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.

yes the system knows you have an ESTA or a visa. I have a US visa which is in passport.

Just trying to advise OP not to follow some advice of just turning up and trying to board as she will not be able to get past checkin without one or the other

^^ very very much agree with that advice..

In the interests of expectation management I have to second the comment made by another poster that rebooking, if possible, probably won"t come free.

Have you read the story about Rebecca Burke, 28, a graphic artist from Monmouthshire? I had literally no bias's towards pro/anti trump as I try to stay away from the news.

However, doesn't shine a great light on the administration on the treatment of the detained individuals - In her particular case she was leaving the US not entering!

I would not on any level take any risks to enter any country especially with my family.

This is absolutely the kind of thing I would do (although it does sound more like miscommunication with FIL) and I really hope they come through for you in time. Can completely imagine the sinking pit of the stomach feeling when you realised!

I wouldn't do this at the moment. The US seem to be chucking a lot of people in detention centres for very little reason at the mo.

It sounds like you dont if the OP had to get a new passport because the FIL had booked in a different name

I'd go to the airport and hope the computer says yes

I turned up at the airport without an Esta, have travelled extensively around the world but never been to America in 34 years so hadn’t given it a thought and no one I knew mentioned it. I applied at the airport and was approved right away. Hopefully yours will come through in time and you will all have a lovely holiday.

Singing that song all day!

It really isn’t anything to do with Trump. As if there would be any option to self confirm!

It’s attached to your passport although I always take a screen shot of the confirmation along with the reference number. Don’t trust those computers 100%.

Apparently one of the biggest issues in delay is that people rush filling it in and when the questions comes up asking whether you have criminal convictions they silly billies tick YES! The application then goes for manual checking and it’s very very difficult to contact anyone or ask for it to the Fast Tracked. In a previous role I was asked tons of time to fast track an order often very aggressively because the client had forgotten to put it in the first place!

Don’t forget to check your junk mail. Fingers crossed for you

Don’t do this.

I traveled last year and there was no way Delta would have checked me in without it. They could see an ESTA linked to my passport, but they also wanted to see it (either hard copy or through the app).

You certainly don’t want to try and blag it at the other end either. They wouldn’t be very forgiving.

There is some misinformation on this thread too. DH has a new passport and he thought his old ESTA was still applicable. It isn’t but we have 6 months before we go (and I will be checking his answers).

I have never been asked to show it on the app and have been to the US many times.i always have a hard copy but never shown it.

You cannot do it. As has been said, they don't just take your word for it. They may not ask you to show it to them, but that's because they can see it in the system - not because you're getting away with getting on the plane without proving you have it.

Funny story about our experience. About to get on a flight wjth 2 kids 4 and 2 to LA. We all had ETSAs. Only my DH’s passport had expired and he got a new passport with new number. The ETSA was for the old passport. He had to apply for an ETSA at the check in desk!!!! I was facing the horror of having to get 2 kids on a flight to LA with just me and him having to join later. Luckily it got approved in minutes as we were waiting there. I learnt a lesson that day.

Fingers crossed for you Op, My ESTA was approved within 2 hours, DH has to get one routinely and again his are always approved within hours so hopefully it’s already sorted 🤞🏻

For the people saying they had theirs approved quickly, were any of these on a weekend?

Just want to be prepared to make the decision to change flight to tomorrow as soon as necessary if it’s likely to be manually approved tomorrow.

Good luck OP. You’ll get there at some point and forget all about this hassle!

I applied on Saturday 15th March at 10.49 and it was approved on Monday 17th March at 15.54.

It was definitely slower than the last time I applied.

From your posts it sounds like you did but can you co from that you definitely used the genuine site not one of the ones that acts a middle man

Yes, FIL told us about the third party sites and we’ve checked with multiple people that we’ve used the official one.

Goodness, I'm stressed for you and not even out of my bed yet. Good luck.

Ask at the airport @Odellio - I’m sure they must see this happen regularly and know what’s likely. I think you’ve been unlucky it hasn’t come through more or less instantly but maybe it will resolve itself. If it doesn’t see what the airline are willing to offer in terms of switching flights and what the cost is. If it’s expensive it may make more sense to go for Tuesday. You don’t want to change and still not have it for the amended flight.

Crossing everything for you OP! I’m stressed for you.

I applied a couple of weeks ago on a Saturday, just before I had my lunch. It was approved at around 9am the next day.