Anyone LOVE Flying to WDW?

[Alice-in-wonder]

Never flown before, last trip was auto train. Can you give me lots of PROS /good things about flying??!! We are flying Jet Blue from CT, and every time I tell people we are flying, they tell me they HATE it! Getting nervous! Thanks!

 

[sam_gordon]

I *LOVE* to fly. Always have.

As far as PROS to flying (IMO)
* Generally quicker. Even allowing for showing up an airport early and layovers, our flights to Orlando will take ~6 1/2 hours. Driving is 14 hours plus.
* Someone else is driving. Once I get to the airport, I don't have to worry about driving or other drivers. (same reason I like using disney transportation instead of a rental car)
* It's different.

 

[joybeth]

I think that most people's complaint about flying is that it has become such a hassle. The security screening leads to long lines and waits. Most airlines charge for checked bags now so people carry EVERYTHING on with them. This makes boarding and deplaning take forever! There is not enough room in the overheads, everyone is craming stuff in. Parents have small children carrying on bags now. At 20 bucks a bag each way I am sure that they don't have much choice. I've seen toddlers wheeling bags down isles. Of course they have trouble which slows the whole process down. If airlines would quit charging for checked bags they could get everyone on and off so much quicker. It would get planes on there way much more efficeintly. It seems to me that this greater efficiency would make them more money than charging for all of these bags.

All in all it's a great way to travel. Don't let the hassles ruin it for you. Have fun!

jb

 

[eliza61]

Not sure if I would describe it as love but imo it is the most convienent and quick way to get some place.

We have driven from NY to florida and generally we blow 2 extra days just in travel.

Joybeth has it right, there are some hassles involved but I've found that organization really helps make things go smoother.

I am the opposite though, I don't want any problems going through security and trying to stuff things in the overhead so I carryon the bare minimum. I include the cost of checking a bag or two into my vacation fund.

I travel a lot for business so I'm used to it and for all the horror stories flying around I've not had one whit of problems going through the scanners or through securrity.

 

[DebbieB]

I love flying, especially to WDW. I can't imagine driving for 18 hours vs flying for 2. I fly all the time for work It's much safer to fly than drive. Just get to the airport early and take your time.

 

[dudspizza]

<------ loves, loves, loves flying.

I don't care what anyone says, flying really hasn't changed that much. I have flown to Japan, England, and all over the US. I have loved every minute of it. Yes, the perks have dwindled and security is amped up, but the actual experience of being on an airplane headed to someplace cool always gets me all jacked up. I only fly a couple of times a year and I love every minute of it. The moment I leave my house until I arrive at my location is a great adventure where you never know what might happen.....

I even enjoyed the flight I had from London-Boston-Minneapolis on a New Years Eve when I was 17 (flying alone). I landed in BOS and found out my flight to MSP was cancelled. I had to get my bag, clear customs, and get myself rebooked. The only flight now routed through Washington DC. Once on the ground in DC we had mechanical issues and had to get off the plane and board another one..... we had to take whatever open seat we could find and off we went....... I finally arrived at MSP near midnight... my mom was waiting to drive me home (3 hour drive). What an adventure.....

I also remember the trip down to MSP for that flight... my mom but me ON A BUS 3 hours north of MSP and it got to downtown Minneapolis. I then had to buy a bus ticket to MSP. Once there I checked in and flew to London to see my dad..... all at the age of 17...... loved every minute of it...... looking back on it now, I would NEVER put my daughter on that same trip.... but back then no one ever thought a second about it....

Sorry for the ramble.. I LOVE FLYING!

Duds

 

[Alice-in-wonder]

Thanks! I think some of the people who told me they hate it, hate the turbulence they have experienced.

 

[goofy4tink]

Do I 'love' flying?? No, not really. But I like the thought of driving a whole lot less. And actually, I'm in more danger driving from Mass than flying from Mass.
I haven't found there to be a whole that's different about flying now vs 10 years ago. Security is nudgy but not as bad as some would have you believe.

Turbulence happens. It's the same as bumps on the highway. It's no big deal. Planes are built for turbulence. I figure that it takes me a total of 6 hrs (home to airport to MCO) vs 24 if driving straight thru...and that's something I'm just not prepared to do..so it would be more like 36 hrs.

 

[Disney Ella]

I like flying, but then I hate sitting in a car for hours and hours. I know before when the subject has come up, some people say that they would rather be moving than spend two hours before the flight at the airport. I spend two hours at the airport and two hours in the air and I don't really care if I have to sit at the airport before the flight. Spending a total of four hours to get to Orlando versus 18 hours makes it well worth it for me. Like everyone else, I don't like the hassle of the security process, but it's worth it to get where I'm going much faster.

 

[DONALD38]

We always love flying there, it;s only 2 hours in the air compaired to 15 + driving with kids and wasting 4 days of vacation to get there and back. The only time we don't like flying is when it is time to leave and go back home.

 

[eliza61]

Thanks! I think some of the people who told me they hate it, hate the turbulence they have experienced.

I find the thing with turbulence is that it can be
1) unexpected
2) mean there could possibly be bad weather.

Neither one is pleasant when your 30,000 ft in the air.

Generally if you've got a good pilot they come on the loudspeaker and tell you that they are about to hit turbulence. We hit some bad weather while flying back from Vegas over the holidays. Unfortunately air traffic control would not allow our pilot to climb over it so we had to ride it out for about 10 mins. For me it did make a difference when the pilot let us know it would be a bit bumpy.

