Questions regarding customs at MCO for US citizen

[Mich123]

My daughter is flying in on a Saturday evening in December from Gatwick directly to MCO on Norwegian. She is a US citizen and I'm wondering if others can share their recent experiences with U.S. customs in similar situations? Will it take two hours? Does she collect her luggage first? Any other tips? The plane is scheduled to land at 7:25 p.m. Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Lynne G]

Never had to do customs at MCO, but you do have to have all your luggage before clearing customs. Time depends on how many. At some airports, they do allow US citizens in a separate line.

If she has a phone, have her call you when she gets into the customs line.

Hope she gets her luggage fast and the line in customs goes fast.

 

[SirDuff]

Never had to do customs at MCO, but you do have to have all your luggage before clearing customs.

Just in case the OP is using the word "customs" to mean both customs and immigration.

You will go through immigration before collecting luggage (there is a line for US citizens, though it also includes others like Canadian and permanent residents, which should be faster than the line for others who need visas/ESTAs).

Then you collect your luggage.

Then go through customs (which should just be handing your landing card over to the agent - but the line here can sometimes back up).

 

[livbeatles]

I have global entry so I can't comment on the length of time for immigration, but I swear I always wait an absolute age for my luggage at MCO!

 

[Mich123]

@SirDuff Thank you for clarifying the difference between immigration and customs--I could tell there was a difference in the lines at immigration from TripAdvisor comments, but couldn't figure out how it worked. How long did it take you to go through immigration and then customs? I'm hoping that by the time you get through immigration, the bags are waiting for you.