Well, the TSA just rolled out a new list of banned items, and it’s making even the most seasoned travelers lose their patience.
Everyday things you’ve packed for years are suddenly off-limits, and officers are seizing personal belongings left and right. Before you find yourself arguing at an airport security checkpoint, here’s what changed, and how to avoid TSA tossing your belongings in the trash.
1. Cordless Hair Tools
These trendy cordless hair straighteners we all love so much? Sorry, but you can’t pack yours anymore.
The TSA has banned cordless curling irons and flat irons that use gas cartridges, butane, or lithium batteries in checked luggage, calling them a potential fire risk.
You can only bring them in your carry-on luggage, and even that comes with this fine print:
The heating element must be covered and protected
It can’t accidentally turn on mid-flight
No spare gas cartridges allowed
If you’re not sure what kind of hair tool you own, you might want to leave it at home — because once TSA takes it, you’re not getting it back.
2. Lithium-Ion and Battery-Powered Items
If it plugs in, charges, lights up, and/or glows, the TSA has new rules for it now.
They now say lithium-ion and battery-powered devices must go in your carry-on suit case, and can’t be in your checked luggage.
The rule applies to the following common travel items:
Power banks (aka portable battery chargers)
Wireless headphones
Portable electric fans
Mini-massagers
Vape pens and e-cigs
Spare batteries ( Pro Tip: Store extra batteries in a case or sleeve, because if they roll around unprotected, you can still get flagged.)
The reason for the ban? According to TSA and the FAA is that these are a potential fire hazard in the cargo hold.
Of course, travelers find it confusing, and say it’s easy to get this wrong. My best advice is to keep anything with a plug in your carry on luggage.
3. Liquids and Foods (Like Peanut Butter)
First up, Liquids
Remember the TSA 3-1-1 rule for carry-on liquids? Here’s the deal, if you’re unfamiliar with it:
Liquids, gels, creams, and spreads must be in containers that are under 3.4 ounces (100 ml)
Everything must fit in a single quart-size clear plastic bag
One quart-size bag per person (TSA makes no exceptions)
Some non-Liquid foods now count as a liquids
TSA still loves the 3-1-1 rule, and now they’re enforcing it harder than ever with new items counting as “liquids.”
Nowadays, TSA has clarified that peanut butter counts as a liquid, sparking outrage among travelers.
That means your full-size jar of Skippy is now contraband. If it’s in a container that is under 3.4 ounces (100 ml), then it’s ok.
and it’s not just Peanut butter
On a personal note, my nephew recently had his jar of Nutella confiscated, so it’s not just peanut butter, but other liquid-ish food items too!
To TSA, your shampoo, your lotion, and now your peanut butter, hummus and Nutella all constitute as “potential threats.”
4. Sharp Objects, Knives, and Other “Dangerous” Items
Sharp tools and souvenirs have always been touchy, but now agents are cracking down harder than ever.
Here’s what’s officially banned from your travel backpack, carry-on suitcase, and/or hand luggage:
Knives, box cutters, and scissors with blades over 4 inches long (10 cm)
Anything sharp that “looks like a weapon” (determined at their discretion)
Multi-tools, Swiss army knives, pocket knives, and similar items
Keep in mind that even if an item isn’t banned, TSA officers can still confiscate it “at their discretion.” Bottom line: You’re at their mercy.
Many travelers are complaining that they’ve lost expensive pocket knives or tools they’ve carried for years — even when rules seemed unclear.
Erring on the side of caution, don’t put anything with a sharp point in your carry-on baggage. I lost an expensive pair of pointed tweezers because of this.
Pro Tip: Double-Check TSA’s “What Can I Bring?” List
Every few months, TSA quietly updates its rules, and most people never hear about it until it’s too late (like when they’re taking your stuff from you).
Since it’s your responsibility to know what you can/can’t bring, visit tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring before you fly.
Checking for updates to the TSA packing ban list will take you two minutes, but could save you hundreds of dollars in seized items, so it’s worth it.
