Driving from Downtown LA to DL

[Familyx4]

I will be in LA on business and have decided to take a Friday afternoon in December and go to DL. I grew up on Disney but have never visited. I'll be renting a car and driving down around noon and returning to downtown around 8:30pm when the park closes.

Does anyone have any tips for an east coaster on;
Traffic expectations each way
Roads to take if different than what is on MapQuest
Parking at DL
Safety of the trip

Thanks for any help!

 

[DLR29]

Being a student at USC maybe I can help you out. You shouldn't hit much traffic going there at noon, but you might hit a little bit of traffic on the way back. Shouldn't be too bad though. Ideally, the trip time one way is about 30-40 min with little-no traffic.

I'm not sure what MapQuest says, but it should say to get to the 5 eventually which is the most direct route. I don't know exactly where you're coming from in LA, but the 110 to the 5 should be the best way.

Parking, I highly recommend the new Toy Story lot which seems quicker and more efficient than the big Mickey and Friends parking structure. You would get off at Harbor and follow the signs down, past Katella and take a left eventually. From that lot you'll take a tram about 2 blocks down Harbor to the parks. Super easy and relatively fast.

Safety? Shouldn't be a huge issue overall, just maybe be a little careful on the return trip.

Have a wonderful time!

 

[Familyx4]

Thank you DLR29!

I will be at the Westin Bonaventure so getting to the 5 should be relatively easy.

Thanks again!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Probably, the best way to get to the 5 is to go north on the 110, south on the 101, and then south on the 5. You can also take one of the surface streets from the Bonaventure north & pick up the 101 freeway south. You'll just be a few blocks away.

 

[LavenderPeach]

Traffic can get heavy early on a Friday afternoon so make sure you stick to your plan to leave around noon to drive to DLR.

 

[karmutt]

Also beware that it tends to get crowded on Friday nights after 5ish as locals start to head over after work.

And unless you're going on Christmas Eve, when they close early (...I think), DL won't close until midnight on a Friday, not 8:30, and DCA will be open until 10.

And if you're going alone, keep in mind that there are a few single rider lines which can get you on rides much quicker than having to wait in the standby queue or get a fastpass for them. At DL - Indy and Splash Mountain; at DCA - Soarin, Grizzly River Run, California Screamin', and Mulholland Madness. You'll need a pass for all but Splash Mountain and Mulholland Madness... if I remember correctly. I hate MM, so I never go on it. For Splash, you go up through the exit to the load/unload area and someone will point your way or lead you where you need to go. For the others, you need to get a pass from a CM at either the standby entrance or the fastpass entrance and they'll tell you where to go.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Unless you need the car for anther reason, you may want to think about taking Amtrak to anaheim, then a cab to the parks. The train is about $11 each way (more if you upgrade to business), with the cab about $15 each way. The train takes about an hour.

Depnding on your schedule, you may want to overnight in Anaheim and get more than a few hours in the parks. Comparable hotels in Anaheim are usually cheaper than the Westin Bonaenture.

I personally haven't tried it yet (today was the day, until they cancelled my meeting), but we hate driving through DT LA at any time on a Friday. Best of luck -- Suzanne

 

[lexlaw69]

You can also take the metrolink or amtrak trains. There is a direct bus to Disneyland from the trainstation every 20 minutes. Friday traffic could be horrendous depending on a number of factors (I drive it everyday from OC to LA).