Help! I'm scared to fly! Would you ever cancel a wdw trip bec. of that?

[fairytinkerbell]

I hate this! Sometimes I get very terrified about the thought of when the stewardess closes the airplane door and that's it - you're on and ur fate is what it is. **Updated post: I STILL AM WORRIED THAT I WILL GET ON THE PLANE AND BE SO SCARED / Terrified! HELP!! What do you do?????

Usually once I'm on and the plane is flying I am fine, I read and am not scared or anything. I get scared when I hear the engines roar for take off and stuff like that. It seems like the older I get the more scared I get.

I am actually watching the travel channel about the airplane that took a nose dive into the ocean and they re-enacted the whole thing w/ animation and it was terrifying and i feel horrible for those people to have experienced such terror.

QUESTION:
Am I the only one whose disney excitement gets overshadowed by fear of
flying there? : :

Plus I heard on a news interview/show last night that they "cannot confirm" that terrorists are making "dry runs" on airplanes. This doesn't help my situation!

I don't want to give in and end up not going. People i know when they go on trips say, "i'll take pictures and bring them back" and I'm thinking, "what if something happens on the plane?"

This feeling comes and goes. I don't know what to do about it bec. it's sort of overshadowing my excited-ness about my upcoming disneyworld trip.


Thanks for listening!!Updated post:

 

[Selket]

It looks like you live in NY so why not take the train down or drive? If flying is that stressful it would be worth it to seek alternate transportation rather than having to worry about it!

 

[goofyernmost]

Since 9/11 terrorism has added to the fear of flying. Fear of mechanical failures existed previous to that and are now just an added problem.

It may help to put things in perspective. On that awful day in September we lost around 3000 people in terror/airline related happenings. Although I don't remember the exact amount, I think that it was about 180 people that were lost because they were on an airplane. Everyone else was working their job in a nice safe office.

In general terms, I once took a course in becoming a travel agent. We had to know how to look up flights from the published schedule catalog that was the only way to look up flights previous to computer adaptation. This book was about 3 inches thick and was about 8 X 11. The print was so small that I had to buy magnifying glasses to read a single line on the page. Each page consisted of continuious lines each representing a daily flight in the United States alone. Just for one day. Thousands and thousands of flights that happen everyday, everyday, everyday. Now if you have that image in your mind, now think about how many plane crashes you hear about each day. Doesn't begin to compare does it?

As often as I have flown, and it has been many. Basicially round the world a couple of times, I still have slight apprehension when boarding an airplane. I just tell myself the same thing I just told you. It helps me realize that most of my fears are not logical. My chance of injury or death is much higher each time I drive to work. If I were a gambling man it wouldn't be tough to decide which mode of transportation to bet on.

 

[Missy1961]

I've never been thrilled with flying. But I know that it is the quickest way to get to certain places. For instance, if I didn't get on the plane, I would never have experienced the most wonderful vacation of my life--a cruise thru Alaska's Inside Passage. I wouldn't have seen glaciers. It was worth the 13 hours on the plane..... And even though I could get to Disney World by train or even by car, I want to spend as much of my time as possible enjoying it! So flying is the way to go. And we never know what can happen. You can be asleep in bed and something could happen to you. Yes, I hate to fly. It is not a stupid fear. But you can overcome it. And the trip to Disney World is worth it!

 

[LokisMom]

Hi! I just had to respond. I nearly cancelled my honeymoon in November 1999 because of my fear of flying. It came out of nowhere about 3 weeks before my wedding. Thank goodness my husband was understanding. We ended up taking the train from Albany, NY and had the best time. We did it again in November 2000, too. Again, an awesome time. We drove in December 2002 and it was the best time we've ever had going anywhere. I have flown all over the world since I was very young and this fear hit me all of a sudden and I haven't been on a plane since, so I can sympathize deeply with you.

 

[TDC Nala]

2 hour flight vs. 13 hour drive... that helps get over a lot of fear.

 

[tinkerb]

we saw a really sad story play out in front of us last october, a man, woman and child boarded the plane, and obviously he was having trouble with being claustrophobic on the plane.....they spoke to the flight attendant and they arranged to get the family moved to the front.....well...eventually, the father left the plane, leaving the mother and son... so, the plane departed, withouth the father........ the funny thing was, that we actually saw the mother and son, ENJOYING their time at the magic kingdom later that week..... i bet that father never would be able to live that down in the eyes of his son.... so....go for it....

 

[palmtreegirl]

Go to this site it REALLY helped me and it's totally free.

http://www.fearofflyinghelp.com

 

[pennyplanner]

I don't know if you are comfortable to talking to your doctor about flying. The first time we flew with our children to WDW, I took one pill to reduce the anxiety of the situation. It was prescribed by my family doctor. I was given approximately 6 tabs but used only one. I don't recall the specific name.

It was the only time I did it. After that, I was fine. We have since returned to WDW and out to Yosemite and SF. I am still a reluctant flyer but exciting destinations beckon and I find myself on my way!

I wish you well whatever your decision.

--penny

 

[LoriMistress]

Do what Johnny Depp does: He has a fear of flying as well. And what he does is screamsl the weirdiest and profane things in the plane. He doesn't care if there are tons of people there. This helps him from freaking out.

 

[LisaZoe]

Hmm, I don't think screaming and using profanity on an airplane is a good idea these days. With increased security concerns, I think more airlines are exercising their right to refuse service to anyone (check out Airline on the A&E channel sometime - it's funny ) It might work for Johnny Depp (I'd enjoy the show ) but your average passenger would probably get escorted off the plane.

