Disneyland from LAX- how is the drive?

[Joy2theWorld]

We will be flying in on a Sat. morning and want to get to a hotel nearl DL (not sure which yet- up for suggestions). We want to eat at In N Out for lunch as we've never tried one and I promised DH so he can make a comparison to our favorite east coast burger place. So, I am thinking we will have to rent a car. I am arranging for us to eat at a very special place in DL that night, so, I want to be close to the park, but we have to go to San Pedro Sunday morning to catch our cruise. Any suggestions to make this as painless as possible? I wasn't thrilled about driving, but I think that will offer us the most flexibility.

 

[VegasMike21]

since it's a saturday morning the drive shouldn't be that bad.

 

[honeymom]

I agree, the drive won't be bad.

I am not sure what your favorite burger place is like, but yes, I am one of the disbelievers who only finds in-n-out one notch up from McDonalds. So if you are comparing to a fast food type of a burger joint, it will probably be up there. I guess I am so spoiled living in the Southwest. We just have really great burger places that put in-n-out to shame.

 

[Joy2theWorld]

Our favorite burger place is a place called Five Guys. They started in the DC area where I used to live (there were only 3) and now they are all over the east coast and south. They just opened a bunch in TN where we are now. There menu is very limited, but the burgers are great and the fries are fresh cut! I was thinking we could always take a cab to an IN N Out from the hotel right? I'm just not sure how we'd get back...

 

[honeymom]

One thing that I can say for IN-n-out is that they are fast (they get you in and they get you out) because of the limited menu. Why not get the food to go and have the taxi wait for you. If you know what you want beforehand (look up the menu on the internet), it shouldn't take more than a few minutes to get the food.

 

[Padstack]

One thing that I can say for IN-n-out is that they are fast (they get you in and they get you out) because of the limited menu. Why not get the food to go and have the taxi wait for you. If you know what you want beforehand (look up the menu on the internet), it shouldn't take more than a few minutes to get the food.

I have gone to the new In N Out on Sepulveda, just north of LAX twice. The first time was just before the lunch rush and it took me 15 minutes to get my food through the drive through. The second time was just after the lunch rush and I left the line after sitting there for twenty minutes and having yet to order. I don't know if the long wait was due to being new, but that wait is ridiculous.

Joy2theWorld, only go to In N Out any time except the lunch and dinner rush or you will wait for a while to get your food. Some people feel the food is worth the wait, but when I am hungry, I want to eat now.

 

[Joy2theWorld]

Wouldn't it be better to eat it there when it is fresh instead of taking it all the way back to the hotel?

 

[nullo]

We returned from our Disneyland trip the day before yesterday. We rented a car out of LAX (Dollar) on early Sunday afternoon (the 18th) and drove to Disneyland: took the 105E to the 605N to the 5S, and I think it took us about forty minutes--smooth sailing all the way. On the trip back to LAX (Friday the 23rd) we decided to take Harbor to the 405 and the 405 all the way to the airport (it was about 9:30am). This route was a tad less of a hassle, and, again, it was smooth sailing, about forty minutes. Both trips seemed really short and easy. I can see how traffic could potentially mess you up, though, and with that in mind I might stick with the first route I mentioned. Good luck, and have fun! P.S. I'm with honeymom...I'm no food snob, but I can't get behind In-N-Out burgers and fries...as she said, just a notch above McDonald's, taste-wise. I think I prefer McDonald's...

 

[Cinderlala]

I do not know how anyone can like McDonald's more than In-N-Out---that's just crazy talk!

I adore In-N-Out & make a point of eating there every time I am in CA!!!!!!!!!

Actually, I live just outside of DC & I also like Five Guys, but I like In-N-Out more. They are just very different---In-N-Out has a fresher flavor overall, but should be considered much more like fast food than Five Guys. The patty itself is usually much larger at Five Guys.

The drive from LAX is not bad at all.

Good luck!!!!

 

[labagit]

We rented a car out of LAX (Dollar) on early Sunday afternoon (the 18th) and drove to Disneyland: took the 105E to the 605N to the 5S, and I think it took us about forty minutes--smooth sailing all the way.

