DL/Vegas Trip - Better to fly into Anaheim or LV?

[grinningghost]

Trying to plan a DL/Vegas combo trip. Doesn't matter which we do first. Which airport would you recommend we fly into?

 

[dletz]

I would think it would depend more on your timing. Vegas will be cheaper during the week than on a weekend and a lot less crowded. You don't want to drive from anaheim to Vegas on a Friday, and you don't want to drive from Vegas to Anahaeim on a Sunday, much more crowded times. So I would take that into consideration also. If you're not going at a peak time, you'll want to visit DL/DCA on a Fri, Sat, Sun if you want to see Electric parade as it will only be on those days. Fireworks and/or Fantasmic will also only be on those days, but they usually won't have both in off season. It looks like this fall Fantasmic will be down but they will have fireworks. After Christmas they may have Fantasmic back, or they may not, there really doesn't seem to be any pattern as to which they offer in the off season.

 

[MouseLover]

We were in Vegas last week and rec'd airline vouchers on our return trip, so we're planning another!

We are hoping to go to LV & LA in June, and possibly San Diego as well. I want to drive to SF and see the Golden Gate and a redwood tree, but the rest of my party says it's too far. :-(

It is good to know that Fantasmic & Elec. parade only run on weekend nights. When I was at DL before (about 1982), the MSEP ran 2x every night!

What I wanted to share with you is this.... We have been checking airfare into LAS and LAX and surrounding areas. Right now they are too high to finalize, but while checking flying into LAS and out of LAX, I noticed the fare was only $5 higher. If this continues, we will probably book that way, and only have to drive between the two cities one time.

 

[grinningghost]

The flights to LAS from here are pretty reasonable. I was wondering if anyone has a preference over which airport is better in general. If LAS is a crazy mess of an airport, I would just assume fly to another one. How are the S. California airports?

 

[dletz]

I've only flown into Las Vegas once (actually I think it was twice, I think it was coming and going) and that was on our trip out to WDW we had a stop in Las Vegas. They were doing a bunch of construction on the airport but that was 2 years ago. I've never actually flown in or out of here and left the airport.

LAX is a pain in the butt. Flying in isn't as bad as flying out. However SNA is much closer and easier to fly though. Though it can cost more.

 

[NHLFAN]

If you can travel via AmericaWest...They offer free layovers when traveling trough their hubs which include Vegas and Phoenix.

For example...book a flight to LA which connects in LV , stay in Vegas a few days...then continue onto LA.

I believe you can only do this on the departing flight and not on the return.

 

[LuvTigger]

Just going by airports alone, I really like Vegas (I go there at least once a year). It's nicer, we've had easier times going through security there, and the walk doesn't seem as long, although you do have to catch a tram from the departure terminal to the outer terminals. I also prefer driving in and out of the Vegas airport area than I do LA. But with either airport, you'll need to catch a shuttle to the car rental -- again, I prefer Vegas for this too.

While I wouldn't say there is really anything bad about LAX, given an equal choice, I would rather go through Vegas.

Keep what dletz said in mind though, driving to Vegas from LA on a Friday is really the PITS! As is driving to LA from Vegas on Sunday. Traffic can get REALLY bad!

 

[hotcarib]

Just remember McCarran airport is incredibly difficult to get in and out of during the weekends....and that summer weekends here usually start Wednesday evening so flying in or out of LV Wed. through Sunday while doable probably won't result in the lowest fares. This also applies to hotels although many hotel rates don't make the jump until Friday.
HTH

 

[luckeylasvegas]

Hi: I grew up in Orange county and have been living in Las Vegas for the last ten years. I fly from vegas to orange county a lot. You might want to check flying into Long Beach the air port is a lot smaller and Jet blue or south west usuallly have really good rates. Traffic from Vegas to California is always a crap shoot (no pun intended) its best to travel early in the morning or later in the evening. You have to consider the rush hour traffic you will hit near Anaheimm any time after 3pm until at least 7 pm. The trip from Vegas to Anaheim with out trafffic is usually 4 - 4.5 hours.
Luckey

 

[madcoco]

We left this Sunday bright and early at 6 A.M. for the drive over to Chatsworth.(well not to bright but. Beat the mad rush. People were still waking up or sleeping from their Sat. night partying and we were already stopping at the world's largest thermometer to eat at the Mad Greek. It's a must for our daughter when we drive instead of fly. The drive down 5 on to DL was another story on Monday at noon. 2hrs to go 60 miles.

If anyone flies Southwest and uses curbside checkin or you are not checking bags,there is a little used security gate that you access by walking from curbside to the gates bypassing the C gate security upstairs and the tram. It is a short walk from the SWA curbside. If you use online checkin and print your boarding passes it can save you alot of time on the crazy weekends.

 

[madcoco]

Just returned.Be careful whichever way you drive. Sorry to report there was a fatality on I-15 just north of Baker in the northbound lanes yesterday. Traffic was backed up and we got off in Baker(App.95miles West of Vegas) to grab a bit to eat. Traffic was moving about an hour later. We passed the scene The right lane was still closed. An SUV had rolled and the person was ejected. Very sad.