DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. \u2014 Hundreds of travelers lined up in long queues, eager to catch their flights at Orlando International Airport on Saturday. Despite having TSA PreCheck, everyone endured lengthy waits.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a lot of people,\u201d said Michelle Giercyk. She and the senior girls from Millville High School were shocked when they finally arrived at the airport less than an hour before their flight was set to take off. \u201cWe\u2019re scared. We want to go home,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re tired.\u201d<\/p>\n
They weren\u2019t alone. Mary Kubacki and her two girlfriends had spent the past week enjoying Disney and drinking around the world at Epcot. She convinced her friends to do a little more drinking before heading to the airport. \u201cWe should have listened to the videos and people on TikTok and got here earlier,\u201d she said. \u201cI can\u2019t believe the line starts all the way back here.\u201d<\/p>\n
This is shaping up to be the busiest spring break in Central Florida\u2019s history, despite the rain and a partial government shutdown impacting TSA workers. <\/p>\n
Orlando International Airport is expecting 7.4 million passengers from March 10th to the 16th. Daytona Beach International Airport is expecting more than 712,000 passengers\u2014that\u2019s the most they\u2019ve had since 1997.<\/p>\n
Airport officials and employees advise arriving more than three hours early. Some, like Linda Misener, followed that advice. \u201cEverything is going the way it\u2019s supposed to be,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd we\u2019re being taken care of. I\u2019m ok if I have to stand in line.\u201d<\/p>\n
Theme parks and beaches are also very busy. Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood issued a stern warning to tourists and locals alike. \u201cIf you show your butt, we are going to show ours,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are not giving out civil citations. You are going to be charged with state charges.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also had a warning for parents planning to drop their kids off and then head somewhere else for the week. \u201cMy suggestion is have a tank of gas,\u201d he said. \u201cIf your [child] acts up, you have to come and get them.\u201d <\/p>\n
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