Can just mommy take the kids to Disney?

[lanejudy]

If you leave the country (and a cruise nearly always includes leaving the country), AND you are divorced or not married to the other parent, you may be required to have written permission

Actually, even married parents may be required to produce permission if just one is leaving the country alone with their child. Canada frequently (not always, but often) requires it for land travel.

 

[brockash]

Hi, i was wondering about travel laws when taking kids on a plane out of state for trips, including going to Disney. Would DH have to sign something or can i just go on vacation with them?

Are you talking about flying with kids from one state to another in the U.S.? If so, you don't need to have anything. -Honestly, you most likely don't even have to be the parent. - I flew with my nephew a few years ago without any issues and no "paperwork." My sister flew with my son when he was 3 with no issues either. I fly all the time with my kids without my DH (not that it matters at all if you're married) and no one thinks twice about it. Now, if you're flying out of a country to another, then you may be required and should have some documentation, but even then, it's not always a deal breaker.

 

[brockash]

If you are leaving the country you can't. I know if we try to cross the Canada-U.S. border without one parent you do need a notarized letter from the other parent or custody papers. Car or plane. So a cruise you may want to check into.

Not always. It is recommended, but it's really dependent on the agent. I've taken my kids by myself multiple times across the Canadian border without any kind of note. Sometimes the agent asks if their dad knows that we're crossing the border, sometimes they don't ask at all, but I've never been not allowed to cross. If we were flying I'd make sure to take the notarized paperwork, but even then it's not always required.

 

[cijay]

of course they can. Why would you think otherwise?

Perhaps they're crossing an ocean or international border?

 

[chekhovgirl]

It seems like the OP was asking about how hard it is at the parks, not if she could legally bring them, but legally bringing a child somewhere depends on where you are and where you're going. I had to notarize a paper saying that my husband could bring my kids in to Canada, yet my parents flew with my kids from Virginia to Iceland and Norway (where they met me) with nothing but their passports. Their last name is even different from my children's.

 

[Alesia]

It seems like the OP was asking about how hard it is at the parks, not if she could legally bring them,

No, she specifically asked if her husband would have to sign something in order for her to fly with the children.

 

[Gracie09]

Perhaps they're crossing an ocean or international border?

She said out of state trip not outbid country. So that indicates no international border crossings

 

[cijay]

Oh, right, I guess I didn't see that.

So they don't check ID when you board a plane going from state to state then? They do here but it doesn't have to be a passport.

 

[Alesia]

Oh, right, I guess I didn't see that.

So they don't check ID when you board a plane going from state to state then? They do here but it doesn't have to be a passport.

Yes, they check ID for anyone 18 and older.

 

[cijay]

Yes, they check ID for anyone 18 and older.

But they wouldn't question a single person taking a child?

 

[Alesia]

But they wouldn't question a single person taking a child?

No.

 

[tjmw2727]

But they wouldn't question a single person taking a child?

No - and .. who are "they" and why would "they" question a single person/parent/adult?

I have traveled with my kids as the solo adult since they were babies, when they were toddlers, preschoolers and teens and have never ever been questioned. Even after 911 TSA only asked the kids their name to see if it matched the boarding pass. FWIW I have also traveled as the solo adult with my nieces and nephew some of who have a different last names and different ethnic makeup. We also travel for a sport and I have also accompanied my daughters and several of their teammates who were all under 18 and no TSA agent or Airline has ever asked me or them who they were traveling with and or why. Even after I became a widow I didn't carry anything extra to prove I was now a single parent.

T

 

[Gracie09]

But they wouldn't question a single person taking a child?

Nope I have travelled with children that were obviously not my biological children and no one blinks an eye.

 

[delilah]

I brought my son many times to WDW by myself, probably about 10 times over the years. I use my own last name instead of my husband's. There is the added complication that my son is Asian and adopted and I am Caucasian. The most that ever happened was that the TSA agent would ask my son who I was at the check in.

 

[tabrizia]

But they wouldn't question a single person taking a child?

Nope, I travel frequently with my kids to visit my parents without my husband since he has to work. I have never been asked about my husband or anything else. My Mom actually flies semi-frequently with my kids without me or my husband and also has never been asked when going through security where their parents are or if their parents agreed to send them with her. As long as your are taking a domestic flight it is not an issue.

That being said. I did get a notarized letter when we were returning from India, since my husband had to go home a week earlier then we did. I was never asked at customs and immigration, but if you are passing through customs and immigration a notarized letter is a good idea, since you are more likely to be asked.