LA to Anaheim: Amtrak? Driving?

nancy drew

nancy drew

DIS Veteran
Joined
Apr 12, 2005
Just looking into options for traveling from LA (Hollywood) to Anaheim on either a Monday evening or Tuesday morning. I think we are looking at the busiest times, traffic-wise, so Amtrak sounded like an option that might avoid some of the worst traffic, but is that a good choice? Are we better off hiring a car to drive us? And if so, should we go in the evening (after 4pm) or morning (around 8)? Any other options to consider?
 
LA traffic is brutal from about 4 to 6 pm and morning I would not leave till about 9 am. I am a big fan of the train. It is nice and realxing. It is a good option unless you need a car when you get where you arrive.
 
If you're going LA to Anaheim, I believe Metrolink should be cheaper and takes a few minutes longer. However, the schedule for Metrolink is kind of odd. They only have two morning trains (682 and 600) from LA Union Station to Anaheim. If you're a monthly Metrolink pass holder, you can travel on Amtrak with that pass. I don't think you can buy a Metrolink ticket and use it on Amtrak if you miss your train.

http://www.metrolinktrains.com/sche...m=131&weekday=1&to=81&submit.x=48&submit.y=14

I'm not sure about luggage storage on Metrolink though. Amtrak cars are built to carry lots of luggage with overhead racks and some side racks, and you should even be able to check in luggage on the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner between LA Union Station and Anaheim.
 
Ugh, so I just looked at the cost for Amtrak and while it seemed like a great way to save money, with the cost of a taxi to/from each train station it will almost be equal to the cost of getting a private car to take us, and we would still have to deal with LA traffic getting to the station. We would avoid it on the train though, but the overall travel time would likely be the same due to traveling to the station, waiting for the train, going to the hotel. Or maybe not, because maybe traffic really is that bad.

Going out of Glendale station would save a little money, since it is closer to our hotel. Is that a bad option?

So is it still a better option to take the train, or should we hire a car and driver to take us, since the cost would be almost the same?

And if we leave the next morning, we cut in to our DLR time because we won't be able to go to the parks until after we check in to the hotel, vs. waking up in Anaheim if we travel the night before. Any input on which is a better option?
 


nancy drew said:
Ugh, so I just looked at the cost for Amtrak and while it seemed like a great way to save money, with the cost of a taxi to/from each train station it will almost be equal to the cost of getting a private car to take us, and we would still have to deal with LA traffic getting to the station. We would avoid it on the train though, but the overall travel time would likely be the same due to traveling to the station, waiting for the train, going to the hotel. Or maybe not, because maybe traffic really is that bad.

Going out of Glendale station would save a little money, since it is closer to our hotel. Is that a bad option?

So is it still a better option to take the train, or should we hire a car and driver to take us, since the cost would be almost the same?

And if we leave the next morning, we cut in to our DLR time because we won't be able to go to the parks until after we check in to the hotel, vs. waking up in Anaheim if we travel the night before. Any input on which is a better option?
Click to expand...

Again, Metrolink is cheaper and operates between the stations you seem to want to use. Glendale to Anaheim is $9.75 for adults. Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner is $16 (without discounts) although there's no transfer needed for certain trains. Depending on when you go, Metrolink can be faster even with the transfer. I'm guessing that Amtrak stops for an extended time at LA Union Station to replenish supplies (cafe car and business class) as well as load/unload baggage.

I'd recommend taking the train. It's a fun way to travel.

As far as Glendale goes, they don't even have any Pacific Surfliner trains until after 9 AM. Some of the southbound trains start at LA Union Station, some in Santa Barbara, and some in San Luis Obispo. The notes in the Amtrak timetable recommend taking Metrolink in the morning to transfer to the Pacific Surfliner.

http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/382/939/Pacific-Surfliner-Schedule-071315,0.pdf
 
Metrolink and Amtrak are almost the same cost for us (total price from Union Station $21 on Metrolink, $27 on Amtrak). But good point about the stop in Union Station being longer. The 2 minute stop thing really stresses me out when traveling with kids. We won't be checking baggage either way, but hopefully our luggage will fit under our seats on Metrolink.

