Disneyland express from LAX

[abminer]

We will arrive on a Thursday afternoon to LAX and are planning to take the gray line disneyland express bus to DLH. We're trying to decide if we should book ahead or not. We'll have 35 min from our landing time to the next bus departure. I'm worried that we won't make it. If you book ahead and miss the bus you booked, do they accept that ticket on a later bus?

 

[KittyKat1978]

You don't book a specific time, just a ride on the bus. So, if you miss it, you will have no issues getting on the next bus.

Just a note, the time it says that it starts picking up is at terminal 1. If you are at terminal 2, add a couple of minutes. The bus driver will get out at each terminal and say "Disneyland Express" a couple of times, and if no one approaches the bus, he will get back on and drive to the next terminal.

 

[lalasmama]

You'll have no problem getting on the next bus. In fact, they don't even keep a roster of expected riders if you do call ahead to "book" a bus. That being said, I've never found them to be on time.... And have waited 2 hours for a bus before. When I called, they didn't even know where their busses were.

 

[WendyTJ]

is it ok if we dont book and therefore just take the next available?

 

[hootey]

We always ride the DL bus when flying into town. The wife always makes a reservation with them. They will tell you where the DL bus stop is for your terminal. Have never had a problem, other than having to wait a couple times for the bus to return. The drivers load your luggage and have always been friendly and professional.

 

[Cholula]

is it ok if we dont book and therefore just take the next available?

When people say they book they are basically saying they are buying their tickets in advance for however many people need to take the shuttle. They don't ask for times or even the dates that you will be riding.

I've had no problems with the drivers but the people behind them seem to not be very organized. The first time I used them it said on the brochure to call 24 hours in advance to reserve a trip back to the airport. I called and the lady acted like I was crazy and said I didn't need a reservation. Shrug, ok. Got on the bus the next day and got to the airport no problem.

The next trip I ignored all the reservation stuff and didn't call them. Got on the bus to the airport no problem.

Trip after that the driver pointed out that I needed to make a reservation for the return trip to the airport. Ok. Called 24 hours ahead, the lady dutifully took down my name and how many people and advised which was the closest stop. The next day we just got on the bus same as every time and no one checked our name or reservation. Got to the airport no problem.

So really their main issue is they are not very consistent with their guidelines and it seems like multiple people are doing multiple things but you should not have any real trouble getting to the airport.

 

[lalasmama]

I tend to call ahead (the morning of my flight), only to confirm where the nearest pick-up point is... Because I've been told that it was "right outside" my hotel, only to find out "right outside" meant up past my hotel, and another hotel, and another hotel, and then across the little 5-store-front to the ART bus stop.... Or "right outside" meant over 2 hotels and in front of Tony Roma's.

 

[FarmBoy78]

For those that have taken the Gray Line and a Cab, which do you prefer? How consistent are the buses with their schedules?

 

[Eighty8Keys]

We had planned to take the Gray Line this past September from our hotel to the airport (SNA). I purchased the tickets in advance in February from Orbitz when Ebates was offering a 20% cash back on activities. We had looked at the schedule and they were picking up once an hour from our hotel. However, when I called the night before to schedule the pickup, I learned that they changed the schedule in March and the pickup time was now every 2 hours. This meant that we had to get on the bus at 2:00pm in order to make a 6:40pm flight since she said the 4:00pm pickup time would arrive at the airport at around 5:30pm. The next morning we had second thoughts and decided to just take a cab. I called to cancel the reservation and a different woman assured me that the 4:00pm bus would arrive at the airport no later than 5:00pm. It was still too close for us and didn't allow for any delays, so we just cancelled.

We ended up taking Uber and it was an excellent experience. The driver was neatly dressed in black pants and white shirt, drove a nice black town car and was very friendly and professional. The cost was slightly less than a cab.

We decided that for us the bus wasn't worth the hassle and extra time, especially for a short vacation.

 

[abminer]

We used grayline Disneyland express from LAX to DLH two weeks ago and it worked out well. Our flight happened to land 20 min before a bus was scheduled to pick up. The bus was almost 10 min later than we expected, but we were the 3rd terminal they stopped at. If you call the grayline number when you land they can tell you the exact location of the bus at that point. They played Mr Toad on the bus ride, which we enjoyed. I almost always use DME at WDW and this reminded me of that service once we were on the bus. It puts you in the Disney mood. Going back to LAX was easy and exactly on time. Keep in mind that we stayed at DLH so we never had to wait through a drop off or pick up at other locations.

