Disneyland express or other transport from LAX?

[Danauk]

We have been debating various transport options from LAX for our trip next year. I have read some good things about the Disneyland Express but was wondering how long it actually takes to get to the GCH using this. If you are one of the 1st to be picked up at the airport from terminal 1 how long does it take to actually leave the airport and then get to the hotel?
Then I was thinking about the super shuttle, but as there are only 2 of us am worried it might take a while getting to the hotel as it will probably drop others off first.
Our 3rd option is to hire the car from LAX. We are going to need a car for most of our trip, just not whilst we were at DL. So would it be quicker to rent the car from LAX and drive ourselves (our flight lands at 1pm) and spend a few more $$ for a few more days hire?
Any help is appreciated!!

 

[1000th happy haunt]

We took the Disneyland Express for the first time this past June. We were one of the first (or maybe the first) pickup, and the driver told us it would take 20 minutes to get out of the airport. It only took about 15 minutes. And I think our trip (once we were clear of the airport) was only about 40 minutes. Of course, this would all depend on the local traffic.

What's nice about the Disneyland Express is it takes you right to your hotel. Previously we used Super Shuttle, and every time we'd be picking up people at their homes.

I don't know if the Disneyland Express only goes to the Disney hotels, or if it goes to the good neighbor hotels as well. But in June it took us right to Disneyland Hotel. With Super Shuttle you'll possibly be stopping at the Marriott, Hilton, etc. first.

We did end up taking Super Shuttle back to the Airport. It was because Disneyland Express only ran once an hour at that point in time. We booked Super Shuttle to have a confirmed reservation and a better choice of times.

I'd use the Disneyland Express again from LAX to the hotel.

 

[Danauk]

Thanks for the info. If it stops at the DL hotels first does it then carry on to other hotels (we will be at the GCH) or do you have to change to a shuttle bus? I have read both happens and am confused over this.

 

[boscoj]

Last March my brother and his family met us at the GC and decided to take the Super Shuttle from LAX. Bad Move! Granted it was during traffic hours, but it still took them over 2 1/2 hours because they had 4 other stops before hand...all to residential homes. Needless to say, they weren't too happy and to top it off, my nephew got car sick.

Once in Disneyland, however, everything got "magically better", especially for my nephew!

 

[BearsBabe]

I just debated this same thing for our trip next month, and we decided to go ahead and rent a car. Of course, there are 3 of us, not 2, and with shuttle prices running $25-30 each for round trip, it was actually cheaper to rent a car. Even if we were only 2, I would still do it though, it's only a couple dollars more (car rental rate for 4 days was $67) and not only do we not have to depend on a shuttle's schedule getting out and back into the airport, if during our stay we want to go to the beach or shopping or anything else, we don't have to get a cab either. If you are staying at GCH and don't care about valet parking, the self-parking is covered in your 'access fee' that they'll tack onto your room price anyway, so it wouldn't even add a parking charge to your budget!

 

[joeysmommy]

I've read that the DL Express stops at DLH first and then continues on to PPH and GCH. It then drops off at the Good Neighbor Hotels.

Altho, I'm a little worried about getting back to the SNA airport on time for our flight home using this service. We leave on a Saturday morning from DLR, I'm guessing they arrive more frequently on the weekend? And then picks up at every stop on Harbor before getting on to the freeway?
How much time to allow to get to the airport?

We're not bringing carseats on this trip so the bus is going to be our method of transportation to and from the airport.

 

[jfritz]

We are staying at the BWPPI and when I talked to them there these were the prices they gave me for transportation:

Taxi - $35.00 from LAX
SuperShuttle - $15.00 per person
Disneyland Express - $14.00 per person less $3.00 coupon

There are 4 of us so the taxi seems the cheapest although I gave the DE some serious thought. My thinking is if we use the taxi we come straight to our hotel with no stops. If we use DE there are stops on the way. So at this point we are leaning towards the taxi. I don't know if these prices will help you make your decision or not.

 

[scasta86]

We are staying at the BWPPI and when I talked to them there these were the prices they gave me for transportation:

Taxi - $35.00 from LAX
SuperShuttle - $15.00 per person
Disneyland Express - $14.00 per person less $3.00 coupon

There are 4 of us so the taxi seems the cheapest although I gave the DE some serious thought. My thinking is if we use the taxi we come straight to our hotel with no stops. If we use DE there are stops on the way. So at this point we are leaning towards the taxi. I don't know if these prices will help you make your decision or not.

Isn't it $14 a person each way with the Disneyland Express? I think round trip comes to about 25, with the 3 dollar coupon.

