Comments on LAX and other SoCal airports

[HydroGuy]

LAX - Los Angeles Interational - is fresh in my mind right now as I just flew there on Saturday and back home from there this morning. I wanted to add some perspective and personal opinion to the SoCal airport information around here on DIS.

Stephanie wrote a great informational thread on SoCal transportation here - "Airport Proximity to DLR and Ground Transportation Information" by 3TinksAndAnEeyore www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2318297.

However, what she did not do is discuss what it is like at the airports. I have flown into all of the airports she discussed except Long Beach and Palm Springs.

I can see how WDW vets accustomed to flying into Orlando airport (a nice airport IMO) may be in for a non-magical shock at some of the SoCal airports.


SNA (John Wayne)

By far, SNA (John Wayne) is the nicest and most comfortable airport to fly into to visit DLR. Yes, it is the closest. It is a smaller airport. When you drive out or take a shuttle or taxi, the surrounding area and drive to DLR is the most pleasant. By a lot.

SNA is a nice airport and IMO will contribute most to a magical vacation. Fly there if you can. It will have the most magical feel.


LAX

LAX is not a comfortable airport. I do not like LAX. It is old and rundown in many ways. I do not like the area around LAX. We stayed at a hotel about a mile away last night because we had an early morning flight. After checking into the hotel at 9:30PM I returned my rental car to LAX and took a hotel shuttle back.

The area around LAX is not magical. It does not feel outright dangerous, but it does feel all that safe either. It is not a very nice area. Getting on or off freeways there to DLR does not contribute to a magical feeling. I would say LAX will detract from your Disney vacation and has the worst feel about it of all the SoCal airports.


Ontario

Ontario is a smaller airport like SNA. It has a more neutral feel to it. It feels much better than LAX. I would say Ontario is magic neutral.


Burbank

Burbank is a smaller airport and feels fairly neutral like Ontario.


San Diego

San Diego is a larger airport but still has a nicer feel to it. I would rate it #2 after SNA regarding how comfortable it feels. If San Diego itself is part of your DLR and SoCal trip then this airport will help you feel good about being there.

 

[Golfing Goofy]

Here is an additional perspective, if I may...

One of the major reasons that we prefer SNA is the car rental situation... We fly into SoCal a bunch and almost always we rent a car. At Ontario, LAX and San Diego, we have to haul our stuff and catch a shuttle...ickkk...especially since we usually have kids, suitcases and golf clubs, lol...we are quite the traveling circus....


I love SNA, because we just shlep across the street from the baggage claim area, take the elevator down one level and there we are... It is much easier for me.


Also, the times that I do not need a car, grabbing a taxi from SNA is so much easier (and much, much cheaper).

Hope that helps

 

[briggscreek]

I wanted to fly into SNA but it would have involved a connecting flight. Unfortunately, we could only fly nonstop to LAX. We'll be taking the Disneyland Express to the DLH, so hopefully it won't be too bad!

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

My 2 cents...

LAX--felt very dirty to me (I even took handi-wipes to the seats)... and once you are in your terminal you are compartmentalized... not much space to "walk around and look at stuff" with your kiddo while waiting for your flight. In fact, our terminal had a horrible sports bar, a Burger King, and a magazine stand, that's it. Coming from PDX which is practically a mall inside with a plethora of shops and dining choices, this really left a bad taste in our mouths.

SNA--cute and comfortable, easy to get in and out, felt clean and relaxed.

LGB--loved this teeny tiny airport. The one little restaraunt served decent food to allow us to waste some time before our flight... reminded me a lot of Hawaii in that we walked out to the tarmac and went up the stairs to our Jet Blue plane.

We had private car (shuttle) service at each airport. SNA was the most difficult for whatever reason to find the driver (or for him to find us), the others were easy enough...

 

[bumbershoot]

Although I actually like LAX as an airport, I agree that the area is uncomfortable. But I did feel a bit in danger while filling up the car after dark. So if you're renting a car I really can't recommend LAX (though the close-by Burger King has a deeeelish VEGGIE burger, which was a good find).

But I actually like the airport. Not sure why!

 

[NewbieMouse]

We'll be taking the Disneyland Express to the DLH, so hopefully it won't be too bad!

