Early Flight Out with Aspie Question

[SpiritedHaunts]

Hi all,

I posted this question last night on the transportation board and wanted to add a little something to it and thought this section might be a good place to ask too.

We are traveling at the end of this month with a person who has aspergers and every potential problem that we can concur now the better.

Basically, I am curious if it would be safe and or smart to stay at a single hotel and get up extra early for a 9ish am flight out or to take the shuttle van to the airport the afternoon before and have to transfer to another shuttle to another hotel and then schedule a return shuttle back to the airport the next day.

So, really would you rather have the stress of getting to the airport for a 9ish am flight or the worry of having to transfer to a different hotel et al.?

Here is what I posted on the transportation board...
'We are planning a trip and have a quick 'what would you suggest' question.

We will be staying at the Dolphin, but our return flight is at 920ish am. So we have also booked the last night at the Sheraton Airport Hotel.

What we are trying to decide is if it would be better to stay the last night at the Dolphin and take the Mears shuttle van at about 5am to the airport.

Or to check out of the Dolphin the day before we fly out, take Mears to the airport and the hotel's shuttle to the Sheraton Airport Hotel, stay the night and take the hotel's shuttle back to the airport in the morning.

Any reason to be concerned about getting on a Mears shuttle van at 5am?
Anyone know how much a rental car or taxi might be from the Dolphin or any other 'safer' ideas?'

Thanks for all your help.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Taxi from the Dolphin may be best. They are always available; it should run about $50 to the airport no matter how many are in the cab. And it will take you directly to the entrance at the departure level. You could leave the hotel about 7am and have plenty of time.

And that way you don't have to worry about changing hotels and can enjoy the last day in the Park.

 

[Escape2Disney]

Not all Aspies are the same, but for mine, rising early to take the 9am filight would be the better option. There are fewer variables which almost always equates to less stress.

 

[krisnme]

As stated above, all our Aspies are unique, that said for my and DS sanity I would rather get up early. DS would not handle all the different settings in such a short time very well. I find dealing with luggage, check-ins etc. exhausting. The bonus to an early day is an exhausted, sleepy (hopefully not melted-down) kid ready for an early bedtime after a day of travel!

 

[brettgirl]

Mother of Aspie here, I am with the others-One hotel, taxi to the airport early-easier to explain to the person, and less steps he has to think about and ask a million questions about.

 

[CajunMomof3]

DS has autism (not Aspberger's), but I am in agreement with everyone else here: One hotel= less change=better chance of easy flight=

 

[persimmondeb]

My DS would be happier with the airport hotel, but it depends a lot on the person. He doesn't mind changes of scenery that much, but the idea of potentially missing a flight would make him incredibly anxious (we show up for flights hours and hours in advance).

Depending on the circumstances and your Aspie's age, you might want to ask for advance boarding too. We don't usually, but on our way back from Las Vegas, with carry-ons, a somewhat excited DS armed with a giant blue stuffed dinosaur, and rear seats in a very full plane with narrow aisles, it seemed like the better part of discretion.

 

[SueM in MN]

If the person is an adult or teen, I would ask the person.

But, from the people I know with Aspergers, I agree with the other posters that the less changes of hotel the better.

 

[Singledad]

I also hate waking up early, esp at the start of a long travel day, but I would agree with others, much easier to have a one time early wake up, than that much moving around.

 

[anne thomas]

Taxi....Taxi.....Taxi

 

[buffettgirl]

to much movement - too many things to coordinate. Possibilities for unplanned waits...etc. Enough to do anyone in, but especially someone with Aspergers, even if you map it all out at xxx time we'll be here. at XX time we do this. At xxxx time we take this shuttle, there is still a HUGE amount that can get off track and that always results in a meltdown. And you have to (usually) deal with the "hurry up" where you have to rush to get to the next place in a fit of anxiety because you don't want to be late for the shuttle etc and then you end up stressed out.

I also vote for the early wake up - but then maybe a private car service to the airport. Like the taxi, you'll have the car to yourself and you'll be dropped off directly at the departure area.

 

[blue65829]

Another vote for departing early and taking a taxi instead of changing hotels the night before. The amount of variables in changing hotels is just staggering! Of course as pp's have stated, it could be different based on the person's particular triggers.

 

[Louiepipbgeeco]

I would take the taxi. That way less opportunities for change/and potential unplanned happenings etc.

 

[Owl's Friend]

Taxi it. We did this last week from BWV to the airport costed us $68. If we took the MEARS bus it would only pick us up 3 hours before our flight. Also would be making numerous stops to other hotels. We needed extra time to get through security so that wasn't going to work for us.

 

[mickeymaker2003]

Taxi it. We did this last week from BWV to the airport costed us $68. If we took the MEARS bus it would only pick us up 3 hours before our flight. Also would be making numerous stops to other hotels. We needed extra time to get through security so that wasn't going to work for us.

To combat this problem, pick a flight that leaves about three hours from when you want to arrive at the airport and give that as your flight information. You will have to keep your luggage with you and check it at the airport, but it should work fine otherwise. Just wait for your bus without going to the luggage/airline check in spot and give your paperwork to the Mears driver.

I know it's too late for this time, but it may help you next time.