I'm still leaning toward traveling later in the afternoon/early evening, though, so we can spend the night in Anaheim. Our tour on our last day ends around 4, we will already be packed up and have our luggage waiting at the hotel, and we can be on the road (to the train station) before 5. Then we can be in Anaheim at our hotel by 7pm, get dinner, relax, go to bed early, and wake up ready to hit the parks.

Looks like we might have more options using Metrolink. So if traffic is bad, we won't miss our train and be left in the station for hours.
 
Oh - child fare is discounted more (half off adult fare) on Amtrak. Also - you can get a 10% discount off both adult and child fares with a AAA membership.
 


bcla said:
Oh - child fare is discounted more (half off adult fare) on Amtrak. Also - you can get a 10% discount off both adult and child fares with a AAA membership.
Click to expand...

Yes, that's why the cost is almost the same. :)

So if the cost is the same, does it matter which line we use? Amtrak is a faster trip, I think?

And how is traffic from Hollywood to Union Station? Or are we better off going to Glendale to avoid the dreaded traffic? That's where I'm stuck. We'd save on taxi fare and possibly avoid traffic (I really don't know!) or go to Union Station?

Ugh, sorry, I am so annoying. I am just totally unfamiliar with the area and really have no idea what to expect!!!
 
nancy drew said:
Yes, that's why the cost is almost the same. :)

So if the cost is the same, does it matter which line we use? Amtrak is a faster trip, I think?

And how is traffic from Hollywood to Union Station? Or are we better off going to Glendale to avoid the dreaded traffic? That's where I'm stuck. We'd save on taxi fare and possibly avoid traffic (I really don't know!) or go to Union Station?

Ugh, sorry, I am so annoying. I am just totally unfamiliar with the area and really have no idea what to expect!!!
Click to expand...

I'm more or less a train enthusiast. I've helped people book Amtrak tickets from Southern California, but haven't actually ridden there. However, I commute regularly to work by Amtrak, so I'm familiar with their fare structure and some of the ins and outs of using their service. The Pacific Surfliner is mostly an "unreserved" train, meaning that your ticket is good any time up to a year as long as it doesn't get scanned (aka "pulled") by a conductor. There are some peak holiday periods where it's considered reserved, and where the pricing may increase.

The Metro Red Line goes from Hollywood to LA Union Station, although how close you are to a station may be an issue. It's a $1.75 adult fare and $1 K-12 student fare. I'm getting a typical 19 minutes from the Hollywood/Vine station to Union Station, operating maybe every 10 to 12 minutes depending on the time of day. If you're not that close to a light rail station, then it might not be a good option.

http://www.metro.net

I'm not sure if there's any kind of free transfer. Metrolink tickets also function as all day passes for other public transportation. So if you have a Metrolink ticket (it uses the TAP interagency fare card system on a temporary paper card I believe) you can also use that for connecting transportation like Metro light rail. I read that the Pacific Surfliner is supposed to have some sort of free transfer now, but can't find anything about how it works. On my rides, we can get a transfer good to use on several public transit agencies.
 
I did a similar journey a few weeks ago. I found when I was researching, getting from LA to Anaheim crosses The Orange Curtain and transportation costs and options are all over the place. I got creative and came up with my own solution. It takes a bit of organisation but it by far the cheapest way.

Supershuttle costs $17 in a shared ride to / from LAX.
I picked a random airline which was departing LAX at 2pm. I used that flight information to book Supershuttle from my hotel in Downtown LA to LAX $17
I picked a random flight which was arriving at LAX at 2pm. I used that flight information to book Supershuttle from LAX to my hotel in Anaheim $17
Total cost from Downtown LA to Anaheim $34

All I had to do was go from the departure level (drop off) to arrivals level (pick up)

Total travel time was approx 2 hours
 
BadPinkTink said:
I did a similar journey a few weeks ago. I found when I was researching, getting from LA to Anaheim crosses The Orange Curtain and transportation costs and options are all over the place. I got creative and came up with my own solution. It takes a bit of organisation but it by far the cheapest way.

