DVC Grand Californian - transport from LAX

[edmartin]

I'm hoping someone can suggest a good service to get from LAX to the Grand Californian. We do not want to rent a car.

I know in Florida, they have the Magical Express. Wondering what the options are in California?

 

[zavandor]

There is no free service like the ME in California.
Last June I used a service called Disneyland express. It's quite easy: they stop at each terminal of the LAX airport and bring you to your hotel, off site hotel too (if it's near DL).
Cannot remember the price, but I think it's around 15$.

For a family maybe you can look for a private shuttle, similar price overall and more convenient.

 

[sara mom]

There is no free service like the ME in California.
Last June I used a service called Disneyland express. It's quite easy: they stop at each terminal of the LAX airport and bring you to your hotel, off site hotel too (if it's near DL).
Cannot remember the price, but I think it's around 15$.

For a family maybe you can look for a private shuttle, similar price overall and more convenient.

That is super good info to know!

 

[DebbieB]

I've used Disneyland Express too, it's operated by Gray Line.

http://graylineanaheim.com/shuttles.shtml

http://graylineanaheim.com/docs/DRE Brochure.pdf

 

[Anal Annie]

Great to know...we're also hoping to visit DL this summer.......do you know if they go to the Long Beach airport too? I heard that airport is closer and Jet Blue flies into that one....

 

[DebbieB]

Great to know...we're also hoping to visit DL this summer.......do you know if they go to the Long Beach airport too? I heard that airport is closer and Jet Blue flies into that one....

Gray Line Disneyland Express is LAX and SNA only. I would check SuperShuttle, they service Long Beach as well as the other LA airports.

 

[bumbershoot]

edmartin, there's Disneyland Resort Express, which is a coach bus service run by Gray Line. There's also Super Shuttle and Karmel Shuttle, which are both passenger vans. All have upsides and downsides. Recently I've had more good times with Karmel than I've had with the other two since 2007, so I'm sticking with Karmel or renting my own car for now.



Annie....

Super Shuttle does serve Long Beach, but please make SURE of the price BEFORE you book a flight into that airport.

I lost all savings I'd gained flying into Ontario airport (one of the FIVE local-to-Disneyland airports!) because SuperShuttle's pricing structure is so different at LGB, ONT, and BUR than it is at LAX and SNA. Instead of it being a nice flat rate for each person, at ONT (and probably LGB and BUR) there's a big first-person rate, then a smaller rate for the others. What made it bad for us was that DH was coming in on a separate day than me and DS, so we got to pay two big first-person fees both coming and going.

So KNOW the rates before you book an alternative airport. As for it being closer...SNA you drive in on the highway at highway speeds. LGB, as far as I have read, you go through town. So the miles might be shorter, but will the actual drive?

There's also Karmel Shuttle, which *might* serve LGB, I'm not sure. If they do, I personally would use them over SuperShuttle. My experience with SS has involved scary drivers who are on two phones AND texting all at the same time, while on the highway. Karmel shuttle drivers either chat with passengers or just drive. I think one took a hands-free call (in compliance with CA law) from Dispatch, but he wasn't multi-tasking any more than that.




For both of you, when getting a quote or booking on Super Shuttle, they have a oddity where you get a different fare depending on how you enter in your destination. If you enter in the zip code, you get a higher rate. I think that's because the computer assumes it's a private residence, where they won't have any other business coming from it, etc etc.

So when you get a quote or make a booking, choose the "enter my hotel" option (or whatever it's called on their site). Find your hotel's name and go that route. That will yield the better rate with Super Shuttle.

 

[Anal Annie]

edmartin, there's Disneyland Resort Express, which is a coach bus service run by Gray Line. There's also Super Shuttle and Karmel Shuttle, which are both passenger vans. All have upsides and downsides. Recently I've had more good times with Karmel than I've had with the other two since 2007, so I'm sticking with Karmel or renting my own car for now.



Annie....

Super Shuttle does serve Long Beach, but please make SURE of the price BEFORE you book a flight into that airport.

I lost all savings I'd gained flying into Ontario airport (one of the FIVE local-to-Disneyland airports!) because SuperShuttle's pricing structure is so different at LGB, ONT, and BUR than it is at LAX and SNA. Instead of it being a nice flat rate for each person, at ONT (and probably LGB and BUR) there's a big first-person rate, then a smaller rate for the others. What made it bad for us was that DH was coming in on a separate day than me and DS, so we got to pay two big first-person fees both coming and going.

So KNOW the rates before you book an alternative airport. As for it being closer...SNA you drive in on the highway at highway speeds. LGB, as far as I have read, you go through town. So the miles might be shorter, but will the actual drive?

There's also Karmel Shuttle, which *might* serve LGB, I'm not sure. If they do, I personally would use them over SuperShuttle. My experience with SS has involved scary drivers who are on two phones AND texting all at the same time, while on the highway. Karmel shuttle drivers either chat with passengers or just drive. I think one took a hands-free call (in compliance with CA law) from Dispatch, but he wasn't multi-tasking any more than that.




For both of you, when getting a quote or booking on Super Shuttle, they have a oddity where you get a different fare depending on how you enter in your destination. If you enter in the zip code, you get a higher rate. I think that's because the computer assumes it's a private residence, where they won't have any other business coming from it, etc etc.

So when you get a quote or make a booking, choose the "enter my hotel" option (or whatever it's called on their site). Find your hotel's name and go that route. That will yield the better rate with Super Shuttle.

