Best way to fly to Disneyland from NYC Metro area

[iloveeeyore]

We are in the early planning stages of a DL trip, and wondering what are the best airports/airlines serving DL? Which has the most conventient/economical ground transport and transfter time to DL?

We are coming from the NYC Metro area. Our first choice is HPN, but we can easily use LGA, JFK, EWR. Please share your experiences. It's been a long, long time since we have flown cross country, so any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Eeyore

 

[Matrixleos]

Flown many times from NYC metro area to Los Angeles metro area. I've flown to almost all the airports in both locations but my favorite is EWR to LAX. You'll have a lot of options on airlines but my favorite is the nonstop from JetBlue.

As for transportation from LAX to Disneyland, there is a great thread on this topic below....

https://www.disboards.com/threads/car-service-from-lax-to-disneyland.3835774/

Personally, I like to drive, so I'm going with a one way car rental from LAX to Anaheim. (several car return locations near the Harbor side hotels) This also gives my family the time flexibility to take our time with the drive and make multiple stop on our drive down, which is a must for us.

As we're grabbing lunch at Raffi's Place in Glendale (our favorite restaurant in LA), need to grab snacks from Porto's Bakery (several locations in SoCa and one just 10 minutes from Disneyland near Knott's) and make a stop at a local grocery store.

Plus, one way Enterprise rental on a mini-van (family of 5 on this trip) was just $92.75. (4 door sedan would have been $75)

 

[iloveeeyore]

Flown many times from NYC metro area to Los Angeles metro area. I've flown to almost all the airports in both locations but my favorite is EWR to LAX. You'll have a lot of options on airlines but my favorite is the nonstop from JetBlue.

As for transportation from LAX to Disneyland, there is a great thread on this topic below....

https://www.disboards.com/threads/car-service-from-lax-to-disneyland.3835774/

Personally, I like to drive, so I'm going with a one way car rental from LAX to Anaheim. (several car return locations near the Harbor side hotels) This also gives my family the time flexibility to take our time with the drive and make multiple stop on our drive down, which is a must for us.

As we're grabbing lunch at Raffi's Place in Glendale (our favorite restaurant in LA), need to grab snacks from Porto's Bakery (several locations in SoCa and one just 10 minutes from Disneyland near Knott's) and make a stop at a local grocery store.

Plus, one way Enterprise rental on a mini-van (family of 5 on this trip) was just $92.75. (4 door sedan would have been $75)

Thank you so much! This is exactly the type of info that I'm looking for. The choices are overwhelming, so it's great to get some expert advice.

I normally love JetBlue out of Newark, but had recent terrible experiences on both sides of a roundtrip journey to Raleigh! Crew shortages, lengthy delays and cancellations...but maybe they'd be better on the longer haul routes.

Debating if we should try one-stop trip out of HPN on United or Delta, since that airport is soooo convenient for us.

Eeyore

 

[Matrixleos]

Debating if we should try one-stop trip out of HPN on United or Delta, since that airport is soooo convenient for us.

Personally, if it was a business trip, I wouldn't mind any layovers with multiple stops. As I'm on the company dime at that time.

Although when I'm on vacation with my family, I prioritize direct flights more. Don't want to waste ANY vacation time during layovers or waiting extra time for my luggage's. As most airlines transfer luggage's from layover stops first, which then come out last at Baggage Claim.

Plus if I had a choice of JetBlue, United or Delta, I'd 100% select JetBlue every single time and twice on Sunday!

 

[GenGen22]

I took a look at Jetblue and they fly non stop to SNA (orange county) from NYC which is much closer to DL resort than LAX and you wouldn't have to deal with the traffic from LAX to DL resort. It's definitely something to look into. Also there is another airport where Jetblue flies into which is a little farther than SNA but much closer than LAX which is called LGB (Long Beach). LAX is 45 minutes away from DL resort without traffic so, you can end up an hour and a half or 2-3 hours in traffic for example. I always avoid LAX. I did it one time and it was one and done for me. Of course I am not flying from the east coast but after bring on the plane for several hours I doubt you want to spend a few more hours in traffic. Just my 2 cents.

 

[PirateBrigade]

Also there is another airport where Jetblue flies into which is a little farther than SNA but much closer than LAX which is called LGB (Long Beach). L

JetBlue pulled out of LGB October 2020.
https://lbpost.com/news/breaking-jetblue-to-pull-out-of-long-beach-airport-starting-in-october

 

[GenGen22]

JetBlue pulled out of LGB October 2020.
https://lbpost.com/news/breaking-jetblue-to-pull-out-of-long-beach-airport-starting-in-october

Good to know. Thanks for this info!

 

[MillauFr]

I would look at Jetblue. Their Mint product is one the best domestic first class seats

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Big fan of United EWR to LAX.

 

[DisSurfer878]

Delta is our go to for cross country travel as LA Natives. SNA is "closer", but most of the time the price is much higher to fly into SNA than LAX. We also prioritize direct flights on vacations when possible, though I will admit it is because we have burned many times with layovers and we now try to avoid them significantly.

 

[hlrubin507]

Fly into SNA or LGB if at all possible to save yourself the hassle of LAX and LA traffic -- it's a long journey as it is without having that little escapade at the end. True, LAX is usually cheaper. Or, if go with LAX, you could tack on a stop to enjoy a day at Universal Studios before you head down to DL

That said, United flies nonstop from EWR to SNA twice a day and American has one nonstop from JFK to SNA. For ultimate convenience, I would go with one of them, even though JetBlue or Delta are better airlines IMO. Having better snacks does not warrant an unneeded trip through LAX when your true destination is in Anaheim.

