Nervous HFA Travelers

[UndecidedTraveler]

Hi everyone,

Hope I am posting in the correct place. I figured that since both of us travelers were/are nervous and since one of us has HFA that this would be the best place to ask.

So, for a while now my adult daughter and I have been planning a trip to Washington D.C. next month. We both love to travel and as we say in our family 'have something to look forward to.'

In 2006 we lost my husband, the outgoing one, and since then my daughter has become my travel buddy. I have never liked driving, she has PTSD, much so we try to stay in city centers and optimize public transportation. D.C. needed/s a lot of research.

Anyway, we were planning on going to several of the Smithsonians and mostly free places. All seemed to be going well.

Then the Boston bombings happened. We were both horrified, my daughter a bit overly hysterical(as we are in Texas). So, we decided to book a back up trip in case the D.C. trip became to much to handle or unwise.

We choose Walt Disney World, having been many times before. For the past week I have been getting more nervous about going and seeing my child in tears and unsure every day has been awful.

Tonight we decided to flip our plans and focus on WDW and have D.C. as our back up. Now that we have done that the house seems calmer, but I am unsure if I am doing the right thing. I don't want my child to be scared, but I know she would love the museums and zoo in D.C..

Are we the only 'world weary' ones here? We use 'aspergers insurance' to try to avoid any meltdowns and while I am not sure if we can schedual another trip to D.C. later on I know that the WDW trip would be relaxing and fun.

So sorry this is so long. Any advice from anyone on which they might do?

 

[disney david]

I wouldn't worry d.c has so much different law enforcement federal and city to keep you safe. And Disney has their own security and ocso patrolling 24/7 with k-9 dogs that do continuous sweeps. Plus Disney is very proactive with unattended bags so you won't have to worry. After the bombings you see an increase of people reporting things like in NYC the had over 40 reports of unattended items all turned out to be nothing most time New Yorkers just walk past the items and don't say anything. So I wouldn't worry things can happen any where but just know that both d.c and Disney do their very best to keep you protected. Disney most likely has more k-9 dogs patrolling then your average city dose. Plus then have under cover off duty police that patrol their parks so their lots of eyes on security and they spend more money on security then most places do. So please go have fun both places will be great to go you can't live in fear.


Just remember of you see something say something call 911.

 

[clanmcculloch]

As an adult Aspie, what works best for me is a combination of analytics and avoidance (hey, I'm being honest). By analytics I mean things like statistical probability of actually being at the same location at the same time as some kind of attack. By avoidance I mean I'm very good at mentally compartmentalizing and the bombings are filed in my brain in the area of things that happen outside of my little world and I my only connection is through what I see on TV and hear people say. It's a real gift being able to do that. That and focusing on what I can control. I need to be in control in my life. I really mean NEED. I focus on all the things that I can control. When there's stuff that's out of my control I look all around that and figure out which peripheral items I can control (with air travel that's things like choosing flight times and seat/buying EBCI that work for us, arriving at the airport with extra time for security, printed packing lists for everybody that I check off as I put things in the suitcases, detailed (and I mean really detailed) itineraries, etc. I can't control what the TSA agent might do but I know the rules inside and out and I know how to pack my carryon so that it'll be as easy as possible to get through security and I know what clothes won't set off the scanner and I carry the boarding passes. There is a lot I can control and I make sure that I do.

I don't have PTSD so IMO that brings a very different component to this. It would help to discuss this with her therapist.

I don't see anything wrong with the change you made. I don't see this allowing her problems to rule or anything like that. A WDW trip is already pushing her. If you push too much she could completely melt down. IMO pushing just a bit outside her comfort zone is what you're aiming for here, not pushing as far as you can. Keep the DC trip for when she's a bit more confident.

I'm struggling with my own anxiety over our upcoming California trip so I know where you're coming from. The source of my anxiety is very different than hers though. Mine has to do with all the obsessive planning to ensure that everybody's needs are met and we've got more needs than just me and DD15 having Asperger Syndrome. Our food allergies are a much bigger stress (outside of WDW it's hard to find places that can safely prepare food for us) as is trying to narrow down our options because there are just so many. I'm working through the anxiety by methodically making lists, prioritizing the lists and checking things off. This is a strength of my autism so I make it work for me. Control helps me a lot with my anxiety so this gives me some control in what feels very out of control right now.

 

[berryinDC]

Not much I can add to the brilliant advice already given but as a dc resident that loves wdw, they are both very safe places to visit backed by a lot of security and control. I was walking around the Mall and the museum area today on my lunch break and its really business as usual here. Lots of people out enjoying the flowers and the usual security everywhere you turn. Still, dc is a bigger terrorism target than wdw, it's true (my insurance costs can attest to that). But a lot of work goes into preventing an attack here, so the probability is still low.

 

[bookwormde]

DC is a great place for our kids especially if any of the exhibits are in their areas of special interest. The security and surveillance around the mall is exceptional ,so it is one of the safest places in the world.

If in the end she is just not comfortable with DC then WDW by all means, forcing things is generally a recipe for problems

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I live in the DC area and feel it is quite safe; the security is probably a lot better than that at WDW. If that is the place you would rather visit, you should stick with that plan.

 

[KisanMcG]

I'm an adult with Aspergers who lives in DC and travels often to WDW. I feel totally safe in both places.

One thing that I will note is that you can often see more of the security measures in DC than you can in WDW. For example, your bag is checked before entering any of the parks at WDW, but other than that most of the security guards are unobtrusive and you don't think or see much of the measures they are using to keep you safe. In DC, your bag will be checked before entering each of the Smithsonian museums, and you may see more security cameras and guards and officers on horseback around the Mall. You will also hear and see helicopters, and due to the proximity of Regan National Airport, a lot of planes flying overhead.

Both are beautiful locations. WDW is definitely more of an escape from reality, but DC has a lot to experience that is worthwhile.