Flying into John Wayne - SNA?

[vettegirl]

SNA is one my favorite airports in the world. Small, clean, and close to DL! Flying in a Friday and saved for both my DH and I $300 over the busy LAX.

 

[mrswh]

I LOVE SNA. Love! It is a small airport but has none of the disadvantages of a small airport - it's modern, clean, and has plenty of places to eat. Like some others, we will pay extra to fly there over LAX.

The flight path for SNA goes over some residential areas of OC and there are strict noise abatement rules (G*d forbid someone in Newport Beach should hear an airplane). Thus the short field takeoff - rather than a long runway roll gathering speed, they spool up the engines while stopped at the end of the runway, release the brakes, and rocket down the runway, with a steep climb after takeoff. Shortly after you are airborne, there is a big power reduction and sharp turn - nothing scary on its own, just a little disconcerting if you don't know it's coming. (The first time, I thought for sure we were going back to the airport for a mechanical problem ) Just consider it your last Disney ride before going home.

 

[Congo Queen]

Just flew in and out of SNA for family trip to DLand last week. It is our preferred airport (manageable size and soooo close to DLand.) My strategy for a group of 4 is to skip the shuttles altogether b/c a cab ride last week was $55 (incl tip) for my family of 4. If we'd taken a shuttle it would have cost as much or even more. Plus taxi is so fast. They are right there waiting when you come out of baggage claim. The drive was maybe 20 minutes max. And flying out of SNA means you can spend more time in the parks on your last day as you don't need to figure in as much travel time back to airport as you would for Long Beach or LAX.

 

[JacksGirlz]

Also like SNA. Have flown into there many times. It is more updated than LGB (Long Beach) but still so much smaller than LAX so it's easier to get around.

 

[socalduo]

Anyone know if Virgin flys out of John Wayne? We're flying out sunday from LAX. Only place with a nonstop to Orlando, not even San Diego had a nonstop (where we live). That's one thing I'd be wondering.

 

[skellinton]

How much would a taxi run for one person from SNA to DL? Trying to decide if I should do that or just do a shuttle (i am going down a day earlier than the rest of my fam).

 

[disneyparami]

How much would a taxi run for one person from SNA to DL? Trying to decide if I should do that or just do a shuttle (i am going down a day earlier than the rest of my fam).

When we took a taxi to the Grand Californian a couple of weeks ago it ran about $36 plus tip.

 

[Mr Snappy]

Yeah, this is actually strange.
For years, the cheapest place to fly in to the LA area was LAX...By far.
We had flown into SNA a few times, but it always cost more.

But starting late last year, SNA became significantly cheaper for us (we live in Kansas City)....i'm talking about $80-$150 PER ticket!

Not sure why the big change, but we prefer SNA, so its all good from our stand-point

 

[kjs1976]

Just home from Disneyland and went through SNA. Loved it! Small, easy to navigate, great food choices, super close to DL and easy to drive to. We used Thrifty rental cars and had a great experience. Good thing I factored in an extra half hr for traffic this AM!

 

[MrsMears]

I have rotate looking at fares for LAX, SNA and LGB. Thankfully most of my flights have us going in and out of SNA since it is SO much closer to the parks!

I LOVE SNA. Love! It is a small airport but has none of the disadvantages of a small airport - it's modern, clean, and has plenty of places to eat. Like some others, we will pay extra to fly there over LAX.

The flight path for SNA goes over some residential areas of OC and there are strict noise abatement rules (G*d forbid someone in Newport Beach should hear an airplane). Thus the short field takeoff - rather than a long runway roll gathering speed, they spool up the engines while stopped at the end of the runway, release the brakes, and rocket down the runway, with a steep climb after takeoff. Shortly after you are airborne, there is a big power reduction and sharp turn - nothing scary on its own, just a little disconcerting if you don't know it's coming. (The first time, I thought for sure we were going back to the airport for a mechanical problem ) Just consider it your last Disney ride before going home.

This was such an informative comment, thank you!

