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.

I’m so glad you’re getting to go - happy travels

You still get an email from the ESTA service telling you that your ESTA expires in 30 days though, if your passport and attached ESTA expires before the standard 2 year ESTA validity.

Sorry that you’ve had all the hassle but you are supposed to know that the ESTA is attached to the passport and not the individual, and the expiry date is given on the ESTA approval document - so if your passport expires in 18 months, the ESTA expiry date is also in 18 months.

But you do get a notification from ESTA that your ESTA has expired, because your old passport number is no longer valid on the system.

Glad you managed to have a good day yesterday in the end, hope all goes well today and you have a good flight and a wonderful holiday.

This

Are the In-laws treating you all to this holiday op?

Have a safe flight op. This will soon be a minor blip.

How much extra to change flights? And the hotel cost too?

This has not changed substantially from the old green visa waiver form that you had to fill in on the plane except that it is electronic and has to be in place before you will be allowed on the plane.

Yes, that was the last time I'd done one so good to know if I ever go to the US again it needs doing in advance!

Oh man, how stressful for you all! Lessons to be learned but that can wait; glad it’s all sorted and have the best holiday!

We’re off to Florida in August so of course, checking my ESTAs (again) 😂

OP you are incredibly lucky on this occasion, but please sort your ESTA before booking another holiday.

Ours came back confirmed in minutes

This has probably been mentioned already but as you didn't make your outbound flight, your return flight may be automatically cancelled. Make sure to check this!

Last time I was in the States (7 years ago) although I had mine, I remember having to stand and fill stuff in on an automated machine which may have been a declaration as I wasn't put through clearance on the way out (non direct flight). I THINK you can sort it out when you get there but my memory is fuzzy on it.

Oh you're sorted excellent news. Enjoy my fave place in on earth! :)

I think I preferred the dreaded inflight green form to the current system. I had a terrible job trying to download my passport photo online onto the ESTA form.

I'm so glad you are going, but fucking hell, I can't imagine booking travel arrangements for a group and not sorting out the visas for half the party or at least making it clear that they need to organise it. They must have a good deal more money than sense.

Problem is US Border have a severe sense of humour failure over passengers arriving without ESTAs or Visas, fine airlines loads of money for each transgression and also insist the airline repatriate the individual(s) involved...

So a non US passport holder with no ESTA or visa trying to get on a direct flight to the US from most countries simply won't be allowed to check-in for the flight.

I'm so happy it all worked out!

Glad you are sorted and managed to make the best of the day!

Makes me realise we were very lucky the first time we travelled to the USA and only found out about the need for an ESTA when we were in the check-in queue for our flight. Fortunately ours were processed within minutes so our panic was short-lived.

Beware that as you didn't check in you'll have lost the return trip too. Did you book entirely new return tickets?

I'm so glad to hear you got your holiday after all! Have the best time!

Aren't similar ESTA type clearances to be introduced for UK passport holders (and all non EU with visa waivers) for EU entry sometime soon also? Haven't heard anything recently so it might be something to watch.

Pretty sure it will be fine, usually comes through in a few hours depending on time difference. If you’re off to Disney and you have reservations etc even without ESTA you won’t be bothered

They didn't come through in time so op had to change flights and fly a day later..