Mco Security Wait Times

[bavaria]

Why should I have to wait longer because of a failure to plan on your part???

Because 'they' are special and 'we' are not?

Actually, a few of us ARE special! we have preclearance through programs offered by various countries, such as CLEAR in the US. This means that we do get through a little quicker.

Of course, that just makes some people angry, like the fellow who got to the airport 60 minutes before an international flight, had to check in and clear customs and immigration as well as security, and expected me to let him pass me even though we were on the same flight.

Last I saw of him, he was creating a physical disturbance in a 2 hour Customs and Immigration line while I sailed by in the preclearance line - he never did board the flight

Advance planning, people. ALL airline websites tell you when to arrive at the airport. Don't think that others are going to make allowances for you, not even if you are kaytieeldr (well, ok, MAYBE if you are her!)

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I wonder if maybe the sheer number of children that go through MCO may slow things up a bit. Parents are trying to juggle them and get strollers, car seats and all their carry-ons through and taking more time.

I agree, take as little as possible and know the procedures. Have your shoes off, electronic devices out and open and make sure you child knows what do to. We have flown many times with our DD and we have going through security down pretty well.

 

[bavaria]

I wonder if maybe the sheer number of children that go through MCO may slow things up a bit. Parents are trying to juggle them and get strollers, car seats and all their carry-ons through and taking more time.

I would say that it's actually the sheer number of what a colleague calls 'amateur travellers'. Both of my home airports are high volume tourist destinations and it is painful to watch people who scramble and get stressed because they brought 1/2 the house with them and didn't realize that the baby needs to be removed from the stroller, and that they couldn't take liquids, etc etc etc....

I also have the added pain of the 'precleared' line at my airport sometimes merging with the 'family' line. Then you have airline crews and professional flyers fuming and eye rolling, making the families even more stressed....

 

[goofy4tink]

Because 'they' are special and 'we' are not?

Actually, a few of us ARE special! we have preclearance through programs offered by various countries, such as CLEAR in the US. This means that we do get through a little quicker.

Of course, that just makes some people angry, like the fellow who got to the airport 60 minutes before an international flight, had to check in and clear customs and immigration as well as security, and expected me to let him pass me even though we were on the same flight.

Last I saw of him, he was creating a physical disturbance in a 2 hour Customs and Immigration line while I sailed by in the preclearance line - he never did board the flight

Advance planning, people. ALL airline websites tell you when to arrive at the airport. Don't think that others are going to make allowances for you, not even if you are kaytieeldr (well, ok, MAYBE if you are her!)

I wanna be special, I wanna be special

 

[safetymom]

Count me in as one of the special people. I love being able to bypass the lines. I also love the look on peoples faces when they put me in front of them at the screener.

Having a Clear card was worth the money!!!

 

[ducklite]

DH and I both have CLEAR, greatest thing in the world if you fly a lot.

Anne

 

[Detailor]

The advice from the experienced travellers is excellent - prepare yourself so you won't be faced with a lot of travel surprises.
As most of you plan for your vacation time while you're at Disney doing a little planning for the travel phase of your vacation should be easy. Each of the airlines has some information on their web site that should help with travel planning. Use that information to help you with luggage weights, carry-on size, when to get to the airport, etc. Also check the TSA site for what to expect when going through security and 'average' wait time information that started this thread. And go to the airport websites. Most of them have information on parking, terminal maps, info on curb-side check in (if available), etc. Knowing what to expect and where to go should help considerably.
If you're not prepared when you get to the airport you'll likely unwittingly add to your over-all wait time. There will almost always be a lot of people rushing from one place to another and many of them will be confused and anxious. The trick is not to be one of 'them.'

Dick Taylor

 

[kaytieeldr]

I wanna be special, I wanna be special

Oh, come on - you know you're special!!!!

 

[Lewisc]

Airports/TSA used to let passengers close to their flight time go to the front of the line. I think too many passengers took advantage of this "loophole" and didn't get to the airport early enough.

