kaguilbeau
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2002
- Messages
- 591
April 30th May 2
POFQ
Transportation: Southwest and Happy Limo
This report covers a brief trip to WDW so that my DD15 could experience the joy of flying for her first time.
My DD15 is terribly afraid to fly. Shes never flown before, just convinced herself she doesnt like it. A few years back, her 8th grade class was scheduled to take an annual school trip to Washington DC. She wasnt going to go because of her fear of flying. I thought Id take her to see a therapist to find the inner cause of this fear. Her appointment was Sept 10th. The next morning she watched in horror the tragedy of 9-11.
In March of 2004, I got the feeling from her that she wished she werent afraid. We even talked about taking a short flight to a neighboring state. I posed the question on this board about a flight from New Orleans to Orlando. Posters were reassuring that it sounded like a great idea and that those two airports were good ones to fly into and out of. That was about all it took and off I went. I made reservations for two nights @ POFQ, air fare with Southwest, and transportation with Happy Limo. I also ordered two day-two park tickets and La Noueba tickets. I didnt tell her anything because I knew she would have a panic attack and not sleep at all. In fact, I later realized that she wouldnt have even gotten in the car with me!
What she did think, however, was that we were going to the beach in Alabama for a three day weekend. Friday morning -4:30 a.m. we left for the beach. Halfway through the trip to the airport, I gave her a card I had selected for her. Inside was a small envelope carrying spending money for her weekend. She read the card and opened the envelope containing the money. What she found was Disney Dollars. Her response was, Gee, thanks Mom, but these wont do me any good on this vacation. (We have another trip planned for November). I said, Oh? She started crying, No, I dont want to go! Take me back home! Itll take too long to get there! (13 hour drive) I said, Honey, well be there before you know it.
This was when she realized that I was going to take her on the plane. Now you Mothers out there may want to call in the authorities for child abuse! She cried, her chest was heaving, she was throwing a fit. I gave her a prescription for panic attacks, which I got from our family doctor prior to leaving. She proceeded to squeeze it real hard in her hand. I suggested that it might be more effective in her mouth. After a few consoling phone calls from her older sister and a few close friends, she did take the medicine and stopped the crying. She still wasnt happy with me.
At the airport, we met my sister who was accompanying us on the trip. DD15 didnt know this either. I had printed out my boarding pass for Southwest before leaving home. However, the plane was more than 1 hour late leaving due to thunderstorms in the area. For whatever reason, we did not get in the A line until just before boarding began. We had to go to the very back of the plane to get two seats together.
Since I had provided Happy Limo with our original arrival time and cell phones couldnt be on during the plane ride I thought to advise them of our late departure. I suggested to the dispatcher that they may want to monitor the flight. She assured me the driver would be waiting and for me to call her upon our arrival.
DD15 was stressed during take off but not crying, which was good. The medicine was working. Once up in the air, she began looking out the window, and listening to her CD player. Upon our landing, she gave me a high five and a hug. The flight was a success!
As instructed, I contacted the dispatcher for Happy and she told me the parking space number where the driver was waiting. The space is right outside the door. The terminal in Orlando was a new one for me. Once we landed on Southwest, we had to take the tram to the main hub, and then go down two levels to get to Ground Transportation. I thought I was being smart in only bringing carryon luggage to save us from going to Baggage Claim. But in order to get to Ground Transportation, we had to walk right past Baggage Claim anyway.
Our driver had not been informed of our delay, but had been waiting patiently for over an hour. I had reserved a town car; he picked us up in the Excursion. Because he had a little flexibility in his schedule, he still gave us the grocery stop and even provided us with a Preferred Savers card to use. We bought a Styrofoam ice chest, some snacks and drinks. Every thing was smooth with Happy. My only complaint if youll call it that is that the tip is included in the price. I still felt obligated to give the driver something upon arrival at our hotel so I ended up double tipping. I just couldnt bring myself to say Thanks and walk away.
Our stay at POFQ was for two nights. I really enjoyed this resort. Our last few trips have been to Ft Wilderness, so this was a different experience. We took the boat to Downtown Disney and also to POR to tour around. EPCOT was the park of choice on Saturday and MK was Sunday. After visiting multiple times during the fall, both before and after Thanksgiving, I was really disappointed at the number of visitors. This may have been normal for end of April, but it was too crowded for me. Almost to the point of unpleasant. Im not sure what the big draw was, since it wasnt a school holiday, but Grad Night was being held and they also had marching bands performing at MK.
Our return flight was delayed approx 3 hours due to thunderstorms in the Orlando area. DD15 was concerned and asked for one of her anxiety pills. She was uncomfortable with the weather like it was, but no tears. While waiting in the A line, we had delightful conversations with those around us. All were so friendly. DD15 said that even though the wait was long, it was kind of fun talking with the others.
After we landed, and retrieved the car from parking she told me Thanks and that even though it wasnt something she really enjoyed, at least she knew she could do it, and that she was glad Id arranged that for her. Then she gave me a hug and a kiss.
Our trip was officially called a success.
POFQ
Transportation: Southwest and Happy Limo
This report covers a brief trip to WDW so that my DD15 could experience the joy of flying for her first time.
