Fly or Drive? What To Do?

[JerJan]

Disney8704 wrote: Theres a target somewhere and how do you know that the day you decide to hop on that plane, it maybe your last day on earth.

And just how do you know that "TARGET" isn't Walt Disney World??? Don't think for one minute that it's not on the top of terrorists lists!

 

[Disney8704]

Oh I already know that disney world is already a target. Its been a target since 9/11. But thats not gonna stop me from going. That wouldnt make anyone stopping from going. Besides if they were really gonna distory disney world, dont u think they would have done that by now? I mean instead of running one of the planes into one of the buildings on 9/11, they could have very easily went to FL instead. They would have killed many more people then. There are more ppl in Disney world then there was in those buildings on 9/11. Like 50 times more. I'll take my chances, but as far as flying goes thats where I may have to draw the line. My chances are higher dying on a plane then at Disney. Besides Disney does have a backup plan if something like that were to ever happen to help protect everyone. Disney, whenever Im in the World I feel like Im in a whole another world. Like on another planet. I dunno if anyone else feels that way or not and believe it or not, I feel more safe in Disney and feel more at home there then I do in my own house and I live on base housing.

And just how do you know that "TARGET" isn't Walt Disney World??? Don't think for one minute that it's not on the top of terrorists lists!

 

[KJMAX1]

We live in Seattle, and we do not have the option to drive. If I could I would but only because we love to take driving trips. However, I am rather glad this happened right before we leave. It makes me feel better knowing that security is tighter. Its always when things are quiet that something happens. Plus, it proves once again that the intelligence department is working.

Sure its a hassle, believe me, I have four kids all under 7...But wouldnt you rather get there faster, and in a safer mode of transportation than your car? There are more car accidents, shootings in schools, train accidents, murders etc than terrorists bombing airplanes. I mean if you really are worried, it should be about Disneyworld or Disneyland. These were on the terrorists top 10 lists. They could easily take a bomb into Disney and NO ONE would EVER know... I think bombing Disney would be even more of an impact for our family and most of the country, than an airplane. Everyone can do what they feel is best for their own mental health, I just find it kinda strange that driving would make you safer.

 

[I Love Pluto]

They manufacture cars and planes so that we have a choice. What's right for me isn't always right for you, etc. But - we have no right to put others down for their choices.

I live in PA (near Phila.) - I have flown, I have driven. I'm just me with my own decision-making skills.

 

[Disney8704]

Give me reasons that flying is safer then driving.

We live in Seattle, and we do not have the option to drive. If I could I would but only because we love to take driving trips. However, I am rather glad this happened right before we leave. It makes me feel better knowing that security is tighter. Its always when things are quiet that something happens. Plus, it proves once again that the intelligence department is working.

Sure its a hassle, believe me, I have four kids all under 7...But wouldnt you rather get there faster, and in a safer mode of transportation than your car? There are more car accidents, shootings in schools, train accidents, murders etc than terrorists bombing airplanes. I mean if you really are worried, it should be about Disneyworld or Disneyland. These were on the terrorists top 10 lists. They could easily take a bomb into Disney and NO ONE would EVER know... I think bombing Disney would be even more of an impact for our family and most of the country, than an airplane. Everyone can do what they feel is best for their own mental health, I just find it kinda strange that driving would make you safer.

 

[JerJan]

QUOTE by Disney8704: Besides Disney does have a backup plan if something like that were to ever happen to help protect everyone.

And what EXACTLY is that????

I'll take my chances, but as far as flying goes thats where I may have to draw the line.

I respect your choice not to fly, that's a personal decision, but don't think for one minute your safer in a car or at WDW than you are on an airplane, they ALL have their own inherrent (sp?) risks.

 

[CarolA]

Give me reasons that flying is safer then driving.

For your reading enjoyment

from http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/gen99/gen99845.htm
First we need to agree on the terminology. Safe means without accidents that
result in economic loss, bodily injury, or fatality. Survival rate is not the
same thing as safety.

In the US, each year there are about 40,000 deaths per year in automobile
accidents vs. about 200 in air transport. To put this in perspective, the
chance of dying in an automobile accident is about 1000 times more than
winning a typical state lottery in a year.