Celebrate America’s big 250th birthday with big savings on Amtrak’s USA Rail Pass. From now through Jan. 20, you can purchase this best-selling pass for only $250 (that’s $249 in savings). Take 10 rides over 30 days to your choice of 500 destinations — for only $25 per trip.
Whether you go to the next coast or the next town, this pass is perfect for those who want to see the country in a new way and go where cars can’t. Soak in your surroundings, chat with your fellow passengers, live in the moment and let the journey on Amtrak take center stage.
Flexible and ready for spontaneity, you can book rides on the fly and easily change your plans or routes as long as it’s prior to the scheduled departure time.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced on Thursday that the TSA will open security lanes dedicated to families and military service members.
“Families on the Fly” will create dedicated security lines for families with small children and give families a $15 discount for TSA pre-check enrollment, Noem said at a press conference at Nashville International Airport.
The new policy has already begun a pilot program at an airport in Orlando, Florida, home to Disney World, Noem added.
“This means that when families come into our airports and enter our TSA security checkpoints, they will have dedicated lanes specific for families,” Noem said. “They’ll be expanded areas that will give them the benefit of recognizing that they have children with them, and will help make sure that we have the ability to take care of them and their families as they go through this expedited process with their kiddos.”
The “Honor Lane,” which will expedite security checkpoints for military service members and their families, opened in Nashville last month, Noem said. The new military lanes are available at 11 different airports and will expand elsewhere soon, particularly near military bases.
TSA will also begin offering Gold Star families TSA pre-check enrollment free of charge, she said.
“These tokens of gratitude are just a small amount of what we can do in this country to honor those who serve in our military, but also them and their families, and recognize their sacrifice,” Noem said at a press conference at the Nashville airport.
The new security lanes come amid broader changes to TSA policy
Earlier this month, Noem announced that travelers were no longer required to take their shoes off while going through security checkpoints.
She addressed the new shoe policy on Thursday.
“Ending the shoes off, policy will decrease our passenger wait times through our security checkpoints and it’ll make sure that it is a more pleasant and efficient process for everybody,” Noem said.’
And earlier this week, Noem suggested that TSA might change its policy on how much liquid passengers can carry in their carry-on luggage.
Currently, travelers can carry liquids in travel-sized containers 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item in their carry-on bag. Containers with larger amount of liquid must be stowed away in checked suitcases.
TSA’s liquid limitations were implemented following a thwarted terrorism plot to blow up transatlantic airliners with liquid explosives in 2006.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Scotland is part of the United Kingdom, covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain. It shares a border with England to the Southeast and is surrounded by sea to the northeast, north, and west.
Most Scottish live on the mainland and in the center of Scotland, though there are nearly 800 islands off the coast! Scotland features wild coastlines, beautiful white sand beaches, stunning mountains, and rolling hills.
Why you should visit Scotland
Monumental mountains and misty glens. Castles with hidden stories. A dram of whisky straight from the source.
Best time to visit Scotland
Spring: Many attractions are open without summer crowds. Golf courses open in April; the season officially starts in May.
Summer: This is the ideal time for hiking and biking. Accommodations along the most popular routes, such as the West Highland Way fill up well in advance. There are plenty of events, including the Edinburgh Festival and Highland Games.
Autumn: Changing leaves create arresting scenes in forests—it’s a great time to visit Perthshire, known as “Big Tree Country.” The Edradour and Glenturret distilleries are well placed for combining a walk with a whisky sampling.
Winter: The Edinburgh Christmas Market kicks off in November, and Scots prepare to celebrate Hogmanay (New Year’s Eve). On January 25, pubs honor Burns Night—the birthday of national poet Robert Burns—with a dinner of haggis, neeps (turnips), and tatties (mashed potatoes).
Lay of the land
Cities: Well-heeled capital Edinburgh hosts the world’s largest performing arts festival. The medieval Old Town looms over Princes Street gardens and the New Town with art galleries and chic bars. Glasgow is boisterous and friendly, with a lively music scene. Craggy Stirling, topped by the eponymous castle, was the site of several historic battles. On the east coast, Dundee and Aberdeen pack museums and maritime history into their walkable downtowns.
