Arriving through LA or Anaheim?

[Varty Yo]

Happy New Years!

We are booking a trip to DL/CA in sept.

We arent sure if its better to fly into Anaheim or LA? LA would mean a car service to hotel a block away from DL or a 15min or so cab ride from AN airport. Thoughts? Experience's?

We have been to DL several time in the last 8 years but typically always fly to PS as that's usually home base staying at families before and after. This time just direct no PS this time.

 

[DizMe]

It might make a difference to know where you're flying from. LAX is obviously a major airport with lots of flights, and I do prefer direct flights. But getting in and out of it, I've heard, can be a hassle, though I've not done it myself in many years.

LGB (Long Beach), SNA (Orange County), and a couple of other less convenient but doable options like BUR or ONT (Burbank and Ontario) are your other choices. Of those, I prefer LGB and SNA but I've used all of them. Both are easy to navigate and get to/from DLR for a reasonable cost.

Best thing to do is price out the options including transportation to/from DLR and flight costs. If it requires a change of planes, you have to decide if that's worth it. Traffic might be another consideration but I'm not a local so I don't know how to advise on that.

I'm sure you'll get plenty of advice from others who are more familiar with the situation! I just fly down from Sacramento so all of those options are open to me but I generally just go with whatever is easiest/cheapest/free for me on SW, which lately has been LGB. I don't go into BUR or ONT unless my trip includes something near those airports.

Also, I don't know what PS is

 

[Pluto468]

I always fly through SNA unless it's unavailable, in which case I got through Ontario or Burbank. I avoid LAX.

 

[LKing]

You might find this thread helpful. https://www.disboards.com/threads/airport-experiences-in-socal.3934684/

 

[Varty Yo]

It might make a difference to know where you're flying from. LAX is obviously a major airport with lots of flights, and I do prefer direct flights. But getting in and out of it, I've heard, can be a hassle, though I've not done it myself in many years.

LGB (Long Beach), SNA (Orange County), and a couple of other less convenient but doable options like BUR or ONT (Burbank and Ontario) are your other choices. Of those, I prefer LGB and SNA but I've used all of them. Both are easy to navigate and get to/from DLR for a reasonable cost.

Best thing to do is price out the options including transportation to/from DLR and flight costs. If it requires a change of planes, you have to decide if that's worth it. Traffic might be another consideration but I'm not a local so I don't know how to advise on that.

I'm sure you'll get plenty of advice from others who are more familiar with the situation! I just fly down from Sacramento so all of those options are open to me but I generally just go with whatever is easiest/cheapest/free for me on SW, which lately has been LGB. I don't go into BUR or ONT unless my trip includes something near those airports.

Also, I don't know what PS is

We are coming in from Canada. Price diff is $100 in flights and really adds no extra time to flight times. Just leave 30 mins ltr from connecting airport. We will have a connection either way.

Just wondering more on taxi situation from SNA

 

[irlandaise]

We are coming in from Canada. Price diff is $100 in flights and really adds no extra time to flight times. Just leave 30 mins ltr from connecting airport. We will have a connection either way.

Just wondering more on taxi situation from SNA

Taxi, rideshare, or other paid transportation will be less expensive from SNA because it's much closer to Disneyland (about 15-20 mins. vs. close to an hour from LAX).

 

[goooof1]

Taxi situation from SNA is a breeze ! They are right outside the doors of the terminal. LGB is also quite easy. Taxis are outside and just across the street. There are flat rates to the DLR area.

 

[DizMe]

Oh, you're good, then! I would avoid LAX and choose SNA or LGB. The ride share price between the two is very similar if you're planning on a taxi, Uber, etc. LGB is a small, regional airport that has some nice history and old architecture. But they don't have flight ramps--you have to walk a tiered ramp or climb stairs to get in and out of the plane. That's very hard for my sister to do these days. SNA isn't huge but it's more modernized than LGB and has more flight and food options.

 

[LAS2AMS]

I live near SNA and regularly choose LAX for better amenities (lounges, etc.), better flight options, better flights (widebodies with a better premium cabin) and better pricing. I have to drive past SNA and LGB to get to LAX. There is absolutely no reason to avoid LAX, the idea is heavily exaggerated here.

Another thing to consider - SNA and especially LGB have very limited flight options. Twice now in the past two years I’ve dropped family off at LGB and SNA, then had to pick them up and take them to LAX after their flight was cancelled (and rebooked at LAX).

We really need to turn this topic into a sticky!

 

[LAS2AMS]

Taxi, rideshare, or other paid transportation will be less expensive from SNA because it's much closer to Disneyland (about 15-20 mins. vs. close to an hour from LAX).

The savings isn’t as large as you’d think. Looking at Uber rates at this moment, the cost to go from
DLR to LAX is leas than $20 more vs. SNA.

SNA is consistently mentioned as having the highest premium on ride share apps. Uber/ Lyft consistently charge about $30-$40 to make the 10-minute drive from my home to SNA. If I change the destination to something nearby SNA, it drops to $15.

 

[LKing]

We really need to turn this topic into a sticky!

Moderators have been moving things around this past week. I'm sure if you started an airport/transportation info thread, they would pin it at the top. My problem with pinned threads is that they either become way too long for new people to read, or the original poster doesn't keep the first post updated with current information.

