Kids and passports

[sandydk]

Edited:

Is there any way to get kids passports without them figuring out what you're doing?

Trying to keep this dang cruise a surprise!

Thank you!

 

[jtba]

how old are your kids? could you tell them the photos are for school?

 

[jtba]

mine were 4 and 8 and we managed to keep the cruise a surprise until an hour before we left for the cruise terminal.

 

[TrySomethingNew]

Well, some kids don't pay enough attention at those ages and you may get away with it, but with applying for a passport it might be harder. For passport they need picture, and when you apply for the passport (at PO, for example), they need to be with you, as I recall.
We surprised our kids at age 5 and 13 and managed to keep it a secret-even with getting passports. I simply told them that we were getting passports because mine was expired and they didn't have any, and since they are good for 5-10 years, we should have them in case we ever needed them. They didn't ask questions -not even the teen. Good luck!

 

[amanda12404]

We did the exact same thing as TrySomethingNew. Our passports were expired and we told them that it is time for everyone to get new. They pretty much didn't say anything. The lady at the post office did start to say something, but I looked at her with this nervous stare and she just stopped talking She instantly knew that the kids weren't aware of our upcoming trip. The problem is my 12 year old son found something Disney sent us so he knows now but my 9 year old daughter still doesn't know. Everyone is doing everything they can to keep it from her but I am sad my son knows but there wasn't anything I could do.

 

[pontikes67]

We did the exact same thing as TrySomethingNew. Our passports were expired and we told them that it is time for everyone to get new. They pretty much didn't say anything. The lady at the post office did start to say something, but I looked at her with this nervous stare and she just stopped talking She instantly knew that the kids weren't aware of our upcoming trip. The problem is my 12 year old son found something Disney sent us so he knows now but my 9 year old daughter still doesn't know. Everyone is doing everything they can to keep it from her but I am sad my son knows but there wasn't anything I could do.

Surprise or not, it'll be a great trip!

 

[pontikes67]

I'd go with the "our passports expired, so it's time for us to all get one". We did this with our cruise and the kids we're clueless.

 

[bumbershoot]

My son knew what passports were so he would know that there was *some sort* of trip planned. And he would be sad to not be part of planning; I assume you know that your particular kids won't have that reaction?

 

[darnheather]

We travel overseas for other things and have family abroad so it was easy to say that it was simply time to get them renewed. You could always tell them it's in case Trump gets elected. :ducks tomatoes:

 

[chik1987]

We went and applied for the kids passports yesterday. We aren't cruising for a while but with having to do the "special circumstance" form because their dad up and took off when we got divorced 2 years ago we wanted to make sure to get it done early in case I have to try to take him back to court or something. We went and took pictures and when we went to do the actual passport applications they were so confused because they thought just getting the pictures done was applying for a passport lol. And my kids are 8 1/2 and almost 11. I could have easily tricked them if that's what I was wanting to do lol.

 

[sandydk]

Mine are 8 and 10. They told me after our last WDW trip (where we told them one week in advance) that they don't want to know in advance next time -- the wait to go was too much and they'd rather us surprise them when it's time to leave (that's the way their first trip to WDW was -- told them on the day we flew to Orlando).

My passport and my husband's are both current, so I can't use the expired excuse. And yes, according to the website, both DH and I have to appear in person with the kids to apply. The 10-year-old is crafty enough to know passport = trip out of country. I'm hoping if I do it early then maybe they'll forget when there's no impending trip. I have a feeling that the 10er won't let it go though LOL

Ugh, I have no idea what excuse to use, especially since the 10er happened to get the mail the same day the Disney Cruise DVD showed up. I told him there's no trip planned this year and that I just wanted to get more info for later, but he still keeps giving me the side eye...

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Mine are 8 and 10. They told me after our last WDW trip (where we told them one week in advance) that they don't want to know in advance next time -- the wait to go was too much and they'd rather us surprise them when it's time to leave (that's the way their first trip to WDW was -- told them on the day we flew to Orlando).

My passport and my husband's are both current, so I can't use the expired excuse. And yes, according to the website, both DH and I have to appear in person with the kids to apply. The 10-year-old is crafty enough to know passport = trip out of country. I'm hoping if I do it early then maybe they'll forget when there's no impending trip. I have a feeling that the 10er won't let it go though LOL

Ugh, I have no idea what excuse to use, especially since the 10er happened to get the mail the same day the Disney Cruise DVD showed up. I told him there's no trip planned this year and that I just wanted to get more info for later, but he still keeps giving me the side eye...

Just tell them you're concerned about carrying their birth certificates all the time. And a passport is good for many other things, and more durable. Or, just allow them to think what they want, and say "I want everyone to have a passport, just in case".

 

[sandydk]

I love that. Keep it simple, I want us all to have passports just in case, since they're the best form of ID and more durable than their birth certificates. Thanks PrincessShmoo! I think I was overthinking it.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I love that. Keep it simple, I want us all to have passports just in case, since they're the best form of ID and more durable than their birth certificates. Thanks PrincessShmoo! I think I was overthinking it.

Yeah, unfortunately, "over-thinking" things is a common state of mind here on the DISboards.

Glad I could help.

 

[CraftyMommy]

We surprised our kids last October right before we left for the airport to go to WDW. My 12 yr old son said he was very happy to be going, but he wished we had told him in advance so he could look forward to the trip and give input on things he wanted to plan. He asked if we did another trip he would like to be in on the planning and excitement. So I won't keep the trip from him. I do intend to keep the cruise a secret from my 5 year old daughter as she thinks 3 months from now is tomorrow and wouldn't be able to stand the long wait. I think keeping the secret depends on how your kids will react.

 

[sandydk]

Both my boys specifically told me they'd prefer we surprise them, so I'm going to try!

 

[wherespluto]

We got passports and just told our kids that they are handy things to have in case we want or need (my husband's family is in Europe) to travel to a different country. We were able to keep the cruise a surprise until the day before.