When traveling to the USA you are required to have
International travellers who are seeking to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) are now subject to enhanced security requirements and will be required to pay an administrative fee. All eligible travellers who wish to travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program must apply for authorization
The price is approx. $21 per person
Family can be linked as a group making it easier to retrieve your ESTA
They can take about 72hrs to confirm if your application has been accepted.
- A Passport that is valid for the duration of your stay
- NEW – It must be ePassport to enter the USA
Other things to remember
- Pre-book car
- Pre-book park tickets
- License – Card part and you now require a driving number from the DVLA – last 21 days from issue.
- Travel insurance
- Don’t make jokes to airport security
- Make sure your electrical items are charged. If they are checked and can not be turned on, they won’t let you take them on board the plane. We take our chargers just in case.
- You won’t hear airport-wide flight announcements
- If you must lock your bag, use TSA locks
- You’ll pay more than the listed price in shops and restaurants – the price doesn’t include sales tax.
- Stock up on dollar bills for tipping 15% or more of the bill, based on the quality of service. If you receive exceptional service, 20-25% is customary
Car Hire
We have found that it is best to hire and pay for your car while in the UK.
As on our last visit we only booked we didn’t pay and when we got there they said it didn’t include insurance, which tripled the price. As we were so tired we just paid the amount and left.
Places to hire – Travel agent
Double-check what it includes e.g. Insurance, amount of miles allowed, Car seat, etc.
NEW – You will need the picture part of your license and you are now required to get a driving number for the DVLA but this is only valid for 21days from the issue date. You must take this with you they will ask for it
They will offer you to return with a full tank of petrol or pay a certain amount to return the car as it is, now we have done both options and it just depends on how organized you are.
The closes petrol station to Orlando Airport is 7-Eleven
3911 McCoy Rd & Trade Port Drive, Orlando – SE FL32812-4109
It is best to get petrol before driving to the Sanford airport
Double-check the size of the petrol tank on the size of the car you have booked.
As in USA, you have to pay for the petrol first and then fill up.
Don’t worry they will refund the difference if you don’t need it all.
They also sell petrol in Gallons not liters (1 Gallon is about 3.7Litres)
Driving Rules
- Traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road (in all states!).
- When passing a stopped emergency vehicle on the side of a roadway of two or more lanes, drivers must vacate the lane closest to the stopped vehicle(s) and slow to a speed less than 20 miles per hour less than the speed limit
- The sequence of traffic (stop) lights is usually red, green, yellow, and back to red, although some are simply red. The most surprising rule is that you may make a right turn at a red stop light unless otherwise indicated
- Making U-Turns. Unlike some other countries, you can make a U-turn at the end of most junctions. If you can’t it will be marked clearly.
- Pulled over by the police – If you are driving in Florida and get pulled over by the police stop as safely and as quickly as possible. Do not get out of the vehicle. Stay in your car wind down the window and follow their instructions.
- Child safety seat laws and seatbelts -Florida law requires the wearing of seatbelts. Children 5 and under must be secured properly in a crash-tested, federally-approved child restraint device.
Park tickets
It’s not always the best option to buy the tickets from a travel agent. The best option is to shop around, look at different website offers. Check their refund offers and how you receive the tickets. Some tickets are sent the post, some you have to pick up on your first day at the Disney or Universal.
Free memory maker, you will be surprised how many photos you will take. The memory maker photographers are with most character meet and greets and they are also dotted around the Disney parks
Genie plus – Magic Kingdom is the best park to use them the other park they didn’t work so well. I would bother for Hollywood studio. You have to pay extra for it and it only covers certain rides, Not the top attractions. You can book a new Lightning Lane every two hours, and you can book it in different parks in the same day if you are park hopping but only after 2pm. From 8th June 2022 you can no longer purchase lightning lane ticket with your Disney tickets. They can be purchased at midnight, the night before you chosen park day and you have to be up at 7am to start booking your lightning lane (LLs) Lightning lane changes after 24th July 2024.
Website that offer good deals on tickets