 

[joseph821]

Moderators have been moving things around this past week. I'm sure if you started an airport/transportation info thread, they would pin it at the top. My problem with pinned threads is that they either become way too long for new people to read, or the original poster doesn't keep the first post updated with current information.

I agree I wish we would havea sticky or sub heading area for Airlines and Transportation to Disneyland Resort.

 

[maleficent55]

SNA is great if the flight times work for you and the price is right, it’s nice and close, about 14 miles from DL

LAX is so easy though! Way more flights and flight times and airlines and definitely less expensive.
For me it’s a breeze there. Off the plane, down once escalator and the pick up is right there!

 

[ClaraOswald]

SNA is better than LAX, in my opinion.

 

[Aspencreek]

We always choose SNA if at all possible. Never had it take more than 20 minutes to get to park area. LAX on the other hand, if timed poorly, you can be in traffic for a couple of hours.

 

[LAS2AMS]

We always choose SNA if at all possible. Never had it take more than 20 minutes to get to park area. LAX on the other hand, if timed poorly, you can be in traffic for a couple of hours.

The comparison times being tossed around within this thread are conjunctive and deceptive.

Per Google Maps, if you left LAX right now, it would take 53 minutes to get to the Disneyland Hotel. If you left from SNA, it’s 28 minutes. So, a difference of 25 minutes. Note that the route from LAX has easy access to an HOV lane, so the difference is closer to 20 (if you’re not traveling alone of course).

Point is, if it’s taking you 14-20 minutes to get from SNA to Disneyland, it’ll take you 45 minutes from LAX. Of course, that’s assuming “everyday” traffic flows.

 

[xipotec]

Personally not a fan if LAX , and it is further and much higher chance of massive traffic issues.

SNA all the way, usually limited inventory and more expensive.

 

[Aspencreek]

The comparison times being tossed around within this thread are conjunctive and deceptive.

Per Google Maps, if you left LAX right now, it would take 53 minutes to get to the Disneyland Hotel. If you left from SNA, it’s 28 minutes. So, a difference of 25 minutes. Note that the route from LAX has easy access to an HOV lane, so the difference is closer to 20 (if you’re not traveling alone of course).

Point is, if it’s taking you 14-20 minutes to get from SNA to Disneyland, it’ll take you 45 minutes from LAX. Of course, that’s assuming “everyday” traffic flows.

Deceptive? What reason could I possibly have for lying? Kickbacks from SNA airport?

Been down there for multiple visits annually and never had an issue getting to or from SNA. Literally the last time we flew into LAX it was a 9pm arrival and we had a Towncar service that drove us to DL hotel. Driver was telling us how lucky we were to have arrived when we did because the runs earlier that evening were taking 2.5+ hours. Or maybe I'm just being deceptive so do what you like.

 

[LAS2AMS]

Deceptive? What reason could I possibly have for lying? Kickbacks from SNA airport?

Been down there for multiple visits annually and never had an issue getting to or from SNA. Literally the last time we flew into LAX it was a 9pm arrival and we had a Towncar service that drove us to DL hotel. Driver was telling us how lucky we were to have arrived when we did because the runs earlier that evening were taking 2.5+ hours. Or maybe I'm just being deceptive so do what you like.

I regularly read on this fourm ‘it takes 15 minutes to get from SNA to DLR but can take two hours from LAX.’ If it’s rush hour by LAX, it’s rush hour by SNA. Which means that if it takes you two hours from LAX, it’ll take you about an hour from SNA. Hence my point it’s conjunctive and deceptive.

I traveled every business day between South Orange County and West LA for many years. That’s over 120 miles a day, taking me past SNA, LGB, LAX and Disneyland (depending on the routing). I’m very familiar with traffic patterns in the area .

At its low point, SNA is 15-20 minutes from DLR. LAX is 40-45. In peak traffic, SNA is 45-55 minutes (you can often save time by taking back roads but most tourists aren’t going to do that) while LAX is about 90. It’s rare and out-of-the ordinary that it will take longer than that.

Accidents can happy anywhere, and the longer distance to LAX increases the likelihood… but I made the drive 240-260 days per year, and the number of times I ran into a crippling accident annually could be counted on one hand.

 

[LKing]

It is very dependent on what time of day you are traveling. On Google Maps, you can set the time that you are going to depart.

If I set my departing time at 6 pm tonight (Thursday)

• LAX to Disneyland leaving at 6 pm, Google Maps estimates 1 hour - 1 hour 40 minutes.
• SNA to Disneyland leaving at 6 pm, Google Maps estimates 30 minutes to 1 hour, five minutes (25-30 min less than LAX)
• LGB to Disneyland leaving at 6 pm, Google Maps estimates 26 - 45 min (4-15 less than SNA)

Edit to add the Google Maps time when I checked at 6 pm instead of using the predicted time

• LAX to Disneyland Google Maps when I checked at 6 pm: 52 min
• SNA to Disneyland Google Maps when I checked at 6 pm: 25 min
• LGB to Disneyland Google Maps when I checked at 6 pm: 29 min

If I set my departing time at 8 am in the morning (on a Friday).

• LAX to Disneyland leaving at 8 am, Google Maps estimates 40 min - 1 hour.
• SNA to Disneyland leaving at 8 am, Google Maps estimates 16 - 26 min (24-34 min less than LAX)
• LGB to Disneyland leaving at 8 am, Google Maps estimates 22 - 40 min (5-15 more than SNA)