Are you a parent who has taken kids to WDW on your own?

[Demi_8]

Any parent out there travelled with kids only without the other parent? It says the following on Westjet's website. "It is advisable to carry a consent letter in situations where a child is travelling with one parent … ". I thought situations like this only applys to custody issues. We are legally married and just a mom taking sons (10 & 16) to WDW and dad can't go because he has to work. We usually all travel together so this is the first time this situation has come up. Leaving on Monday and just getting a little concerned here. We are only going to the states. Anyone who has done this pls advise. Thanks.

 

[tjbaggott]

I've not travelled alone yet, but likely will be next summer. I've been aware of this recommendation though. Although your kids are old enough to speak for themselves, it's always a good idea to have a letter from your spouse stating he he knows you are travelling alone with the kids to go to where ever your destination is. From what others have said on this subject, most often the letter is never asked for, but for the few times it is, it's better/saves time? to have it with you. Again, however, your kids are old to answer for themselves any questions. I guess the issue to think of, is that the border secruity does not know you are married to their father.
I look at it with the thought that it's much easier to get that letter when you ARE married/together than it is for people who are separated/divorced.

 

[brighteyes]

This applies to ANY parent taking ANY child across the border without ONE or the BOTH permission.

Meaning, a single parent with sole custody still needs to get a letter from the other parent. Even a single parent where the other parent has NO ACCESS needs to provide proof of this before even getting the child's passport.

A married parent who is taking the child alone accross the border. OR

Obviously, a friend, or relative, who is taking a child which is not theirs accross the border.

Hope this helps.

 

[jtdl]

Yes, it can be an issue but I live in a border city, cross many times a year for day trips, weekend trips and week long trips with my kids alone and have never once been asked to supply a letter. My first husband is deceased and I am remarried so my daughter has a different last name then me and my son. I still have never been asked to provide a letter or anything else. I have been asked a couple of times what relation she is to me and I tell them she is my daughter and that has been the end of it. She went to Mexico with friends a few years ago and I got a notarized letter from my lawyer giving my permission for her to go with them and, again, she was not asked to provide it at the border into Michigan, the airport or Mexico. I took a friend's child for a weekend stay in Michigan this year, again with my kids and myself alone, and I did request a letter from his dad (who is divorced but has custody) and I just gave it to the border guard when I arrived at the booth and he handed it back. This letter was not notarized, just written by the dad with his phone number on it. I wouldn't really worry about getting a notarized letter - a self written letter from your husband with a phone number where he could be reached at the time when you would be crossing the border would probably be fine.

 

[ferris198]

I took DS without Dh when he was 4, I got the notarized letter, wasn't asked for it.
A few months later, a friend went down, she had the letter, and was asked for it, and given a hard time. On the way home, her sil was given a hard time as well.
Best to have it.

 

[mommylo]

Hi, I take my DS10 twice a year to WDW or New York. We fly out of Buffalo. I have a notarized letter all the time. Sometimes I was asked for it, most times I was not, but I never take a chance.

 

[disneyfan2]

i go to florida each year without DH AND i always bring a notorized letter. Anyways, I have never been asked but i would take it anyways. We cross over the border by car then fly from Buffalo. I am not sure if it has to be notorized but if you do a regular letter and have DH sign it, then photo copy his drivers license etc, to show proof of signature, otherwise anyone could technically sign on his behalf. But if you can do it Notorized, it is one less thing to worry about

 

[tjbaggott]

Just out of curiosity, what is the definition of "given a hard time" here? I would think that if a letter is requested and presented, there would be no "hard time given", but if a letter is NOT presented, then some questioning might ensue, but I wouldn't qualify that even as a hard time. So what is actually meant by a hard time? I plan on taking two of my boys to WDW next summer and am not sure yet if we'll drive or fly, and also not sure if DH will join us or not. So I want to know ahead of time, what to expect in any situation. If I travel alone, I would definately have a notarized letter, so not worried about that. Just concerned about "the hard time given" even with that letter?