Supershuttle costs $17 in a shared ride to / from LAX.
I picked a random airline which was departing LAX at 2pm. I used that flight information to book Supershuttle from my hotel in Downtown LA to LAX $17
I picked a random flight which was arriving at LAX at 2pm. I used that flight information to book Supershuttle from LAX to my hotel in Anaheim $17
Total cost from Downtown LA to Anaheim $34

All I had to do was go from the departure level (drop off) to arrivals level (pick up)

Total travel time was approx 2 hours
Click to expand...

Since children were mentioned, I'm guessing one adult and two children? That's $27 for Amtrak LAX-ANA fare with AAA discount. However, Metrolink would be $8.75 for an adult and $6.50 for youth, so 1 adult and two children would be $21.75 (rounded down to $21).

So the cost would go up for the shuttle since there are kids.

I liked taking my child on the train, although I never had to deal with two. The trains also have a cafe car, so one can get a snack or even a meal.
 
@bcla yes thats true but my way with Supershuttle,there are far less interchanges, you get picked up at your hotel and brought direct to your hotel, with just one interchange at LAX. Using Amtrak or Metro link you have to get to the station from your hotel and then at the other end from the station to your hotel, with luggage and in this case children aswell, in LA heat. Thats why I came up with the creative Supershuttle way, as I wanted the least amount of interchanges as possible. I know what its like to drag a heavy suitcase on and off trains and its not a nice experience, especially in the heat.
 
bcla said:
I'm more or less a train enthusiast. I've helped people book Amtrak tickets from Southern California, but haven't actually ridden there. However, I commute regularly to work by Amtrak, so I'm familiar with their fare structure and some of the ins and outs of using their service. The Pacific Surfliner is mostly an "unreserved" train, meaning that your ticket is good any time up to a year as long as it doesn't get scanned (aka "pulled") by a conductor. There are some peak holiday periods where it's considered reserved, and where the pricing may increase.

The Metro Red Line goes from Hollywood to LA Union Station, although how close you are to a station may be an issue. It's a $1.75 adult fare and $1 K-12 student fare. I'm getting a typical 19 minutes from the Hollywood/Vine station to Union Station, operating maybe every 10 to 12 minutes depending on the time of day. If you're not that close to a light rail station, then it might not be a good option.

http://www.metro.net

I'm not sure if there's any kind of free transfer. Metrolink tickets also function as all day passes for other public transportation. So if you have a Metrolink ticket (it uses the TAP interagency fare card system on a temporary paper card I believe) you can also use that for connecting transportation like Metro light rail. I read that the Pacific Surfliner is supposed to have some sort of free transfer now, but can't find anything about how it works. On my rides, we can get a transfer good to use on several public transit agencies.
Click to expand...

Hmmmm... that could work. We are very close to a red line stop, and we are very seasoned subway users here. So then I think we could get to Union Station and make the call there about whether to take the Metrolink or Amtrak, depending on the time, right?

BadPinkTink said:
I did a similar journey a few weeks ago. I found when I was researching, getting from LA to Anaheim crosses The Orange Curtain and transportation costs and options are all over the place. I got creative and came up with my own solution. It takes a bit of organisation but it by far the cheapest way.

Supershuttle costs $17 in a shared ride to / from LAX.
I picked a random airline which was departing LAX at 2pm. I used that flight information to book Supershuttle from my hotel in Downtown LA to LAX $17
I picked a random flight which was arriving at LAX at 2pm. I used that flight information to book Supershuttle from LAX to my hotel in Anaheim $17
Total cost from Downtown LA to Anaheim $34

All I had to do was go from the departure level (drop off) to arrivals level (pick up)

Total travel time was approx 2 hours
Click to expand...

