Orlando Airport Sees Major Delays At TSA As Government Shutdown Continues

Walt Disney World holidaymakers are being warned to plan ahead as air travel chaos spreads across the U.S. There are long queues at TSA, mass internal flight delays, and growing fears of a worsening situation ahead of Thanksgiving.

Although international flights continue to run as usual, airport wait times at TSA check points are increasing. Internal flight cancellations are increasing to meet the FAA’s 10% figure by Tuesday 14th November. So as long as your Disney World holiday from the UK is taking an international flight you’ll only be facing airport delays, for now.

Flight Delays Mounting

By Sunday evening, over 529 flights have been delayed and almost 79 cancelled at Orlando International alone, according to FlightAware.com.

Nationwide, more than 7,770 flights were delayed and 2,724 cancelled, with the impact spreading across major airports from Chicago O'Hare to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson.

The U.S. airline association Airlines for America (A4A) said that over 4 million passengers have already been affected since the shutdown began on October 1st.

Staffing shortages have escalated sharply: only 11 flights were cancelled due to staffing in the first 29 days, but more than 1,200 were cancelled in just nine days at the start of November, including 865 on November 7th alone.

Warnings Issued Ahead of Thanksgiving

U.S. Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, warned that air travel could soon be "reduced to a trickle" if the shutdown continues, potentially leaving many Americans unable to fly home for Thanksgiving. Speaking with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Duffy said:

Discussing matters further Duffy went on to say:

It is looking increasingly likely that the FAAs 10% flight reduction, which begins on 14th November, is going to have knock-on effects across US airports. Although flight cancellations are not currently a problem for UK tourists heading to Florida, there is a possibility of further flight reductions that may include international flights.

The airports are struggling due to the Government Shutdown, and MCO is reporting some lengthy queues for TSA.

TSA Wait Times Increase At MCO

A video posted to TikTok on Sunday morning showed "the longest TSA wait I've ever seen" at Orlando International Airport (MCO), the main airport for many Disney World visitors from the UK. The user, amiraalhiyari, blamed the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, which has caused staffing shortages across the country's air traffic control network.

"Thanks to the government shutdown, these lines are backed up BIG time," the post read. "If you're flying out of Orlando, get there way early."

This is something that UK travellers need to be aware of, as they need to allow for extra time in the airport to clear security. Orlando International Airport (MCO) posted the following advice to travellers on their Facebook page on Sunday 9th November.

What UK Travellers Need To Know

For now, international passengers heading to or from Orlando don't need to panic. Flights are still operating, though wait times and delays within the airport are growing and could worsen if the situation continues.

If you're flying from the UK to Florida in the coming days:

• Arrive early: Allow at least three hours before departure.

• Monitor your flight: Check your airline app regularly for live updates.

• Stay flexible: If possible, avoid tight connections or same-day park bookings.

• Expect longer TSA and immigration waits: Staffing shortages are impacting both domestic and international checkpoints.

• If you have booked any internal flights as part of your trip, check the flight details and be prepared for changes.

Analysts warn that if no resolution is reached soon, the situation could escalate sharply before the busy Thanksgiving week, affecting both U.S. and international travellers.

Magic in a Minute

Long lines at Orlando Airport are the first real sign of a worsening U.S. travel crisis. There is no need for UK Disney visitors to panic yet, but be prepared for delays if the shutdown continues.