Easy transportation from Disneyland to Universal

[helenk]

My grandson (13) and I will be staying at the Disneyland hotel during the first week of March. He would like to go to Universal 1 day during our stay. I won't have a car, but wouldn't mind taking a tour bus that goes from Anaheim to Universal. Or would it be easier to use Uber or Lyft? Any suggestions?

 

[Pluto468]

My grandson (13) and I will be staying at the Disneyland hotel during the first week of March. He would like to go to Universal 1 day during our stay. I won't have a car, but wouldn't mind taking a tour bus that goes from Anaheim to Universal. Or would it be easier to use Uber or Lyft? Any suggestions?

It would be simplest to take an Uber, but it's a long ride.

 

[ParkHopper1]

There are some bus options but reports have been that departure and pickup times make the day pretty restrictive. Uber/Lyft would be the easiest but that can get pricey...you can go on the app or websites to get fare estimates. Probably cheaper and the most flexibility would be to rent a car for one day to make the trek on your own schedule. There are a few options in the DL resort area for car rentals. May also be even cheaper to Uber to SNA a pick up a car from there as airport locations can often be cheaper than the Neighborhood locations.

 

[helenk]

Thank you both for your input. I will have to do some more research.

 

[VicgirlBC]

We used Uber when we travelled from GCH to Universal on a weekday morning. We didn’t have to arrive at Universal until mid morning so we left around 9am and it took about an hour. I did get horribly car sick though, so definitely take something if you suffer like I do.

 

[Tinkaboo]

Check out Anaheim Tour Company, just google universal tours from Anaheim. Would be a really long day, might want to do it on your last day.
I havent used, just googled. I usually do a split stay, going first to Universal then to Disneyland, which is what a lot of people do.
Maybe someone on here has used this company and can provide feedback.
Good luck and have fun !

 

[tarheelalum]

Uber is the easiest but it can be quite expensive. I took an Amtrak train from near Burbank airport to Anaheim last year and it wasn’t bad at all. Business class tickets were around 30 dollars last time we did it. We were staying at the Sheraton at Universal and took an uber to the Amtrak station near the Burbank airport which wasn’t too long or expensive. When we got to Anaheim train station we took an Uber to Disneyland and that wasn’t bad either. But just taking an uber the entire trip would be quicker.

 

[maleficent55]

Check out Anaheim Tour Company, just google universal tours from Anaheim. Would be a really long day, might want to do it on your last day.
I havent used, just googled. I usually do a split stay, going first to Universal then to Disneyland, which is what a lot of people do.
Maybe someone on here has used this company and can provide feedback.
Good luck and have fun !

I agree with doing universal first. I haven’t done universal in years and never as I agree with doing universal first. I haven’t done universal in years and never as a combination with Disneyland.
But I highly recommend doing universal first, save the best for last. And avoid the letdown. Usually anything following Disneyland is a letdown.

 

[JerrodDragon89]

If your at Disneyland, coming to USH you could uber or find some way to Union Station, from Union station its easy to take the B Rail down to Universal

Only issue is also how much time that will take...I'd assume 2.5 hours if your not just driving it for one way

What does he want to do at Universal? (I also go to Universal almost weekly...so if you have any questions about the park just ask)

 

[Pluto468]

Thank you both for your input. I will have to do some more research.

Another option would be to fly into Burbank and do Universal for a day, then travel to Disneyland for the remainder of your trip and fly out of SNA.

 

[crystal1313]

Uber is the easiest but it can be quite expensive. I took an Amtrak train from near Burbank airport to Anaheim last year and it wasn’t bad at all. Business class tickets were around 30 dollars last time we did it. We were staying at the Sheraton at Universal and took an uber to the Amtrak station near the Burbank airport which wasn’t too long or expensive. When we got to Anaheim train station we took an Uber to Disneyland and that wasn’t bad either. But just taking an uber the entire trip would be quicker.

We tried this one time and our train was delayed by 2 hours. It was a hot mess. I know that doesn’t always happen but we were told freight trains have priority, and that was what caused the train to be late. I would uber or rent a car one day instead after that experience.

