MCO queue for returning visitors

[disneypars]

Will look out for this in May when we return. However when we go in October we'll have four family members who have never been. That could be interesting.

[THOscar]

We just went through MCO immigration 12 hours ago. There’s a sign that says for returning visitors but it just puts you into the same queue for all international arrivals so there’s no separate queue or anything. Also no kiosks anymore.

[NewtoOrlando]

We’ve only ever flown in/out of Miami and Tampa, I’m dreading MCO and the lines next year!

[mason1]

We’ve used Tampa and Miami for the last few years. Next year is MCO - dreading it - last time we used MCO it took 3 hours to get through immigration- hoping it’s improved!

[ManCity]

What they do at other airports is irrelevant to MCO - the processes are not all the same. When they converted from kiosks to the facial biometric system at MCO last year, there was a press release saying it would take 2 years to convert all the major airports, let alone the smaller ones, so apart from anything else some are still using kiosks. Having been to MCO twice a year for some time, it has rarely been exactly the same process every time. There is no guarantee that on your next visit it will still be the same as today. The one part of the process they all have in common is to just do as the staff/signs tell you when you actually get there - you have no choice anyway.

MCO is certainly not the worst airport. My last visit (in September) was via Dulles and it took FOUR times longer than on most of my trips via MCO. Not having TC flights arriving at the same time as VA/BA will help a bit too.

[louiseybobs]

Originally Posted by Claudette

When we went last month there was only one queue for the non US citizens and there was nobody directing people to queues, you had to read the signs yourself.

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How long ago is it since you went?

We arrived three weeks ago and there were two queues

Returning visitors
And first time visitors

If you have a family member who has never been before, join the first visitor queue. My parents queued with my niece who had never been before. Where as myself John and James (in the same household) had been so we queued in the 'returning visitors' queue

[Guest]

Originally Posted by louiseybobs

How long ago is it since you went?

We arrived three weeks ago and there were two queues

Returning visitors
And first time visitors

If you have a family member who has never been before, join the first visitor queue. My parents queued with my niece who had never been before. Where as myself John and James (in the same household) had been so we queued in the 'returning visitors' queue

See more...

There was only one queue on Thursday, and 4 planes worth of people in it. Maybe they're using extra lanes sometimes but definitely not all the time.

[Trusty ian]

There was only 1 queue Thursday, we were the early Gatwick flight and one flight in front of us from Lima, then Manchester behind us. Counted 6 or 7 desks open out of 28.
The virgin announcement on the plane said we would be directed to the automated immigration lanes which I thought strange given they not been there for a long time now.

[Andybear]

Originally Posted by mason1

We’ve used Tampa and Miami for the last few years. Next year is MCO - dreading it - last time we used MCO it took 3 hours to get through immigration- hoping it’s improved!

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I was there mid September and it took me 10 minutes to get through immigration as the hall was empty I stayed at Beach Club and got the Magical Express and from getting off the plane to arriving at Beach Club took one hour and 35 minutes which I was well chuffed with

[Kraken]

Came into the USA via MCO earlier today - there were definitely 4 queues, lettered A-D on the signs "in the corridor" from the aircraft. The bank of plasma / LED screens above the queues in the immigration hall proper also had A-D on.

A was Global Entry, Sentri & Nexus (all of which are pay-in schemes).
B was Diplomats & Military Veterans - but a lot of people with wheel-chair pushers (so likely special assistance) were in this line.
C was - cannot remember 100%, but may have been first time visitors.
D was returning ESTA visitors.

Of course it matters not what the signs say if the Ambassadors decide to (or are instructed to by CBP) merge the C & D lines into one for everyone. Lines they would not touch are A & B as that would annoy a lot of people who have paid into the schemes / cause a diplomatic row... but the latter may well not bother the current occupant of the White House!

All I can say is I was through on Global Entry today in about 3 mins. It was a god-send as a LATAM (Brazilian Airline) plane parked up just before us - it delayed us as it was in the way, but got a gate closer to the immigration hall. When I was waiting for my bags (only a 5min wait too after immigration I looked back at the long queue... our flight had 444 onboard & the LATAM aircraft would have had anything up to 238 onboard.