Have we ruined our DisneyWorld trip?

[Odellio]

I need some reassurance or advice. We are due to fly to Florida for DisneyWorld this afternoon with SC and DS. We have little knowledge of international travel, I knew we needed ESTAs but didn’t understand the process. I checked with in-laws who are organising the whole trip if they had sorted ESTAs, and they said they had. Obviously I misunderstood that they were talking about their ESTAs only and not ours. We applied yesterday afternoon as soon as we realised we didn’t have ESTAs. Still pending authorisation. I am hugely panicking now that we won’t get them in time to check-in.

No one says how long it should take but they aim for 72hrs (working days). This would therefore be 72hrs from Monday morning (US timezone)

Agreed.

Plus the airline gets fined $$$$$ if they've flown an illegal immigrant into the founty

They are still processed over weekends and bank holidays.

Ok fair point. Many years ago 😀

Yes and we drilled in to passengers that they can't make a mistake on the forms which is why we always ran out! ESTA was rolled out in 2009 thank goodness..

I think it was a green visa waiver card that you had to complete, with a stub that you retained for departure (not a customs form).

When we went in on a visa in 2000 we had a white form to record entry, and a stub that we used on exit (from memory).

Just seen a thread from today on “the dibb” website with people saying that they did theirs yesterday and still waiting. Others saying came through in an hour. Good luck. Surprised there is availability tomorrow but great they will swap if needed.

Hope they come in on time OP. 🙏

I’ve had a fair few travel dramas myself and it’s always when there’s other people involved. Too many cooks and all that…

At least you have plan B in place. Try to soak up the holiday atmosphere and not to get too stressed. You’ll get there in the end!

As far as I know there are delays as this is a new approach. Possibly due to employment rights their end.

Yes, sure you have

God you must be having kittens, 90 mins till the gate closes. I would be seething at FIL for not sorting this.

I posted up thread about my dps existing ESTA being linked to his old passport and he's joining us 24 hours late via JFK.

He's just whatsapped me saying there's a family behind him at check-in who's application is still pending, how weird would it be if it's OPs family!

Why so rude? It’s not your thread so why being a thread police?

I applied for an ESTA recently as I got a new passport so my old one was no longer valid. I remember previously that mine came through within hours but this time I applied on the evening of 01/01 and I got the confirmation early AM on 03/01 - so about 36 hours albeit probably when lots of people could be on annual leave! Fingers crossed for you all x

Well given that Etsas were only brought in in 2007 it’s completely feasible that this poster travelled to the US without one.

Before that it was a visa waiver which I think you did in paper on the plane.

OP - I hope you are doing ok. I know how stressful things like this can be. We went to Disney World a few months ago and had a last minute issue with something similar so I know how stressful it can be. Especially if you have children with you.

Just remember, in a few days you will be soaking up the sun and enjoying the attractions in Magic Kingdom and you won’t even remember any of this x

Yes! I was trying to remember what it was called. I moved to the US in 2006 with a visa, so I had to have a different form when the cabin crew came round with all the visa waivers. But you did fill it in on the plane, an hour or so before landing. Pre-flight ESTAS make it all a lot easier on the journey but only if you get them sorted in good time.

Good luck, OP!

no update! Hopefully the OP made it and is on the flight with their phone off.

The last time we flew to the US the staff at our local airport took our documents and were away about 10 minutes checking our ESTA status, even though we had the printouts of the authorisation.
I've always found that they don't all come through at the same time, one's usually much later but in general they've often been through in an hour but under the current US regime one can expect anything!

Without a visa? That would never happen.

I did something similar once. Had valid Esta but had changed my name on passport as got married. Think it took me approx 24 hours possibly less but it was a Monday when I realised so a working day and we were flying later that week x

It's not FILs fault! ESTAs are for individuals not whole familes, would you expect FIL to apply for a passport for you? It's a form for ONE person only

incorrect - you can do a group esta application

Glad you agree. It was brought in in 1986 by Reagan. HTH.