From SNA, a Lyft or Uber to the DL area is about 20 minutes and $25 or so, although lately the surge pricing has been nutty (pricing at $200+ for the same ride when I was there last month, so I grabbed an off-meter cab for $40). You can also book a nice SUV with meet and greet for the $100 range, if you really want to be worry-free and cosseted in comfort

 

[PirateBrigade]

My threshold for flying into LAX with kids is pretty high -- like, for four tickets cross-country I would be willing to pay $250 more per ticket to avoid that airport if a similar non-stop is available at SNA or LGB.

I'll pay +$100/ticket when flying from Nor-Cal to avoid LAX. It's just a time sink, and it's not even the traffic for me, it's the rental car counter situation. Strikes against LAX:

1. Rental car counters are not walkable, you need to take a shuttle.
2. It's not a unified shuttle system like at SAN or LAS, so you have to cross the busy street, stand on a tiny little island, and wait for your company shuttle.
3. If you are landing at T1 (Southwest), shuttle still needs to loop around all 8 terminals (or until full)

I end up wasting about +30-40 minutes on the rental car shuffle after landing, plus the extra 20-30 minutes to DLR vs. LGB or SNA. I value my time a lot a lot, I know that may not be feasible if there are budget concerns for folks.

I *will* fly out of LAX if a) it's an international flight, the volume of flights = cheap tickets and plentiful scheduling opportunities or b) if it's just me and my wife and we are starting our trip in LA (meeting friends, etc...) + aren't picking up a rental car.

 

[Proud Cheapskate]

Traffic from LAX to DL is absolutely horrible. I remember flying into LAX at like 11pm and it still took 90 minutes to get to DL. I have frequently made the drive from SAN (San Diego) airport which is 95 miles, in much less time than LAX which is only 35 miles. Plus LAX is a huge airport, it takes a long time to get through there. I try to avoid LAX whenever I can. SNA and LGB are both small and really convenient, bigger than Westchester but tiny compared to LAX.

 

[Matrixleos]

LAX has a ton more options on flights than all those other airports. Plus I'm not scared of traffic, growing up in the New York metro area, I know about traffic. I factor in traffic when I'm driving in Los Angeles and it's never bothered me.

To the OP, if you've driven on the Long Island Expressway in rush hour, then LA traffic is not much different. Newark Airport to LAX will give you the best options of different carriers, flight times and prices.

 

[WonkaKid]

Best way to fly to Disneyland from NYC Metro area? I suggest by plane but if you can find a Peter Pan galleon, by all means take it ;-).

All kidding aside - and why not, for a change? - if you can fly into SNA (John Wayne Airport), try that. It’s much closer to DL/local hotels than LAX and since it’s considerably smaller, it’s easier to get in and out of.

 

[Mappyland]

Alaska Airlines from Newark

 

[PatMcDuck]

I would first see what I could get on Southwest. Then I would look at JetBlue from JFK and EWR. And Alaska (although I have booked them 3X and had to cancel when their flight times changed drastically). Jet Blue is not just for the snacks. It is for the extra leg room, free wifi, TVs and free movies. I have a JB CC that gives me and my party free checked bags. And JB has become more flexible with flight changes and credits (bonus that the credits go to a Travel bank and are not tied to one particular name). For all that, especially the legroom, that I am putting up with LAX in December. (Last trip used LGB and loved it, too bad no longer a JB option). I have used SNA too, and that is preferred, but hasn't worked out lately.

I have been using Uber/Lyft for about $50 from LAX but hoping I don't arrive during a surge in December. I never thought of a one way rental ! I will look into that, good tip.

I avoid the legacy carriers like Delta, United and American because their seats are so uncomfortable. (I expect that from Spirit and Frontier). Good luck.

 

[PirateBrigade]

I love SNA because of the modified take-off roll…in case you didn’t get to ride Incredicoaster on your trip, this is a nice second chance option

 

[mcrowder1978]

A couple of years ago my daughter and I flew into Orange County and then out of LAX. We got lucky both times with Lyft pickups and traffic not being that back. This time for in November we are doing LAX both ways for a couple of reasons. The biggest was the availability of flights on the return trip. We live in NY also but upstate so we take a short hop out of Syracuse. I found a deal where we can fly to Dulles (Washington DC) on United the evening of 11/8 and then have a nonstop from Dulles to LAX. Coming back we are going the Newark. Main reason I did this is it's her boyfriends first time on a plane and he doesn't know where we are going. Between that and the fact my back can't handle 5+ hours in coach anymore I upgraded us to lay flats both ways. I'd rather fork over more on the flights than have trouble walking the first couple of days we are there.

 

[joseph821]

A couple of years ago my daughter and I flew into Orange County and then out of LAX. We got lucky both times with Lyft pickups and traffic not being that back. This time for in November we are doing LAX both ways for a couple of reasons. The biggest was the availability of flights on the return trip. We live in NY also but upstate so we take a short hop out of Syracuse. I found a deal where we can fly to Dulles (Washington DC) on United the evening of 11/8 and then have a nonstop from Dulles to LAX. Coming back we are going the Newark. Main reason I did this is it's her boyfriends first time on a plane and he doesn't know where we are going. Between that and the fact my back can't handle 5+ hours in coach anymore I upgraded us to lay flats both ways. I'd rather fork over more on the flights than have trouble walking the first couple of days we are there.

This sounds great! Almost 6 hours in coach is hell but the lay flats will help. I always fly out of Jfk on jet blue or American very early a 6am or 7am flight that gets into lax by 9 or 10am then off to the hotel via car service and then the parks!