Dear Disney vacation planners, we need to have a SERIOUS talk about what just went down this weekend because it’s absolutely bonkers and it directly affects anyone flying to Walt Disney World or Disneyland in the near future.
You know how most Disney guests fly in from out of state because we can’t ALL live within driving distance of the theme parks? Orlando International Airport and LAX basically run on Disney tourist traffic, with millions of families every year booking flights specifically to get to the Mouse’s house for vacations they’ve been planning and saving for literally MONTHS.
The airport experience before you even GET to Disney sets the entire tone for your trip, because nobody wants to start their magical vacation stressed out from two-hour security lines, missed connections, and the general chaos that is air travel in 2026.
TSA PreCheck exists specifically to save you from that nightmare by giving you expedited security lanes where you keep your shoes ON, leave your laptop IN your bag, and generally breeze through checkpoints in like 10 minutes instead of standing in the regular security line snake pit for an hour-plus while your kids have meltdowns and you’re watching your flight boarding time get closer and closer.
Disney vacations are INSANELY coordinated with flights timed to hotel check-ins, park reservations timed to dining bookings, Lightning Lane selections timed to your arrival day plans, and the WHOLE THING is like a house of cards where one delay cascades into ruining your entire first day that you already paid hundreds of dollars for in non-refundable reservations.
The Department of Homeland Security has been shut down since February 14 because Congress can’t get their act together to pass funding, and that shutdown affects TSA which means it affects YOUR ABILITY TO GET THROUGH AIRPORT SECURITY TO FLY TO DISNEY.
The whole political fight is over Immigration and Customs Enforcement rules with Democrats wanting more oversight and Republicans refusing to budge, and meanwhile regular families trying to take their kids to see Mickey Mouse are caught in the middle wondering if the expedited security program they paid for is even going to WORK when they show up at the airport.
Sunday February 16 was an absolute ROLLER COASTER of announcements where the government first said “TSA PreCheck is getting suspended starting Sunday morning” which sent Disney travelers into panic mode, and then HOURS LATER they were like “just kidding, PreCheck is still working” leaving everyone confused and stressed about whether they can trust ANYTHING the government says about travel right now.
The Morning Announcement That Made Everyone Panic
Early Sunday morning, the Department of Homeland Security dropped a BOMB: TSA PreCheck and Global Entry were getting suspended starting at 6 a.m. Eastern time. Their excuse? They needed to “refocus department personnel on the majority of travelers” because of the shutdown, per The New York Times.
Let’s be real about what this meant for Disney travelers: CHAOS.
TSA PreCheck is the ONLY thing standing between you and absolute airport hell when you’re traveling with kids to Disney World. You know what it’s like trying to get through regular security with children who don’t understand why they have to take their shoes off, a stroller that needs to be collapsed and x-rayed, carry-on bags full of snacks and iPads and chargers and all the stuff you need for a flight with kids, plus your own laptop and liquids situation? It’s A NIGHTMARE.
PreCheck lets you skip all that. Shoes stay on. Laptops stay in bags. You walk through a metal detector instead of those full-body scanners. You’re done in minutes instead of an hour.
For families flying into Orlando for Disney World or into LAX/John Wayne/Long Beach for Disneyland, losing PreCheck would have meant:
MASSIVE security line waits – We’re talking potentially HOURS during peak travel times when everyone’s crammed into regular security lanes.
Missed flights – When you’re cutting it close on connections or timing your arrival for early park entry, security delays can wreck your entire schedule.
Stressed-out vacation starts – Nothing says “magical Disney experience” like screaming at your kids in an airport security line while watching your boarding time pass, right?
Wasted money – You paid for PreCheck specifically to avoid this! Annual fees range from $78-$100 depending on when you enrolled, and now the government was just… taking it away?
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called this a “tough but necessary work force decision” while blaming Democrats for not funding DHS because they want ICE oversight rules. Cool story, but that doesn’t help families trying to get to Disney.
Plot Twist: JUST KIDDING, PreCheck Still Works!
Here’s where it gets absolutely RIDICULOUS.
Hours after announcing PreCheck suspension, TSA put out a NEW statement saying “At this time, TSA PreCheck remains operational with no change for the traveling public.”
EXCUSE ME, WHAT?
So they announced it was suspended, caused mass panic among travelers who had flights booked and vacation plans riding on PreCheck availability, and then were like “never mind, it’s still working”?
The statement did include a concerning qualifier though: they’d “evaluate the situation as staffing constraints arise” and potentially adjust operations later. Translation: “PreCheck works TODAY but we might suspend it TOMORROW with zero warning if we feel like it.”
Representative Bennie Thompson (Democrat from Mississippi, ranking member on Homeland Security Committee) called out how stupid the suspension idea was BEFORE they reversed it, pointing out that “TSA PreCheck and Global Entry REDUCE airport lines and ease the burden on D.H.S. staff.”
Like… YEAH. That’s literally the POINT of PreCheck. It makes TSA’s job EASIER by separating low-risk travelers who’ve already been vetted through background checks into faster lanes. Suspending it would make everything WORSE for everyone.
Thompson accused the Trump administration of “purposely punishing the American people” with the suspension announcement, and honestly, it’s hard to argue with that take when the reversal happened so fast it’s clear they didn’t think it through.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Global Entry (the thing that speeds you through customs when returning from international trips) is STILL suspended according to DHS’s website. So if you’re combining Disney with international travel or returning from overseas, that part is still affected.
What This Means for YOUR Disney Vacation
Even though PreCheck got restored after the brief suspension panic, this whole mess creates MAJOR uncertainty for anyone planning Disney trips that involve flying.