 

[jfritz]

Yep.....sorry....I forgot to post that. All the prices are one way. We're only using them one way so I missed that!!!

 

[Danauk]

I'm more concerned about which will be the quickest option. The DL express to the GCH or renting a car. I'm not sure how long it will take to get the shuttle to the car rental place from the airport then drive to the hotel V waiting for the shuttle, then it probably dropping off at 2 other hotels 1st. Maybe I'm leaning more towards renting the car at the airport again.

 

[mom2dzb]

I've ridden the DL express from LAX to GCH and I don't recall if it stopped at other hotels, but it was quick enough. The problem with DL express was the trip back to the airport from GCH. We got on our scheduled shuttle and then were dropped off at the DL hotel where we had to wait with all of the other guests who were headed to the same airport. We were stressed about making it to the airport on time. We opt for shuttles now. We're a large family and usually get one to ourselves, though.

And, if you are looking at shuttles, I wouldn't suggest Prime Time. I'd previously had a pleasant experience with them, but on our latest trip we did not get treated properly. We will no longer be using them as our shuttle provider.

 

[joeysmommy]

mom2dzb-
How long did it take to get to the airport on the DL Express?
I'm a little concerned with the trip to the airport too.
We're not bringing carseats this trip so the DL Express is the way we have to get back to the airport too.

 

[daffidyll]

Hi, sorry to butt in here......for the Taxi...is that $35 per person or just $35 from LAX to Disney?? If there are 3 of us at $14 pp for the shuttle then the cost of taking a taxi would be cheaper if it's just per taxi. When we go I was actually wanting to take a taxi just to avoid having to make a bunch of other stops, plus we wouldn't have to wait for the shuttle etc.....so just hoping it really is $35 for the taxi than pp because that would be my ideal unless anyone can tell me if there is a downside to taking a taxi????? Are they usually just lined up at the airport to take or would you have to call for one? Thanks!

 

[jfritz]

The $35.00 is the total for the taxi. For 4 of us it's actually cheaper than taking the DE. And I was told they have minivan taxis so that should take care of the luggage problem!!

 

[Danauk]

If it is $35 for the taxi I would be interested in that instead of the DL Express. Do you have to book this in advance and who with? I'm quite surprised the price is that low as the quotes I have heard people being given in the past were nearer to $50. How do you make sure you get this rate and not a fare where the driver puts the meter on?

 

[jfritz]

The lady at the taxi place and the lady at the hotel both told me to ask the taxi driver BEFORE we get exactly what the price will be. Do not allow them to use their meter. Once they quote you that is what you will be charged. And they both gave me the same price of $35.00 from LAX to my hotel which is BWPPI.

 

[kiwitravel]

Which Taxi company was that? Our research had the cheapest taxi fare from LAX to Anaheim as $65, the fare from OC Airport to Anaheim was $35.... Can't see how a Taxi fare for that distance of 35 miles could be $35, if it was surely the shuttles and the Express bus would go out of business.

 

[mom2dzb]

mom2dzb-
How long did it take to get to the airport on the DL Express?
I'm a little concerned with the trip to the airport too.
We're not bringing carseats this trip so the DL Express is the way we have to get back to the airport too.

Joeysmommmy, once we got on the shuttle taking us to the airport it was a reasonable amount of time. I believe the person in charge of that detail relied on the advice of a travel agent, or maybe a castmember in setting up our scheduled pick up by DLE. The problems were that a.) the bus picked us up late at GCH then b.) they dropped us off at DLH where we waited even longer. So, I'd say we didn't leave the DL area until about an hour after our scheduled pick up time. That had us worried about making our flight.

We were told by our shuttle driver (on a different trip) that we didn't need the carseat for our toddler. I'm not sure if that is true, or if it depends on the size of the child.

 

[jfritz]

Which Taxi company was that? Our research had the cheapest taxi fare from LAX to Anaheim as $65, the fare from OC Airport to Anaheim was $35.... Can't see how a Taxi fare for that distance of 35 miles could be $35, if it was surely the shuttles and the Express bus would go out of business.

OMG I am so sorry. Those rates are for OC. I forgot we are flying into OC and out of LAX! I apologize for the mis-information! Maybe I should stick to reading and forget the posting!!!!

 

[famograham]

EEk!!

These prices look so good, did we get ripped off??

Our cruise ship disembarks at San Pedro Pier. Our travel agent booked us a private van through Super Shuttle I believe. The cost was $99.00 canadian from San Pedro Pier to our hotel (Best Western Anaheim Inn).

What do you think?
Has anyone done this before?

Thanks,
Linda