-hare-a...apologizes-promises-new-staffers-687875651622
The TSA is short on agents everywhere. Passengers are up everywhere. In the story I linked they talk about how there is almost 1 million more travelers per day
It is causing longer lines.
Now, it varies by airport on if 3 hours is needed but yes, in some cases they are suggesting that.
Especially if you are traveling at a really busy holiday time.
If I wasn't PreCheck I'd leave Disney more than 3 hours early too. We go with 2 hours (using Uber)

 

[AngiTN]

I usually call the day before pick up and have them change the time to 30 minutes earlier. I've, all but one time, been the first on the bus and then had to go to 2-4 other resorts before leaving for the airport. I like to be at the airport at least 2 hours before my flight, at any airport, so that I can have a snack and relax before boarding.

I've read a few threads now that the talk is of 3 hour waits at MCO. I have a really hard time believing that is happening. Could happen once or twice, sure things happen but if it were a regular thing I think the airlines would have a whole lot to say about it. They would have thousands of passengers to reroute. Lately the wait at security has been longer for sure. I was through there in Dec and March and both times it was long. March being the worst at 40ish minutes but the line in Dec was actually longer. I talked to several friends lately that also said the wait at security was between 20-50 minutes. Different sides of the airport and different times of day.

Funny you say that. TSA asked the airlines to relax their check bags fee as a way to help reduce the number of bags being sent through security, which would in turn speed things up. They refused. So they aren't really all that worried about it. Seeing how your being late for your flight due to TSA is not a reason for them to change your flight for free they likely don't care.

 

[MichiganScott]

If you haven't looked into it, consider TSA Pre Check. $85 a person (kids < 13 can tag along with you) gets you through security in a flash for 5 years. Just about the best $170 we've ever spent.

 

[wilkeliza]

If you haven't looked into it, consider TSA Pre Check. $85 a person (kids < 13 can tag along with you) gets you through security in a flash for 5 years. Just about the best $170 we've ever spent.

Totally wanted to do it but it isn't something you can get done quick. We leave on June 9th and can't get an appointment in a city with 5 locations until July.

 

[MichiganScott]

Yeah, it definitely takes time to do, both to schedule the meeting and to get them to approve (which takes a couple weeks). Still good to consider now for your next trip at least

One thing to remember for married folks doing this. You need your birth certificate sure, but if you changed your name as a result of marriage, you'll also need your wedding license to show the legal transition. If you don't bring that, they will send you away to get it.

 

[AngiTN]

Totally wanted to do it but it isn't something you can get done quick. We leave on June 9th and can't get an appointment in a city with 5 locations until July.

Wow. I guess that's showing how many people are now considering it due to the news reports about long lines.
We did ours in January and it was walk up and took 1 week to get it back.

 

[wilkeliza]

Wow. I guess that's showing how many people are now considering it due to the news reports about long lines.
We did ours in January and it was walk up and took 1 week to get it back.

I've heard precheck is causing some of the back ups because so many people are doing it and precheck gets processed first. We could get it done in a week or two if we went all the way out to JFK but to get an appointment at one of the cities based facilities it is late June/early July. I'm not sure if global entry is faster to get since it is more expensive but we fly internationally enough to make it worth it.

 

[AngiTN]

I've heard precheck is causing some of the back ups because so many people are doing it and precheck gets processed first. We could get it done in a week or two if we went all the way out to JFK but to get an appointment at one of the cities based facilities it is late June/early July. I'm not sure if global entry is faster to get since it is more expensive but we fly internationally enough to make it worth it.

I can't see that. At all the airports I've done with PreCheck the line is separate from all the non-precheck passengers. They couldn't cause a delay for them.

 

[AngiTN]

I've heard precheck is causing some of the back ups because so many people are doing it and precheck gets processed first. We could get it done in a week or two if we went all the way out to JFK but to get an appointment at one of the cities based facilities it is late June/early July. I'm not sure if global entry is faster to get since it is more expensive but we fly internationally enough to make it worth it.

Oh, and consider Clear if it's at an airport near you. They are in Orlando. It's not at any of the airports we depart from so it's not viable for us so I've never looked to see how long it takes to get

 

[wilkeliza]

I can't see that. At all the airports I've done with PreCheck the line is separate from all the non-precheck passengers. They couldn't cause a delay for them.

True I think it was more about it having to be staffed so if the airport is feeling a shortage then Precheck gets its staff anf then they fill the rest of the lines wih remaining people. I heard complainers say they had to wait 10-15 minutes for precheck and I was like know your crowd others had 2+ waits.

Sounds like JFK and La Guargia are business as usual and it is new flyers not knowing it is usually a 30-45 minut wait there.

 

[AngiTN]

True I think it was more about it having to be staffed so if the airport is feeling a shortage then Precheck gets its staff anf then they fill the rest of the lines wih remaining people.

That I can see them doing. People paid for the PreCheck, which in turns pays for some of the TSA budget. So yeah, I think they should get a staff member even if it means 1 less for the non-pre lines. Though it is just that, 1 maybe 2, agents for Pre. At least at the airports we've flown out of

 

[nluvwithdisney]

We love Midway. Avoid O'Hare at all costs!

That's so funny because we are just the opposite on that!

 

[siskaren]

That's so funny because we are just the opposite on that!

I'm curious as to why you prefer O'Hare. I've never flown out of Midway, but I would think that with it being a much smaller airport, it would be easier to deal with.