When you travel are you prepared for an emergency?

[NY Disney fan]

This thread is really helpful..thank you!

 

[RitaZ.]

We're stuck in an airport hotel right now and have been since Thursday. We stand no chance of leaving before next weekend. This means 10 days have been added to our trip during which time we must find food, drink, accommodation etc.

You can't imagine it until you've done it. We are very fortunate to be in our situation in that we are healthy, safe, warm and fed currently but we are losing a LOT of sleep over it (hence the 5am posting). We are worried about our jobs, our home, our pets...

I'm sure that you're desperate to be back in your home. I would be. Hang in there.

 

[daughtersrus]

Medications are exempt from the 3.4 oz rule! Just be sure it's in the original prescription bottle and you'll be fine. DH travels with insulin and they never look twice at it (the syringes used to raise some eyebrows though, but recently even those didn't draw comment...).

Thanks for the info. I'm starting to stress already and the trip isn't for 3 months!

 

[bettymae1121]

Thanks for the info. I'm starting to stress already and the trip isn't for 3 months!

You bet. If you have any questions on what's allowed, what's not, and the whole screening process in general, just go to the TSA's website at tsa.gov. They have a whole section for travelers with special needs (medical, disabled, etc.) that should be able to answer any question you may have. If you're worried about carry on and checked allowance, check directly with your airline, as allowances and fees vary by airline.

 

[Kath2003]

I've followed this with interest. Kath2003, I feel for you and yours and do hope you make it home soon. I've agreed with almost all of your sentiments regarding air travel and people stuck because of this event, but one thing just had me going "Wah-huh?"

You said that you thought there should be some sort of priority system for getting a flight out, once flights were going. While I understand why this isn't, I can see the motivation. But then you said you thought the order should be people with medical conditions and then people with infants. . .

I've examined that notion 6 ways to Friday and I just can't figure out why peeps with infants should get priority. I don't have kids, so I'm probably just missing something. So, why should folks with babies get second priority? I just don't get the reasoning, except for the added fuss and kerfluffle factor involved in babies.

I don't have kids. But I cannot imagine being out here, as we have been, for an extra 7 days now, with an infant. Travelling with an infant is stressful enough but to be stuck in an airport with one for days? Imagine diapers, forumla, no laundry facilities etc.They should get priority, I'm sorry but they should.

We have now been stranded for 6 nights with no sign of getting out of here. We're looking at two or three more nights here at least.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I've examined that notion 6 ways to Friday and I just can't figure out why peeps with infants should get priority. I don't have kids, so I'm probably just missing something. So, why should folks with babies get second priority? I just don't get the reasoning, except for the added fuss and kerfluffle factor involved in babies.

Infants present lots of challenges that aren't apparent until you have one. Having older kids now, I would unhesitatingly give my spot in line to someone with an infant in a situation like this.

 

[oceanscape]

I'm not IN Europe. I've been stuck in the USA since my flight home was cancelled on Thursday lunchtime. We are fortunate to be here - my post about Europe was stating why I'm prepared to hold out here rather than be there. I get it's not a disaster: that doesn't stop it being stressful and expensive for those of us who are stuck thousands of miles from home.

"Europe is a disaster" is true - it's in total shutdown. ALL means of transport are virtually inaccessible to everyone. Imagine you're stuck in some US city, with no access to a car, to public transport, to any flights out of there - with hundreds of thousands of others - it's a transportation nightmare and come Monday, economies everywhere will come grinding to a halt because of this. Airlines will go bust; thousands of people won't make it to work including teachers (are there enough left to keep schools open?), healthcare professionals and many more. In the developed world, this is what constitutes a disaster.



Thank you. We do have perspective. We know we are lucky. We are still as worried about our home, our pets, our jobs, our spending as anyone in our situation would be, however.

They are anticipating that food supplies will run low in Europe in the next few days as it'll take much longer to ship produce than it will to fly it in. This will also have serious economic impact for developing countries who rely on exports to Europe.

Europe was not "shut down". Economies most certainly did not "come grinding to a halt". Although airlines face big losses none have gone bust over this. Food supplies in the UK and the rest of Europe were absolutely fine and no different from usual, after all only 1% of produce is air freighted. I think you've exaggerated the impact of the situation somewhat...

Stressful and expensive for those stuck, yes. A major disaster, no.

 

[Minnie]

Europe was not "shut down". Economies most certainly did not "come grinding to a halt". Although airlines face big losses none have gone bust over this. Food supplies in the UK and the rest of Europe were absolutely fine and no different from usual, after all only 1% of produce is air freighted. I think you've exaggerated the impact of the situation somewhat...