Thanks for the tips!! I'll be sure to check their rates from Long Beach before I book anything... I am not booking air until we get all of our ressies secured (VGC and Aulani). I have a similar "thing" here at home with choosing between booking BWI or Dulles....BWI has some off-site parking that is much cheaper per day than any lots at or near Dulles....so I always figure that $6 or so difference per day into what I'm paying for our flights too....especially on a longer 2-week trip - $6 / day for 2 weeks is $84. Meanwhile, BWI is much easier for us to get to so while I prefer to fly from there I have to weigh if the flights from Dulles are enough of a savings to be worth it. LATELY, (at least since SW gobbled up Air Tran) it has been cheaper and worthwhile to pay the extra in parking at Dulles to go there. Jet Blue and United have both been cheaper from Dulles since there's no more competition at BWI.

 

[jkpatrick]

I'm hoping someone can suggest a good service to get from LAX to the Grand Californian. We do not want to rent a car.

I know in Florida, they have the Magical Express. Wondering what the options are in California?

Link for supershuttle: http://www.supershuttle.com/Locations/DisneyLandAirportShuttle.aspx

Great to know...we're also hoping to visit DL this summer.......do you know if they go to the Long Beach airport too? I heard that airport is closer and Jet Blue flies into that one....

How many people are going? If more than 2, the flat rate taxi $45 one way, is cheaper and faster than a shuttle.

 

[Anal Annie]

Link for supershuttle: http://www.supershuttle.com/Locations/DisneyLandAirportShuttle.aspx



How many people are going? If more than 2, the flat rate taxi $45 one way, is cheaper and faster than a shuttle.

THANK YOU! There are 3 of us and it appears that their cheapest shuttle from LGB to VGC would cost $54 one-day.... So you would suggest just collecting our luggage from baggage claim and going outside to grab the first taxi we see? So the taxi's there are fixed rates, not metered?!

 

[jkpatrick]

THANK YOU! There are 3 of us and it appears that their cheapest shuttle from LGB to VGC would cost $54 one-day.... So you would suggest just collecting our luggage from baggage claim and going outside to grab the first taxi we see? So the taxi's there are fixed rates, not metered?!

Yes at LGB, just collect your luggage at the baggage claim, which is actually outside, across the street from the taxis. You'll see a sign pointing you to the taxis. You'll see about 6-8 taxi's waiting, parked. As you walk up, just tell ask them what is the flat rate to Grand Californian/Disneyland. It should be $45. They may run the meter still, I heard some drivers run it, others do not, probably some county regulation to accurately track how much they drive. When you get to Grand Californian, give the driver $45 + tip.

Then when you leave Grand Californian. At the bell desk, ask them for a taxi and they'll give you a coupon/flyer that has the flat rate from Disneyland to LGB, which is also $45. Then you walk out, a CM will flag a taxi for you, hand the driver the flyer tell them you are going to Long Beach Airport and when you get to LGB give him $45 +tip and that's it.

Faster than shuttle, in my opinion since it's direct for you and your party. Official site listing prices: http://www.lgb.org/travelers/transit.asp

Side note, LGB is a small airport, you'll probably deboard your plane directly onto the tarmac. Baggage claim is outside under a carport type structure. It looks like this airport is mainly used for flight schools, package delivery, news and police planes/helicopters and a few airlines, Jet Blue is one.

 

[Anal Annie]

Yes at LGB, just collect your luggage at the baggage claim, which is actually outside, across the street from the taxis. You'll see a sign pointing you to the taxis. You'll see about 6-8 taxi's waiting, parked. As you walk up, just tell ask them what is the flat rate to Grand Californian/Disneyland. It should be $45. They may run the meter still, I heard some drivers run it, others do not, probably some county regulation to accurately track how much they drive. When you get to Grand Californian, give the driver $45 + tip.

Then when you leave Grand Californian. At the bell desk, ask them for a taxi and they'll give you a coupon/flyer that has the flat rate from Disneyland to LGB, which is also $45. Then you walk out, a CM will flag a taxi for you, hand the driver the flyer tell them you are going to Long Beach Airport and when you get to LGB give him $45 +tip and that's it.

Faster than shuttle, in my opinion since it's direct for you and your party. Official site listing prices: http://www.lgb.org/travelers/transit.asp

Side note, LGB is a small airport, you'll probably deboard your plane directly onto the tarmac. Baggage claim is outside under a carport type structure. It looks like this airport is mainly used for flight schools, package delivery, news and police planes/helicopters and a few airlines, Jet Blue is one.

I heard that LGB is very small....even tho I am considering flying into LGB I am not sure where we'll leave from...likely LAX because the plan is to head to Aulani after DL. Then who knows what we'll do for the ride home....I want to go home from Maui on a late evening flight w/o having to go back over to HNL if we can. It's looking like it may all be piece-mealed together. But I appreciate your knowledge of the CA airports & transportation!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Thanks for the tips!! I'll be sure to check their rates from Long Beach before I book anything... I am not booking air until we get all of our ressies secured (VGC and Aulani).

OOh, nice trip.

When I saw you had replied, and was reminded of your username, I realized "well OF COURSE she's going to research everything before booking".


That's good info about LGB! I missed out on the flat rate to SNA because I didn't make absolutely sure to do all I needed to do to secure it. All I said was something like "what is the rate to SNA" and he gave me a number, but then ran the meter which was a LOT higher than what he had said and what I *thought* we had agreed to. It was not our finest hour of communication and I was quite irritated with him and me.