Sorry but I don't buy the infrequent flyer argument. MCO has always had, and always will have, passengers that rarely fly. Security should have enough lines and screeners to accomodate the needs of the airport. I know MCO has the video. Maybe they need a couple of employees that walk around and explain the procedure. Maybe they need a longer table shoot, sometimes it takes longer for some passengers to get all their stuff in the bins.

 

[ducklite]

Airports/TSA used to let passengers close to their flight time go to the front of the line. I think too many passengers took advantage of this "loophole" and didn't get to the airport early enough.

Sorry but I don't buy the infrequent flyer argument. MCO has always had, and always will have, passengers that rarely fly. Security should have enough lines and screeners to accomodate the needs of the airport. I know MCO has the video. Maybe they need a couple of employees that walk around and explain the procedure. Maybe they need a longer table shoot, sometimes it takes longer for some passengers to get all their stuff in the bins.

Except in cases where it's medically related, if it takes that long to get your crap in a bin you need to check some things. Before I get in line my loafers and jacket are stuffed into my carryon, and my laptop and cell phone are out and ready to go in a bin. It takes under ten seconds to lift a bin from the pile, put electronics in, toss carryon on the belt, and walk through the metal detector.

Anne

 

[bavaria]

It's called taking personal responsibility. I am constantly amazed that people can spend two years online planning a trip to WDW but seem to have no idea that restrictions are in place.

If one buys an airline ticket online, or via a travel agency, or by phone, they all make mention of restrictions. Every country is different, and I take the time to learn the rules before I fly.

Yet every week I see people who get to the front of the TSA/CATSA/Whatever line and haven't taken out their laptop, removed their shoes/jackets, and have bottles of water in their bags. This is in AMERICA with videos and signage and roaming TSA agents everywhere.

Maybe I am being harsh, but someone flying out of MCO RETURNING HOME should know better by that point.

 

[Lewisc]

MCO has infrequent fliers.

Passengers who might not know some of the shortcuts. It saves time if you put keys, belt and change in a pocket in your carry on bag rather then wait and put it in a bin. Passengers that have to put keys and change in a bin, take off a belt and watch, put a carry on bag on the table so they can take out medicine and their zip lock baggie and then take off their shoes may take too much time and slow up the line.

MCO is always going to have infrequent fliers. It's up the the airport/TSA to figure out how to make things run better.

Except in cases where it's medically related, if it takes that long to get your crap in a bin you need to check some things. Before I get in line my loafers and jacket are stuffed into my carryon, and my laptop and cell phone are out and ready to go in a bin. It takes under ten seconds to lift a bin from the pile, put electronics in, toss carryon on the belt, and walk through the metal detector.

Anne

 

[bavaria]

And MCO is not the only airport with long security lines. I fly in/out of IAD a LOT; on a Friday afternoon or Saturday morning the lines surpass many I have seen at MCO. I've even seen fistfights break out and passengers carted away in handcuffs by airport police.

 

[Lewisc]

TSA knows how many flights are scheduled and probably knows, or could find out, the approximate loads on those flights.

There really isn't any excuse for not having enough employees, and screening stations, to handle projected demand.

And MCO is not the only airport with long security lines. I fly in/out of IAD a LOT; on a Friday afternoon or Saturday morning the lines surpass many I have seen at MCO. I've even seen fistfights break out and passengers carted away in handcuffs by airport police.

 

[ducklite]

TSA knows how many flights are scheduled and probably knows, or could find out, the approximate loads on those flights.

There really isn't any excuse for not having enough employees, and screening stations, to handle projected demand.

TSA schedules by passenger loads, and not by intelligence levels of said passsengers. Those who are annoyed by the waits at MCO should either get CLEAR or write your congressman to ask for better funding for additional payroll hours at MCO.

Anne

 

[safetymom]

MCO has gotten better but they still need more screeners working. I see a lot of clueless people at the airports I fly through but MCO seems to have many more of them.

