It’s catching people off guard at the entrance.

The drive feels finished when the booth comes into view. Gas is spent, snacks are gone, and anticipation is high. But starting January 1, 2026, something new interrupts that moment. A single question replaces the familiar welcome. It sounds simple, yet it lands heavy after hours on the road, and the current immigration climate. Cars hesitate. Conversations pause. Some drivers pull aside. Others quietly turn around. Across several major parks this winter, that brief exchange is changing how visits begin.