We'll be taking it too. Just in case you haven't found it, there's a $5 off each rider coupon on the Anaheim OC website when you scroll down under "Transportation":

http://www.anaheimoc.org/Articles/Archive/Webpage10153.asp

 

[brenda1966]

I don't mind LAX either. I think people have to keep in mind LA is a HUGE densely populated, major city. So some parts do feel run down, but a 1/2 mile over you'll find million dollar homes. I have not stayed at a hotel in LA and would do a lot of research before selecting one. I often fly into LAX (because I head north to Santa Barbara first) and fly home from Disneyland out of SNA.

If the airfare is the same price, I'd pick SNA just because of it's proximity to DL.

 

[limace]

Man, I'm depressed. Flying into LAX on Thursday-three kids, getting there at almost 11 pm. I knew it wasn't our first choice-we've done SNA previously-but we would have had to use almost 20K more frequent flier miles to change airports.

We'll have grumpy kids, just have to accept it.

 

[bumbershoot]

limace it will be fine. I assume you're being picked up? All you will see are the lights of LA, and I believe songs have been written about that...it's when it's daytime or dusk that it is a bit weird. And even if you're picking up a car, you won't be getting gas on the way TO Anaheim!

Best part, for a gossip person like me, about LAX is the possibility of a celebrity sighting. Never had one at LAX (saw K Fed in New Orleans Square once, though), but hope springs eternal!

 

[Disney Dreams]

Man, I'm depressed. Flying into LAX on Thursday-three kids, getting there at almost 11 pm. I knew it wasn't our first choice-we've done SNA previously-but we would have had to use almost 20K more frequent flier miles to change airports.

We'll have grumpy kids, just have to accept it.

Limace, I have lived in So Cal most of my life. I have traveled extensively and been through many airports. Please do not be depressed over this, of all things. It's a large airport in the middle of a huge metropolitan city.

You aren't spending your vacation at LAX. You are flying in and out of it. It is further from DLR, but other than that, it's a fine choice. We fly in and out of LGB, SNA, and LAX depending upon our plans and pricing. LAX is fine. Really.

I would not go for a joy-ride in the surrounding area at 11pm, but why would you? If you are renting a car, get your car, drive to your m/hotel, and be excited about getting to DLR. If you are taking a shuttle, ask where it picks up, hop in, and enjoy the ride.

Seriously, I can't say HydroGuy is "wrong" in his assessment because he is talking "feeling" and that's his opinion, but I can tell you I have flown in and out of LAX with family, with friends, and alone many, MANY times in my life (and I am female). I'm not sure what you want from an airport exactly, but don't be depressed over this. You're going to Disneyland!

- Dreams

 

[Lavender_and_Roses]

I've used all of them except Burbank plus I've used Long Beach (which was left off) and I think all of them are fine. SNA is def the closest though. I really like Long Beach, but I usually fly through Ontario to avoid traffic issues. If I were flying to Disneyland I would try to go SNA, however.

I don't know about the feeling, they all just feel like airports to me.

 

[brenda1966]

They all feel like airports to me too. Nothing special about any one in particular, and nothing dreadful about them either.

I keep waiting for my Celebrity sighting to happen at LAX! Waiting and waiting....

 

[HydroGuy]

Seriously, I can't say HydroGuy is "wrong" in his assessment because he is talking "feeling" and that's his opinion, but I can tell you I have flown in and out of LAX with family, with friends, and alone many, MANY times in my life (and I am female). I'm not sure what you want from an airport exactly, but don't be depressed over this. You're going to Disneyland!

I did not write this to make anyone feel depressed! But like I said I flew into SNA (just last May) and then most recently this weekend and the contrast was just very stark for me. Contributing to that was that we stayed at a hotel nearby LAX Sunday night.

For those who compared LAX to other big city airports, I agree. Sort of. As we drove around and flew thru LAX this weekend DW and I compared it to some of the airports we have been in recently like La Guardia (LAX has a roughly comparable big city feel), Dallas (Dallas is nicer), Denver (Denver is much nicer - and newer), Miami (Miami is nicer), Atlanta (nicer too), Chicago O'Hare (comparable).