 

[Pluto468]

We tried this one time and our train was delayed by 2 hours. It was a hot mess. I know that doesn’t always happen but we were told freight trains have priority, and that was what caused the train to be late. I would uber or rent a car one day instead after that experience.

Yikes! That sounds awful.

 

[crystal1313]

Yikes! That sounds awful.

It was! Then when we got to the station in Anaheim none of the Ubers would pick us up when they saw we had luggage. We ended up taking ART. It was a very long afternoon.

 

[tarheelalum]

We tried this one time and our train was delayed by 2 hours. It was a hot mess. I know that doesn’t always happen but we were told freight trains have priority, and that was what caused the train to be late. I would uber or rent a car one day instead after that experience.

One could also easily sit on the freeway for hours as well if there is a crash. Stuff happens. But I’ve done it once with Amtrak and my coworker who told me about it it’s done it many times and never had an issue. And the Uber will cost double or more the amount of Amtrak easily. And another thing is I don’t want to sit in a car with a stranger for an hour plus.

 

[crystal1313]

One could also easily sit on the freeway for hours as well if there is a crash. Stuff happens. But I’ve done it once with Amtrak and my coworker who told me about it it’s done it many times and never had an issue. And the Uber will cost double or more the amount of Amtrak easily. And another thing is I don’t want to sit in a car with a stranger for an hour plus.

True. I was just pointing out that it could happen and it could take much longer than expected. It was not fun and I personally would never take Amtrak again. I’d rather rent a car and sit in traffic. We also had our children with us, so it wasn’t just me traveling. Luckily they were older and troopers about all the delays. I wasn’t trying to offend anyone. Just sharing my experience.

 

[bcla]

Bus/subway would be $5 all day on LA Metro, plus $2 for the TAP fare card. They also have a phone app where there’s no need to buy a card, but I’m not sure how that works for two. They have no youth fare. They should be able to sell cards on the LA Metro 460 bus, then transfer to the B (red) line subway. Universal has a tram across from the Universal City subway station. I’ve taken it myself, but it was only for CityWalk.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Dis...3e3?g_ep=Eg1tbF8yMDI2MDEyOF8xIJvbDyoASAJQAg==

 

[twodogs]

We tried this one time and our train was delayed by 2 hours. It was a hot mess. I know that doesn’t always happen but we were told freight trains have priority, and that was what caused the train to be late. I would uber or rent a car one day instead after that experience.

I agree with this!

We did an Uber, and went on a week day, leaving DLR about 7am I think. It was easy, and took less than an hour. I think that an Uber has less variables than public transportation, with very few exceptions.

You could rent a car, but you need to be comfortable driving in heavy traffic on multi lane freeways. I live in Dallas, and I would not mind doing it, but you may feel differently about it.

Another option is a private shuttle service like Lansky’s which is nicer than an Uber, and more predictable with niceness of vehicle. It is a professional driver, versus Uber. I will say that as a woman, on Lyft you can request a female driver, if that appeals to your situation. If I am in a Lyft by myself or with my DDs but without my DH, I usually choose that option, because it makes me more comfortable (I have had great Lyft rides with male drivers many, many times also though).

Certainly it also depends on your priority: lowest cost, easiest transport, fastest transport, etc.

 

[bcla]

I agree with this!

We did an Uber, and went on a week day, leaving DLR about 7am I think. It was easy, and took less than an hour. I think that an Uber has less variables than public transportation, with very few exceptions.

You could rent a car, but you need to be comfortable driving in heavy traffic on multi lane freeways. I live in Dallas, and I would not mind doing it, but you may feel differently about it.

Another option is a private shuttle service like Lansky’s which is nicer than an Uber, and more predictable with niceness of vehicle. It is a professional driver, versus Uber. I will say that as a woman, on Lyft you can request a female driver, if that appeals to your situation. If I am in a Lyft by myself or with my DDs but without my DH, I usually choose that option, because it makes me more comfortable (I have had great Lyft rides with male drivers many, many times also though).

Certainly it also depends on your priority: lowest cost, easiest transport, fastest transport, etc.

Lowest cost (and most time) is going to be LA Metro). I consider it easy, albeit slow for the bus but relatively fast for the subway.