So...We sprang our WDW trip to DS on Christmas...

[debster812]

And, at about noon on Christmas Day he announces, 'He does not really think he wants to go to Disney, because he is afraid of heights, and the plane will go too high'.

Now, my first question, is HOW IN THE WORLD does a 5YO know (think???) he is afraid of heights? He has never been up anywhere high!!!

Then DH and I have to figure out if we want to 'talk up' the trip to get him used to the plane idea, or ignore the travel portion of our trip, and just deal with him at the airport, and on the plane.

He is super excited at the idea of meeting Mickey, Buzz, and Goofy (got that GP?) but not at the idea of getting there.

Suggestions?

 

[JohnTBap]

Xanax works for me. I doubt that a pediatrician will prescribe it, though...

Doesn't the airline do something special for first time kid flyers? Perhaps you could call ahead and find out and maybe that would get him excited.

Good luck!

 

[debster812]

lol JTB--I think he comes by it naturally. I remember growing up, my mom would not fly until the late afternoon/evening, so she could have 2 Black Russians before getting on the plane.

We are flying SWA, and they are always good with kids, so that should be OK.

It just floored me, that he said he did NOT want to go...

 

[Saffron]

I think a grab bag filled with toys and activities, little things that you can spring on him every few minutes, will help! Put lots of Disney little things in there, some candy or treats, some activites etc, anything to occupy his time.

 

[Goofyposter]

Groosch!?!!

Ask him if he's worried about the height from the road in the car....and tell him a plane is jurst a car in the sky?

 

[Snow White]

Lots of bribery!!!

 

[mom2boys]

I would take one of two approaches depending on your son. Approach 1 - downplay the travel portion of the trip. Let him see that you & DH don't think the flight is a big deal.
Approach 2 (include approach 1) & help him learn about flight.
Good luck & enjoy your trip.

 

[kaabost]

Yes, teach him about flight and how it is the most safe form of transportation. If you live near the airport, take him several times. Do you have an air museum? My dad volunteer at ours. Most of thier visitors are interested in bombers and fighter planes but people with phobias often come to try to get "closer" to airplanes and get over their fear. My dad seems to think that it helps people alot of times.

 

[pumba]

give her two kids some benedryl for their ears and such.......my granddaughter had allergies and the pressure was bad for her head.....so bendryl for both the kids and they were sooooo good on both flights

 

[piratesmate]

Originally posted by debster812
Now, my first question, is HOW IN THE WORLD does a 5YO know (think???) he is afraid of heights? He has never been up anywhere high!!!

Even if you did not have the TV on when he was around last year in the days following 9/11, the other children at school have probably talked about it. It may be that this is the 5yo way of telling you that he's afraid to get on the plane because of terrorism - rather than an actual fear of heights. Just a thought - and I don't really have any suggestions, other than to continue to make him feel safe when he's with you and find a way of letting him know that you are not afraid. . . of course, Pumba's suggestion of Benadryl sounds pretty good!

 

[debster812]

Piratesmate,

I think that you are ABSOLUTELY onto something. As much as we tried to sheild him, I know that he knows 'bad men' crashed planes into buildings.

Pumba, I was thinking of Benadryl already. Might just make him sleepy enough to take the edge off!

I think we are going to take the low key approach, and see what happens. I have flown about 5 times on business since 9/11, so he knows that. We may make a trip to the airport, so he can see some takeoffs and landings, but we will see.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

 

[paras4ri]

Benadryl will make him sleepy and a grab bag of goodies is also a great surprise.

Which airport are you leaving from?

 

[debster812]

Gail,

We are flying out of Green. (Never again from Logan if I have ANYTHING to say about it!) On the last flight out on Saturday the 25th. yay!!!!!!!

I have already started gathering the goodies for the grab bag. I was going to wrap them, but I don't think I would be allowed to now with the new security measures, etc.

 

[paras4ri]

Kids are allowed backpacks, they just send them through the x-ray machines. They also send stuffed animals through......DD thought that was the funniest thing to watch her Simba take a ride on the conveyor belt!

We flew about 6 weeks after the attacks last year.

 

[Kallison]

See if he has any fears related to 9/11. We flew two weeks after 9/11 and my kids were just worried about getting to WDW, not the plane ride. When the plane took off I looked over at my then 11 year old who was shaking like a leaf, he said "Mom I think I AM afraid to fly". I felt so bad, they were all so worried about me chickening out. I said too late now honey, just say a prayer. We flew with them twice since then, and they are fine with it now. I'm the very nervous flyer. I wouldn't harp on the plane portion too much, just try and find out what he is thinking. I'm sure he will be fine, pack a carry-on goodie bag with some little toys, kids love post-its for some reason, they can post everything in sight? I also bought my kids those Yes/No books with the magic pen and a bunch of dollar store stuff for their first flight. They were too mesmerized by looking out the window.

Don't forget the Ear Planes for his ears, taking off and landing can be really painful. Most drugstores carry them, CVS has them near us. Have fun!