Those who have either traveled through an airport or followed the news over the last week will know that many airports across the U.S. are currently experiencing hours-long delays to clear security checkpoints.
With TSA agents now having missed their first full paycheck, many have been calling in sick or quitting their jobs as political battles over a funding bill tied to increased voting restrictions and expanded Department of Homeland Security funds continue.
As of March 26, Republicans have blocked all 11 Democratic proposals to reinstate funding to critical agencies like TSA, FEMA, and CISA without additional resources for immigration enforcement. As a result, airports like Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston have been seeing TSA lines that on some days have taken over four hours for travelers to clear.
Disney World guests report ride lines as long as in many airports
“I’ve been really scared the whole week, looking on TikTok and Instagram and just seeing all the lines,” Lara Atasoya, who arrived at JFK five hours before her flight to get back home to Sweden, described to a local news station. “And I was thinking, how am I going to get home?”
While Disney parks have no connection to airport security or governmental funding, guests who came to several of the parks in the Disney World resort this week reported Spring Break crowds equaling what is being reported at many airports.
Related: Delta Air Lines scraps secret perk for lawmakers amid shutdown
“Rise of the Resistance surged to a posted wait time of 150 minutes and if you’ve spent any time at Disney World, you already know what that really means,” Sarah Larson reported on the situation at Hollywood Studios for the Inside The Magic watchdog blog. “Guests weren’t just waiting two and a half hours — they were committing to a line that stretched close to three. At the same time, Smugglers Run climbed to an 80-minute wait, adding even more pressure to the land.”
Spring Break is peak visitor period at all the Disney parks.
Image source: Daniel Kline/TheStreet
Why the Disney lines are so long this time of year
With the exact timing of spring break differing between cities and exact schools, the entire period at the end of March and start of April is generally some of Disney’s busiest as many families plan their trip to the parks around this time; this also happens to be the time of the year when temperatures are milder and before the worst of the Florida heat sets in.
More Travel News:
- Airline to launch unusual new flight to Cayman Islands from the U.S.
- Iranian strike hits major airport, injuries reported
- Unexpected country is most luxurious travel destination for 2026
- U.S. government issues sudden warning on Switzerland travel
This year, the worst of the crowds are expected for the period of Easter weekend between April 3 and 6. The Walt Disney World Lightning Lane Premier Pass, which allows holders to pass to the front of the line for popular rides, has sold out on many days last week while prices that increase based on how busy the parks get reached $449 for Magic Kingdom and are expected to stay in that highest end of the range over the next few weeks.
Travelers going through a U.S. airport to get to Disney are, in turn, likely to face a double whammy of many hours spent waiting in lines.
Related: U.S. government issues strange warning on Ireland travel