Highlands: Hikers flock to the heather-bound moors and mountains of Cairngorms National Park. Surprisingly, overlooking the Speyside whisky-producing region. The landscapes surrounding Glenfinnan and Glencoe have featured in films.
Hebrides: The Isle of Skye is famed for its otherworldly topography. Flawless beaches await on Lewis and Harris. On Mull,stop by the colorful coastal town of Tobermory or scale the rugged slopes of Ben More.
Northern Isles: Neolithic sites, including Skara Brae, are scattered across the Orkney Islands. View Viking sites and the eponymous ponies on the Shetland Islands.
Southern Uplands: Stately homes and castles grace the Scottish Borders. Dumfries & Galloway is home to the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere and the majestic Sweetheart Abbey.
Northeast: Seek out royal connections at Glamis Castle in Angus, or Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire. Photogenic Perthshire is home to the prestigious Gleneagles hotel and golf course.
Central Belt: Relive the greatest victories of Robert the Bruce and William Wallace at Bannockburn. Visit the National Wallace Monument, also. The John Muir Way spans 134 miles of lochs and woodlands.
Know before you go
Scottish languages: Scots Gaelic (pronounced “gaa-lik”) is still spoken by around 60,000 people, mostly in the Highlands and Islands. English, however, has been the main language spoken in Scotland since the 18th century. Though many believe it to be a dialect, Scots (descended from Northern English) is a distinct language, spoken by 1.5 million people.
What to read
Scotland: A Concise History, by Fitzroy Maclean (Fifth Edition). The former soldier and politician brings bloody battles and national heroes to life. In the fifth edition, journalist Magnus Linklater adds chapters on Brexit and the 2014 independence referendum.
Sunday, July 6 is the last operating day for Tom Sawyer Island, Liberty Square Riverboat and Rivers of America at Magic Kingdom in Florida.
For decades, this tree-lined stretch of Frontierland and Liberty Square invited guests to break away from the hustle and bustle of the world’s most visited theme park, to take in the scenery and slow down.
The closing was announced at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event last August, but a specific date wasn’t shared until June.
Here’s why the attractions are closing and what guests can expect from their replacement.
Why is Disney closing Tom Sawyer Island?
Tom Sawyer Island, Liberty Square Riverboat and Rivers of America are closing at Disney World as part of Magic Kingdom’s largest expansion to date. The Florida park is getting a whole new area beyond Big Thunder Mountain, including a new Villians land in years to come.
The space where Tom Sawyer Island is now will be replaced by a new “Cars”-inspired area different from the Radiator Springs setting of Cars Land in Disney California Adventure.
The new area will be called “Piston Peak National Park.”
“Imagine an awe-inspiring wilderness filled with towering trees, snowcapped mountains, breathtaking waterfalls, roaring rivers and impressive geysers,” Disney Parks Blog posted in June. “Inside Piston Peak, guests will be able to see and explore the visitor lodge, Ranger HQ, trails and more all set within the Disney and Pixar ‘Cars’ universe.”
Disney said Imagineers will use a style of architecture developed by the Natural Park Service to blend structures into Rocky Mountain-inspired Piston Peak, and trees will serve as a natural border between an off-road rally attraction and the rest of Frontierland and Liberty Square.
Concept art shared by Disney shows water will also remain a prominent part of the landscape.
Source: this article originally appeared on USA TODAY
If you still haven’t secured your REAL ID yet, time is running out. Your domestic air travel could be delayed if you don’t have an accepted form of identification at TSA checkpoints next week.
The Department of Homeland Security is set to enforce the May 7 deadline for “REAL ID” after years of pushing it back. The REAL ID Act, which was passed by Congress in 2005, enacted the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the federal government enhance security standards for identification.
Travelers have been scrambling to get their licenses changed to avoid disruptions in domestic travel plans this summer and into the holiday months. Passports are still an acceptable form of identification for both domestic and international air travel, and non REAL ID compliant licenses are still valid for driving and other identification purposes outside of the federal requirements.
