How the Government Shutdown Will Change Travel to Your Disney World Trip

If you’re traveling soon, as early as October 1st, you may be concerned about how the potential incoming partial government shutdown could affect your travel plans.

This is especially true if you’re flying to Disney World, as many aspects of the government can affect flights. With a potential shutdown looming, it’s time to really look at what you need to expect if you’re traveling soon. Not to worry, though — we’ve got the answers you need right here.

According to USA Today, issues surrounding federal funding are what’s causing this potential partial government shutdown, and the deadline (October 1st) is fast approaching. This means that if the disagreements continue past today, September 30th, parts of the government may shut down.

The U.S. Travel Association reports that a shutdown could negatively affect the United States’ travel economy, estimating a loss of $1 billion each week. This means that federal agencies and services that are not considered “essential,” such as national park employees, must pause working. However, essential workers, such as TSA agents, would continue to be on the clock.

In a recent statement, Erik Hansen, senior vice president of government relations at the U.S. Travel Association, said, “What we’ve seen in the past when the government shuts down is that airports slow down and our economy slows down with it.” While this doesn’t mean you should panic and worry about your flight being completely canceled, it does mean that inconveniences could still be on the way.

Essential workers in the aviation industry who will continue working are those who screen at airport security checkpoints, provide flight clearance, and verify at border control. However, a shutdown would halt funding for federal agencies like the Federal Aviation Administration, the Transportation Security Administration, and Customs and Border Protection. This means that training and hiring in these agencies will be put on hold, and workers won’t be paid until the shutdown gets resolved.

What can we learn from previous shutdowns and potential future shutdowns to help us prepare? Well, back in 2019, when another shutdown happened, FAA controllers and TSA agents stopped showing up for work, which resulted in flight delays and longer lines than normal, so expect something similar to potentially occur. On Monday of this week, a group representing major U.S. airlines also warned passengers that “a partial federal government shutdown could strain American aviation and slow flights, as air traffic controllers and security officers would be forced to work without pay and other functions would be halted.”

All in all, if you’re traveling soon, you’ll want to plan for longer security lines and potentially some flight delays, so allow more time than you normally would when going on a trip. We’ll be sure to keep you updated on the latest news regarding the shutdown and how it could affect your travel plans, so stay tuned to AllEars.

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