 

[abbie13_15]

We always take the Grayline Disney bus. No need to schedule a pick up. The past 3 trips we have done we found coupons for $5 off round trip per person so we always pay for our bus ticket when we get there on the bus. Please be aware...there are other car/van services that have a very similar name ex Disney Express (and will try to get you to ride with them) but they are not the Disney Express with Grayline.

 

[beckymomof2]

Our flight lands at 7:06 PM in LAX and looking at the brochure, the last bus leaves at 8:00 PM. Do you think we can make it?

Also we aren't staying at a hotel that has a bus stop. I figured it would be fine because it's probably a three minute walk from one of the other hotels. You think it would be ok the day we leave to pack up and go to the nearest stop even though we aren't staying at that hotel?

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Our flight lands at 7:06 PM in LAX and looking at the brochure, the last bus leaves at 8:00 PM. Do you think we can make it? Also we aren't staying at a hotel that has a bus stop. I figured it would be fine because it's probably a three minute walk from one of the other hotels. You think it would be ok the day we leave to pack up and go to the nearest stop even though we aren't staying at that hotel?

You should be fine. Last week our flights was delayed and we didn't land until 7:15. We made it to the bus stop (terminal 1, Southwest) 10 minutes early. There were 12 of us, including 6 kids and we had to get all of our checked luggage, so not necessarily moving at top speed. And yes, you can go to the nearest stop even if it's not your hotel.

 

[beckymomof2]

Is the last bus really 8 PM like the brochure says?

 

[Fivers]

We've been using Disneyland Express almost every trip for the last 20 years. They have definitely changed details frequently over the years! The latest time we used them was for a trip this year end of September/beginning of October. They pick up from the airport every hour, stopping at all the terminals (they are often running late, but not always). I can't remember the time of the last bus though, but it is much earlier than it used to be! Vouchers used to be for a specific date, they are now good for one year from date of purchase.

For pick-up back to the airport, if you are staying at one of the Disney hotels they pick up every hour, and they now have separate schedules for LAX and SNA (instead of having to swap buses at the DLH, which was a pain). If you're at one of the Disney hotels, you don't have to call to schedule a pick-up. If you're not staying at a Disney hotel you WILL have to call to schedule a pick-up, and they pick up every two hours at non-Disney hotels. It used to depend which hotel you were at, but I believe you now have to call and schedule a pick up for all non-Disney hotels. In the last five years I'm not sure that I can remember a time that they haven't been late picking up from our hotel to go to the airport (Disney hotel or otherwise), so I agree with the PP who cancelled for the taxi, I definitely wouldn't cut your pick up time too close!

It certainly isn't the cheapest or fastest method for transport, but we've always found the drivers to be pleasant, some are downright hilarious, and we've always felt the drivers are safe on the roads. Plus, who doesn't want to start their trip with a happy Disney-wrapped bus?

 

[mckennakendall]

Our flight lands at 7:06 PM in LAX and looking at the brochure, the last bus leaves at 8:00 PM. Do you think we can make it?

Also we aren't staying at a hotel that has a bus stop. I figured it would be fine because it's probably a three minute walk from one of the other hotels. You think it would be ok the day we leave to pack up and go to the nearest stop even though we aren't staying at that hotel?

This happened to us and I was a bit nervous about catching the last bus. I mailed all our liquids to the hotel about 5 days before our arrival and we only had carry-ons. We made it!

 

[mckennakendall]

We always take the Grayline Disney bus. No need to schedule a pick up. The past 3 trips we have done we found coupons for $5 off round trip per person so we always pay for our bus ticket when we get there on the bus. Please be aware...there are other car/van services that have a very similar name ex Disney Express (and will try to get you to ride with them) but they are not the Disney Express with Grayline.

Be careful about other businesses trying to pick you up. It is very confusing!

 

[beckymomof2]

I usually like to have everything pre-planned and paid for. But I'm guessing with these circumstances I'm better off buying the ticket when I arrive in case I were to miss the last bus? Is there any benefit to buying the ticket online?

The reason I decided to go with the bus this time is it will be me and my two girls, so I'll only be paying for the one adult ticket. I don't think you can beat $48 round trip.

 

[Pigletears]

Also when you ride the bus they have disney movies playing......last time we rode it was "wreck it Ralph"

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Is the last bus really 8 PM like the brochure says?

Yes it is. As I said before, we weren't sure with our delayed flight if we would make it, so we called. There were 12 of us, so we trying to figure out alternate arrangements in case and thought maybe there was a chance they'd send a later bus for a group our size.