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.

Good luck!!! Sorry you are having such a stressful start to your holiday. Really hope they get approved in time.

We will discuss options with in-laws and airline when we get to the airport. In-laws have said they will book us on next flight as soon as our ESTAs are approved, if today goes wrong.

Ahh good luck! My ESTAS came back really fast maybe 15 hours later so hopefully anytime for you

I am so annoyed with ourselves for getting to this point. I’m such an organised person, but taken a back seat with this trip because it’s been organised by DH‘s parents and it is for the SC mainly as they are growing up fast (DS is only 2 so we can take him when he’s older).

It’s good you’re going to the airport. I hope they book you on new flights free of charge if no ESTAs yet.

It could happen to anyone. If someone has organised the travel and said they sorted the ESTAs when asked, many people would assume that meant everyone’s.

PIL should have doubled checked with everyone.

Why would they book them free of charge? Unfortunately it’s OP’s responsibility to arrange the ETSA not the airline

Sometimes airlines are sympathetic when passengers turn up for their flight on time but have made a mistake somewhere.

Fingers crossed op. 💐💐💐

I hope they come through in time; ours came through within a couple of hours last year so you will be very unlucky if they don’t.

You should do ESTAS when you book your trip, because in the rare instances they get denied (including many legit reasons like your name is the same as a criminal on the wanted list etc) you have to apply for a Visa, which takes months.

I need an update, hope you make it!

I applied for ours mid-March for August and they came around 20 hours later. Good luck!! I really hope they come through for you!

hope all goes well

Who are you travelling with? Is it worth moving to one later in the day to give yourself more time?

Oh OP, everything crossed!!

It seems to be total pot luck with this doesn’t it? I’ve waited two hours, I’ve got a friend who waited about 22 hours. No logic as to why the two were so different, our family set ups are broadly similar.

Yes, this would be my normal procedure, but I got married last year and needed to update passport to married surname as FIL had booked in my new name. Once my new passport came through I sent him the details and he said he was ‘sorting our ESTAs tomorrow’.

I’m now massively over invested. I hope it come through for you in time op.

Not sure if still the same but I know that if you don’t have a valid one in place it won’t let you do online check in.
we had an issue a few years back - we had EStAs in place but dd had got a new passport and we’d forgotten to change her ESTA. It wouldn’t let me check her in, just the other 3 travellers. We had to do one in a hurry - it was back when it was almost instant most of the time - and once through it allowed us to check her in online then.

If it’s been approved but no email you may find you can check in and all is fine.
You don’t show anyone them, it’s all digital.

Good luck OP. As for a reason, do you have common names/surnames/any middle names? When we apply mine and the dcs come back as approved instantly but DH’s always takes a few days, he has no middle name and very common first and surnames so must have hundreds of potential matches, I’m guessing someone has to manually review and confirm none of them are him!

Sometimes they do.Don't be negative , we know its op responsibility but what' triggers you about her getting re booked for free?

So you sent him your passport details and FIL just said ‘I’m sorting our ESTAs tomorrow’?

Did he not wonder why you were sending your passport details to him?

Is he a bit thoughtless?

This is untrue. You will not be allowed to even check in until you show your ESTA or visa. An agent will be in the queue checking. You will not be allowed to board your flight if there if the remotest chance they will not allow you into the country.

My ex took my youngest to New York a few years ago, I’d taken him to Florida a few months earlier so son had his, Ex hadn’t and had to do it at check in. Luckily went through ok ! Worst case scenario, if it doesn’t come through today then fly tomorrow ? Fingers crossed for you !