My sisters are also "white knuckled" during take off and landings. Both just try to focus on the destination and not think too much about the flight. I agree with another poster that you should consider speaking to your doctor about something that might help allay your anxiety enough to get through the flight.

 

[MdmMim]

I agree with Palmtreegirl regarding the FearOfFlying site. I had not flown in 11 years, but really wanted to. I went to that site, read and absorbed the info, and got on a plane to WDW! I have now booked another flight for Sept. I did really help!!

Good luck conquering that fear!

 

[Esmerelda]

Well...I can't say I have any fear of flying. Being as I've worked at a local hospital's ER for almost 17 years, I can say that driving makes me a little apprehensive. More folks die every day, week...month on the interstates than in all of the friendly skies, this is a known fact. So many people drive that have road rage, or their tired...or their drunk...etc. If you think about it...your chances are tremendously worse on the ground.

Somehow, in all those flights I've taken over the years, I've never felt uneasy in the least bit. I figure if god says its my time to go...he's not going to care if I'm in flight or on the ground or at Disney.....ya know....

happy planning,
Esmerelda

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm another 'white knuckle' flier. I have never liked being in an airplane. But since we've started going to WDW once a year, I didn't want my dd to be afraid of flying. I've been to the fear of flying site and it's a good one. A lot of help. You get to find out what all those funny noises are. I watch the flight attendents. If they look relaxed, then I'm relaxed. No one knows more about how the flight is going than them. As someone posted before, there are hundreds of planes in the air at any given moment. When you look at how many people die in car accidents, maybe you would not want to be in a car and fly instead!!

 

[jennymouse]

I have more fear of driving down on that road trip than flying. I just read a trip report last night where a family was involved in an accident going home. There's a greater chance that you'll have a car accident if you drive down than a plane crash if you fly. That said, we're probably going to drive down next spring as we want to save money and because we're going to go stay on the beach for a few days after Disney. Are there any fear of driving websites?

 

[JESW]

I hate, hate, HATE to fly! But....I would rather spend just under 3 hours flying to Disney than driving or taking the train. (When I was working a guy I knew was also fearful of flying so he drove his family down...on the way back they were hit by a drunk driver! ) (They were ok tho)

We fly Song (Delta) and they now have little screens on the back of the seats in front of you. They provide disposable earphones but I bring my own from home since they fit and feel better. Our last flight (June) was GREAT since I was able to spend my time watching HGTV or TLC or listening to music. Very relaxing and it made the time fly by...pun intended. The kids also like it since they can watch Cartoon Network or Nickelodeon...forget if they have the Disney channel!

I also find what helps me is that I keep an eye on the flght attendants. I hear every noise and feel every bump and get nervous - but if I look at them at don't see that they are alarmed then I am ok.

I have a friend who wants to take her family to Disney and has made tentative plans the last several years...but at the end she backs out because of her fear of flying. I feel bad for her because I know they would have a good time. She may try again in November.

Good luck to you!!!!

Jill

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I hate flying. But I would not cancel a trip for it.

I would (and have once) walked off of planes if I felt there was a real danger to me on board.

It turned out that the flight I walked off of landed safely but I just got a very , very bad vibe from a group of young men who were in the surrounding seats and acting very strangely and I decided at that point not to take the risk.

Try www.fearofflying.com

I used that site for my last flight. It helped me a lot.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I also find that it helps me to look around at the other passengers, esp. children.

What really eased my mind on my last flight was watching the cute antics of the 4 small children in front of me who were excited to go to disneyworld.

There is something very comforting about kids. You figure - they aren't scared, therefore it is silly for me to be scared.

 

[SkylarKD]

Originally posted by JESW
I also find what helps me is that I keep an eye on the flght attendants. I hear every noise and feel every bump and get nervous - but if I look at them at don't see that they are alarmed then I am ok.

I do the same thing!


I won't cancel a trip anymore because of my fear of flying.

When I was 8 years old, I was in a plane that almost crashed. Even though I was a child, that was the scariest thing that has ever happened to me. I had to deal with the idea of death before a lot of kids. I refused to fly in planes after that, not for vacations, or when we moved halfway across the country. But when I turned 18, I wanted to fly across the country to visit a friend. I decided to face my fear head-on. I didn't want my fear to rule my whole life and stop me from doing things I wanted to. So I went on the flight, by myself. (St. John's to Calgary - about a 7 hour flight, with touchdowns in Halifax and Toronto). I still don't LIKE to fly; the turbulance still makes my stomach flip-flop, but to me, it's a personal victory every time I get on a plane, and I really have gotten better the more flights I've taken since the accident. I'm 24 now, and I've been on a bunch of national and international flights. I'm not going to say the idea of dying doesn't still scare me, but I can't live my life in fear - I refuse to.

For me, because of my nervousness, I feel more comfortable being in a window seat so I can see the ground, especially at night and when the plane is circling. I get nervous sitting in an aisle seat when I can't see what's going on. Perhaps this would help you too. Talk to people to distract yourself, bring a good book or some travel games... anything to help ease your mind. Check out that fear of flying website, and think about talking to a doctor and taking some medication.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

[Mortlives]

Originally posted by fairytinkerbell


Plus I heard on a news interview/show last night that they "cannot confirm" that terrorists are making "dry runs" on airplanes. This doesn't help my situation!

Before you allow this type of alarmist nonsense to spoil your trip, please note that I "cannot confirm" that I am a 23 year old beauty queen.

Air travel has always been enormously safer than car travel, and since that awful day, has become even more so. You are in a lot more danger on your way to the airport than you are in the air. Umm... I don't mean you should avoid leaving your house, I just mean that, comparatively speaking, air travel is a safe method of transportation.

Ciao,
Mort.