Stressful and expensive for those stuck, yes. A major disaster, no.

If YOU were the one stuck in an airport with one way home for many many days then I bet YOU would "exaggerate" the situation.... For some this situation is a "disaster" to them personally due to home, work, family situations.

Show some compassion for goodness sake!!! One out of two of my friends have just managed to get home - the other is still stuck and may be until May . Horrid situation for so many...

 

[Missy1961]

Europe was not "shut down". Economies most certainly did not "come grinding to a halt". Although airlines face big losses none have gone bust over this. Food supplies in the UK and the rest of Europe were absolutely fine and no different from usual, after all only 1% of produce is air freighted. I think you've exaggerated the impact of the situation somewhat...

Stressful and expensive for those stuck, yes. A major disaster, no.

Easy to write that when you're at home, safe & warm. I think the person who wrote that post, in the middle of the situation, is entitled to a bit of exaggeration.

 

[NHdisneylover]

If YOU were the one stuck in an airport with one way home for many many days then I bet YOU would "exaggerate" the situation.... For some this situation is a "disaster" to them personally due to home, work, family situations.

Show some compassion for goodness sake!!! One out of two of my friends have just managed to get home - the other is still stuck and may be until May . Horrid situation for so many...

Easy to write that when you're at home, safe & warm. I think the person who wrote that post, in the middle of the situation, is entitled to a bit of exaggeration.

My neighbor is still stuck in Dubai. I get that it is miserable for the person stuck. I get that people may exaggerate their own situation in the frustration of the moment. But I agree with the PP that you are both quoting that the post was totally overboard. That person who posted was stuck in the USA (I believe). If she wants to go on about how awful it is sleeping in the airport, not having clothes, whatever I would be very sympathetic. But, I think it is okay to set the record straight about the current situation in Europe--especially given the fact that some readers here may think someone who lives here knows and take it as truthful. Some readers may have trips to Europe (maybe on a Disney cruise) coming up soon and be needlesly worried. What the poster describe was not even close to the conditions in Germany. Maybe the UK is totally different but we had NO shortages in stores whatsoever. ICE and EC (basically long distance express type trains) were full to the brim but local public transit and even regional trains were no more crowded than normal. Travelling about town and to other towns in our state was not an issue AT ALL. This situation did affect the pocketbooks of airlines and some other businesses, but it is not going to topple the European economy.

 

[Kath2003]

We got home last night - almost 10 days late.

Thanks to those who expressed concern; I hope those who saw it as a "fact of life" never get stuck in that situation.

 

[Imzadi]

We got home last night - almost 10 days late.

Thanks to those who expressed concern; I hope those who saw it as a "fact of life" never get stuck in that situation.

YAY!!! Glad you made it home!

As for those critics, it's always easy to criticize when they are NOT in the situation, telling others what they should have done. I found it ludicrous how some people said they plan for like 6 months of funds in case of a vacation/travel emergency. And anyone who doesn't doesn't deserve a vacation or a life and should be just taken out back and shot.

Must be nice to live a "Let them eat cake" life of having no compassion & understanding of the misfortune of others. Really, what event in modern history has so affected a large region of several countries for 10 days plus, that people would even fathom planning for this?

 

[Missy1961]

We got home last night - almost 10 days late.

Thanks to those who expressed concern; I hope those who saw it as a "fact of life" never get stuck in that situation.

Thanks for letting us know. Hope all is well.

 

[NHdisneylover]

We got home last night - almost 10 days late.

Thanks to those who expressed concern; I hope those who saw it as a "fact of life" never get stuck in that situation.

I am glad you made it home. My next door neighbor finally made it back late last night as well. Seems to be almost cleared up. Now lets all just hope the volcano keeps quiet from here on out

 

[Kath2003]

I am glad you made it home. My next door neighbor finally made it back late last night as well. Seems to be almost cleared up. Now lets all just hope the volcano keeps quiet from here on out

It's far from cleared up in Europe - we're hearing dates 1-2 weeks from now for people's return

 

[NHdisneylover]

It's far from cleared up in Europe - we're hearing dates 1-2 weeks from now for people's return

Wow. Here in Germany all the neighbors and coworkers we know are back as of today. It was highly unusual that DH was home 2 weeks ago (he travels 80% of the time) so we got very lucky he was here. Most of his coworkers were travelling but they have all made it back by now, even the ones who were in the US. Maybe the UK is in worse shape or we know all the lucky people