While the May 7 date seems to have set off a mad dash for documentation, “leading up to the deadline, TSA has been engaging heavily with states, airlines, airports, Congress, and the travel industry to encourage compliance among travelers,” a spokesperson for the Transportation Security Administration told CNN.
“TSA resumed the ‘Be Your REAL ID Self’ national public advertising campaign in July 2024. We are committed to continue engaging with the public, licensing jurisdictions and states to facilitate a smooth transition to REAL ID enforcement beginning May 7, 2025.”
What is a REAL ID and when is the deadline to have it?
TSA: Passed by Congress in 2005, the REAL ID Act enacted the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the Federal Government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses.” The Act established minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards and prohibits certain federal agencies from accepting for official purposes licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet these standards. These purposes are: Accessing certain federal facilities; boarding federally-regulated commercial aircraft; and entering nuclear power plants. Enforcement begins on May 7, 2025.
If I show up at the airport after May 7 and I don’t have a REAL ID, can I still fly?
TSA: Passengers who present a state-issued identification that is not REAL ID compliant and who do not have another acceptable alternative (i.e., a passport) can expect to face delays, additional screening and the possibility of not being permitted beyond the security checkpoint, if their identity cannot be verified at the checkpoint.
Context: About 81% of travelers at TSA checkpoints nationwide present an acceptable identification including a state-issued REAL ID, according to TSA. The agency expects the number of passengers obtaining REAL IDs to steadily increase even after the deadline of May 7.
According to a recent CBS news analysis, 30 states were less than 70% compliant with new ID requirements as of mid-April.
How can I tell if I have a REAL ID?
TSA: REAL ID-compliant credentials are marked with a star at the top of the card. Contact your state (department of motor vehicle services) for more information on how to ensure your ID is REAL ID-compliant. A few states have a unique way of displaying the star (i.e., California has a golden bear on the front of the license, with a star on the bear.)
Will my passport always serve as a usable alternative?
Southwest Airlines announced Tuesday what was once unthinkable: It will start charging customers to check their luggage.
It’s a $300 million gamble. Last year, Southwest said its “rigorous research” found it would lose that much in market share if it started charging bag fees. The policy has set Southwest apart from its competitors for decades.
Getting rid of its famous “two bags fly free” strategy is part of a massive push at the carrier to ditch its long-standing customer perks and policies. Southwest also announced last year that it’s moving from open seating to a single-class cabin in order to raise revenue. Another change announced Tuesday: basic economy tickets that don’t allow free changes.
Here’s what travelers need to know about the new policies:
Who will pay for bags?
Travelers who buy any ticket except Southwest’s top-level Business Select fare will have to pay fees to check bags. Customers who purchase a Business Select ticket will be able to check two bags for free.
Top-tier A-List Preferred frequent flyer program members will also get two checked bags for free. A-List level members will be able to check one bag for free, as will those with a Southwest credit card.
How much will it cost to check a bag?
Southwest didn’t disclose how much it will cost to check a bag, but fees start at $35 apiece on competitors Delta, United and American.
When do the new policies take effect?
The new checked baggage fees go into effect for tickets purchased on or after May 28.
Can I still bring a carry-on bag?
Carry-on bag policies haven’t changed, even for basic economy tickets.
All tickets will include a free carry-on bag, even for the new basic economy tickets.
What else is happening?
Southwest is going to launch a basic economy fare that is not refundable and doesn’t allow for changes. It won’t allow for same-day standby tickets.
Flight credits for those “basic” tickets, if unused, will expire in six months while credits for other flights will expire in 12 months. Previously, Southwest credits didn’t expire.
The carrier last year said it plans to start selling tickets with assigned seats, ending its decades-old open-seating policy. It will also soon offer seats with extra legroom, a bid to compete with more full-service airlines.
Think you know every last detail about Disney World? Even for the most die-hard fans, frequent visitors, and theme park regulars, there’s always a new tidbit to uncover! From intriguing attraction and resort backstories to impressive stats and figures, every detail of Disney World is really a marvel. Below, discover something new about Walt Disney World with these almost unbelievable (yet totally true) facts.
