Drive time, GCH to San Diego Airport?

[helenb]

We're planning on spending a few days at Disneyland before heading down to Comic Con in San Diego (third week of July). So we're planning on driving from the GCH to San Diego Airport on the morning of Wednesday, July 20. Does anyone know what the rush hour traffic is like in that direction? Google Directions says we'll need about 1 hour 38 minutes to do the drive. How much time should I add for traffic congestion?

TIA!

(And yeah, I'm really annoyed they didn't move Comic Con to Anaheim. It would have been the perfect vacation!!!!! )

 

[skiingfast]

I would be nice to avoid the traffic. While leaving LA you will get a carpool lane, but only for about a quarter of the trip. After that traffic will be bad and you might want to add an hour to compensate for it.

 

[helenb]

Carpool lane is good. We'll definitely have a packed car, so we'll qualify! How much more time do you think I should add to the drive for the traffic the other 3/4 of the way? We need to be at the San Diego airport by 11 am (to pick up arriving friends) and I'm wondering if leaving at 8:30 or 9 am from the GCH is enough time to get there.

 

[groovygirl927]

Being from San Diego everyone here is happy that it is still here in San Diego. I think 2 hours should be good. (but if you want to be safe leave at 8:30) does your friends flight get in at 11:00 sometimes they aren't in on time or it takes a while to get luggage. There is a Cell phone parking lot right before the airport where you can park and wait. You don't have to go and pay to park and when your friend calls you can go and pick them up curbside.

 

[Leash]

Sorry nothing to add but just jumping onto this thread since we are doing the exact same thing and dive time tips are good. DH and I are also going to Disneyland before Comic Con and then driving down to San Diego on the 20th. We don't have a specific time frame to get down there so we can wait till after rush hour but I wish you good luck helenb. Have you been to Comic Con before? We've been once before in 2009 and are really excited to be going back.

 

[helenb]

Thanks for the tips, GroovyGirl! I'm not entirely sure if my friends are checking bags or not, but I will keep that in mind re: times.

Leash, yes, I've been to Comic Con for quite a few years. My friends and I meet up every year for our 'girls time' and dress up in costumes. Last year I was even interviewed for the Comic Con documentary, although I have no idea if I'll actually end up in it. It's a blast and so much fun! Since I live in Northern CA, driving down and stopping at DL on the way seemed like the perfect trip! You never know, maybe I'll run into you there... We'll be there from the 16th through the 19th, leaving the morning of the 20th.

 

[Leash]

Thanks for the tips, GroovyGirl! I'm not entirely sure if my friends are checking bags or not, but I will keep that in mind re: times.

Leash, yes, I've been to Comic Con for quite a few years. My friends and I meet up every year for our 'girls time' and dress up in costumes. Last year I was even interviewed for the Comic Con documentary, although I have no idea if I'll actually end up in it. It's a blast and so much fun! Since I live in Northern CA, driving down and stopping at DL on the way seemed like the perfect trip! You never know, maybe I'll run into you there... We'll be there from the 16th through the 19th, leaving the morning of the 20th.

That's cool, I don't have the nerve to dress up but I like seeing other people who do. We'll be at DL on the 19th and then drive down to San Diego on the 20th and then spend then do Comic Con all 4 days then back up to Anaheim for another day at DL. Hope you have fun!

 

[furb & dez]

Carpool lane is good. We'll definitely have a packed car, so we'll qualify! How much more time do you think I should add to the drive for the traffic the other 3/4 of the way? We need to be at the San Diego airport by 11 am (to pick up arriving friends) and I'm wondering if leaving at 8:30 or 9 am from the GCH is enough time to get there.

If you leave at that time, you're stuck in traffic. It'll take and hour and a half just to get to San Diego County. The airport is at the far end... I would say that leaving at 8:30am and arriving at 11am at the airport is very optimistic, at best.

 

[helenb]

Even with the carpool lane? Yikes! That's exactly what I was afraid of. Okay, I'll have to leave earlier then, thanks for the tip, Furb.

Leash, dressing up is one of those things that looks intimidating, but once you do it you realize how much fun it is and wonder why you didn't do it before. So many years I went to Cons and just looked at everyone else's costumes... now it is much more fun getting involved myself. So many people are dressed up, it's not like I stand out in costume, you know? No one really gives me a second look, unless they like the outfit. Also, some costumes are less outrageous than others. For example, if you're going as a Hogwarts student, it's not *too* far off from 'normal' clothes, outside of the robe. But if you're going as a Transformer, well that's an entirely different story. You could also dress as your favorite character from a TV show, who probably wears 'normal' clothes. I've seen some neat Big Bang Theory and Lost cosplays in that vein.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with just going as yourself either. It's whatever you're comfortable with.

 

[Tommy_B]

Carpool lane is good. We'll definitely have a packed car, so we'll qualify! How much more time do you think I should add to the drive for the traffic the other 3/4 of the way? We need to be at the San Diego airport by 11 am (to pick up arriving friends) and I'm wondering if leaving at 8:30 or 9 am from the GCH is enough time to get there.

Leaving at 8:30 on a Wednesday you should be fine. Traffic is heavy in north San Diego county as commuters from Carlsbad and points north commute to Downtown and the University area (UTC, Kearny Mesa, etc), but it should be thinned a bit by the time you hit north county, but you can't count on it because one minor accident can jam the freeways.