 

[yankeepenny]

Just home from Disneyland and went through SNA. Loved it! Small, easy to navigate, great food choices, super close to DL and easy to drive to. We used Thrifty rental cars and had a great experience. Good thing I factored in an extra half hr for traffic this AM!

welcome home!

I booked us a thrifty car saturday. all the rates at SNA were so good. I saved some $$ using the airport this year .

and thanks to MRSWH - for the heads up. I can deal with take offs. it is the landings that make me cover my mouth-
I am hoping IF i can do it on an airliner, I can finally do splash mountain,.

 

[OneoftheMels]

I agree too, SNA is much nicer to fly in and out of then LAX!

 

[cobbler]

We just flew out of SNA & it was soooooo easy & nice. I would choose it over LAX & I've never flown into LAX. Security was easy, check in was easy.

I also didn't experience the weird take off like others have mentioned, it seemed normal to me. My take off from MSP seemed more eventful. I didn't notice the cutback of power at all. Maybe it was due to the size of the plane...

 

[LisainCalifornia]

I love SNA. It is a super-modern, sleek, clean airport. If you have never been there, you will be amazed at how great it is.

And don't bother with Disneyland Express! You are so close to Disneyland. Just take a cab or cab-van that are waiting at the curb lined up. They will give you a flat rate to Disneyland or the surrounding hotels, and it make life so much easier.

You can take Super Shuttle as well, but once I took one of the minivan cabs they have there, I realized it was worth it's weight in gold. They take you straight to your hotel with no other stops, and you don't have to wait for them, ever.

 

[IBLarsen]

I love SNA. It is a super-modern, sleek, clean airport. If you have never been there, you will be amazed at how great it is.

And don't bother with Disneyland Express! You are so close to Disneyland. Just take a cab or cab-van that are waiting at the curb lined up. They will give you a flat rate to Disneyland or the surrounding hotels, and it make life so much easier.

You can take Super Shuttle as well, but once I took one of the minivan cabs they have there, I realized it was worth it's weight in gold. They take you straight to your hotel with no other stops, and you don't have to wait for them, ever.

Can I ask what your flat rate charge was for the minivan cab?? We were planning on the DL Express so I could avoid bringing a booster seat for DD. but it may be worth it.....

 

[mydisneymoney]

What about LGB (Long Beach)? I hear it is a small airport as well. What is the travel time like between it and DLR compared to SNA and DLR?

 

[martikus]

Can I ask what your flat rate charge was for the minivan cab?? We were planning on the DL Express so I could avoid bringing a booster seat for DD. but it may be worth it.....

We paid $10 a person for a van. They had a booster seat and came and got us while we were waiting for the DL bus for the same reason you mentioned.

We loved SNA. On the way home we left hotel and were sitting at our gate within 40 minutes.

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

What about LGB (Long Beach)? I hear it is a small airport as well. What is the travel time like between it and DLR compared to SNA and DLR?

Aprox 20 minutes. It's much closer than using LAX and just a tad further than SNA ...not by much though. We are flying into LGB and out of SNA in December because we got a great rate on one way tickets vs. roundtrip.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

Can I ask what your flat rate charge was for the minivan cab?? We were planning on the DL Express so I could avoid bringing a booster seat for DD. but it may be worth it.....

35.00 is the going rate--and I have never heard of a per person charge. We are a family of five. Of course you will also need to tip as appropriate (I do 20% across the board, as that is the California 'norm').

 

[LisainCalifornia]

What about LGB (Long Beach)? I hear it is a small airport as well. What is the travel time like between it and DLR compared to SNA and DLR?

We have used LGB when we had to (like flying Jet Blue)--but truthfully, I hate it. It is a very small, dumpy airport made up of a bunch of portables. You get off the airplane outside of the terminal (so down outdoor steps, through a maze of outdoor walkways--led into a terminal that looks like grandma's basement). High tech and modern it is NOT. Waiting for luggage or a car rental? Be prepared to wait. It is nothing like SNA.

Even the luggage claim is outside under a portable. The car rental places are excruciatingly slow. The drive to DL is usually done only by surface streets, so you have to deal with stopping/starting traffic.