DD 15 going back early and ME ????

[momjkm]

OK... I am going with ds for sure next month. DD, 15, mature and responsible, may come with us. We would all fly down togheter. She would need to leave 4-5 days before us for a soccer tournament. I have not had a child fly alone since 911- could I go to the gate with her? (I would have ds w me also).
Also, could we use ME to get to/back to the resort?

I would book a non stop flight for her also...
Jill

 

[goofy4tink]

Each guest gets a ride from MCO to the resort and a ride back to the airport..that's it. So, if you ride DME to the resort to begin with, you're out of luck. You would have to get a cab or a towncar to get there and back, at least once each way.
As far as going to the gate with your dd, I'm just not sure how it works now. I would think that you would not be allowed to simply because of her age. I would think the airlines would think that she would be fine getting to the gate on her own...but I could be wrong. I'm sure someone will have good info for you.
It seems like a lot of aggravation to go through. How long would your dd actually be there, with you? It's a hard lesson to learn but sometimes we have to make choices....WDW or soccer, but probably not both.

 

[momjkm]

Thanks for the ME info--- I may use a towncar for when we get there and our final trip home. But being able to use ME would help... thank you...

As I mentioned, she is 15 and starting to become a more pleasant person--- towards me lol.... last summer she was like please don't make me go to disney with you (and I didn't take her) lol so I would like her to go this time cause she wants to...

The soccer thing: she is a high level player and is playing in the northeastern regional championship later that week/weekend in West Virginia....so there is no real choice for her.... Her team won the state title... and soccer has been her life (and her choice) for about 5 years.. she is used to sacrifice--- esp as she gets older and the social aspect has crept in...

Jill

 

[goofy4tink]

Thanks for the ME info--- I may use a towncar for when we get there and our final trip home. But being able to use ME would help... thank you...

As I mentioned, she is 15 and starting to become a more pleasant person--- towards me lol.... last summer she was like please don't make me go to disney with you (and I didn't take her) lol so I would like her to go this time cause she wants to...

The soccer thing: she is a high level player and is playing in the northeastern regional championship later that week/weekend in West Virginia....so there is no real choice for her.... Her team won the state title... and soccer has been her life (and her choice) for about 5 years.. she is used to sacrifice--- esp as she gets older and the social aspect has crept in...

Jill

Congrats to your dd at doing so well at soccer!! That's a great accomplishment. I hear what you're saying about 15 y/o's..I have one of my own!! She gets more than a wee bit miffed when I tell her that she can't miss school to go to WDW with me!! Really annoys her. Ah well.
If you use a towncar at the start and end of your stay then you should be able to use DME. I'm just not sure if you'll have any issue when you go back to the airport first, then take it 'to' the resort...kind of backwards and the DME CMs do confuse easily.

 

[treeface]

My DSD17 has flown on her own for the past 10 years between her Mom and us. Before 9-11, we all went to the gate to meet her and had to show ID. Since then, only one person has been allowed through security to the gate and then only if we paid the additional fees for her to fly as an unaccompanied minor. After age 12, SW will allow children to fly on their own without the fees just as an adult would. Because DSD had flown alone for 5 years, we allowed her to do this and gave her a cell phone. She would call as she was exiting the plane and we would meet her near baggae claim.

She flew to MCO for Christmas alone this past year at the age of 16, arrived at the airport and took DME on her own to OKW. On the return, she took DME alone back to the airport, checked her bags and proceeded to travel alone. Because she has proven herself responsible with this in the past and is very good about calling both parents to update them at all layovers, etc. we were comfortable doing this.

You have to make the right decision for your daughter and your family, but we found the experience to be both easy and comforting. We would have done this again this summer for our trip, but her summer vacation did not coincide with when we are able to travel.

Best of luck to you in making your decision.

 

[momjkm]

Thank you... I think I will go with her to the airport via ME and get her checked in--- up to the security point. Mainly because it isn't an airport (like at home) she is familiar with.....
And when we arrive at the start of our trip- go over things like how to find your gate, ect.
I think this will work....she will be fine... it is me with the issue lol
Jill

 

[snowbunny]

My DD14 flies alone from New England just about every month to train for her sport. She is at an elite level and it is one of the most important things to her. She would choose it over Disney in a heartbeat.

You can go to to gate with her if she is a minor (without the special unaccompanied minor fee); just go to the counter to check in with her and ask for a Gate Pass (you will need that to get through security). If your young DS is with you and there is no other adult to watch him, they will give a pass to him also. Don't try to negotiate with the TSA people, just get the gate passes from the airline agent.

You could also have her take ME alone, if you don't want to spring for a round trip taxi or towncar for all of you.
I know it sounds scary, but my DD has been navigating O'Hare airport by herself since she was 13. With cell phones and texting, you can be in near-constant touch with her.

 

[StephMK]

DD15 has flown by herself 2x now, most recently last month. It might depend on the airline/airport. She flew Midwest last time & while they let us accompany her on our end, they would not let my parents go through w/her on the other end. We're in a smaller, less busy airport & they're in DC. Midwest uses 15 as its approved unaccompanied age so I think the woman on our end just did us a favor because she didn't have to let us through.

DD has been fine both times & handles herself very well. Her first alone trip was on SW, no transfers but the plane did make a stop. Well, freak storm in Chicago diverted them to St. Louis for gas & a huge delay didn't get them to Chicago until 3am. They cancelled the last leg & she didn't get out until 6am on the next flight to Omaha. She handled herself beautifully until the 3am cancellation. Then we both freaked a little. However, even after all that, she was willing to fly solo again & understood that was a freaky night, not typical.

Not saying that to freak you out, just maybe prepare her in case the schedule changes, etc. I hadn't even thought about all the ways it could go wrong until they all did on one trip! Even so, it worked out fine.

Make sure she has $, charged phone & stuff to occupy herself & just talk about the trip & she should be fine.

 

[momjkm]

snowbunny, what sport? I am in RI..... Thanks for the info about the gate passes--- and about the 2nd poster's suggestion about having a back up plan....to gate or not to the gate.

Jill

 

[snowbunny]

snowbunny, what sport?

Karate...we travel a lot for competition (going to Florida this week ) and she goes herself PWM to ORD or MHT to MDW for training with her team. I do like to put her on a direct flight for the reasons mentioned above. I was stranded twice last summer because of storms/missed connections, and I don't want that to happen to her.

For the gate passes, it may depend on the airline as well. Southwest has always given me a gate pass without question (they do want to see ID of course). I did have a United agent try to give me a runaround just one time but he gave me the pass in the end.