If you are going to have a lap top with you, I'd check www.sigalert.com before leaving Anaheim.

 

[helenb]

Thanks, that's a helpful site!

 

[Leash]

Even with the carpool lane? Yikes! That's exactly what I was afraid of. Okay, I'll have to leave earlier then, thanks for the tip, Furb.

Leash, dressing up is one of those things that looks intimidating, but once you do it you realize how much fun it is and wonder why you didn't do it before. So many years I went to Cons and just looked at everyone else's costumes... now it is much more fun getting involved myself. So many people are dressed up, it's not like I stand out in costume, you know? No one really gives me a second look, unless they like the outfit. Also, some costumes are less outrageous than others. For example, if you're going as a Hogwarts student, it's not *too* far off from 'normal' clothes, outside of the robe. But if you're going as a Transformer, well that's an entirely different story. You could also dress as your favorite character from a TV show, who probably wears 'normal' clothes. I've seen some neat Big Bang Theory and Lost cosplays in that vein.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with just going as yourself either. It's whatever you're comfortable with.

helenb, that's true I hadn't even thought of the "normal" cosplay, whenever I hear people talk about dressing up for Comic Con I think super heros/villans and grils dressing up like slave Leia. I'm just going to wear t-shirts of some of my favorite geeky things and that way I'll be comfy (and avoid the 2nd degree sunburn I got last time while waiting in line for Hall H). We may end up going next year too so maybe I'll keep my eyes open for those who dressed up and get some ideas!

I'm assuming if we get on the road around noon the traffic should be a lot lighter than when helenb is going right? We're going to sleep in while we can and then stop at Portillo's in Buena Park before heading down to San Diego.

 

[helenb]

The big thing is that if you leave later, you may run into Con traffic, depending on where your hotel is. I've stayed at the Hilton Bayfront for the past few years, and usually around 3 pm or so the traffic gets quite heavy, because that's when they start handing out the Preview Night badges. We like to arrive before noon to avoid that Con traffic. The hotels can usually check you in (even that early) and if not, they can hold your luggage until your room is ready. Then we walk into the Gaslamp for a quick lunch, then come back to the hotel for spa time before Preview Night. (See, we have a whole routine worked out for us girls... )

Definitely keep an eye out for 'normal' costumes. Not everyone is in something outrageous or revealing. There's no way I could ever do Slave Leia (maybe back before I had kids, but certainly not now!) so my costumes tend to keep me 'covered up'. It also helps if you choose a character you *love*, because then it makes the dressup that much more fun.

 

[Leash]

The big thing is that if you leave later, you may run into Con traffic, depending on where your hotel is. I've stayed at the Hilton Bayfront for the past few years, and usually around 3 pm or so the traffic gets quite heavy, because that's when they start handing out the Preview Night badges. We like to arrive before noon to avoid that Con traffic. The hotels can usually check you in (even that early) and if not, they can hold your luggage until your room is ready. Then we walk into the Gaslamp for a quick lunch, then come back to the hotel for spa time before Preview Night. (See, we have a whole routine worked out for us girls... )

Definitely keep an eye out for 'normal' costumes. Not everyone is in something outrageous or revealing. There's no way I could ever do Slave Leia (maybe back before I had kids, but certainly not now!) so my costumes tend to keep me 'covered up'. It also helps if you choose a character you *love*, because then it makes the dressup that much more fun.

True, didn't think about other Con traffic, maybe we'll start a bit earlier. We're staying in Old Town so it probably won't be as bad as downtown and really we are just wandering the city Wednesday anyway so it doesn't matter too much when we get in, I just hate sitting in traffic for no reason! We'll take the trolley down to Seaport Village after we park at our hotel then head back to unpack when the room is ready then head out to Old Town for browsing and dinner.

I was trying to convince DH to dress as Dr. Who (#10) since I could pass as Donna Noble as long as I dye my hair. Maybe next year as it will take a while to get his costume right.

 

[helenb]

Old Town shouldn't be nearly so packed with Con traffic, so I'd guess you'll be okay. Wednesday afternoon is definitely a good time for wandering around! Sounds like you'll have to your DH a bit to get him in a costume! Mine can't come this year, but next year he wants to dress up as Dr. Horrible. He also has a Jedi costume that he's worn for a couple of Halloweens.

 

[Leash]

Old Town shouldn't be nearly so packed with Con traffic, so I'd guess you'll be okay. Wednesday afternoon is definitely a good time for wandering around! Sounds like you'll have to your DH a bit to get him in a costume! Mine can't come this year, but next year he wants to dress up as Dr. Horrible. He also has a Jedi costume that he's worn for a couple of Halloweens.

Very cool, then you can dress up as Penny! Hopefully since we will be there this year we will have a shot at getting 4 day passes with preview night or at the very least 4 day passes, we got lucky with all the ticket problems this year we got tickets for all 4 days but they are 1 day tickets, ugh.

Have fun at Disneyland (I'll have my LGMH but there are probably going to be so many people I'll be lucky to keep track of my hubby let alone spot other DISer's) and at the Con. Hope the traffic is good to you on your early morning trip to the airport.