 

[goofy4tink]

Here's a great example of an 'inexperienced flier'....our church sent an adult group out to South Dakota on a mission trip. Not my thing, I didn't go. But, when they got back, they were talking about the trip and their various experiences. One man said, 'I almost didn't get to make the trip...they almost wouldn't let me on the plane. When I got to the security place, they sent me through a machine that puffed at me, and then to make matters worse, they had to body search me with one of those wand things. Almost didn't make it through security. Guess I must be a special risk or something.'
Now, they flew out of Logan, they have some of the new 'puffer' scanners but I have yet to go through one, and on every single trip through security, there is someone being pulled aside for wanding.

It really amazed me to think that this grown man thought he was getting 'special' treatment and that he was going to be prevented from flying. He seemed annoyed that he had to empty his pockets and put his sweater in a bin. This is a big reason the sercurity lines are getting so bad..more and more people flying who have no idea what to expect.

 

[dburg30]

I hadnt flown in a LONG time. 3 of us went on a short trip this last weekend. I had checked out the TSA site, read what they suggested to do so I was pretty much ready for it when we got there. We all had either pants with no buttons / rivits on them, either flip flops or sneakers. hardly anything in carry on. My wife and mom had even taken their jewelry off and put it in the carry on til we got thru security. I took my glasses off. We just didnt want to hold up the line. We had no idea how touchy the machines were, and just wanted thru . Well, my wife brushed the side of the machine with her arm I guess and set it off but the 2nd trip thru she was fine.

We were there plenty early, but again, I'd rather be on the airplane side of security

But I'm one of those that gets to everything early.

 

[Lewisc]

Lack of experience and knowledge of "shortcuts" doesn't necessarily mean lack of intelligence. I'll concede "stupid" passengers may be part of the problem. You don't need to pass an intelligence test to fly. MCO probably has more then it's share of infrequent fliers. MCO has to deal with the passengers it gets.

Most of the "instructions" tell passengers to dump their keys and change in one of the bins. It's faster if the passenger dumps them in their carry on bag before they even get near security. I know to remove my belt, passengers that don't fly much don't know if their belt has enough metal to set off the metal detector.

Bavaria noted delays in other airports such as IAD. I don't think the problem is 100% "stupid" passengers.

I must fly during the slower parts of the day, I don't think I've ever waited more then 10-15 minutes for security at MCO. The airlines should be staffing to accomodate load factors, based on how long it actually takes to screen passengers. Airlines and the airport may need to do a better job educating infrequent fliers.

TSA schedules by passenger loads, and not by intelligence levels of said passsengers. Those who are annoyed by the waits at MCO should either get CLEAR or write your congressman to ask for better funding for additional payroll hours at MCO.

Anne

 

[bunnyfoo]

Hint!!!

Do NOT depend on the TSA wait times to be accurate!!!!! They WANT you believe they are doing a good job so they "underestimate"

Also, if you get there late you will probably NOT be allowed to the front of the line. It has a domino effect, the next thing you know I am late because you were allowed to pass. I cannot recall the last time I even saw agents looking for "late passengers" and most of your fellow travelers don't have any sympathy for you (yes, that includes me. I have seen the hysterical family in lne 30 minutes before the plane...I don't feel too sorry for them unless they have a REAL horror story, but "didn't expect long lines" is NOT an excuse!) Why should I have to wait longer because of a failure to plan on your part???

In Toronto, we clear US customs at our airport. The line can get pretty long sometimes and the staff will skip people ahead of line if their flights are less than 1hr from departure. I'm usually at the airport early so I never get to jump the line. The last time I went to Orlando, they held up our flight because the customs line was "too long" ... when I talked to the person beside me on the plane I found out that he had only arrived at the airport at 7:45 for a 9:15am flight. That's cutting it a bit close - Lucky people! I can't imagine I'd have the plane delayed if I were late