If we ignore property and bodily damage and focus on fatalities only, we
should look at fatality rates per passenger mile traveled. This require some
research. You can go to the National Transportation Safety board website
(http://www.itsasafety.org) to do some research or look at a summary table
here (http://hazmat.dot.gov/riskcompare.htm). According to the latter, each
year in the US 1 out of 6800 drivers dies in an auto accident. The rate for
airline passengers is 1 in 1.6 million. The same table shows that per
passenger mile, air travel is safer by more than a factor of two. I doubt
this last figure; I think it should be about 100x safer, because I guess we
drive and fly the same number of miles (give or take a factor or 2-5) per
year, yet fatalities are 200 times higher for autos than for airlines.

Hope this is helpful.

AK

Ali Khounsary, Ph.D.

Advanced Photon Source
Argonne National Laboratory

 

[freckles and boo]

Whatever method you prefer, there are risks and hassles involved. If you have the time and the desire to drive across country, go for it. But it isn't for everyone. We prefer to fly. I hate long distance driving - I find it tedious and tiring. I don't want to listen to my kids bickering or complaining because they are bored or carsick or have to pee AGAIN. I hate driving at night because I am anxious about drunk and reckless drivers, wild-life, exhaustion, and glare. I have been stuck on the road for hours by blizzards, horrible accidents, police activity (sat in traffic for two hours while helicopters flew overhead and police searched for a gun on the road), and flooded roadways.

While statistically flying is MUCH safer, I understand the people who believe they have some measure of control over their circumstances when they drive. I just realize that the control we think we have driving isn't always real. Besides, I can't read Sky-Mall while I am driving!

 

[pppiglet]

Geez....how long would it take to drive from Calif? I think we'll fly.

 

[madge]

Give me reasons that flying is safer then driving.

I can give you reasons why driving is less safe than flying....

- obnoxious semi-truck drivers who only have concern for their own safety and getting to their destination on time. (this does not mean all semi-truck drivers. I know some very responsible ones.)

- weather. There could be a huge rainstorm, creating unsafe drving conditions.

- drunk drivers

- road rage

- people who have been driving too long, not as alert as they should be.

I respect your choice not to fly, that's a personal decision, but don't think for one minute your safer in a car or at WDW than you are on an airplane, they ALL have their own inherrent (sp?) risks.

very well put.

 

[bavaria]

Well, somehow I missed this thread - I was busy trying to be helpful finding chapstick alternatives for people...

I read a lot of posts on the Transportation board, and I sometimes wonder if I live in a parallel universe. Flying isn't that difficult, yet it seems to be a huge undertaking for many. (And I realize that flying with children is not easy, but I flew many many miles as a child and my parents survived just fine) I also acknowledge that flying with an illness is not easy; my father still travels a lot even though 15 years ago he was given 6 months to live, and still faces many health challenges daily. My 80-something and 90-something grandparents travel the world each year.

But I suppose that it's still about personal choice. I just think that if people took teh time to educate themselves a little, and plan ahead, flying wouldn't be so difficult.

As to driving - yes, it is statiscally more dangerous. Plus there are hassles involved with driving, too (finding a reststop/hotel/place to eat, vacation time lost, boredom, cost of travel, etc)

This week's events are not enough to change my patterns (as I commented on here a thread which nobody cared about - no chapstick or pop involved!

Ultimately, it is a personal decision. Nobody can make the choice for you, but before you decide, I suggest taking the time to educate yourself on all options.

Happy travels.

 

[Disney8704]

I never said that driving didnt have it faults. Of course its dangerous. But flying is also dangerous. I dont care about stats. You cant always go by stats. Could people go by those stats 1 out 1.8 million people die on a plane on 9/11? What I care about is what is happening NOW. Whats happening NOW is theres to much going on right now. The war, Lebanon getting bombed, terriost trying to blow up airplanes. Only a matter of time terriost is gonna direct their attention yet again at the US. Infact they probably already are. Who knows what they are planning next. What I am trying to get people to realize that at this point of time flying is more dangerous. How do you know the next time you get on a plane there isnt a terriost on board with you? At least driving in ur car, you know whos there with you. As far as Disney has a plan just incase a terriost were to ever hit not exactly sure on the details but I know that Disney World would be completely evacutaed and MacDill Air Force Base would get over to Disney World immediately. Since they are a fighter base, it wouldnt take them long to get there. Like I said not 100% sure on the details but thats what I heard. I heard it on the news right after 9/11 happened because they were talking about what the next target was and they mentioned Disney World and what would happen if a terriost ever struck there.