 

[Cherinva]

Flying is the only way for us. The drive would be 12-14 hours, vs flying of 2 hours....plus 2 at the airport waiting. I just take a book to read and before we know it, we are in Orlando...from there, it's less than an hour and we are at our resort and starting our vacation.

 

[hsmamato2]

let's see,from CT
get to Bradley nice and early,like 5 a.m.- check bags. (ME -WOOHOO)
stop at McD's in airport,eat breakfast with kids-
sit in a seat for an hour,read a book.
get on plane,ride for 2.5 hours, (read book)get off plane in Orlando.
walk to ME line, wait for 15 minutes,get on bus.
sit and watch cute video.
get off bus at resort.
check in,and go eat lunch in the best resort on earth,pick a pool!(bags appear in room a bit later,while we're enjoying our resort)

vs. driving...... 24 hours plus an overnight of drivingdrivingdriving.......get there exhausted,be happy at WDW,then drivedrivedrive all the way back home,be exhausted.
I LOVE flying!

 

[hsmamato2]

FWIW, security at Bradley and Orlando is not a huge deal,I've read lots of stories on here, but we've never had big problems. most TSA people just want you to get thru as quickly as you want it to be done with!

 

[delmar411]

Thanks! I think some of the people who told me they hate it, hate the turbulence they have experienced.

I *hate* turbulence. But I'd still rather fly than drive, if given the option. Being on the road that long is more dangerous than flying.

 

[Alice-in-wonder]

Thanks for all of the well thought out answers everyone!! It is making the flight look better.

 

[jklmrm]

Many of the people who don't like flying don't like it because on some airlines it can be unpleasant - cramped seating, no legroom, nickle-and-diming, unfriendly crew, and no entertainment, etc. Luckily, you'll be flying JetBlue! The seats are comfortable, there's good legroom, private video screens at every seat with free Directv, and free snacks throughout the flight, so time goes by quicker. I'll go out of the way or spend a little more to fly JetBlue or Virgin America. You might even find the flight to be fun!

 

[CleveRocks]

I never flew until I was 23 and went with my fiancee's family to WDW. Before that, I'd gone on many vacations with my family, and we'd always driven everywhere, including to WDW once.

When I found out her family was going to fly, it surprised me, and I remember making a face and being skeptical and thinking they were weird for flying.

And then I flew there from Philadelphia. And let me tell you, I was hooked!

It was great, leaving Philly in the morning and then feeling the warm Florida sun in late-morning and then walking down Magic Kingdom's Main Street and getting lunch there.

LUNCH!

It was so incredible to be enjoying my vacation mere hours after leaving home.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

For us, driving really isn't an option as it would take us 2 days of straight driving to get there, so we fly. I wouldn't say we love flying but we both really enjoy the adventure of getting there.

There really is no need to worry ... As others have said, it's much much quicker plus it's just about the safest form of transport there is. Statistically, you have a better chance of being killed in your car, but that doesn't stop you from driving, does it?

Show up to the airport early to allow yourself time to check in, check bags, get through security, and go to your gate. Go to the TSA website and read up on what to expect going through Security and find out what you can and can't take in your carry-on or through Security (no liquids or gels, etc).

Try and get seats near the middle of the plane (closest to the wing) as it will be less bumpy there. Make sure you pack some things in your carry-on luggage that will distract you during your trip. Being able to do something with your hands or reading something will keep your mind off your nervousness. Take along your MP3 player and some good headphones to help drown out the engine noise.

Avoid caffiene before your flight (it'll only make you more nervous) - drink water or juices during your flight. Maybe take some chewing gum or mints. The chewing gum can help equalize the pressure and let your ears pop. That and the water helps another way too because the air in planes is very dry.

Keep the essentials you need for the first day or two of your trip in your carryon, in case your checked luggage is missing. Keep a close eye on your carryon at the security checkpoint, since thieves do try to steal stuff there. Squishy carryon bags fit more easily into overhead or underseat spaces that may be "slightly too small" for some non-squishy rollaboard carryons.

The most important thing for a new flyer, IMHO, is to know in advance that turbulence and strange noises are all part of a normal flight! If you've never flown before, the noise of the gear coming up, or going down, or the engines throttling back, etc., are all very scary if you don't know what's happening.

Here's what I found with a quick google search:

I frequently hear nervous flyers say that they hear unfamiliar noises on the aircraft, well let me explain some of the common ones. That sound that you'll hear almost immediatley after takeoff is the sound of the landing gear being retracted. Later on in the climb the pilots will also retract the flaps with a similar kind of mechanical noise. Pilots use flaps on takeoff because they help the aircraft gain better lift at slow speeds. You will also hear the same sounds on landing. During the cruise portion of the flight you will sometimes hear chimes go throughout the cabin These are either used to get the attention of the passengers before and after takeoff and other times there will be a different chime for a crew to crew message. One thing that the chimes do not signal is that there is an emergency so there's not much to be worried about. Turbulence is probably one of the most common (yet harmless) things that scare many passengers. if you're sitting by the wing and you encounter turbulence you can see the wing moving. Don't worry it's not going to snap off. The wings are designed to move up and down like that to prevent stress to the wing struture so the bending is actually a good thing.

Keep reminding yourself that millions of people fly every year and most of all, enjoy your vacation!!

Bonny