Alternative Family Travel

[Lazeric]

I was just wondering about the experiences that alternative families with children had on the cruises. Our family has traveled to WDW Resort many times, but we have never been on the Disney Cruise.

Any suggestions traveling with your children out of the country, problems with documentation, anything about the boat, and if you were the only family like yourselves on the ship.

Any conversation on this would be greatly appreciated

 

[GreatDaneMom]

I don't think you need to worry on DCL. I saw a few alternative families on our cruise and I believe they were having just as much fun as everyone else. Most people on these cruises are so wrapped up in having fun that I bet they don't even notice any differences. My family would certainly welcome you and gladly share a table with you!! After all, if you're terrific enough to go Disney you must be good people.

Cheryl

 

[Lazeric]

Cheryl;

Thanks so much for the kind words, and we would be glad to share a table with you as well.

Eric

 

[logan1_2000]

You don't say what type of "alternative"--and you don't need to, you're a family, and that's the bottom line, right? I think Disney as a company thinks so, and DCL is definitely not its own thing, but is part of the Disney company (as is so often pointed out on threads about when are they going to invest in more ships!). And since Disney is welcoming to alternative folks and families, both as CM's and as guests, they have had some raucous protests in the past from groups who oppose alternatives. Might be the only time I do this, but I think the protestors are probably right--must be a tolerant, welcoming, inclusive environment to get them all worked up. So enjoy, and have a great time with your family.

 

[Lazeric]

Yes we are a family, and have been for quite some time.

Sorry to hear that you agree with the protestors..but everyone is entitled to their opinion. That's what makes this country such a wonderful place..freedom of speech.

We have always been yearly disney world travelers and have been very well treated by both the cast and the visitors, and can only assume that the cruise would be the same.

thanks for your candor;

Eric

 

[jgalecpa]

Yes we are a family, and have been for quite some time.

Sorry to hear that you agree with the protestors..but everyone is entitled to their opinion. That's what makes this country such a wonderful place..freedom of speech.
thanks for your candor;

Eric

Very well said on a very nice thread.

While I may not agree with your choice, it is your life.

I believe in the "You leave me alone and I'll leave you alone" system.

Raise your family the best you can. That is all we can ask of one another.

Kiss your kids and tell them you love them, everyday.

Jim

 

[crisi]

I was just wondering about the experiences that alternative families with children had on the cruises. Our family has traveled to WDW Resort many times, but we have never been on the Disney Cruise.

Any suggestions traveling with your children out of the country, problems with documentation, anything about the boat, and if you were the only family like yourselves on the ship.

Any conversation on this would be greatly appreciated

I would assume that my family is "traditional" by your standards, but we have one bio child and one adopted child of a different race, which makes us untraditional by many standards.

I believe passports are the safest way to prove any child - but particularly "not white" children and adopted children, are U.S. Citizens.

I believe when traveling abroad, better safe than sorry. Make sure everyone has ID and bring any adoption certificates or court certificates you may need to prove that you are your child's parent. A birth certificate does fine when there is one Mommy and one Daddy and everyone looks alike and has matching last names. But some of us came about our families in methods more complicated.

If court documents leave you as not the sole parent (i.e. there is an ex-spouse involved) making sure to have any notarized documents you need to take your child out of the country from your ex (other people will have better information).

Chances are good none of this will be needed (beyond what everyone needs)and you'll stroll on and off the ship without problems. But last thing you want is to give some customs official an excuse to seperate you from your child while they establish you are indeed the parent.

We didn't notice any families like ours, or for that matter, too many families unlike ours. The families that stuck out stuck out not because of matching or not matching parts, but for other reasons (we were on a ship with "Lydia the tatoo'd lady" and her daughter - they stuck out. So did the beautiful family with two perfectly put together small children and Mom in a bikini that convinced me those kids dropped from the sky - it was inconcievable that her stomach had ever been stretched to beached whale size). Keep in mind that if your dinner partners turn out to be unsufferable, talking to the head waiter should get you moved (it happens). Otherwise, its a big ship, you can avoid people that give off unwelcome vibes, and they can avoid you.

 

[logan1_2000]

"agreeing " with protestors meant "yes, protestors, Disney IS an inclusive and welcoming place/company that makes folks who don't fit your norms feel welcome". If Disney was not such a place/company, would the protestors be there? Methinks the protestors would not pick on a company that made nontraditional families feel out of place, or that denied partners benefits, but Disney does those things, which I thought reflected larger corporate culture that would be to your liking and make you feel more confident about enjoying a DCL cruise. Sometimes the internet and bulletin boards are an incomplete means of communication, because vocal inflection and emphasis can be lost. I wasnt trying to be patronizing--thought I was on your side, but the sarcasm of using knuckle-headed protestors as a barometer ("hey, the dopey protestors are being self-righteous and accusing Disney of being sinners for not judging people--so Disney must therefore be open minded, good folks, because mostly the protestors hate open minded, non-judgmental people who think for themselves) seems to have been lost on you. Its called sarcasm--directed at those who are judging you and even imposing the concept of "alternative" family--I think I said that you are a family, and that no one has the right to question that, because you know you are even if the law doesn't recognize it.
Thanks for patronizing me with your right to free speech schtick.
Enjoy your cruise.

 

[Rence]

The thing to keep in mind is that the individual examining your documents doesn't know you, doesn't know your situation etc.

Passports are a great idea, especially in any sort of 'non-standard' situation. It can eliminate a lot of potential problems.

What the person checking your documents wants to confirm is that all persons with legal responsibility for the child (parent, guardian etc.) are aware that the child is leaving the country and has given permission for the child to leave the country.