Sounds like we were just a bit ahead of you. We left LAX on the 18th at about 10:30, taking close to the same route, though we took 605S to 91E to 5S. (I think I got that right!) It took us 35-40 minutes. We left the 19th at about 5:30pm. I'd been told to allow 1.5hr "just in case". We lucked out and had no problems. The return trip was probably 45-50 minutes.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Just wanted to correct the route for you guys.

It's 105E - 605S - 91E - 5S

Once you get on 91E, as soon as you can, get in the carpool/diamond lane (if there are 2 or more in your car), and you can take the carpool lane all the way to Disneyland Drive, if you'd like (91E-5S-DL Drive).

 

[scooter15]

In N Out is GREAT!!!! It is a fast food place but everything is fresh. McDonald's is gross and will give you a heart attack. Plus there's this so called secret menu...well its not secret if you look on their website. Also, they pay their workers more than CMs.

But anyway, the drive from LAX to Anaheim is usually not bad but it just depends which fwy you take. Avoid going through Downtown LA as the traffic is worse on weekends. Trust me on that. 405 to 91 is your best bet.

 

[nullo]

labagit: How was the airport on Saturday? It was CRAZY on Friday! We gave ourselves tons of time, too, just in case, plus our return flight was delayed two hours, so everything worked out, but I seriously have never seen an airport so packed. And how about those crowds at the park? I've never been to Disneyland when it was so crowded...I'm probably a bit of a lightweight, though. I complain if I have to wait 20 minutes.

Mary Jo: Hmm...not sure if I'm being corrected (just ignore if no), and I may actually have taken an odd route, but I didn't use the 91. Went north on the 605 and over the "bump" to the 5.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Mary Jo: Hmm...not sure if I'm being corrected (just ignore if no), and I may actually have taken an odd route, but I didn't use the 91. Went north on the 605 and over the "bump" to the 5.

Ah, now I understand.

That is one way to get to DLR, and would be good if someone accidentally went north on 605 instead of south, but it takes longer to get to DLR that way.

 

[nullo]

I hereby blame my itinerary on the good(ish) people at Dollar car rental. Because blame is fun.

 

[avalon451]

We will be flying in on a Sat. morning and want to get to a hotel nearl DL (not sure which yet- up for suggestions). We want to eat at In N Out for lunch as we've never tried one and I promised DH so he can make a comparison to our favorite east coast burger place. So, I am thinking we will have to rent a car. I am arranging for us to eat at a very special place in DL that night, so, I want to be close to the park, but we have to go to San Pedro Sunday morning to catch our cruise. Any suggestions to make this as painless as possible? I wasn't thrilled about driving, but I think that will offer us the most flexibility.

Joy, what are your dates? for reference for accomodations--

 

[Joy2theWorld]

We only need a room for the night of Aug. 16. I checked many around the park and they all seem to have availability. I just don't know what one to pick.

 

[labagit]

labagit: How was the airport on Saturday? It was CRAZY on Friday! We gave ourselves tons of time, too, just in case, plus our return flight was delayed two hours, so everything worked out, but I seriously have never seen an airport so packed. And how about those crowds at the park? I've never been to Disneyland when it was so crowded...I'm probably a bit of a lightweight, though. I complain if I have to wait 20 minutes.

Mary Jo: Hmm...not sure if I'm being corrected (just ignore if no), and I may actually have taken an odd route, but I didn't use the 91. Went north on the 605 and over the "bump" to the 5.

I've never been to LAX before. It didn't seem too crazy. I just had a carry-on bag, and I didn't know where to go, so I was looking at signs more than looking around.

The park was full, but it honestly wasn't as bad as I feared. We were there to support a band, though, so my focus wasn't the rides. We did what we could with FastPass and watched Aladdin, and then scurried to the other rides we wanted early Sunday.

Oh, another thing we did was to experience Nemo via the accessible viewing area. The lines for that were well over an hour at 9:30pm. I don't know what it's like to ride the subs, but at least I got to see the "show". I hadn't read enough and had no idea it was entirely projected.

The route you took is actually the one on the Disney website. I couldn't figure that out. I looked at the map and listened to the people here, but it didn't make sense to me that Disney would recommend going north to get south. It didn't seem like it was that much further, though. I was very relieved about the drive. I feared the worst.