MCO immigration

[starrysky]

Thanks for that. I know the last time I can recall collecting the bags going through the blue form queue then putting the bags on another belt BUT for some reason we collected them and ended up going to the wrong place.
We are flying VA so I presume the bags go through to either A or B???? Then to get ME we just get in an elevator and go to the ground floor. I just dont know what happened the last time. All the times Iv been U have never had such a hike so dont know what I dud wrong. What a muppet!!!

ME is on level 1 side. Normally I believe the bags end up on the A side as this is the international side of the airport. Just aim for the central atrium of the airport and follow the signs for B side.
I remember last trip we had a couple of families that followed us to collect the bags and get to the ME as they had never been before felt like the piedpiper LOL. Just aim for the B side once you have your bags.

 

[starrysky]

Yes as I said we got stopped from taking them with us total pain as it took ages for them to get to the other belt.

 

[scoobydooby]

I find the whole experience totally disorientating. Done it six times and still will not know what to do this summer. Again!

 

[starrysky]

I find the whole experience totally disorientating. Done it six times and still will not know what to do this summer. Again!

Yes I second guess the location of ME and we have taken it 4 times. I blame the tiredness from traveling

 

[MrRomance]

My experience has been it depends on when you land. In the space of about an hour at the time the first VA flight and the BA flight get in, there are a bunch of flights that land from Europe and it gets really backed up. It never affects us because my wife is American and we can go through the citizens lines but when we were there last summer, my mum and my elder daughter travelled separately (we were on an Air France flight and they flew VA) and they were there for about 90 minutes while we were through in about 15. A lot of it depends on the time you land I think.

 

[wayneg]

Didn't look good thru MIA at the weekend
http://miami.cbslocal.com/2013/03/18/tsa-cut-backs-cause-delays-at-mia/

 

[crabbie1]

ME is on level 1 side. Normally I believe the bags end up on the A side as this is the international side of the airport. Just aim for the central atrium of the airport and follow the signs for B side.
I remember last trip we had a couple of families that followed us to collect the bags and get to the ME as they had never been before felt like the piedpiper LOL. Just aim for the B side once you have your bags.

Thanks Will
I think perhaps we collected them and then went to A !!! I know now head for B. thanku

 

[starrysky]

Didn't look good thru MIA at the weekend
http://miami.cbslocal.com/2013/03/18/tsa-cut-backs-cause-delays-at-mia/

That would suck. Makes me even more determined to stick with clearing at Dublin.

 

[starrysky]

Thanks Will
I think perhaps we collected them and then went to A !!! I know now head for B. thanku

As I said being tired from travelling causes my mind to fail me completely so it's very easy to get confused when you arrive.

 

[zippy99]

I don't wish to sound disrespectful to frequent posters but I feel this thread deserves a reality check - perhaps even a poll thread?

People are very quick to jump on negative press stories or even their own experiences - but seldom do I see people say immigration was a breeze. We have never taken longer than 45 mins at MCO immigration which I find acceptable. Yet many of the comments on here give a distorted view on immigration times.

We are flying via MIA this August with a 2hr 20 connection time - yet according to threads I have read on here we are almost doomed for disaster.

I fully understand people's need to air a grievance after a delay but I do appeal to those people who have experienced easy and swift transition though immigration to bring balance to the force!

Sorry to sound like a rant but when I find myself building with anxiety as embark on our 6th trip reading these threads, I do wonder how those on here looking fir guidance on a first trip must feel.

In 5 trips (1 to Sanford, 3 to MCO and 1 via Atlanta) we have never had an issue.

I honestly think - take what you read with a pinch of salt and remember people are quicker to have a gripe than they are to praise! And so what if immigration takes an extra hour - you still have your whole holiday ahead of you!

 

[scoobydooby]

I've only ever waited more than half an hour once when two 747s arrived at the same time. Waited an hour that time. There's only so many people they can hold in immigration due to fire regs so they will have to staff according to at least that minimum need.

I will repeat myself in support of the previous post. I've waited longer for Soarin' than I've ever waited at MCO. I'm not saying it doesn't happen. But I agree with the call for balance.

 

[Laszkowicz]

As a first timer (not been yet) I agree some threads do worry you .

It same with everything tho, hotels n pubs, restaurants in uk, people are quick to post about 'issues' but less likely to post praises.

Well said.

But we (first timers) do need to read real stories to weigh everything up.

 

[2Tiggies]

But we (first timers) do need to read real stories to weigh everything up.

