Dl express vs. car rental?

[sandymandr]

Hi! We're arriving 3/17 (Mon) LAX to 3/20 (spring break ) then to Santa Barbara until the 23rd (depart LAX). My current plan is to take DL express round trip to airport, then pick up car rental LAX for trip to SB. But, OF COURSE now I am re-thinking everything!! It seems like a lot of hassle to go back to the airport to pick up a car, not to mention the extra waiting time to get to DL in the first place taking DL express vs. car. So, here's my questions:
How bad is traffic in LA area?
Is driving to DL from LAX relatively straightforward?
Anyone know what it will cost to drop the DL express from my ressies through DL travel?
And, lastly, am I just overthinking all of this???? Would a car rental even save me that much time??? Any opinions are appreciated! TIA!!
PS. Do they show Disney movies on the bus?

 

[farmfresh]

hi - I haven't taken the express, but we do regularly hire a car from LAX and drive down. The trip is straightforward - you can use the carpooling lanes with two or more people - so don't let that put you off.

We found keeping the car was equivalent to a town car to LAX and back cost wise - not sure about express.

However, you could consider hiring from around the Anaheim area, to save the LAX hassle. Remember, you'll arrive at the terminal and then hop a shuttle out to the rental place there. If you could avoid that I think it would be worthwhile.