1. Disney’s Hollywood Studios Used to Be One Giant Hidden Mickey
Hidden Mickeys are one of the most fun details to search for in Disney World attraction queues, resorts, restaurants, and of course attractions themselves. But the biggest Hidden Mickey of all is one you likely never noticed before – likely because it’s made up of an entire theme park.
When Disney’s Hollywood Studios opened in 1989, it was laid out with a particular purpose and shape, unlike any other Disney World theme park. It was designed as a huge Hidden Mickey that would only be noticeable from above. Aerial photographs showed a clear outline of Mickey’s iconic ears, plus details like eyes and a nose shaped by landscaping on the ground. Even the park’s early guide maps showed off this nicely hidden Mickey.
However, this Hidden Mickey is no more. When Sunset Boulevard was built and the first expansion came to Hollywood Studios in July 1994, the original shape of the theme park was forever changed. Now, you can still see portions of Mickey (most notably, his eyes and one ear) on the colored concrete beneath your feet and in the shape of Echo Lake.
2. Walt Disney World Briefly Had Its Very Own Airport
If you’ve ever wished you could skip the drive from Orlando International Airport to Disney World and land directly at the resort, here’s a shocker: That was actually possible back in the 1970s!
Walt Disney World had its own airport right near Magic Kingdom Park. Officially named Lake Buena Vista Airport, it was built in 1971 to serve as an STOL (short takeoff and landing) airfield just for Disney World’s visitors and employees. Shawnee Airlines provided passenger airline service from Lake Buena Vista Airport to Orlando International Airport and Tampa International Airport. It was a tiny airfield, with just enough space to accommodate four aircraft.
Today, it looks like nothing more than a side road off in the backstage area by the Magic Kingdom’s parking lot (and it is still visible from the monorail and while you’re driving along World Drive!). However, if you know what you’re looking for, you’ll note that the center stripe looks an awful lot like an airport runway. However, the “Singing Runway” grooves are unfortunately no longer around. Up until 2008, vehicles driving 45 miles per hour or faster could still hear the notes of “When You Wish Upon a Star” play while rolling over those grooves. That year, they were finally removed.
3. You Can Watch the Magic Kingdom Fireworks from Home
Think Disney World is so insulated and far from traditional cities and neighborhoods that you can’t see the fireworks spectaculars unless you’re inside the resort grounds? Think again! There’s actually a neighborhood of home close to Magic Kingdom Park – so close, in fact, you can experience the fireworks every night they explode in the sky.
Right behind Magic Kingdom, there are neighborhoods like Windermere and Winter Garden filled with homes of all kinds. And thanks to the proximity of the theme park, residents are able to see the fireworks shows right from their yards, in many cases! So, if you’ve always wanted a touch of Disney magic in your everyday life, this is where you can literally bring it home with you.
(Note, also available on YouTube as many amateur streamers post live streams of WDW almost daily. Check it out on YouTube, search for Disney)
4. Spaceship Earth is Smaller Than the Aquarium Inside Sea Base
At first glance, EPCOT’s Spaceship Earth looks bigger than anything else inside EPCOT. After all, it is the theme park’s icon! But when you actually break down the numbers, Spaceship Earth is surprisingly smaller than you might think. In fact, it’s smaller than EPCOT’s own aquarium inside Sea Base.
According to Dr. Mark Penning, @drmarkatdisney on Instagram and Vice President of Disney’s Animals, Science & Environment, the Sea Base aquarium is so big, you can fit Spaceship Earth inside of it and still have enough room to drive a bus around its perimeter. Now that’s a big aquarium!
5. Cinderella Castle Isn’t Made With Any Bricks
The next time you’re near Cinderella Castle inside Magic Kingdom Park, you may want to take a closer look at the gray-hued bricks that make up the bottom half of the structure. Disney World’s iconic princess castle might look like it’s constructed out of bricks, just like traditional castles around the world. But it actually doesn’t use a single brick!