My DD15 is terribly afraid to fly. Shes never flown before, just convinced herself she doesnt like it. A few years back, her 8th grade class was scheduled to take an annual school trip to Washington DC. She wasnt going to go because of her fear of flying. I thought Id take her to see a therapist to find the inner cause of this fear. Her appointment was Sept 10th. The next morning she watched in horror the tragedy of 9-11.
In March of 2004, I got the feeling from her that she wished she werent afraid. We even talked about taking a short flight to a neighboring state. I posed the question on this board about a flight from New Orleans to Orlando. Posters were reassuring that it sounded like a great idea and that those two airports were good ones to fly into and out of. That was about all it took and off I went. I made reservations for two nights @ POFQ, air fare with Southwest, and transportation with Happy Limo. I also ordered two day-two park tickets and La Noueba tickets. I didnt tell her anything because I knew she would have a panic attack and not sleep at all. In fact, I later realized that she wouldnt have even gotten in the car with me!
What she did think, however, was that we were going to the beach in Alabama for a three day weekend. Friday morning -4:30 a.m. we left for the beach. Halfway through the trip to the airport, I gave her a card I had selected for her. Inside was a small envelope carrying spending money for her weekend. She read the card and opened the envelope containing the money. What she found was Disney Dollars. Her response was, Gee, thanks Mom, but these wont do me any good on this vacation. (We have another trip planned for November). I said, Oh? She started crying, No, I dont want to go! Take me back home! Itll take too long to get there! (13 hour drive) I said, Honey, well be there before you know it.
This was when she realized that I was going to take her on the plane. Now you Mothers out there may want to call in the authorities for child abuse! She cried, her chest was heaving, she was throwing a fit. I gave her a prescription for panic attacks, which I got from our family doctor prior to leaving. She proceeded to squeeze it real hard in her hand. I suggested that it might be more effective in her mouth. After a few consoling phone calls from her older sister and a few close friends, she did take the medicine and stopped the crying. She still wasnt happy with me.
At the airport, we met my sister who was accompanying us on the trip. DD15 didnt know this either. I had printed out my boarding pass for Southwest before leaving home. However, the plane was more than 1 hour late leaving due to thunderstorms in the area. For whatever reason, we did not get in the A line until just before boarding began. We had to go to the very back of the plane to get two seats together.
Since I had provided Happy Limo with our original arrival time and cell phones couldnt be on during the plane ride I thought to advise them of our late departure. I suggested to the dispatcher that they may want to monitor the flight. She assured me the driver would be waiting and for me to call her upon our arrival.
DD15 was stressed during take off but not crying, which was good. The medicine was working. Once up in the air, she began looking out the window, and listening to her CD player. Upon our landing, she gave me a high five and a hug. The flight was a success!
As instructed, I contacted the dispatcher for Happy and she told me the parking space number where the driver was waiting. The space is right outside the door. The terminal in Orlando was a new one for me. Once we landed on Southwest, we had to take the tram to the main hub, and then go down two levels to get to Ground Transportation. I thought I was being smart in only bringing carryon luggage to save us from going to Baggage Claim. But in order to get to Ground Transportation, we had to walk right past Baggage Claim anyway.
Our driver had not been informed of our delay, but had been waiting patiently for over an hour. I had reserved a town car; he picked us up in the Excursion. Because he had a little flexibility in his schedule, he still gave us the grocery stop and even provided us with a Preferred Savers card to use. We bought a Styrofoam ice chest, some snacks and drinks. Every thing was smooth with Happy. My only complaint if youll call it that is that the tip is included in the price. I still felt obligated to give the driver something upon arrival at our hotel so I ended up double tipping. I just couldnt bring myself to say Thanks and walk away.
Our stay at POFQ was for two nights. I really enjoyed this resort. Our last few trips have been to Ft Wilderness, so this was a different experience. We took the boat to Downtown Disney and also to POR to tour around. EPCOT was the park of choice on Saturday and MK was Sunday. After visiting multiple times during the fall, both before and after Thanksgiving, I was really disappointed at the number of visitors. This may have been normal for end of April, but it was too crowded for me. Almost to the point of unpleasant. Im not sure what the big draw was, since it wasnt a school holiday, but Grad Night was being held and they also had marching bands performing at MK.
Our return flight was delayed approx 3 hours due to thunderstorms in the Orlando area. DD15 was concerned and asked for one of her anxiety pills. She was uncomfortable with the weather like it was, but no tears. While waiting in the A line, we had delightful conversations with those around us. All were so friendly. DD15 said that even though the wait was long, it was kind of fun talking with the others.
After we landed, and retrieved the car from parking she told me Thanks and that even though it wasnt something she really enjoyed, at least she knew she could do it, and that she was glad Id arranged that for her. Then she gave me a hug and a kiss.
Our trip was officially called a success.
SW is a good first airline as well, they are light hearted. My first flight was alone to Burbank, but I was excited, although my mother was telling everyone I was nervous, little did she know how much of my Grandfather's influence (he was a pilot) had taken over me, even though I hardly knew him. I'd love to get my pilots license, just need to get my wife to agree 