THE PROBLEM: TSA said PreCheck is working “at this time” but they’ll “evaluate as staffing constraints arise.” That’s government speak for “we might suspend it again whenever we want and you won’t know until it happens.”
WHY IT MATTERS FOR DISNEY: You’re not just flying somewhere random. You’re flying to a Disney destination where you have:
- Hotel check-in times
- Park reservations with specific entry windows
- Dining reservations at exact times
- Lightning Lane selections timed to your arrival
- Possibly early park entry if you’re staying on property
Missing your flight or getting severely delayed doesn’t just mean “oh well, we’ll get there eventually.” It means losing paid reservations, missing park days you already bought tickets for, and potentially wrecking your entire vacation schedule that you coordinated MONTHS ago.
THE STAFFING SITUATION: About 95% of TSA’s 60,000 workers are required to work during shutdowns, but here’s the problem: they’re not getting PAID during the shutdown. How long do you think people will keep showing up to work without paychecks? The longer this shutdown drags on, the more likely TSA workers start calling in sick or just not showing up, which means:
- Longer security lines for EVERYONE (PreCheck or not)
- Potential checkpoint closures
- Airport chaos that affects all travelers
THE FEMA SITUATION: As if TSA chaos wasn’t enough, FEMA (also part of DHS) announced they’re halting all non-disaster response to focus on actual disasters, and they’re stopping federal assistance for “legacy disasters” during the shutdown. This doesn’t directly affect your Disney trip UNLESS a disaster happens affecting your travel, in which case federal help might not be available like it normally would be.
The Political Drama Causing All This
Why is DHS shut down in the first place? POLITICS, baby!
Democrats want new rules for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) including:
- Requiring warrants from judges before home arrests
- Making agents show visible identification
- Prohibiting face coverings for agents
Republicans say these requirements are too restrictive and would hamper immigration enforcement that Trump made a priority.
Neither side is budging, so DHS has no funding, and regular travelers trying to visit Disney get caught in the crossfire.
Most DHS operations are still running because they’re considered “essential,” but the longer this drags on, the more things start breaking down. TSA workers going without pay. FEMA limiting disaster response. And apparently random Sunday morning decisions to suspend then un-suspend PreCheck that make everyone question whether the adults are actually in charge in Washington.
What Should Disney Travelers Actually DO?
IF YOU HAVE TSA PRECHECK: Assume it’ll work but DON’T rely on it completely. Build extra airport buffer time into your travel plans like you DON’T have PreCheck, because if it gets suspended again or if understaffing slows down even the PreCheck lanes, you need that cushion.
IF YOU DON’T HAVE PRECHECK: Don’t try to sign up for it during the shutdown. New enrollments and renewals require staffing that might not be available. Plus, why would you trust them to process your application when they can’t even decide if the program is operating?
FOR EVERYONE:
- Get to the airport EXTRA early (like, add 30-60 minutes beyond normal recommendations)
- Download your airline’s app for real-time checkpoint wait times
- Monitor TSA announcements on their website and social media
- Have backup plans if flights get delayed or missed
- Consider travel insurance that covers trip interruptions
- Pack snacks and entertainment for potentially long airport waits
- Prepare kids for possibility of longer security lines even if you have PreCheck
CHECK BEFORE YOU FLY: The morning of your flight, check if PreCheck is still operational. Things could change FAST based on staffing situations.
Our Brutally Honest Take
This whole situation is absolutely INSANE and it’s putting unnecessary stress on families who are just trying to take their kids to Disney World or Disneyland without the federal government adding chaos to an already complicated travel experience.
The fact that DHS announced PreCheck suspension then reversed it within HOURS shows either:
- They didn’t think through how stupid the idea was
- There was zero coordination within the department
- They were trying to create public pressure on Democrats and it backfired
- Some combination of all three
Either way, it’s NOT a good look for the agency responsible for keeping travelers safe and airport operations running smoothly.
PreCheck exists to make EVERYONE’s life easier – travelers AND TSA agents. Suspending it helps NOBODY and just creates more congestion, longer lines, and worse experiences for everyone at airports.
For Disney travelers specifically, this is extra frustrating because Disney vacations are EXPENSIVE and carefully planned. You’re not flying somewhere on a whim. You’ve booked hotels months out, made dining reservations 60 days in advance, coordinated park days, bought tickets, planned your whole itinerary. Airport chaos threatening to derail all that planning before you even GET to Orlando or Anaheim is beyond maddening.
And the “we’ll evaluate as staffing constraints arise” statement means this could happen AGAIN at any moment. You could show up at the airport next week and find out PreCheck got suspended overnight because too many TSA workers called in sick, and now you’re stuck in the regular security line with hundreds of other people wondering if you’ll make your flight.
The only thing you can control is YOUR preparation. You can’t control whether Congress funds DHS or whether TSA workers keep showing up without paychecks or whether PreCheck stays operational. But you CAN control building extra time into your airport schedule, having backup plans, and preparing for worst-case scenarios so airport chaos doesn’t completely wreck your Disney vacation before it even starts.
Because at the end of the day, you’re still going to Disney. You’re still going to ride Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and eat Dole Whip and watch the fireworks and make magical memories with your family. Getting there just might be more stressful than usual thanks to government dysfunction that has nothing to do with you but affects you anyway.
Welcome to flying during a federal shutdown. It’s basically another Disney thrill ride, except way less fun and with no Lightning Lane option.
Actually wait, there IS a Lightning Lane option, it’s called TSA PreCheck, and the government can’t even decide if you’re allowed to use it.
Magical.