That’s right: Cinderella Castle is made with no bricks at all, per Disney Parks Blog. Instead, it was built with concrete, steel, cement, plaster, and fiberglass.
6. Space Mountain Was the First Fully Computer-Controlled Ride
Today, computer-controlled rides are the norm. But back in the 1970s, computers were just expanding in their various uses. And the very first place they were used for ride technology just so happened to be at Magic Kingdom Park for Space Mountain.
The Tampa Bay Times reports that when Disney World’s version of Space Mountain originally opened in March 1975, it made history as the first entirely computer-controlled ride. Disneyland’s version, which arrived in Anaheim two years later, followed in its footsteps – but this is one attraction that made Disney World history first.
Thanks to its computerized controls, Space Mountain was able to have some extra-thrilling details, like specific brake zones, a computer that gauges the weight of each ride vehicle, and automation that controls the distance between vehicles, allowing for multiple vehicles to be on the track simultaneously. That technology is now standard today, though it was quite novel in 1975.
7. Splash Mountain’s Name Came From a Touchstone Pictures Movie
Although Splash Mountain is now part of both Walt Disney World and Disneyland history with the attraction’s 2023 closure at both resorts, it’s still quite an interesting attraction. Featuring characters and a story inspired by the controversial 1946 Disney animated feature Song of the South, its name is something of a confusing detail. There’s nothing in Song of the South that references Splash Mountain.
Well, that’s because the attraction’s name came from a strange, totally unrelated source: the 1984 film Splash.
According to MousePlanet, when then-CEO Michael Eisner was presented with the model and idea for the log flume ride that would become Splash Mountain, he wasn’t thrilled with any of the names that were directly tied to Song of the South. Instead, as a big fan of Splash, Eisner suggested working “splash” into the attraction name in hopes of promoting that film.
So, a ride that was almost called “Zip-a-Dee River Run” or “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” wound up becoming Splash Mountain!
8. The Carousel of Progress is the Longest-Running Stage Show in U.S. History
There’s no denying that Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress is a longtime staple of Magic Kingdom Park and Disney World – but few people realize that it’s been around for so long that it’s actually historic! It holds two distinctions within Disney World as both one of the oldest attractions in all of Disney World and the oldest attraction to have been touched by Walt Disney himself.
But even more importantly, the Carousel of Progress is culturally significant. It’s the current record holder for the longest-running stage show in the history of American theater. And yes, that means it’s been playing for audiences for longer than any popular Broadway show (including the long-running Phantom of the Opera!).
9. Lightning Rods Are Hiding in Plain Sight Throughout the Resort
If you’ve ever visited Walt Disney World Resort during a thunderstorm, you might’ve noticed that the Orlando area sees a surprising amount of lightning. In fact, Central Florida sees more lightning than any other area in the U.S. – more than 50 lightning strikes per square mile every year!
So, to keep Guests safe and redirect those potential lightning strikes, Disney World has a unique design feature. Lightning rods are strategically placed throughout different areas of the resort (and you probably haven’t noticed them before). Here’s a look at some of the lightning rods you can spot:
The weathervane on top of the Hall of Presidents at Magic Kingdom Park
Mickey’s right ear atop the Crossroads of the World landmark at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
The spikes on the rooftop corners of Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Atop Spaceship Earth at EPCOT
10. Disney World is Home to the World’s Most Expensive Roller Coaster
There are plenty of thrilling attractions at each one of Disney World’s theme parks (and even water parks!) – but Disney’s Animal Kingdom is home to one particularly special one. Expedition Everest is actually the most expensive roller coaster in the entire world!
That’s right: Expedition Everest is the current Guinness World Record holder for the most expensive roller coaster ever created. When it was built back in 2006, the attraction was estimated to cost $100 million total and took six years of research, development, and construction to complete.
OK die-hard fans. I hope you were somewhat surprised with what you read today. But did you know that there is a whole underground city beneath WDW. It’s where the necessary people and equipment movement takes place without disrupting the above park. It might be part of a tour.
