Arriving late into LAX

[vcasey]

Hi there! Perhaps this is the wrong place to post this but since it is regards to my Disneyland trip I figured I'd start here.

We're flying in from NJ to LAX and don't land until 11:38 PM (which will be 2:38 am my 'body' time) plus then we'll have luggage and I am getting a rental. I've heard all these nightmare traffic stories so before I did the math on the time difference I figured "Great I'll miss the traffic" but now I'm re-thinking things. Its just myself and my young daughter who will surely fall right back to sleep as soon as we're in the car. So I'm trying to evaluate if I really should attempt to drive to Anaheim that night or get a hotel at the airport and leave in the morning.
I've never been to CA before so it would be dark, I'll be tired and I'll be in COMPLETELY unfamiliar territory.

So here are my questions:
Realistically, how long a drive is it to Anaheim? I guess both at night vs. weekday morning.

If I do stay at the airport can anyone recommend a hotel?
For as short a time as we'll be there I'm just looking for a cheap but decent and safe place EASILY accesible from the airport, trust me I won't need fancy but I do want to be smart. I don't want to get lost trying to find the place in the middle of the night and if LAX is situated anywhere like Newark airport, you don't want to get lost!

I appreciate any help/comments people have.

 

[JenniferWooster]

What day of the week are you flying in? I think it would be wise to get a hotel room just in case the flight is late, etc. I have never stayed close to the airport, but I know there are quite a few hotels in the area.

Be forewarned that the drive is about 1-1.25 hours at best, but if there is traffic, you might take a while. If you follow the signs it is an easy drive if you don't get off the freeway. Are you planning to go to the parks the next day?

Jenn

 

[dletz]

with no traffic it takes a little less than an hour. Weekday mornings you will hit traffic. If you plan to get to Disney by nine it will probably take at least an 1 1/2 hours, if you don't hit the road till have 8 it won't take as long, but still longer than an hour.

It's not hard to get to Disneyland from LAX. You take 4 freeways (which actually isn't as bad as it sounds, considering I drive at least 3 freeways a day and that's to get home from work which is 15 minutes away), and exit right into the heart of the disney area. What hotel are you staying at.

I guess it mostly depends on do you want to wake up and start your day at Disney, or drive to get there.

 

[vcasey]

I'm flying in on a Wednesday night and like I said, my original thought was I'd go ahead and drive down to Anaheim and wake up nice and early (we'll still by on East Coast time so it shouldn't be too big a deal waking up) and go straight to the parks.

We're staying at DHL but I wasn't checking in there until Thurs anyway (I couldn't bear to pay that price for room for 6 hours sleep). So when I started pondering where to stay on the Wednesday night, the idea of driving late at night started to make me re-think. An hour to hour and half is long especially if we do have flight delays so I'm glad I asked. It kind of delays the 'magic' but I bet we'd be up by 7am and if we hit the road and just grab a quick breakfast, do you think we could still be at the parks for 9ish???

And I guess I still need ideas for airport hotels if anyone has any! Thanks again for your input.

 

[Disney-Kim]

If you come in after rush hour it should be about 40 mins.Take the
405 to the 22 (Garden Grove fwy) . Get off when you see the Anaheim exits and take a left on Harbor.
then on to Disneyland......we have never had longer than a 40 min drive. (but we have
never his traffic M-F between 3-7pm.)

 

[Disney-Kim]

for those living in Anaheim........I hope my directions are close...
I know the way but its hard to explain it when you don't know all the fwy names, ect.

thanks

 

[Michelle]

Hi vcasey! You can make it to the Disney area hotels in about 35-40 minutes that time of night, no problem. However, if you're getting in that late and tired it may be better just to stay at one of the many nearby airport hotels. You can choose from Radisson, Sheraton, Marriott, Hilton, Westin and Crowne Plaza Hotels, just to name a few, all just outside of LAX. Just check the individual hotel websites for rates. They all also have shuttles to and from the hotel and the airport.

Since you'll be on East Coast time I'd suggest sleeping in a little and leaving for Disney no earlier than about 9:00 am. You'll miss the bulk of the morning rush that way. With two of you in the car you can use the CARPOOL lanes and easily make it to Disney in about an hour.

For the best directions to Disneyland from the airport:

From the airport, take the 105 EAST all the way to the end of the freeway. This will take you to the 605 freeway, go SOUTH to the 91 freeway EAST. Take that to the 5 freeway SOUTH. Stay in the carpool lane and get off on Disneyland Drive.

Hope that helps!

 

[dletz]

to get to disney area. exit LAX and follow the signs to the 105. Take 105 east to 605 take 605 south about three exits to the 91 east. Take 91 east to 5 south. Exit Disney way, and it drops you off at Disneyland. That's where most of the area hotels are.

Taking 405 to 22 is longer, and also you have to drive all the way up harbor. That's not the greatest area to drive through either.

 

[Uncle Buck]

We left LAX at 11:00 AM and arrived at DLR area in about 45 minutes using 105-605-91-5. This route is much easier to get into and around the resort area. If you are staying onsite or near one of the onsite hotels, get off at Disneyland Dr. If your are staying at a Harbor Blvd or other hotel, continue on to the Harbor Blvd. exit.

Note that you'll need to use Sepulveda to get to the 105. Sepulveda runs north-south (purpendicular to Centry Blvd.). Most rental car places are located along Airport Blvd., north of Century. So exit the rental lot and head south. Turn right on to Centry, then left on to Sepulveda. The entrance to the 105 is located just past the tunnel under the runway.