airports

redberyl

DIS Veteran
Joined
Apr 25, 2014
I was hoping to plan another florida trip this year, but honestly just the thought of getting through orlando international airport again is enough to make me want to not go. It usually takes us well over an hour to get through even the handicapped line. the line itself is long. then we have a ton of medical equipment, powdered and liquid formulas, and liquid meds to get through security. one of the meds always tests positive for a chemical that puts them on alert, and we always have to wait for a supevisor to come over and check it out, and then i have to answer a bunch of questions about what the medication is and why my daughter needs it. they always have to do a full pat down on me (often they will do a second one after the medication tests positive) and swab the wheelchairs and all the medical equipment. by the time we get to the front of the line the gel packs to keep the meds cool are beginning to thaw and theres always a big discussion can we take them on or do they have to be thrown out, usually they will ask for the supevisor again to decide. there are always multiple agents involved, and usually one of them will ask my daughter if she can get out of her chair. she can, and will try to follow directions. but then another agent will start yelling at her to get back in her chair, and we will end up with multiple agents all hollering different instructions at us and we don't know what to do, and she ends up in tears every time. my youngest can't get out of hers but it looks more like a stroller and they always get angry and tell me to take her out. I explain that i can't and they say its fine, then i go through for my pat down and while i'm being patted down a different agent will demand that the little one walk through the metal detector, and my poor mothers helper just doesn't know what to say/do. last time I thought i pulled all the medical equipment out of the carryons but it turns out i accidentally left the pulse ox in a zippered compartment, and they flipped out, screaming "what is this electrical device?" "who owns this device?!!!" "whoever owns this device needs to get over here right now", but meanwhile i was being patted down and when i tried to signal to them that it was mine and i'd be right there, the lady doing the pat down started screaming at me to hold still and be quiet. so just getting through security is an ordeal. anyway, 2 questions. has anyone had any luck using TSA cares in orlando? i never knew about it before and would like to try it next time, but i've heard lots of people say its useless in orlando, that most of the time when you ask for the agent know one knows what you're talking about. second question, has anyone used sanford airport? is it easier to get through security there? i'm assuming its a smaller airport? any tips on getting through security (we already leave plenty of time to get through, at least 3 hours before our flight).?
 
I can’t speak to TSA cares, but Sanford airport is MUCH easier to get through because it’s not nearly as busy.

Best airport in Florida, IMO, is Tampa, but it’s an hour and a half or so drive from there to WDW, more if traffic is bad. I would definitely look into Sanford.
 
I can’t speak to TSA cares, but Sanford airport is MUCH easier to get through because it’s not nearly as busy.

Best airport in Florida, IMO, is Tampa, but it’s an hour and a half or so drive from there to WDW, more if traffic is bad. I would definitely look into Sanford.
i've been toying with the idea of flying into orlando for disney then driving to the gulf for the beaches and flying home out of tampa. if the airport is really that much better then i will definitely consider that plan! thanks
 
Traffic between both of these airports and WDW is terrible.
If you flew into Sanford you would need to take I-4. I-4 is under construction for most of your drive. It’s treacherous even when you know where you are going.
The traffic between WDW and Tampa is always bad.
I think as frustrating as OIA is it would still be better than the traffic.
Maybe as you approach the TSA agent say We’re going to be your “fun” scan of the morning (big smile) as you can see I have two children that can’t get out of their wheelchairs and by the way (have it on the top of everything) this product always alerts and requires a supervisor.
Another big smile thanks for all you do.
I’m not saying you have not be nice but hopefully if they know what the issues are a little bit before it will make things easier.
Good luck and have a fun visit to WDW
 
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has anyone had any luck using TSA cares in orlando?
Even if nobody has, your potential experience using it can't be any worse than your previous experiences.

