last minute transportation woes!!

[dizneygal]

My DD"s friend is traveling to Universal with us but is unable to stay for the Disney portion of our trip, so we need to make an airport run. I should mention friend is 17 1/2. I was going to rent a car and all go to the airport for drop off and then head to Disney. I called the airline and was told only one guest pass will be permitted to accompany a traveler through security...looks like I will driving solo. (very nervous) DH says to book a town car for friend and send him solo, that way this airport run is not an all day affair. (flight leaves Mco 1130 am) Any opinions on this matter would be great. I also called airline and they can put a note in the computer that says"17 yr old flying alone"
Not that it matters or maybe it does friend is a boy.
Thanks to all!

 

[hercamore]

If it were me, I would drop my family off at Disney and take the boy to the airport and help him check in, see him to the gate and leave. Meet up with family at a designated spot.

herc.

 

[deltachi8]

give him cab fare!

just kidding...if you think he can handle it on his own, and at 17 he probably can, I would use a towncar/mears or something. if your not comfotrable with it, do a one day rental and drive him.

 

[dizneygal]

Ok,
I have 2 different answers now..oh my head!!
Thanks to both of you. I still have not decided what to do. I am very upset with DD at this point because she told me she discussed this situation with her friends parents and they told her either way is fine. She also told me that it would be ok with friends parents if we took a much earlier flight in the day instead of our scheduled booked late afternoon flight. I didn't pay $200 a night to just fly in and sleep. So, I changed all the info with limosine companies on both ends of my trip. This will be of no cost to friend. I spoke to his mom this afternoon to confirm plans (she has been on vacation with her family and my daughter with them) Mom had no idea of any of these plans...got nowhere with airport dilemma..Mom is a little upset because she counted on the late afternoon flight so she could leave her campground early am and bring her son home to pack even though we were originally scheduled to pick him up at his house at 1130 Am.
At this point he may be staying home..and I will send myDD in the cab with a one way ticket to anywhere.

My time is ticking!!

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

I think that at 17, the friend probably doesn't need someone with him past security, dropping him off would probably be fine.

(assuming that said 17 yr old possesses fairly typical common sense (even for a teenager), and is not "special needs")

 

[dizneygal]

Originally posted by SyracuseWolvrine
I think that at 17, the friend probably doesn't need someone with him past security, dropping him off would probably be fine.

(assuming that said 17 yr old possesses fairly typical common sense (even for a teenager), and is not "special needs")

yes, this friend is an honor student and posses A + and sisco computer certification. He is going into his SR year in HS.

 

[fac]

you meant 17 1/2 not 7 1/2, right??

Every person is different, my nephew flew international by himself at 17. You know him better than us, but if he is

17 1/2, cisco certified, A+ students. Her parents okay either way.

I think the problem is not that he cannot handle, but you feel that you have to send him to the airport. I agreed with deltachi8 that if *you* are not comfortable, drive him yourself.

On the other hand, except he has never traveled before, I would do what your husband suggested and get a town car to send him to the airport.

 

[dizneygal]

At last..I spoke with his mom and she thinks sending him in a town car with a cell phone is just fine. I will keep tabs on him via cell phone. Thanks to all of you for your quick responses. I wanted to thank the person who invented the cell phone as well. I have gained more time in Disney because of the use of cell phones!!!
PS.I will post a trip report when I return.

 

[zurgswife]

Unless he is a very seasoned traveler I would never consider sending a teenage that I invited on a trip to head to the airport on his own....I would be a nervous wreak....I would feel he was my reasonsiblity until he got on the plane....JMHO

 

[clkelley]

Send him on Mears or Towncar.

I plan on sending my 16 11/12 son to the airport in Mears in September, to fly home to go to school, and then back to the local airport later in the week to fly back to MCO then back in Mears to our resort.

He sounds like a bright kid. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

I just found out a weird hitch about our plan though. We can only get Round Trip Mears tickets that start at the airport and end at the airport.

Since the trip will start at the resort to the airport, there is no way to purchase a round trip ticket.

Carol