I totally thought of doing this, and taking Disneyland Express in to Anaheim. I think it just will take more time than I had hoped to spend traveling, but it is definitely in my list of back up plans.
 
nancy drew said:
Hmmmm... that could work. We are very close to a red line stop, and we are very seasoned subway users here. So then I think we could get to Union Station and make the call there about whether to take the Metrolink or Amtrak, depending on the time, right?
Click to expand...

Not if you're looking for a AAA discount, but it's only 10%. There are also issues with how long it takes to buy a ticket. I don't think you can buy a ticket on Metrolink, and I understand they have fare inspectors. I've seen fare inspectors on other systems, and they often tell passengers to get off and they won't issue a fine. You can always buy a ticket on Amtrak, but I'm not sure what the penalty would be since you're supposed to buy a ticket in advance at LA Union Station, since they have a ticket window and ticket machines (Quik-Trak).

I'm used to riding Amtrak, so I've got everything I need. I've personally seen people who didn't have enough time to buy a ticket, just got on board, and the conductor just told the passenger to buy a ticket using a mobile device (Amtrak has an app, plus there's the website) to avoid paying a surcharge. Even though it was past the time to buy the ticket, the "unreserved" nature of the train allowed the passenger to buy a ticket for the next train along that route, and the conductor got back to the passenger and was able to apply that ticket to this ride.

I did mention that "unreserved" tickets can generally be used any time. However, there may be some discounted tickets with restrictions on when they can be used. There are some special event discounts with restrictions. I know there are some weekend specials, and they obviously have to be used on a weekend within a specified date range.
 
Wait, you can't buy tickets at the station? I mean, if we arrive at Union Station, isn't there a ticket window somewhere?
 
nancy drew said:
Wait, you can't buy tickets at the station? I mean, if we arrive at Union Station, isn't there a ticket window somewhere?
Click to expand...

I was thinking if you're getting there right when the train is at the platform with the doors open, or the line for the ticket window is 12 deep and you know you're not going to get that ticket in time. I've seen it happen taking Amtrak at a station that has one of the "Quik-Trak" machines, where there's a penalty for paying on the train. The machines aren't that hard to use but may take some time for someone who has never used one. Some passengers will just dash in and try to pay onboard the train. One such passenger ended up sitting across a table from me and wasn't familiar with Amtrak fare policy. The conductor said that she could either pay the fare with surcharge directly to him, or she could use her mobile device to buy a ticket on the Amtrak website and he'd come back to pull the ticket later. I helped her a little bit with the purchase and the conductor came by later and pulled up her "reservation" (they call it that even on "unreserved" routes).

Metrolink is more like the Caltrain system I've taken from time to time. However, once I forgot to carry my "Clipper" interagency fare card (similar to Southern California's TAP [Transit Access Pass] card) and the train was coming right in with someone else at the only fare machine close enough for me to use in time to buy a ticket and board this train. If I had my card I could have been on the train in 10 seconds, but with this guy just barely buying his ticket on time to board, I had no chance to buy (might have taken 40 seconds) a ticket in time to board, and the next train left in an hour. So I waited. There is no longer an option to purchase a ticket onboard, and they have fare inspectors who can hand out $250 citations. Metrolink has a similar policy. You either have a ticket or use one of those interagency fare cards. Caltrain uses a paper ticket, but apparently Metrolink has switched to these cardboard tickets that use the TAP system. They seem to use the electronics that are used in the regular fare card.

Metrolink_Ticket_Stock_2013.jpg


The TAP card looks like this:

tap-service.jpg


I'm trying to figure out what other similar systems are called. We have Clipper here in the San Francisco Bay Area. Seattle has ORCA. Your profile says Chicago, so I guess there it's VENTRA.
 
