Concerns over travelling soon

[Mollygirl21]

Anyone else having general concerns about travelling to the US? We are headed to WDW next week and I just read there are protests planned at the Orlando airport tomorrow. It just feels like this is the kind of thing that can get out of control (not the protest, the entire situation).

I'm not looking for a political debate - just wanting to express concern for my family's safety. It worries me and I kind of wish we didn't already have this trip planned and paid for.

 

[Disney_Mama]

I understand what you are feeling. But we can't live our lives in fear.
You will get to Disney and have an amazing time. I'm booked in for end of August and I too had second thoughts about going.
But instead I booked another trip for November

 

[cate2]

I hear you. I'd feel anxious as well, the current environment across the border feels volatile right now. I see that you still have a few weeks until your travel date - hopefully (probably) things will settle at the airports by then.
I hope you and your family have a fantastic vacation.

 

[greenclan67]

Yes we have some fears as well. We leave march 4th and the unsettle bothers me. We hope there is no reason for concern. But who knows.

 

[bababear_50]

I have concerns for my family's safety and all Canadians traveling to the U.S.A.
From news reports it does not seem like airport personnel were given adequate time or information and training to prepare for
the new policies. Also a lack of time and preparation for protests, thus ensuring the safety and wellbeing of travelers.
We will be watching closely over the next few weeks to see how these situations are handled. My heart goes out to
families being effected by this.
Mel
Edited to add
I am wearing my fanny pack to the airport this trip.
inside
:Extra medication 5 days worth.Medication list.
:Telephone number list (since I now rely on my cell phone for all of this).
:Cash since I rarely travel with anything but debit and credit.

 

[Silvermist999]

I'm not as concerned about the airport chaos currently as I am about what may happen in the U.S. in future months as a result. We will cancel our WDW trip if the situation worsens in the coming months.

OP, I hope you and family have a safe trip!

 

[Canooknic]

We had this conversation last night as we travel next weekend.
The world is a scary place right now, I don't think travelling anywhere is particularly safe but it (IMO) has been like that for years!!

We have used this https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/registration to register our trip so we will get immediate notifications if there are any problems - I actually did it a while ago as I could see the unrest after the election

 

[22Tink]

Safe travels, fellow Canadians! We have a trip to DLR planned this summer and safety travelling into the US has me a bit concerned, too. Hopefully things will settle down soon.

Thanks for the link, @Canooknic I didn't even know that service was available.

 

[pigletto]

We were in the FLL airport for the shooting earlier this month, and the second mass panic incident that has not been talked about in the media. In short, it was terrifying, we ran for our lives, spent 8 hours on a Tarmac and were evacuated by S.W.A.T.
The entire incident was extremely eye opening.
While I agree we can't live our lives in fear, I no longer think that is how to best advise someone with concerns. My new motto is "Assess the Risk".
I am actually flying back in to the FLL airport in May because flights were dirt cheap. It's safer now than the day I was in it and it is also the airport we flew out of 5 days after the incident to get home. Flying back out of that airport normalized it for my kids again and was very important. The likelihood of another incident at that airport is extremely low right now.

MCO and Disney concern me to be honest. They are potential targets of course. And as we experienced, all the security in the world can't stop a determined individual.

Be smart. Have exit plans, be prepared to change plans, know what you would do if you were separated, be prepared to scrap a trip if you feel unsafe despite the people who may tell you are overreacting. Rely on your own instincts.

I am choosing to continue to travel. I will continue to Assess the Risk.. and if I get a strong feeling that it's unwise to go, my family is unsafe, or there may be unrest, I will scrap the whole thing in a heartbeat.

 

[greenclan67]

We were in the FLL airport for the shooting earlier this month, and the second mass panic incident that has not been talked about in the media. In short, it was terrifying, we ran for our lives, spent 8 hours on a Tarmac and were evacuated by S.W.A.T.
The entire incident was extremely eye opening.
While I agree we can't live our lives in fear, I no longer think that is how to best advise someone with concerns. My new motto is "Assess the Risk".
I am actually flying back in to the FLL airport in May because flights were dirt cheap. It's safer now than the day I was in it and it is also the airport we flew out of 5 days after the incident to get home. Flying back out of that airport normalized it for my kids again and was very important. The likelihood of another incident at that airport is extremely low right now.

MCO and Disney concern me to be honest. They are potential targets of course. And as we experienced, all the security in the world can't stop a determined individual.

Be smart. Have exit plans, be prepared to change plans, know what you would do if you were separated, be prepared to scrap a trip if you feel unsafe despite the people who may tell you are overreacting. Rely on your own instincts.

I am choosing to continue to travel. I will continue to Assess the Risk.. and if I get a strong feeling that it's unwise to go, my family is unsafe, or there may be unrest, I will scrap the whole thing in a heartbeat.

Thank God you & your family are safe. We flew home just a few days before this. I am one that is always watching over my shoulder. I try to always be aware of my surroundings. I will also scrap a trip if need be.

 

[Pkltm]

My sister is trying to talk us out of the trip in Sep/oct, we also believe that you need to assess the risk. We may be out money as we are renting points, and our travel insurance would not cover it if we can't go to to "political" reasons, it covers medical.

We are moving ahead with our plans but are trying now to book everything that is refundable. So hard to predict.

 

[AngelDisney]

Well, there are many other places to travel and explore. I was planning a Japan/Korea trip for this summer. Then DD told me she needed to write MCAT in August, so we are going to the south instead for a UO-DCL-WDW trip before school starts in September. DH always questions why keep visiting US and not expanding our travel horizon to see the world. We would probably plan on visiting other countries and skip US for a while. Hope everyone has a safe and magical trip to the south.

Can't wait to visit Tokyo and Shanghai Disney!

 

[AngelDisney]

With Trudeau's response to the controversy and our immigration and refugee system as it is, it is only a matter of time before going to the USA for us will become more difficult.

I will be in Miami this coming Friday.

Good point! I better renew my Nexus card now before any policy changes.

 

[bababear_50]

Edited do to DIS rules-not worth to losing my posting privileges.
Thank-you for the info
https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/registration
Mel

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Wow, you people are really overreacting. The US is fine; many of us are very concerned about the current political situation, but we aren't all rioting in the streets!

 

[pigletto]

Wow, you people are really overreacting. The US is fine; many of us are very concerned about the current political situation, but we aren't all rioting in the streets!

Edited ..Not worth losing my posting rights.
Thanks for your opinion.

 

[Mollygirl21]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the validation of my concerns and the respectful conversation that has resulted. Talking about it is a good thing.

Thanks for the link canooknic!

 

[wilkeliza]

For now I would plan extra time at the airports each time. So departing Canada and arriving in FL the departing and arriving again. So far all protests have been civil. The women's march and every single one last night did not break out into violence.

Outside of that I want to believe Canada is ok but you never know. Just keep a close eye for any travel warnings.

 

[Canooknic]

Wow, you people are really overreacting. The US is fine; many of us are very concerned about the current political situation, but we aren't all rioting in the streets!

I don't think anyone is overreacting, we are all still travelling and it doesn't seem to me that anyone is panicking.
I lived in the U.K. most of my life, experienced the hideousness of the IRA so know how quickly things can escalate - this sort of discussion and people offering suggestions for emergency situations can be helpful.

I am grateful to the people that are taking to the streets to voice their concerns, I'm certainly not worried about encountering their protests xx

 

[Aladora]

We're still traveling to DL in April but we are keeping a close eye on the situation and will reevaluate if necessary. I'd rather not cancel and lose the $ we have already paid but we, like many other Canadians, are concerned about the state of the USA right now.