But I was not comparing these to LAX. I was comparing LAX to SNA and Ontario mostly - both of which I have been in a few times over the last couple years.

My point was not that LAX is terrible. What I did this weekend was tried to put myself in the shoes of a first time visitor to DLR who maybe has been to WDW (and flew through Orlando) - and how, IMO, LAX would be a negative first impression of SoCal - and DLR by extension. I think anyone flying into SNA or even Ontario or SD, would be more likely to have a positive first impression of SoCal.

People who are accustomed to big city international airports would more quickly shrug off LAX and not let it bother them. People who do not fly so much but do fly to MCO in Orlando may be bothered more.

Hope that explains my thought process a little better.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

In May, we are flying into LAX and flying out of Long Beach. The deciding factor for us was money. Flying into SNA versus LAX would have cost us approximately $200 per person (one-way) more on this trip as well as for the one we took this past January.

Since my son, who is new to living in the OC area, is not totally comfortable with driving into LAX to pick us up, we plan to catch the shuttle from LAX to the DL hotel, and he will pick us up there.

I have heard that SNA is far easier to negotiate, but I can do a lot of things with the diffference in airfare prices. If money were no object, I would probably go for SNA and not think twice about it.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Another vote for LAX! We live about 4 hours from LAX, so we drive to DL but we regularly fly out of LAX to get a nonstop flight to WDW, which we value a great deal. We always stay overnight at least one night, if not 2, at the airport and find the htoels to be a good value. We actually find LAX to be easy to navigate, though it can be complicated if you need to connect to a diffrent airline.

We don't walk much around LAX because there is no atmosphere and lots of car fumes. There is a Trader Joes and Panera Bread just a half mile or so north, so we always stop there, but some like to visit the nearby In N Out Burger instead! -- Suzanne

 

[blackjackdelta]

Just to be different, I like Van Nuys airport. Love SNA, small, clean, not very frenzied, with LAX you can get direct flights to just about anywhere.

Jack

 

[brenda1966]

All of your Disneyland information is much appreciated Hydroguy! And I think you're right that people should be aware that LAX is a huge, high volume, old airport so they are prepared for that. It's not Disney and it's not shiney and new. But I don't want people to fear flying into there, or think they shouldn't go to Disney if LAX is their only airport option. LAX is like a well oiled machine, churning out thousands of travelers efficiently.

 

[magicalfoursome]

Flying to SoCa for the 1st time-- choose LAX because of lower prices and direct flights-- coming from the east coast. I really do not care about the airport itself but now I am concerned about the car rental return. We have a 10:30 pm flight and we will have to gas up the car and return it. Any advice on staying safe??

 

[Disney Dreams]

Man, I'm depressed. Flying into LAX on Thursday-three kids, getting there at almost 11 pm. I knew it wasn't our first choice-we've done SNA previously-but we would have had to use almost 20K more frequent flier miles to change airports....

...Seriously, I can't say HydroGuy is "wrong" in his assessment because he is talking "feeling" and that's his opinion, but I can tell you I have flown in and out of LAX with family, with friends, and alone many, MANY times in my life (and I am female). I'm not sure what you want from an airport exactly, but don't be depressed over this. You're going to Disneyland!

I did not write this to make anyone feel depressed!

Of course you didn't. However, your perspective (which of course you are entitled to) had that result for limace. I was simply trying to provide comfort and another view, as I don't think there is anything depressing about flying in to LAX and didn't want Limace to be depressed about their vacation now simply because of the airport. There's no reason to be. It's just an airport.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Flying to SoCa for the 1st time-- choose LAX because of lower prices and direct flights-- coming from the east coast. I really do not care about the airport itself but now I am concerned about the car rental return. We have a 10:30 pm flight and we will have to gas up the car and return it. Any advice on staying safe??

If your flight is at 10:30pm, you will probably arrive at the rental car return around 8:00/8:30? Fill up near the airport and return your car. You'll be just fine. I wouldn't walk around with a giant diamond necklace on or leave my purse sitting on the dashboard with the car unlocked and walk away, but to pull into a gas station, pay at the pump, and fill up? You're fine.

- Dreams