Airport for Disneyland visit?

[gottalovepluto]

--

 

[22Tink]

Sorry, I was confused by your earlier post as it looked like you were asking about the DL Express.

No worries, I kind of was! I thought from your post about there being no ME that maybe the DL Express had quit running but I see now that it hasn't.

 

[HydroGuy]

No worries, I kind of was! I thought from your post about there being no ME that maybe the DL Express had quit running but I see now that it hasn't.

 

[LaVon]

We are Flying from SMF to LGB (My husband prefers to fly jet blue) Anyways I thought LGB is 13 miles from DL? (Sorry Ive always drove to DL and since this is a kids less trip I wanted to fly in) . It is a close airport right?

 

[HydroGuy]

We are Flying from SMF to LGB (My husband prefers to fly jet blue) Anyways I thought LGB is 13 miles from DL? (Sorry Ive always drove to DL and since this is a kids less trip I wanted to fly in) . It is a close airport right?

The thread I linked earlier says LGB is 13.75 miles to DLR.

"Airport Proximity to DLR and Ground Transportation Information" by @3TinksAndAnEeyore www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2318297

 

[LaVon]

The thread I linked earlier says LGB is 13.75 miles to DLR.

"Airport Proximity to DLR and Ground Transportation Information" by @3TinksAndAnEeyore www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2318297

Thank you. I'll check that out

 

[Disney_Alli]

Are you able to fly direct to John Wayne. We are in Calgary and the only direct flight we can get is to LAX and no matter how much closer any other airport is it doesn't make up for the time of a connecting flight. Now, this next trip will be our 5th trip flying into LAX and it's not a big deal at all!

We always fly from Calgary and take a connection through Vancouver. It's so much nicer to fly into SNA and we like having breakfast in YVR.

 

[Nagle]

Thank you very much for all the replies. It confirms my first impression about how to go about things.
It will take a bit of planning but I think it will work just fine. We have been to DLR once before and our experience was as you described going through LAX

We are planning on flying 1 way from Toronto to Honolulu for a two week stay at Aulani. During the planning for this, Disney announced a Moonlight Magic event at DLR so we are planning on stopping there for two nights to take part as we have greatly enjoyed the Animal Kingdom events. This entails a Honolulu to SNA leg if possible. Then SNA to Toronto.

Again, thank you all for the replies.
Nagle

 

[siskaren]

I don't even consider LAX. Too much hassle and about an hour or more for transport.[/ATTACH]

LAX was like an hour and on top of the time: it's LAX. Which sucks.

LAX is the pit of misery and is to be avoided at all costs imho.

I believe the technical term is Pit of Despair https://brokenbrilliant.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/welcome-to-the-pit-of-despair.jpg?w=300&h=225

I flew into LAX in December and took Super Shuttle to my hotel - I didn't find it bad at all. It did take about an hour, but the worst part was getting out of the airport itself (due to construction) - the freeways were fine.

SNA is preferred if the price is right and the flight times are acceptable to you.

This. I flew into LAX because the latest return flight I could find out of SNA going to Chicago was late afternoon. I was able to get a red-eye out of LAX that allowed me to stay at the parks until 7:00.

 

[nikerbokers]

I think you already made your plans... but another vote for LGB here too. The airport is small so I get off the plane, checked bags are there in less than 10 mins and I’m in a Lyft literally 3 mins after I get my bag.

 

[sherilaine]

Man there is a lot of hate on here for LAX - we have not found it to be that bad honestly in our 4 trips - and we even take the bus to pick our our rental car. Our last trip we flew in on a Friday - flight got in at 12:30 and we were at our hotel on Harbor at 2:15 - so while that means our commute from landing until checking in was much longer than SNA, it is well worth not having to take a connecting flight. If we could fly non stop into SNA then we'd of course take that option but I really don't think it's worth a connecting flight especially with their risk of lost luggage and delays especially if you are dealing with customs at all!

 

[22Tink]

We always fly from Calgary and take a connection through Vancouver. It's so much nicer to fly into SNA and we like having breakfast in YVR.

This is what we do out of Prince George as well. The flight times into SNA are better as well and it’s Westjet, which is always a plus over Air Canada in my books!

 

[HydroGuy]

Man there is a lot of hate on here for LAX - we have not found it to be that bad honestly in our 4 trips - and we even take the bus to pick our our rental car. Our last trip we flew in on a Friday - flight got in at 12:30 and we were at our hotel on Harbor at 2:15 - so while that means our commute from landing until checking in was much longer than SNA, it is well worth not having to take a connecting flight. If we could fly non stop into SNA then we'd of course take that option but I really don't think it's worth a connecting flight especially with their risk of lost luggage and delays especially if you are dealing with customs at all!

I am an LAX hater LOL especially when it comes to DLR visits.

FWIW, whoever pulls the strings at the Orlando airport (MCO) serving WDW has done a great job. That airport feels so nice and upbeat and gets you in the mood for WDW. While not perfect, the Disney Magical Express also keeps this going.

