Flying Advice

[PrincessMagic]

This post isn't necessarily Disney related but I would like some input. We are traveling in October and had planned on driving down from Ohio. It takes about 14 hrs. to drive down.

My husband has been trying to convince me for years to fly but I have a crazy fear of flying. However, the thought of being in Disney in 2 hrs vs. 14 hrs. is very appealing. I was looking at flights and we can get a non-stop flight really cheap.

I would like some general advice and maybe you can share with me how you got over your fear of flying, what to expect, whatI can do to reduce anxiety, etc. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

BTW I don't drink so alchohol is not an option. I also considered asking my doctor for some meds, but I don't want to feel so doped up that I can't enjoy myself when we get there. Thanks

 

[maelstrom]

A small dose of Xanax or Ativan will calm your nerves and won't dope you up. You'll just be able to chill out and cope with the flight instead of digging your nails into the arm rest. There's even a new kind of Xanax that melts on your tongue, like those breath mints. Just explain your fear to your doctor and he'll prescribe you a couple of pills to take if you need to.

As someone else mentioned, Benadryl (diphenhydramine, the same thing in Tylenol PM) will put you to sleep. However, it will probably leave you groggy and it won't calm you down, it'll just make you sleep. A benzodiazepine is a better option.

Alternately, just take your chances driving down, because it's worth it to not have to deal with the TSA.

 

[Craig & Lisa]

The family and I have flown for years, and my only fear over this amount of time has always been the landings, but last July for the first time we drove, not because of fear but the cost of flying itself. For us now one roundtrip ticket out of the least expensive airport has been 400.00. Now I'll give you an idea of how much things have changed since we first started going. November of 1997, we only needed 3 tickets, youngest son sat on my lap, 250.00 for 3 tickets, now 4 cost at least 1600.00 then if we really do multiple airports still over 1300.00. We can drive there and back for less than 500. So for the time lost in the drive I'm willing to drive.

 

[sleepybear]

I am terrified of flying, yet I do it at least once a year to get to The Happiest Place on Earth. My secret? My video iPod. I download as many Disney movies as will fit onto it. As soon as we're in the air and I'm allowed to turn that sucker on, I watch a Disney movie. It puts me in a Disney mood and keeps my mind off the fact that I'm in a tin can several thousand feet in the air.
The most recent Pixar films seem to be the best length. "Cars" and "The Incredibles" are just about the perfect length for a Newark, N.J., to Orlando flight. iTunes also has many Disney cartoon shorts, which are good for when you're waiting to board at the airport.

Plus I always think about something a friend e-mailed me before my first flight to Florida in 2004. And I'll pass it on to you:

Each year, more Americans are killed by mules than plane crashes.