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 would absolutely not to this. There are counties I would bluff with but not US customs especially with my children with me,

I really hope they come through. I did one in December and it took 48 hours to come through and did another on Monday and it took two hours to come through. Such mixed times. Keeping everything crossed for you all and that you have a great trip.

Fingers crossed they come in the nick of time for you!

I really hope they come through in time OP!

@Odellio my DH wasn't able to check in online. He applied for his ESTA the day before (it was a work trip and he thought it was taken care of), he checked in fine in person.

Try calling or doing a live chat with your airline and they should see if they have ESTAs for you.

Fingers crossed OP x

This happened to me once but for a work trip, only I didn't realise I needed it until I got to the airport and they wouldn't let me check in. I had to make the application on my phone at the airport and was terrified I was going to miss my very expensive transatlantic flight + the meeting I was travelling for! It came through within 30 minutes and I was saved. I can't recall if there was any way to speed it up but do seem to remember that the system doesn't proactively update you and you should keep looking for updates because it may happen sooner than you realise.

It’s been many many years since I went to USA.

good luck OP…. Hope there’s a good update soon.

Oh no. I really hope they come through for you OP.

Keeping fingers crossed for you OP 🤞🏻

Good luck op. And FWIW I too would have assumed my FIL had sorted the ESTAS with that message he sent you!

I’m wishing you lots of luck. Hope they are approved soon

Fingers crossed for you.

I’m invested in this now! Fingers crossed

It’s electronic now. They check the ESTA even before you get to check in.

But you need your passport number to apply for an ESTA! So unless in-laws had asked for the numbers how could they have done them for them?

I think you need them to book flights too, in which case, they probably already had them.

I really hope you make it OP. I’d be so stressed

Good luck OP!

Please don't do this. If you don't have the correct paperwork then the US can (and will) detain you and then deport you. That happened to my BIL over 30 years ago and it's got even tighter since then.

I'm hoping the ESTAs come through in time. It must be so stressful.

Hope all works out.
Best wishes,
Maras2,and family xxxx

I wonder if the response times are due to working hours. Maybe the weekend applications take longer and those who apply during office hours get a quicker reply.

OP, I hope it gets sorted for you today in time for your flight.

@Odellio the delay sounds weird.
Have you definitely used the US government site and not one of the arseholes that offer an applying for an ESTA service?

The official site is here...
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta

I really hope this comes through in time for you.

OP literally says she sent FIL her new passport details and he replied saying he was applying for the ESTAs the next day. That's how

Good luck OP, I really hope the ESTA arrive in time. I would go to airport, explain what has happened at the desk and ask what the options are should you need to move flights, they can check availability for Monday, hopefully you will get someone kind and helpful on the desk.