Passport?.....HELP!!!

[pta-mom]

Ok, here's my problem that I hope some of my Canadian friends can help with. We are travelling to DW for our first time in April. We are from Ottawa but have decided to travel to the US to catch a flight as it is soooo much cheaper. However, if we are travelling to the US, getting on a US flight, do we need passports? My husband says no but I'm just not too sure. We have lots of id, including birth papers, etc. Passports for a family of four are around $300....money I would prefer to spend in DW!! What has been your experience?

 

[madonna31]

I am a travel agent who specializes in Disney travel. Trust me, your DH is 100% correct you do not need a passport.

 

[pta-mom]

That's great madonna! Thank you! I just have had this terrible fear that the day we are to leave, we will be booted off the flight.....eeek!! Wouldn't that be aweful!! Anyway, thank you!

 

[indyyeti]

I agree with everyone's post but just want to add that the border agents will be asking for an address that you are going to in the US. Have as much info about your destination - that will help. No passports till 2007 (this may change).

 

[slapwhitey]

Passports apparently won't be required until December /06 (for flights or cruises, and /07 for auto traffic). That being said though it all depends on the agent at the border crossing. It has happened on more than one occasion where the border officer has denied entry to someone without a passport. Now, I would think that is only because they maybe didn't have sufficient ID but who knows. If you travel often I'd get one anyway. I got one a couple of years ago and it really simplifies things when it comes to border crossing.

 

[CharlesTD]

You don't need it yet but honestly it is money well spent our family of 5 will never again be without passports it is just so nice to have the piece of mind of travelling with them than without having them.

 

[sean-1966]

Even if I cross the border for dinner I take my passport. Your husband is probably right but I don't trust US Immigration. They can be really funny sometimes.

 

[mejaie]

I'm with Charles we have passports and it made life vey easy.

We could not figure out at first why the lines were so slow , then we saw people pulling out all sorts of ID and the agents having to go through all of it. Our agents actually smiled when we gave the passports and we were at the counter for not much more than a minute.

I know on the surface $ 300.00 is alot but they are good for 5 years.

 

[dsneygirl]

I agree with everyone's post but just want to add that the border agents will be asking for an address that you are going to in the US. Have as much info about your destination - that will help. No passports till 2007 (this may change).

That's only if you are flying into the states that you need to provide the info. I was just over in BUF on Sat and they didn't ask for the address of the Galleria mall

 

[pta-mom]

I'm with Charles we have passports and it made life vey easy.

We could not figure out at first why the lines were so slow , then we saw people pulling out all sorts of ID and the agents having to go through all of it. Our agents actually smiled when we gave the passports and we were at the counter for not much more than a minute.

I know on the surface $ 300.00 is alot but they are good for 5 years.

I totally hear you and agree....however, do you know when the last time was we were in the US....well, my kids are 8 & 9 and have never been....sick, eh?! It just seems like it is a lot of $$$$ but yes, I agree, it would make things easier.....

....hmmmmm....

 

[CharlesTD]

I totally hear you and agree....however, do you know when the last time was we were in the US....well, my kids are 8 & 9 and have never been....sick, eh?! It just seems like it is a lot of $$$$ but yes, I agree, it would make things easier.....

....hmmmmm....

It honestly would be a wise investment and money well spent if for nothing more than teh one time you happen to make a trip to the US for lord knows what and you get stopped at teh border and denied entry because you don't have that valuable piece of ID.

 

[cabmom]

I've just finished getting everything signed for our passports. I'll be going on Monday to the office in Scarborough to get ours done! Wow, I can't believe how quick the trip is coming up! YIPPEE!

 

[madonna31]

Your very welcome pta-mom. It would be awful indeed! Hope you have a fantastic time!

I agree with everyone's post but just want to add that the border agents will be asking for an address that you are going to in the US.

Sometimes they ask, sometimes they don't. The easiest thing to do is to show them a confirmation from Disney of your reservation. No questions asked after that.

