Credit: Inside the Magic As we approach the holidays, millions of people will be hitting the roads and skies to get to their Christmas destinations. AAA estimates that nearly 120 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles from their homes this holiday season, a 2.8 percent increase over last year.
However, as the minutes pass by, getting us closer to the holiday season, another looming deadline could derail travel this year. The United States government is hours away from a shutdown that will hamper travel and disrupt Disney World vacations this year.
The government runs out of money at 12:012 on Saturday, December 21, meaning all non-essential government workers will be furloughed until Congress reaches a funding deal. Earlier this week, the Senate passed a deal that would have avoided a shutdown, but the House killed the agreement at the urging of Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
Republicans in the House put forward a new proposal on Thursday, but House Democrats, with the help of some House Republicans, voted it down. Musk has urged the government to remain shut down until Trump takes office on January 20, costing federal employees thousands in paychecks.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Chief David Pekoske took to X to warn travelers that a government shutdown would lead to longer security lines and significant delays at America’s airports. Pekoske wrote:
While our personnel are prepared to handle high volumes of travelers and ensure safe travel, please be aware that an extended shutdown could mean longer wait times at airports. At TSA, part of DHS, about 59,000 of the agency’s 62,000+ employees are considered essential and would continue working without pay in the event of a shutdown. We expect to screen 40M passengers over the holidays and through January 2.
Losing more than 3,000 employees at the busiest time of the year would hamper air travel at a time when millions of Americans are looking to travel. These security delays will cause delays and postponements of flights across the nation.
After a decline in attendance in 2024, Walt Disney World is expecting massive crowds during the holiday season, traditionally the busiest time to visit Central Florida.
While this will not cancel many Disney World vacations, it could delay or postpone those trips at a time when people are desperate to get into the parks, and Disney is desperate to have them.
AAA estimates that December 22, 23, and 29 will be the busiest days for airport travel this year. The first two of those will fall immediately after the shutdown begins.
With the holidays looming and Congress poised to head home on Monday, if the government shuts down at midnight, expect it to last through the New Year. And expect it to take that much longer to get to Disney World.