Yes, I've been translating all of this into Chicago travel language, lol. So the Tap card is our Ventra card, the Metro is our El train (short for "elevated", not some weird Spanglish thing), and the Metrolink seems to be our Metra (the commuter train that goes to/from the suburbs). We haven't been on our Metra. Oh and Amtrak is Amtrak of course. We rode Amtrak from San Diego to Anaheim 3 years ago (did I mention that? I am too lazy to scroll back and see if I did) and it was fine, because we got to the station early and the train was beginning in SD, but still it was kind of stressful knowing we had only 2 minutes to get on and off the train when it stopped, since we had to sit upstairs and we had our bags, and the kids were pretty young then. I mean it worked out, but I had visions of one kid being left on the platform or train or something.

Anyway, they are older now and better at carrying their own bags, and I know what to expect.

I guess I wasn't imagining arriving at the station right when the train arrived, or if that happened I would just wait for the next one (whether Metrolink or Amtrak). Amtrak is fewer and farther between, but there seem to be frequent Metrolink options. And taking the Metro instead of a taxi hopefully cuts down the travel time to the station, since we don't have traffic to worry about.

The kids are on board with this plan (ha, see what I did there?) so now I just need to have a copy of the train schedules with me, and we should be good to go.

Thank you so much for talking me through this, this has been so incredibly helpful.
 
nancy drew said:
Yes, I've been translating all of this into Chicago travel language, lol. So the Tap card is our Ventra card, the Metro is our El train (short for "elevated", not some weird Spanglish thing), and the Metrolink seems to be our Metra (the commuter train that goes to/from the suburbs).
Click to expand...

Yeah - I didn't even check your profile until my last post. Probably would have helped.

Certainly around here we have the Clipper card, and I've used it on numerous public transit options. TAP is similar. Some systems have flat-rate fares, so you just tag once. Others have distance fares (like Metrolink), so you tag at your start point and tag again at the end point. I've seen this with my Clipper card taking Caltrain, and it processes it as a maximum possible fare from the start point to the most expensive possible destination. Then at the destination, tagging again will calculate the total fare and issue a debit. I believe Metrolink works this way with regular TAP cards, although probably not with the one-way/round-trip tickets. Those seem to be paper versions with the electronics sandwiched in the paper ticket. However, it's nice that the information is on there to see. San Francisco's MUNI system uses a similar paper ticket, but nothing is printed on the outside to see what's supposed to be on there. I think the only way is to check at a fare machine.

If you didn't notice, I love talking about trains and public transportation. :)
 
nancy drew said:
Oh and Amtrak is Amtrak of course. We rode Amtrak from San Diego to Anaheim 3 years ago (did I mention that? I am too lazy to scroll back and see if I did) and it was fine, because we got to the station early and the train was beginning in SD, but still it was kind of stressful knowing we had only 2 minutes to get on and off the train when it stopped, since we had to sit upstairs and we had our bags, and the kids were pretty young then. I mean it worked out, but I had visions of one kid being left on the platform or train or something.
Click to expand...

Well - technically Amtrak isn't Amtrak. The Pacific Surfliner is Amtrak California, which is fully funded by the California Dept of Transportation and administered by a joint powers authority. They mostly use their own equipment (which is very different than stock Amtrak equipment), the state subsidizes the cost of operation, but Amtrak operates the trains and provides their employees and the use of their reservation system.

As for getting off the train, it generally makes sense to get ready early. However, I ride the train pretty regularly and have a feel for when to get ready. If you're not familiar, typically the conductors will check your seat checks and give notice of when you need to get off - but not always. This isn't something that's going to happen on several local commuter rail lines since that no longer use seat checks. I used to ride Caltrain, where the ticket could be bought at a station or from a conductor, and then that ticket was cancelled and placed on a holder. They no longer do that with a proof of payment system with random checks of tickets and fare cards. I'm thinking Metrolink is similar.

As far as losing your kid, I suppose you heard about the Washington Metro train where a dad hit the train's emergency stop after the door closed behind his kid, who was left on the platform.

Did I mention that I'm a rail enthusiast?
 
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