Am I beign irrational?

[Banshee]

We are planning our trip back to the world and my DH wants to fly. We have alway's driven before he says he just cant handle that drive anymore,and he doesnt want to put all those miles on our vehicle. I am afraid to fly I am afraid to take my children on an airplane I thought maybe we could rent a car but he say's it would be way too expensive Am I beign silly (as he says!) I am just one of those people that seems to have very little luck and if something could go wrong it will!

 

[Serena]

Truthfully, I do think you are being irrational. But it's how you feel. Irrational or not.
I suggest you two figure out a way to make you both feel better about which ever way you go. Work on this together.

 

[huey duey & luey]

what about taking a train?

 

[Disney Doll]

I have never been a nervous flyer. My attitude is that if it's my day to die, then I'm going to die whether it's on a plane or sitting in the recliner in my den.

That being said, whether it's irrational or not, it's still your fear and you have to figure out what to do about it. Personally, if my DH was telling me that he didn't feel like he could do the drive, that would scare me more because I'd be afraid we'd get into an a car accident, where I might die.

Good luck with figuring out your dilemma!

 

[Evil Princess]

Personally, yeah I think so, but my first flight was when I was 3 going to Disneyworld, so I never built up a fear.

If it makes you feel any better, I've flown from Boston to New York about once a month since September and I'm still alive My parents took my brother, sister, and I to Disney about every three years or so, and we turned out fine.

Alot of people are afraid of flying, have you ever flown before? It doesn't make sense to me to spent much more money renting a car when you can fly for cheaper, not to mention faster travel time.

 

[jfulcer]

You are at a higher risk of being killed in a car accident than you are of being in an airplane accident.

Of course, like the other poster mentioned - it's all about being comfortable. I don't know if I could talk DW into flying if she were uncomfortable about it.

 

[Mickey527]

Definately your fears are not something anyone can laugh at. I have a fear of flying but I do fly whenever I can. It saves me time, and sometimes money when the flights are cheaper than the gas it would take to get me to WDW. Here are some hints.
Try booking a flight with an airline like Jet Blue or Song where they have tv for you to watch. I never thought about where I was when I flew Jet blue and had the tv to watch.
Also, if you do fly, try to get a seat on the aisle. If you look out the window it is scarier than sitting on the aisle. You almost feel like you are in a train if you don't have the window to look out of.
It is hard to imagine but there are more accidents on the roadways than in the air. It is just that when there is a problem with a flight there are more people involved and it make the news. If every car accident made it to the news there would be no other programming because of all the accidents being covered.
The drive down to Fl is nice, and when I drive I do it non-stop, but you might have to stop if you are going with kids. Think of the money you will save by not staying overnight on the trip down and how much more time you will have at the parks if you fly. Peggie

 

[slo]

Everybody has a right to fear something in life. I don't fear flying, but I do fear falling and I do fear going into a tall building since
9-11 (we live close to Chicago and I haven't worked up the nerve to go up to the Sears Tower).

I truly can understand both your position and your husbands and this will be a difficult decision for the two of you to work out. We always fly to WDW because my husband feels the same as your husband and it does take a lot less time.

Nobody can assure you that nothing will happen when you fly, but car accidents are a lot more likely than a plane falling out of the sky. But, if you feel like you are going to have a panic attack on the plane and it will ruin your trip - try to talk your husband into driving and hopefully he will understand.

 

[Pop Daddy]

your nuts

 

[holycow]

Take a dramamine and enjoy your trip to WDW!

 

[arminnie]

Would you be willing to do all of the driving since you are the one who does not want to fly?

 

[Melora]

I'm not afraid of flying..I'm afraid of crashing!

Every take off and most landings I panic. On take off my chant is "Please watch over us and keep us safe"..I say it over and over and over. I feel remarkably better once we level off.

There are web sites that WILL help. Someone listed them here on the DIS not too long ago and I visited one of them and it DID help.

When we were landing in Maui last week the wind was so bad that the plane was bobbing and weaving and the other passengers were ohhhhing and ahhhhing like it was a rollar coaster. I had tears in my eyes and kept thinking we're going to crash and these people think its funny! We made it down fine obviously.

One thing to keep in mind.. flying really really is safe. Millions of people fly every day with only very rare incidents. You are much more likely to get killed in a car crash. Scores of people die daily in cars. As a matter of fact on the way home from the airport on Saturday night there was an overturned SUV in the middle of the freeway at 11PM. It happens so often but on a plane you feel out of control.

Look up the fear of flying websites and give them a try.... and couple of good prayers to a higher power (which ever one you believe in or even if you don't) always helps!

 

[WhenUwishUponAstar]

I completely agree with disney doll!