 

[disneyfan2]

i never have been asked for the letter, but we drive across the border. However, i can't see be given a hard time with a letter that is similar to the travel websites that have all the info on it. Again, photo copy the spouse id is a good idea.

 

[ferris198]

Security did not believe the authenticity of the letter.

 

[Demi_8]

Security did not believe the authenticity of the letter.

You didn't mention whether your friend's letter was notarized or not, but sounds like it wasn't and I gather this is the reason why security questioned the authenticity of the letter.

Oh why does travel have to be so complicated sometimes!? It seems to be strongly recommended that children who are minors travelling with one parent carry the consent letter. So, for piece of mind, I will do up the letter and have it notarized. Nothing like a bad start to a vacation to be asked for it and not have it! You'd think with my kids being the ages that they are that they can just speak for themselves on who they live with and confirm that their parents are together and live as one happy family, etc., however, in the eyes of the law they are classified as minors until age 18.

 

[brighteyes]

I must say that I was quite ticked off that I was NEVER asked for my documents. I had to pool together copies of ALL my court orders and even a copy of the judge's decision granting final full custody because my child's father NEVER appeared. SO basically, I had many many copies of many many court documents carried around with me.

I am talking many trips to the courthouse, funds in excess of 20.00 to photocopy at the court house, and countless trips BACK to the passport office to see if they were satified that I really had no contact with the EX!!!

Now I am fearing renewing DS passport and having to do that all over. After all the blood, sweat and tears I put into having to get this passport I was really quite ticked off that I was never asked to show these documents.

Sorry for the rant, I just get all worked up thinking about it still.

 

[ferris198]

It was notorized, she used my lawyer.

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

You need to have the letter, has nothing to do with custody, separation, married, etc. It is for the safety of your kids. You may not be asked for it, but you should have it incase you are. last time we went to wdw, we were asked on our way back, actually AT the Ottawa airport, he was on the other side waiting to see the kids (the ex) and we had to show our papers that stated that I was allowed to bring the kids to the US and back. crazy, I know!

 

[squirrel]

I was asked and handed over a noterized letter when I took my niece to DL (airport in Canada).

Last year we drove down to Seattle and we handed over the passports and were never asked anything. I had a noterized letter.

This year my sister doesn't want to spend the money on the noterized letter as it wasn't need last year.

I found a form from another post and printed it out, hopefully that will be good enough if asked this year.

 

[alamode]

I went with my kids to WDW this May, and I carried with me a copy of my wife's death certificate.

My son is 9, and my twin girls are 5, so they were old enough to answer any questions. The customs agent asked where Mommy was and they all answered "Up in Heaven".

My document was not asked for, but it's always best to be prepared.

 

[Disney_Mama]

I travel accross the border all the times with my girls and have never been asked for a letter. But I have gotten a letter from my DH when we flew, just to be on the safe side. I was never asked for it.

 

[Canadian Girl 77]

When DD was a baby I got DH to do the notarized letter. It's valid until she turns 18 - they told me we could make it valid that long. I've never been asked. Even when driving over to fly to Texas with lots of bags.

But my aunt was asked for a letter for her daughter this week when coming here from Texas.

 

[Tinkermom76]

I have sole custody and it states in my papers that I can obtain a passport and remove the children from the country without fathers permission.. Thank God I brought them with me on my last WDW trip because I was asked for proof of custody and permission to travel.

I would advise you to just have him write you a letter and put a # he can be reached at if there are any problems and again your kids can speak too so you shouldn't have a problem.

Don't forget that although they are a pain the border services people are there to keep us safe and if someone did take our kids and got across the border I know I would blame them so I try to cut them some slack and remember they are doing a very hard job and I give them what they ask me for, a letter isn't a big deal and will save trouble.

Have a great vacation!

 

[maggieb9975]

I went with my kids to WDW this May, and I carried with me a copy of my wife's death certificate.

My son is 9, and my twin girls are 5, so they were old enough to answer any questions. The customs agent asked where Mommy was and they all answered "Up in Heaven".

My document was not asked for, but it's always best to be prepared.

I am so sorry for your loss, very sad...I hope you enjoyed your trip with your children and hope Disney eased the pain a little....