Yes. We have only ever flown direct once before and had horrendously long wait in immigration then. It wasn't a case yesterday of choosing to try the kiosks. Because we had been to the US before and were und visa waiver, we were directed to use them.
They are quite easy to use. Just an automated version of the iteraction with the immigration officer at the desk. It scans your passport, takes your fingerprints and your photo, even recognising if you're short like me and adjusting the height to suit. My transaction failed (probably because I have a new passport) so we then had to go to a desk anyway, but it was all still pretty quick.
Ate last night at CiCis Pizza, as we had a coupon. It was ok for something quick and cheap, but not sure we'd return.
Going to Cracker Barrel for breakfast this morning and will probably head for Downtown Disney and Celebration after a supermarket trip.
just noticed this thread - a bit late i admit!
i enjoyed reading your live trip report (albeit, not so live when i read it)..
i went through the kiosk last october at JFK and i seem to remember having to go to one of the immigration people with the piece of paper..but maybe i'm not remembering correctly...
it was all a bit of a mess as they'd just started using them there so even the people working there didn't seem to really know what they were doing....
but i didn't really notice a difference other than having to answer questions on the screen and then take the little piece of paper to the immigration officer..
i see that you've stayed at emerald island a number of times.
how do you book there? is there a main booking service?
Its more the type of trips we will be looking to do after this year. Once our Disney AP's expire we want to do more things away from the parks. We will continue with our SW & BG AP's but then explore more. Also considering a road trip incl New Orleans and missing Orlando totally that holiday.
Wayne, if you're not going to go to WDW, you can go everywhere else in the US. For us, the ONLY reason to go to florida is WDW. If WDW is removed from the equation there are a lot of places i'd much rather go than florida.
One of my dream trips - that i hope one day to be able to do - is a coast to coast to coast to coast road trip - visiting every national park. That would probably take a year, but i'd love to try.
So many amazing places to see. So much incredible natural beauty in almost every state in the union.