I might add that maybe by flying on this trip you won't pass your fear of flying to your kids. I remember reading a study in college about passing fears down through generations and there is a lot of truth to it. My mom is the first person in her family to learn to swim because they were all afraid they would drown.

course it's just my .02 ultimately you have to go with what makes you comfortable.

 

[Octoberbride03]

Most fears are irrational. And yours does rank that way. But, there are way to confront it. Some airports have fear of flying courses that you can take that actually include a short flight at the end of the course. Have you considered taking 1?

Quite honestly the truth is that you are far far more likely to die in the car on the way to WDW. Even with 9/11, none of those planes had a full passenger load and everybody on them(just the planes mind you) did not raise the avg. of ppl who die in plane crashes in the country. And its way better to get your kids flying now, because odds are at some point they'll consider going somewhere they'll need to fly to.

I flew my last trip to the world and the plane ride itself was fine. Security can be a headache, but the plane itself was no problem.


Good luck

 

[disdreams]

Over here, we are in the airline industry, and I would first like to mention that the other posters are correct....
your chances are MUCH greater of getting in a car accident.

I do know what it's like to be afraid; every time I go up an escalator I feel like I am going to lose my grip and go tumbling down. I have to force myself to think about something else, but I do keep going on them. I will not let the fear get the best of me. One thing I feel is important is not to let your kids know you are scared, or they might develope the fear of flying as well. My kids have been flying thier whole lives, and often. I LOVE it when we take off, and so do my kids. The other passengers laugh because my kids yell, "weeeeeeeee" and giggle the whole way up, as if they were on a roller coaster. I TOLD them that was my favorite part a long time ago, and I would make a big deal out of how much fun it was, so now they love it, too. During (bad)turbulance, I have been afraid at times, but I don't let my kids know that, and they didn't seem to care about it. The last time I was flying and we had bad turbulance, my drink flew out of my cup and all over me, which startled me, so I screamed really loudly , and everyone just laughed at me, including my kids!

Have you thought about taking a red eye (late night flight)? Depending on how long your flight is, you could take some medication (talk to your doctor about what kind he suggests) and sleep during the flight. They always turn the lights out on the plane at night and kids almost always fall asleep, too. You can always turn your overhead light on if you want light and want to read, or whatever. I would also suggest taking some crossword puzzles, or a book...something to take your mind off the flight.

The chance of your plane going down is so slim.........honest!!
I hope everything works out for you. Have a great trip, however you decide to get there.

 

[stemikger]

You are not alone, most people that don't fly too often get the jitters. But, statistically speaking it is much safer than driving. If I were you I'd get a mild tranquilzer from your doctor and you will be fine. I have friends that because of the business they are in fly the minimum of five times a month. So just get on that plane and enjoy your trip.

 

[Barb D]

I fly a good bit and am not thrilled about it. I find that if I do something with my hands (like crocheting) I'm better off. I can't really concentrate well enough to read during take offs and landings, but crocheting keeps my mind and hands occupied enough.

I second a previous poster's suggestion about a mild tranquilizer, too.

 

[Christine]

I just have one word of advice for you:

XANAX!!!

Seriously, I have a fear of flying. The less that I do fly, then when I have to fly again I get worried--real worried. Then once I fly a little more often it kind of goes away.

It was really bad for me (the fear) after I had my children and I have read that it very common for women to get a fear of flying after having kids.

I think you should go on the flight though, because it IS a long, tiring drive from New Jersey. Talk to you family doctor and tell him your fears. He/she can give a short acting anti-anxiety med like Xanax or Ativan. The stuff works wonders and shouldn't knock you out at all if you just take a small amount to take the edge off.

Also, I think is funny when people quote the old "you have more chance of getting in a car accident than a plane crash."

I always want to say "yeah, but which accident (car or plane) do you have the most chance of surviving?" It is rare that someone survives a plane crash but many people walk away from car accidents. That logic never worked for me....and I know, I'm not helping right?

 

[piratesmate]

I've wrestled with this as well . . . but I'm always worse when we're without the kids. Now that's irrational! It's okay to die if we all go together??

How about asking DH to compromise this time & take the auto-train? It cuts out a lot of the driving & would be a new experience for the kids. You'd also have the car once you get down there - since you're obviously used to that.

We thought about it for our trip in 1999, but were planning last minute (only 2 months) and couldn't get tickets.

 

[katerkat]

I agree with Christine, as long as you're OK taking drugs. My friend who fears flying swears by Xanax. Don't worry about the kids - let your husband deal with them.

Plus - if you fly, you'll be in WDW within 6 hours (give or take). Driving from NJ is 20+ hours!

I know how you feel - ever since DH started flying, I've been pretty afraid of it. But driving for us will soon mean 3+ days to get home, so... I suck it up and do it.