 

[bavaria]

But there is always something going on in the world, and there always has been. The media is more prevalent and uses shock value more than they did in the past.

I'm still much safer than I am driving - I was in 5 car accidents in under 5 years; never my fault, and two cars were totalled. One another driver was critically injured, I would have apparently been killed if I had been driving certain other models of cars.

I now fly more than I drive each year, and feel perfectly safe doing so.

 

[Disney8704]

Not worried about weather. We drove from TN back home to DE in a blizzard a couple yrs back. Fars Im concered a blizzard is the worst thing to drive in. Sure hurricanes maybe dangerous to drive in, but you dont have icy spots on the roads either. And trust me we hit a lot of icy spots. Infact one point of time we were driving on a road that was nothing but ice. And when we got back home right outside our apt complex we were living in at the time, we got stuck in the snow. Luckly my brother in law and a couple other guys was out there helping ppl get unstuck.

I can give you reasons why driving is less safe than flying....

- obnoxious semi-truck drivers who only have concern for their own safety and getting to their destination on time. (this does not mean all semi-truck drivers. I know some very responsible ones.)

- weather. There could be a huge rainstorm, creating unsafe drving conditions.

- drunk drivers

- road rage

- people who have been driving too long, not as alert as they should be.




very well put.

 

[bavaria]

Teresa, it's pretty apparent that you have made up your mind to drive. That's fine - I respect the decision that you made for your family. However, you were the one that asked for our opinion, and we are giving it. We are also giving facts which will hopefully assist others to form their own opinions.

 

[freckles and boo]

How do you know the next time you get on a plane there isnt a terriost on board with you? At least driving in ur car, you know whos there with you. QUOTE]

Wow. It is true that you know your mom or whoever is in the car with you isn't a terrorist. What you don't know is if the tanker behind you is carrying corrosive or explosive materials or if it is carrying milk. You don't know if the person driving that truck is a competent professional or a hack who bought his license illegally. You don't know if he or she is well-rested or if they are jacked up on No-Doz (or worse) and haven't slept in 36 hours. My point is, we are much better protected by our government and by each other when we choose to get on an airplane and fly. We are essentially on our own on the highways. We are not ever again going to believe it when someone says "everyone do what you are told and no one will get hurt" on a plane. We are vigilant and aware and pissed off.

What is happening in the world right now is very scary. I fly in two and a half weeks and I am nervous. But it doesn't change the fact that over one hundred people die every single day in often avoidable vehicle accidents. That is a fact that scares me, too.

 

[Disney8704]

Actually no I havent made up my mind. And knowing me I prob wont make up my mind till the last min to where I need to buy airline tickets or drive. Ive talked to DH about this and he doesnt even know what to do either. Im thinking well your no help. Theres pros and cons to each one.

Driving
PROS - Get there the night before we are supposed to check in at the AKL and stay at like one of the All Stars or a hotel in DTD, get up the next morning and actually get to AKL earlier then we would have if we flew, meaning more time at the parks.

CONS - Cost more, which I had to refigure it out and it will be about $400 more to drive then fly, not $200 and driving all day. Having to deal with DH getting really tired and when he does he starts to get annoyed.

Flying
PROS - Dont have to drive, get there faster. And its cheaper.

CONS - Constantly stressed and worried throughout the entire plane ride, possible delayed flight either going to Orlando and/or coming home, have the possibility of the airport getting evacuated (Philadelphia has been getting evacauted a lot lately).

Teresa, it's pretty apparent that you have made up your mind to drive. That's fine - I respect the decision that you made for your family. However, you were the one that asked for our opinion, and we are giving it. We are also giving facts which will hopefully assist others to form their own opinions.

 

[bavaria]

Well, good luck in your decision. I see that you have completely left the safety issue of driving off your list, yet you focus on it for flying. I can't change your mind, nor will I spend any more energy in trying to give rational explanation.

Have a good trip whatever you decide.

 

[JerJan]

At least driving in ur car, you know whos there with you.

Yeah....and that's what REALLY SCARES me!!!!

If you knew my family you would be scared too!

 

[Disney8704]

Try riding in the same car as my DH. Normally its supposed to take 2 hrs to get from here to Ocean City, MD. He can make it in less then an hr and half, lol. Now thats scary!

Yeah....and that's what REALLY SCARES me!!!!

If you knew my family you would be scared too!