driving from San Diego

[emmabelle]

Hello, I was wondering if anyone could answer this question. We are visiting So. CA from Mass in July, we are flying into LAX and then driving down to San Diego for three days. We'll be driving up to Anaheim on the Wednesday of the week. What time of day should we leave for Disney? Will we hit a ton of traffic on Rt. 5? Thanks.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

Rush hour usually goes from 7-9am and from 4-7 at night- It usually takes an hour (little traffic) to hit anaheim- If you dont plan on doing disney the whole day then Id leave SD about 10ish to hit anaheim about 11 ish



-em

 

[emmabelle]

Thanks! We weren't planning on doing DL or DCA that day but may go over to Downtown Disney just to get a feel for the area, we are staying at the Embassy Suites. Do they charge to park at Downtown Disney and is there ample parking there?

 

[Disneyland_emily]

Parking for DTD is just the infamous Mickey and Friends lot (same as theme parks) the hotels each have a little lot that I believe you can use for an hour or so free (not 100% sure though) nor I have any idea how to get into them.. (of the dozens of trips to DL only been in the parking structure once...) I believe that Embassy either has their own shuttle or uses the ART which usually be a good alternative...

-em

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Are you staying @ the Embassy Suites South? You might consider checking in early - you may not get a room, but I bet you could leave your luggage there.

Were you planning on using the ART (Anaheim Resort Transportation)? It's $12/adult (up to 4 adults) and free for 9 & younger for length of stay (or if there's a limit, it might be 4 days). That would be less than the $9/day parking at the Disneyland Resort.

Downtown Disney gives you three free hours of parking, and then it's $6/hour or $2/20 minutes. If you eat there or see a movie, you'll get another 2 hours free.

 

[emmabelle]

We are staying at the Embassy South. We actually are going to the parks for three days, so it would work out cheaper I guess to use the car since my kids are 12 and 14. We probably would eat at DD, maybe a late lunch. Do I look for the Mickey and Friends lot then? Can you tell this is my first time to So. CA?

 

[iceskatejen]

The DTD lot is NOT the same as the Mickey & Friends structure. The DTD lot is off of Disneyland Drive as is the structure, but unlike the structure can be accessed from either direction on DL Dr. The structure can only be accessed while heading south on DL Dr. and has a special ramp to it. The DTD lot does give 3 hours free parking. The structure doesn't--it's $9 for autos.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

<font color=navy>If you're planning on spending more than 5 hours at Downtown Disney, then I recommend parking at the Mickey & Friends parking structure, then taking the tram, which will drop you off at a convenient location for the parks and Downtown Disney. You can then explore DD, the hotels, see a movie, etc., and not worry about how long you're staying there.

 

[emmabelle]

Thanks for the info, I don't know what I did before the internet!

 

[JC Butterfly]

I'm wondering if there is a noon rush hour between them too?

I really don't know my California geography. What might/could I see on a commute from Anaheim to San Diego? How close is that to the Mexican border?

Thanks!

 

[iceskatejen]

The Mexican Border is south of SD (though not that far, but Tiajuana is smelly and dirty and a tourist trap IMO) and Anaheim is north of SD. You'd take the I-5 north from SD to get to Anaheim. Along the way is some pretty coastline, the San Onofre nuclear power plant, you'd go through San Juan Capistrano, which is one of my favorite small cities (beautiful mission there), Irvine, Santa Ana, them Anaheim.