I think the point zippy99 was making was that you are reading the worst of it and certainly not all cases are as extreme as the ones posted on here.

We had a very quick immigration clearance last september (under 20 minutes) and then waited almost an hour because the luggage belts were closed due to a thunderstorm. Getting through really quickly pretty much guarantees a wait at the carousel regardless of the weather.

I would suggest you glean information, be prepared for uncanny delays, but try not to get hooked up on all the negatives

 

[Wills Mom]

We had always flown direct up to our 2010 trip so that was the first time we had to go through immigration in MCO. I wish I had known some of the horror stories of long waits and I really wish I had known that when you get off that plane you have to just GO. No dawdling, just go as fast as you can cause we waited around for other members of our group and then got stuck at the back of a massive queue. Over 3 hours later we finally got through, just saying wish I had been a bit more mentally prepared! Our second time clearing immigration took about an hour which was fine, we were kept moving and the lines were running efficiently. To our way of thinking anything had to have been better than the first time so we were definitely expecting the worst but hoping for the best which would be my advice to first timers

 

[wayneg]

People are very quick to jump on negative press stories or even their own experiences - but seldom do I see people say immigration was a breeze. We have never taken longer than 45 mins at MCO immigration which I find acceptable. Yet many of the comments on here give a distorted view on immigration times.

I agree its probably hyped by the media & forums but the reality is they are having problems and longer lines than usual, therefore worthy of discussion.

Personally I don't find 45 mins acceptable, thankfully only once had longer than a 30 min line (Atlanta before new terminal opened)

You will never get a balanced view on something like this, people usually post to complain not to compliment a service. Just reading another forum and latest posts were 2-3 hours at MCO, others saying only 15 mins, no-one knows til they land but I feel it needs posting so people are aware there is a problem at the moment, hopefully they will sort it soon.

 

[crabbie1]

Well Im not one of these people who has to jump out my seat and rush off the plane . Im on holiday and if there is a wait there is a wait. Last twice we did the later VA flight from manchester and both times had over an hour wait so I am going with the same view although this time we are on the 11 am flight. Dont know if it will make much difference but we will see.

 

[2Tiggies]

Just reading another forum and latest posts were 2-3 hours at MCO, others saying only 15 mins, no-one knows til they land but I feel it needs posting so people are aware there is a problem at the moment, hopefully they will sort it soon.

A lot of it is down to perception. There are always some very accurate reports and those that "felt like" x number of hours. Unfortunately there is no way to establish the credibility of every single report.

Well Im not one of these people who has to jump out my seat and rush off the plane

I am!

 

[Old Swan]

I don't wish to sound disrespectful to frequent posters but I feel this thread deserves a reality check - perhaps even a poll thread?

People are very quick to jump on negative press stories or even their own experiences - but seldom do I see people say immigration was a breeze. We have never taken longer than 45 mins at MCO immigration which I find acceptable. Yet many of the comments on here give a distorted view on immigration times.

We are flying via MIA this August with a 2hr 20 connection time - yet according to threads I have read on here we are almost doomed for disaster.

I fully understand people's need to air a grievance after a delay but I do appeal to those people who have experienced easy and swift transition though immigration to bring balance to the force!

Sorry to sound like a rant but when I find myself building with anxiety as embark on our 6th trip reading these threads, I do wonder how those on here looking fir guidance on a first trip must feel.

In 5 trips (1 to Sanford, 3 to MCO and 1 via Atlanta) we have never had an issue.

I honestly think - take what you read with a pinch of salt and remember people are quicker to have a gripe than they are to praise! And so what if immigration takes an extra hour - you still have your whole holiday ahead of you!

Well said.

25 July 2011, 54 minutes from the second the wheels of the plane hit that beautiful hot tarmac to driving out of the garage in the hire car. I remember reading plenty of comments before that trip about how slow the line moving to one queue rather than pick your counter was, and had set expections with the troops that we may have a wait - but hey ho - we are in Florida! Maybe we were lucky.

Colleague has just come back from Daytona Bike Week through MCO and cleared through immigration in under 30 minutes.

Tell you what - on a day like today - i would happily queue 3 hours through immigration for some sunshine! Brrr!

 

[Radley]

Tell you what - on a day like today - i would happily queue 3 hours through immigration for some sunshine! Brrr!

That's exactly what I was just thinking.

 

[Lesleyluvsdisney]

I will repeat myself in support of the previous post. I've waited longer for Soarin' than I've ever waited at MCO. I'm not saying it doesn't happen. But I agree with the call for balance.