In SoCal SNA feels similar to MCO. Being that it is closer to DLR makes things even better.

That MCO and SNA both have rental cars right there at the airport you can walk to in 1-2 minutes is yet another plus.

LAX has so many negatives. It seems to always be under construction. There is terrible traffic. The rental cars are far away relatively speaking. The place where the cars are is kind of scary. When you return your car gas stations are hard to find and I have stopped at many a gas station to refill my rental car and the places were pretty sketchy.

LAX has 8 terminals if I am not mistaken and is so huge. It feels old and run down. When you step outside to get your shuttle or car or whatever, it feels rundown and especially loud and slightly dangerous. SNA in particular has almost none of these negatives and the area around SNA is nice.

Of the other airports I have only ever done Burbank which is really small but otherwise fine.

I end up flying into LAX more often than not because price and schedule convenience is often the best for me. But whenever I can make it to SNA I choose it in a heartbeat and will pay more to fly there. Not sure my pain point on airfare but it depends on how many I am traveling with. With just myself and DW I will always spend $100 more per ticket to fly into SNA. When I have a bigger crew probably not.

 

[sherilaine]

I am an LAX hater LOL especially when it comes to DLR visits.

FWIW, whoever pulls the strings at the Orlando airport (MCO) serving WDW has done a great job. That airport feels so nice and upbeat and gets you in the mood for WDW. While not perfect, the Disney Magical Express also keeps this going.

In SoCal SNA feels similar to MCO. Being that it is closer to DLR makes things even better.

That MCO and SNA both have rental cars right there at the airport you can walk to in 1-2 minutes is yet another plus.

LAX has so many negatives. It seems to always be under construction. There is terrible traffic. The rental cars are far away relatively speaking. The place where the cars are is kind of scary. When you return your car gas stations are hard to find and I have stopped at many a gas station to refill my rental car and the places were pretty sketchy.

LAX has 8 terminals if I am not mistaken and is so huge. It feels old and run down. When you step outside to get your shuttle or car or whatever, it feels rundown and especially loud and slightly dangerous. SNA in particular has almost none of these negatives and the area around SNA is nice.

Of the other airports I have only ever done Burbank which is really small but otherwise fine.

I end up flying into LAX more often than not because price and schedule convenience is often the best for me. But whenever I can make it to SNA I choose it in a heartbeat and will pay more to fly there. Not sure my pain point on airfare but it depends on how many I am traveling with. With just myself and DW I will always spend $100 more per ticket to fly into SNA. When I have a bigger crew probably not.

Like I said, if we could fly into another closer airport without having to connect in Vancouver it would be entirely different. Flying in from Canada we only have so many options, so my position is very much from that perspective. I believe the OP is Canadian as well so that was why I mentioned our experience. I wish we could fly non stop from Calgary to SNA, but clearly the volume isn’t there.

 

[Disney_Alli]

Like I said, if we could fly into another closer airport without having to connect in Vancouver it would be entirely different. Flying in from Canada we only have so many options, so my position is very much from that perspective. I believe the OP is Canadian as well so that was why I mentioned our experience. I wish we could fly non stop from Calgary to SNA, but clearly the volume isn’t there.

WestJet briefly had a YYC>SNA direct - I was on the very first one! They gave us free snacks, gift bags and Mickey and Minnie did meet and greets in the Calgary airport It was so fun! Plus I paid $99 there and $119 home.

 

[AndreAggie]

There is Disney transportation available. We used it last time (2015) we were at Disneyland. We had rented a car the first leg of our trip and rented a car seat (and stroller) from City Stroller Rentals. We flew into SNA and headed down to San Diego for the first part of our trip. We turned in the car and car seat when we got back to Anaheim because it was cheaper than keeping them for 4 more days and not using it. Left the stroller at the front desk the day we checked out and hopped on Disney transportation. It was the easiest for our situation, but not necessarily the cheapest. But we didn't have a car seat anymore, so some sort of bus or shuttle were our only options. We figured since we were sad to leave, we may as well have one more Disney experience.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/guest-services/transportation/

 

[maltdizzy]

We turned in the car and car seat when we got back to Anaheim because it was cheaper than keeping them for 4 more days and not using it. Left the stroller at the front desk the day we checked out and hopped on Disney transportation.

Especially since Disneyland hotels charge for parking.

I have nothing to add to the conversation, I lived right next to LAX for years (you can often see our condo taking off), and drove to DL all the time with no issues, and I still fly in and out of it a few times a year (I miss living in L.A. sooooo bad, such an incredibly exciting city).

But the SNA is closer, smaller, and doesn't have all of LA country inbetween. LGB is great and smaller and really easy to navigate (plus they have a very old school airport bar). Even Bob Hope and Ontario have there perks (but not for Disneyland access).

 

[Aimee_Jane83]

We always fly into John Wayne. The taxis are right outside the terminal doors and cost a flat rate of $40 with tip for a trip to a local Disneyland area hotel.