The US Customs Official asked us why we were going to Disney World?

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Earlier today my family and I crossed at the Ambassador Bridge and when the Customs Official asked us where we were going we said Disney World, then out of the blue he asked why are we going there? Obviously we said it was for a vacation, so maybe he was trying to catch us off guard with that type of question. After we went through my Dad said to us why else would anyone be going to Disney World?

Also we got to the Aambassador Bridge just before 7:00 AM and there was no wait at all. In the lane we picked there was only one car in front of us and it was up there for no more then one minute.

 

[disneyfreak89]

I'm not surprised with that question.....on our last trip the female officer asked us SEVERAL strange questions....even going so far as to ask us if we had an itinerary for our trip....thankfully, because I'm a plan freak, I handed her my folder with everything in it....calendar, hotel confirmations, ADR's you name it...and she leafed through every single page! I said to my DH after wards "what if we didn't have an itinerary, what would she have done then?"

Have a safe trip down and a wonderful time!

 

[gem21]

Not unusual, anytime I cross the border I get asked what is the purpose of my trip, doesn't matter where... you could be going down for a conference or other event. It's just a standard set of questions. I won't even get started on the questions my friend and I got asked crossing into NY last fall. They aren't so much looking for what you say, but how you say it.

 

[NancyK]

We're both in our early 50s and we have been asked why we would be interested in going to Disney LOL. I guess some people think that if you don't have little kids, there is no reason to go! Been there almost 30 times and heading back in January!

 

[disneyfreak89]

I guess some people think that if you don't have little kids, there is no reason to go!

That's true....we always get funny looks at the border when we say we're going to Disney, then they look in our backseat to see if we have kids.

 

[dis_guy]

DW and I just went on our first "no kids" trip without our DDs (19 and 20) in November. Just after we announced that we were going my sister decided to surprise our daughters with their own DL trip.

No problem with US customs at the airport on the way down but coming back, Canada customs asked what we were bringing back I answered, "Just some Disney World souvenirs for our daughters."

She looked at us and said "You went to Disney without your kids?" I then had to go into a long explanation of how our DDs went on an all girls trip to Disneyland with their aunt at the same time that we were in Florida.

She still looked at me kinda funny, but just shrugged it off.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I forgot to mention we were also asked if we were visiting anybody down there? I made plans to see some friends of mine who are from Orlando, however we told them no because it sounded easier and what if he asked where they lived? The reason I say that is because I honestly don't know their exact addresses, just the areas they live in. Plus we were asked how much US $ were brining in to the country, although we have been asked that before.

 

[2busy4life]

Plus we were asked how much US $ were brining in to the country, although we have been asked that before.

Why do they ask this? Did you tell them exactly how much you were taking?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Why do they ask this? Did you tell them exactly how much you were taking?

It's because if you bring $10,000 or more US $ it needs to be declared and they might think it could be going for drugs and etc. We told them exactly how much US $ we had and it was not even close to that.

 

[Sue M]

I've been asked what the purpose of my trip is, and say WDW. But I've never been asked why I want to go to WDW! Too funny.

 

[You'vegotafriendinme]

After many trips over the years, only once has a Canadian customs agent made a curious comment. He asked where we were returning from. We responded that we had a flown to Orlando and provided the departure and return dates. He then asked "What's in Orlando?". Of course, when we responded that we'd been at WDW for two weeks he said "Oh, that's there". I like to think that we can recognize humour and perhaps sarcasm, but this seemed like neither - very peculiar, actually. The mickey antennae topper should have provided a clue.

 

[CanadianPaco]

I've been asked what the purpose of my trip is, and say WDW. But I've never been asked why I want to go to WDW! Too funny.

I agree! too funny!. I know their standard line "what is the purpose of you visit?" I get that but other than a conference why els ewould you go to WDW - A VACATION!!

 

[Remmy]

We were asked the same question too on that bridge just this year. My husband responded, "Because it is awesome!" like Rhino from the Bolt movie. The guard also asked us where in Disney were were staying and DH said, "POFQ. Would you like to see the reservation?" and the boarder guard laughed and said he was just curious on where people stay at Disney. I think we met a fan of Disney and he waved us off and wished us a fun vacation.

I hope we find another Disney fan when we are crossing in January.

 

[Ken_Breadbox]

The question that almost tripped up my DW last time over the border:
"Are you bringing anything into the U.S. that you're going to leave behind?"
DW sat there for about a second and a half...which at the border feels like 3.8 eternities. I was about to chime in when she said "no...I'm sorry...I'm trying to figure out what that would possibly be."
Me, too. A Canadian flag? (We're the vanguard of a conquering force?)

 

[dancin Disney style]

We've been asked a ton of weird questions. I don't even think any of it's weird anymore only because we cross often to shop. Sometimes I think they get bored and ask questions for their own entertainment.

We have had the agent stand in front of our girls (the side door of the van open) with their passports open in his hands and say 'now which one is XXXXX and which one is XXXXX?'

We have had the agent open the back of our van and look right at our cooler and then ask if we had any food in the car.

I've been asked at 3am how much cash I had in the car and how far we were planning to drive that day.

 

[2busy4life]

It's because if you bring $10,000 or more US $ it needs to be declared and they might think it could be going for drugs and etc. We told them exactly how much US $ we had and it was not even close to that.

Thanks for the information. We have not had a holiday in 21 years so this is all new to us. In the few times we have crossed the border no one has ever asked us how much $$ we were taking with us.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Thanks for the information. We have not had a holiday in 21 years so this is all new to us. In the few times we have crossed the border no one has ever asked us how much $$ we were taking with us.

You're welcome.

 

[OntFamily]

In many instances, the Custom's agents are not interested so much in the answers to these seemingly innocent questions, but the overall reactions by everyone in the car. Sometimes, the questions are just a stall tactic, while the agent is inspecting the vehicle with their eyes.

The type of open ended questions (ie " do you have any food" ) are standard. Good inspectors always ask open ended questiosn, as they make the questionee speak more words, and not just "yes" or "no".

 

[tigger2on]

On all customs declarations cards that the hand out on the plane, they ask you why you were at so & so and they have business/ pleasure/ personal boxes to check, so I guess this is just the easiest way to find out which box they need to check on the computer...

 

[dancin Disney style]

Thanks for the information. We have not had a holiday in 21 years so this is all new to us. In the few times we have crossed the border no one has ever asked us how much $$ we were taking with us.

We have been asked several times now how much money we are carrying. The first time being when we said we were going over to the casino. So really it made sense that time. Other times it just makes me feel uncomfortable.