The presumption is that a child has two parents and that both need to give permission to travel. There are of course many exceptions to this, and typically it is a good idea to document the exception. For example, a divorced mother who has full custody of the child would have the right to take the child out of the country without the ex-spouse's permission. However the mother may be called upon to document the fact that she does indeed have sole custody.

It has suprised me in the past some of the stories I have read on here. Divorced parents who do not have sole custody but have had no contact with their ex-spouse for years. Or a single mother, who had the father listed on the birth certificate but has never bothered to get a legal ruling that she is indeed the sole parent. It is important that clear authority for a child be legally documented to avoid problems later. It seems to me that we spend more time making sure we have a legal title to our cars.

You would want to document this with official certified copies of documents, a photocopy of a court document typically won't cut it. I believe it is possible to get official copies of these documents from the court where the ruling took place.

This may be overkill, and you probably won't need all the documentation. But I believe it is better safe than sorrty. You wouldn't want your vacation ruined because some official someplace decided to question things. Unfortunately this may be slightly more likely to happen with an alternative family.

You know your situation best and hopefully you know where you stand legally with your children. If you and/or your partner do not have sole legal responsibility for your children, then you will need documentation from the other parent that it is OK for you to take the child out of the country. If there is another parent that is no longer in the picture, and you have not established sole legal decision making authority, I would strongly recommend that you do that, not just for the cruise but for everything that lies ahead in your child's life.

 

[Lazeric]

Thank you very much for all of the information on the passports, traveling with children that are adopted, and how best to handle the situations. I truly appreciate all of your help.

We do understand how all families are different, and we all get here in different ways. All that matters is that we are the best parents that we can be for our children. Through all of our travels and day to day life we may meet people who have very strong feelings as to our choice of family, and those are things that every family must deal with. We just hope that people give themselves a chance to get to know us, before they pass judegement on us. But if they can't, thats ok too. Let people be who they are..is what I always say.

One other thing, I didn't realize that writing this thread would give people a chance to make comments about my family, and my life. I was just hoping to hear about the needed for special documentation to go along with their passports for them and their children. And thank you Crisi for helping me out with that. I am not a political activist nor someone who marches down your street in a parade. I am a father, executive, PTO President, cancer volunteer, and the neigbor who will help you out with your car ,or take you to the store when your unable to get there on your own.

Thank you all for this enlightening experience.

Eric

 

[Lazeric]

As you said above, email is difficult to understand..peoples reactions, and what they are saying to you. You are not sitting in front of the person, so you can't tell if what they are saying is sarcastic, or what they truly feel.

Thanks for your clarification, and sorry that I didn't interpret what you are saying in the sarcastic way you were writing it. Didn't mean to get you upset

Truly Sorry;

Eric

 

[DreamGirl's Mom]

One other little thing...

Prepare your child(ren) for answering questions from officials (depending of course on their ages).

I am a Canadian single mother and I had all my documentation for crossing the border into the USA - passport for my daughter plus a letter from her dad giving me permission to take her out of the country (duly notarized by his lawyer).

One official we ran into was less interested in the documents than in hearing my daughter confirm verbally that I was her mommy and we were indeed going to WDW. Although my daughter (who is six) is not shy, by the time we waited in umpteen lines for her first plane trip she was a little overwhelmed and speechless and did not know what to say. Especially when the official wanted to hear why daddy was not travelling with us (we had just separated - how easy is it for a tired, overwhelmed, excited six year old to explain that...)

Anyway... it all turned out fine in the end. Although, for the return trip I explained to my daughter how important it is to speak up and answer the questions.

- C

 

[Lazeric]

I truly appreciate the information on having the letter from her Dad. We have actually have had something similar on our last trip to WDW. We had all the paperwork, but I had to carry more documentation saying that my daughter did not have a mother. So many questions, but she was able to handle them all....eventhough all the paperwork was in order. This is definately something that all adoptive, divorced, single or widowed parents need to be made aware of....error on the side of having too much information.

Thanks for all of your help on this.

Eric

 

[jgalecpa]

I am a father, executive, PTO President, cancer volunteer, and the neigbor who will help you out with your car ,or take you to the store when your unable to get there on your own.

Thank you all for this enlightening experience.

Eric

Eric,

You sound like a terrific father and a good neighbor.

Jim

 

[Lazeric]

My daughter makes being a great parent, very easy

Eric

 

[jgalecpa]

My daughter makes being a great parent, very easy

Eric

I have two teen daughters.

From the Male perspective it is at times enlightening and at other times frustrating, but always fun (I think. At least that's what I keep telling myself).


Welcome to the Dis Boards.

You will find that unlike other boards, it is very rare that anyone is curt, mean or rude to anyone else.

May you enjoy your time here, and learn as much as I have.

Jim

 

[Bama4Disney]

Eric:

We saw several alternative families on board our cruise in Feb of this year and our little 18 month had a ball with their little girl. The Grandparents where with them also and they entire family had a great time. Your daughter will love it!.

Once you get your passport and docs in order you are ready to sail!

Kevin

 

[Lazeric]

Thanks to everyone with all their help and insight. THis is a wonderful board filled with very knowledgable people.

Eric

 

[nordkin]

We too have an alternative family and this will be our third Disney cruise. Our children, now 20, 18, and 17, do not want to cruise any other line. They have had questions from curious teens on board, but have found them to be more curious than judgmental. I believe your family will have a wonderful time and find everyone very friendly.

 

[Lazeric]

Thank you for the insight. Most everywhere we go, even to the Cape, children will question our daughter..and it for the most part has been non judgemental.

Glad to hear that you had nice experiences on the cruise with your family

Eric