Metro Vancouver family receives passports 24 hours before Disneyland trip

A Burnaby mother received her family’s passports two months after she applied for them, just one day before their long-awaited trip to Disneyland.

“I just can’t believe we got them, and we got all of them and in time and they’re all spelled correctly, and everything is perfect,” Brittany Brady told CityNews.

After numerous calls and emails and a few sleepless nights, Brady finally got word on Tuesday that she’d be able to pick up the passports later that day – less than 24 hours before their flight.

“We would have never booked, ahead of time, we would have never done any of those things but we just really didn’t know because it wasn’t announced then and now all of a sudden we’re caught up with everyone else who put theirs in after us.”

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Both of Brady’s children are autistic, and she explains that change, especially last minute changes to long-awaited plans can be very hard for her children to accept.

“The hugest sigh of relief ever. I mean, I have disabled children and my daughter has been practicing for this trip for two months. I just couldn’t imagine telling my daughter this. I didn’t know what I would say, how I could explain this to her.”

While she and her family are now ready for take off, there are people waiting outside of passport offices every day, trying to get one just days before their flights.

Cheyenne Hoffman is one of many people in line at a Surrey passport office and she says she waited in line for hours.

“I’ve been here since 6 a.m., but people up here have been here since 9 p.m.”

Hoffman is trying to get an express passport ahead of a trip just days away.

Just like Hoffman, Symphony Hollatt is trying to her passport and is willing to pay for an express option.

“I’m gonna pay for the express $100 to get my passport so as long as I stay tonight, if they take 10 people in tomorrow, I should be in the batch for 10 people.”

Service Canada has previously acknowledged the long lineups and wait times, adding its focus “is on ensuring anyone with travel in 25 days is prioritized for service.”

“Just keep calling, that’s all you can do. But I meant, they do make you wait till the very last minute,” Brady advised others in the same situation.