No passports till 2007 (this may change).

It already did change. The US is no longer doing this, so no worries.

 

[Amberle3]

It already did change. The US is no longer doing this, so no worries.

It's my understanding that it's only changed for US residents, not for foriengers entering the country. The US will accept either a passport or their new travel ID card from US citizens - others entering the country will still be required to show passports as per the previous schedule. I haven't received anything in my office from CITC, ACTA or otherwise that says that we won't.

 

[CharlesTD]

It's my understanding that it's only changed for US residents, not for foriengers entering the country. The US will accept either a passport or their new travel ID card from US citizens - others entering the country will still be required to show passports as per the previous schedule. I haven't received anything in my office from CITC, ACTA or otherwise that says that we won't.

You are correct it has no bearing on us as we will still require a passport but US residents will be able to use a travel card they are coming out with we will still need the passport to enter the US.

 

[Boomer1]

We have traveled to WDW the past two Christmases with our three children. We drive and hual our 30ft travel trailer. We all have our passports and have never had any trouble crossing the border.
My best friend and her husband travelled last spring with their camper to WDW and were held up at the border while the border agents questioned their children separately from them. They did not have passports , only drivers liscences and school ID for the children.
They will have their passports the next time they travel!

 

[madonna31]

The US will accept either a passport or their new travel ID card from US citizens - others entering the country will still be required to show passports as per the previous schedule.

You are correct it has no bearing on us as we will still require a passport but US residents will be able to use a travel card they are coming out with we will still need the passport to enter the US.

What I have heard is that Canada will obtain the same type of travel card for entering the US.

I haven't received anything 'official' yet either - nobody has - this is just what a 'little birdie' told me.

 

[jtdl]

Here's a link to the Canadian gov't passport site with what official info is available now:

http://www.pptc.gc.ca/travel_tips/trip_planning_e.asp#us

 

[maryliz]

My best friend and her husband travelled last spring with their camper to WDW and were held up at the border while the border agents questioned their children separately from them. They did not have passports , only drivers liscences and school ID for the children.
They will have their passports the next time they travel!

If the only ID they had for the kids was school ID, it makes total sense. Do you mean they didn't even have birth certificates? School ID is not proof of citizenship. And if they're over 16, they are required to have valid photo ID, and a student card wouldn't suffice.

We now have passports, but to be perfectly honest, a family travelling to WDW, with hotel ressie/airline confirmation/birth certificates/photo ID for everyone over age 16 all in hand -- they're not going to be denied entry to the US, unless one of them gives the customs officer a wisecrack answer to a question.

We travel to the US more than once a year, so it was worth the money. If I never went to the US, and don't have plans to within the next 5 years except for one trip, I certainly would not spend the money for passports. Just MHO. It's a lot of $$$ up front that you have to pay ... and the gov't doesn't let us pay for it on the "pennies a day plan"

 

[Amberle3]

What I have heard is that Canada will obtain the same type of travel card for entering the US.

I've heard this same thing too, but the fact is that it frankly doesn't matter what the Canadian government is planning. They can issue all the various travel cards they want - what matters is what the US government will accept as valid ID. So far I haven't heard anything about them making exceptions to the passport requirements for Canadians at all.

Most of the Americans that I've spoken with think the travel ID card is a complete waste of time. Sure it will be less expensive than a passport but will also likely be valid for a shorter period of time. It will increase the amount of government bureaucracy. And while it's great for getting back into the US it has no value at all as an ID for travelling to ther places that may still require a passport. BTW one of the agents I was speaking with was told that the DR will be instituting a passport requirement as well - don't know how valid that is but that's the rumour. I don't even travel inside Canada without my passport nevermind across the border.


Just get the passport folks. It's price of one cup of coffee a month. It opens door to you that a travel card never will, like being able to take advantage of those last-minute package deals to places like Cuba.