Canadians Traveling to the USA in 2025

[deedubb]

I'm looking at airfares now for a trip during the latter half of December. I've mentioned before that my oldest daughter, who is working at Epcot, can get us into the parks for free for 16 days in 2025. So, to take full advantage of the free days, we should ideally fly Edmonton to Orlando on Dec 15 (around $230 one way). Unfortunately, our younger daughter has university finals, so we probably won't fly until Dec 18 ($580 one way). I doubt our Epcot daughter can get us a hotel discount during the Christmas season, and the best rate I can find now is All Star Music for $260/night plus tax.

It appears I'll be paying a lot for airfare and hotel, but the free park days lessens the pain. Besides, being at Disney World for Christmas will be a new experience for us and one I'm looking forward to.

We will likely do another 16 day trip in May, 2026 (more free park days), but I've pretty well reconciled myself to the likelihood that these will be our last Disney trips during That Man's presidency, and perhaps my last trips ever. During That Man's bizarre speech to the generals and admirals on September 30th, he just couldn't resist making more offensive comments about Canada becoming the 51st state.

Even if That Man is removed from office on medical grounds, I don't think the situation will improve. VP Vance has ideas that are just as crazy as That Man's ideas and, unfortunately, Vance is apparently quite intelligent. If anything, Vance could be even worse, if such a thing is possible. I don't see the situation getting any better until at least the 2028 election and, even then, we will have to live with the knowledge that there are 70 million Americans voters who supported That Man.

I'm surprised they don't have blackout dates for those free tickets. Christmas at Disney is truly magical. Hope you have the best time! If you are able, stay for NYE. The fireworks are amazing and the overall vibe is great, but it is PACKED!

 

[PetePanMan]

I remember reading, at the time, that a majority of the Quebecois who voted for separation thought that, after separation, Quebec would continue to receive equilization payments from the rest of Canada. Good luck making THAT happen...

Do we really need this kind of BS on these Disney boards? Anti-US seems to be tolerated by moderators and now it’s descended into divisive Canadian politics

 

[ottawamom]

And back to talk about Disney and travelling to the US.

@Reepicheep that is definitely November in Ottawa. My brightest memory of November 11 is opening the front door and listening to the 21 gun salute. The stairs in front of me were crusted in icy snow. We don't get the snow generally, these days, until early December. Which is why I am happily escaping the greys of November to the sunshine of Florida this year.

 

[atthebeachclub]

Free tickets are worth the increase in flights. You can try on the boards here about renting a dvc,,but this late prob no availabilty,,and cost more than allstars

There isn’t much DVC available at the moment for December; best option would probably be finding a confirmed reservation or two to string together either on this site or a known rental site (David’s DVC Rental is from London, ON! There is also US based DVC Rental Store). Old Key West or Saratoga Springs have the most availability.

 

[Tripscarcare]

Just booked in a few days prior to a cruise out of Port Everglades on the Destiny. Staying At Port Orleans, the Canadian resident deal sure helped eat some of the exchange rate difference. Anyone ever drive down from Orlando to Port Everglades, we got a descent rental SUV for a bit over $100 for a one day rental. Anything worth doing a quick stop and checking out? Brightline seems awesome but couldn’t justify the $365 cost for four tickets.

 

[tgropp]

Just booked in a few days prior to a cruise out of Port Everglades on the Destiny. Staying At Port Orleans, the Canadian resident deal sure helped eat some of the exchange rate difference. Anyone ever drive down from Orlando to Port Everglades, we got a descent rental SUV for a bit over $100 for a one day rental. Anything worth doing a quick stop and checking out? Brightline seems awesome but couldn’t justify the $365 cost for four tickets.

Easy drive. For convenience take the turnpike. It will take 3.5 hours. Fort Lauderdale cruise port is a short jaunt to Fort Lauderdale Beach. Lots to do there

 

[Reepicheep]

We now have some accurate estimates of how much the international tourism boycott of the US is costing the US economy. In early 2025 (prior to That Man starting his trade war with the world), the US Travel Association predicted that foreign visitors to the US would spend $200.8 billion in 2025. Their revised estimate is now $169 billion.

"The lost revenue is set to benefit other countries — notably Canada and Latin America — as travelers seek out other destinations or decide to stay within their own countries or regions."

The U.S. is losing travelers. Here are the countries that stand to benefit

*****************

I also found estimates for the US "travel trade deficit":

"The United States has historically had a travel trade surplus, but inbound travel has declined... the travel trade deficit is projected to reach $70 billion in 2025, the US Travel Association said."

Trump wanted to reduce trade deficits, but at least one has ballooned since he took office

 

[Norton figment]

We now have some accurate estimates of how much the international tourism boycott of the US is costing the US economy. In early 2025 (prior to That Man starting his trade war with the world), the US Travel Association predicted that foreign visitors to the US would spend $200.8 billion in 2025. Their revised estimate is now $169 billion.

"The lost revenue is set to benefit other countries — notably Canada and Latin America — as travelers seek out other destinations or decide to stay within their own countries or regions."

The U.S. is losing travelers. Here are the countries that stand to benefit

*****************

I also found estimates for the US "travel trade deficit":

"The United States has historically had a travel trade surplus, but inbound travel has declined... the travel trade deficit is projected to reach $70 billion in 2025, the US Travel Association said."

Trump wanted to reduce trade deficits, but at least one has ballooned since he took office

This seems high still.

 

[Reepicheep]

Stats Canada has released statistics for September, giving the year over year drop (or rise) in Canadians visiting the USA. The drop in tourism which started in January continues, with the September drop consistent with the previous months.

-CAR- -AIR-
+7% +4.6% Dec
+1% -1.4% Jan
-23% -2.4% Feb
-32% -14% Mar
-35% -20% Apr
-38% -24% May
-33% -22% June
-37% -26% Jul
-34% -26% Aug
-35% -27% Sep

Canadian snowbirds traditionally start arriving in Florida, as well as Arizona, California, and Texas, during the month of October, with the numbers peaking in December and January once the cold weather hits. When Stats Canada releases the October statistics we should have a good idea of whether there is going to be a significant boycott of Canadian snowbirds travelling to the US.

 

[Reepicheep]

I'm surprised they don't have blackout dates for those free tickets. Christmas at Disney is truly magical. Hope you have the best time! If you are able, stay for NYE. The fireworks are amazing and the overall vibe is great, but it is PACKED!

There is a website which gives block out dates for Disney cast members and their guests:

Disney Park block out dates for cast members and guests

On this page, the guest passes my daughter uses are classified as "Main Entrance Pass".

Prior to working at Epcot, my daughter spent two years working on Disney cruise ships. As a cruise ship employee, she also had the benefit of 16 free days for guests.

In September, 2023, I spent 16 days at Disneyland with my daughter, and while she was able to enter the parks each day, she was only able to get me access on ten days. And, on three of those days, she was only able to book a reservation for me at 11:50pm or even later the evening before, when other cast members cancelled their reservations. Still, ten free days is nothing to sneeze at.

At Disney World, Magic Kingdom is blocked out most Saturdays and usually other days during the week. Animal Kingdom and Epcot are often blocked a week at a time, presumably for special events of some sort. For example, Animal Kingdom is blocked out for most of the first week in November.

The calendar currently goes up to December 20th, and availability looks pretty good up to then. We're going to hold off booking airfares until there is at least another weeks worth of data (Dec 21-27), but I'll be surprised if there isn't at least one park available on each day in December (maybe Dec 25 and 31 will have no availability, but I can live with that).