But I get the impression travelers need to be proactive, contacting TEA Cards some time before the flight
 
Traffic between WDW and Tampa is not “always bad”, it depends on time of day. Right now for example, it’s one hour and seven minutes - not bad at all. And if you end up going to the beach, you can pretty much choose what time to leave in order to cut back on traffic issues.
 
Even if nobody has, your potential experience using it can't be any worse than your previous experiences.

But I get the impression travelers need to be proactive, contacting TEA Cards some time before the flight

yes, you do have to call TSA cares before the flight. but i am hearing stories that in orlando people call and make the arrangements, but when they show up no one has any idea what they are talking about. just wondering how common that is, and if other people have maybe had more positive experiences. like you say, it can't be any worse to try to use it so if we do end up flying out again I'll give it a try. but I"d love to hear some positive feedback about it!
 


We use tsa cares everytime we fly...Orlando is one of the worst but they do at least try to help...call ahead and then when you get there before getting in line find someone to get either a passenger support specialist or supervisor. Be prepared to wait our last flight we waited almost an hour before we had a passenger support specialist. But they do help with the process even if it is just helping be our voice in the chaos.
 
Traffic between both of these airports and WDW is terrible.
If you flew into Sanford you would need to take I-4. I-4 is under construction for most of your drive. It’s treacherous even when you know where you are going.
The traffic between WDW and Tampa is always bad.
I think as frustrating as OIA is it would still be better than the traffic.
Maybe as you approach the TSA agent say We’re going to be your “fun” scan of the morning (big smile) as you can see I have two children that can’t get out of their wheelchairs and by the way (have it on the top of everything) this product always alerts and requires a supervisor.
Another big smile thanks for all you do.
I’m not saying you have not be nice but hopefully if they know what the issues are a little bit before it will make things easier.
Good luck and have a fun visit to WDW

lol, this is almost exactly the approach I take! works in my much smaller, local airport but those Orlando TSA agents are tough!
 
TSA Precheck could also be beneficial for you, combine that with CLEAR and security shouldn't take more than about 5 minutes.
 
TSA Precheck could also be beneficial for you, combine that with CLEAR and security shouldn't take more than about 5 minutes.

I have NEXUS, which gives me TSA PreCheck.

I also travel with a number of medical devices and liquid medications, though not as much as the OP.

While NEXUS/PreCheck *helps*, and certainly reduces the line wait and makes it easier in terms of what can stay in the bag, getting through the security check itself [xray through you are free to go] still takes time. In my case, I budget half an hour plus the line wait and am happy when it is less [it usually is, about 10-20 minutes, but it has taken as much as 30, which is why I plan for that much]. My carryons ALWAYS end up getting further inspected, which means being searched through by hand to a greater or lesser degree, one or more of them [and I have an extra medical bag, so that is 3 possible bags to search]; the medical liquids and sometimes the devices ALWAYS are swabbed down; once an item triggered the alert -- THAT was an interesting and time-consuming experience. Half the time I get a pat down search to go along with the bag search.

I know this will happen. Every time. There is no getting around it. So I plan for it and consider it part of flying with medical issues. We carefully package our carry-ons, especially the medical items, so things are accessible, can be taken out easily, and are protected if they have to be taken out [Ziploc is your friend - those grey bins are disgusting, and the counters aren't cleaned regularly either]. We arrive at the airport well in advance. We check in and get through security and [when applicable] Customs/Immigration. And we have things to occupy ourselves when everything goes smoothly and we have lots of time to kill on the secure side of the airport [which at our local airport for US-bound flights is pretty barren].

NEXUS/PreCheck is a tremendous help as it reduces the line time and expedites the Customs/Immigration process and lines. But it doesn't solve the security process related to medical equipment/medications. TSA Cares may be able to help with that. I have found carefully wording what I say seems to help too -- being very clear and saying things at the right time might help. Though I think a lot just comes down to who you are dealing with -- I have had some very positive experiences [even though the process took time, the person was very nice and professional] and some not so nice ones [the process also took time, but the person was not very nice and had a negative attitude].

SW
 

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