Getting 2 Adults, 5 Kids from LAX to HOJO

[sweakley]

What would be the cheapest way to get from LAX to HOJO?
We have 2 Adults, and 5 Kids with 9 pieces of luggage

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

Probably the Disneyland bus... With so many kids and so much luggage, plus the bus is the only way you wouldn't need car seats (assuming at least one or two of them are 8 and under?)

 

[pokee99]

Maybe try to rent a mini-van. HoJo has free parking. If you don't need a car at all for your trip - then take a cab. A cab would likely be cheaper then paying for tickets for the family on the Disneyland Express. More importantly, then you don't have to hang around waiting for the shuttle -that is a royal pain. I did that two years ago and it was tough...then the bus stopped at every hotel in Anaheim before getting to ours. We didn't get to our hotel until 3 hours later....

I'll likely be doing the same in Feb...I'd offer you a ride, but you wouldn't all fit in the back seat!

 

[MermaidHair]

What about Super Shuttle? With 7 people I think you get your own van. Worth costing it out.

 

[Hojoanaheim]

There are a couple options for transportation from LAX, if you didn't want to rent-a-car.

Disneyland Resort Express Bus:
One Way: $22 per adult and $ 19 per child ages 3-11
Round Trip: $32 per adult and $25 per child ages 3-11

Super Shuttle:
$ 16 per passenger ages 3 plus

There may be a taxi-van that you can pick up from the transportation area at the airport; each company has their own price but might be about $110 one way. OR if you would like private transportation, we do offer a private van that can pick up your family for about $145 flat rate, one way. If you would like to arrange the private van, please PM me and I can connect you with our reservation department.

Hope this helps,
Kriss

 

[NiceOneSimba]

I know it's been mentioned already, but I think it's important enough to mention again: according to California law, children under the age of 8 must ride in a booster (or car seat, if appropriate by age and weight).

Cabs and shuttle vans are not exempt from this law, but they do not provide boosters or car seats. The only kind of vehicle that is exempt is a big ol' bus.

And, that means that if you have any kids under eight your options are:

1. Check your boosters/car seats and bring them with you. Most airlines will check them for free. Then you can take whatever cab/shuttle service you want.

2. Use the Disneyland Express.

We used the DLE and found it to be pretty convenient, and we were glad to not have to store the car seat in our hotel room. If you look online you can usually find coupons or pre-paid vouchers, and I think there's some sort of "family rate" which will help bring the price down.

 

[KCmike]

I'm thinking maybe renting a mini van. What kind of car do you travel in when your at home?

 

[keltiesmom]

I know it's been mentioned already, but I think it's important enough to mention again: according to California law, children under the age of 8 must ride in a booster (or car seat, if appropriate by age and weight).

Cabs and shuttle vans are not exempt from this law, but they do not provide boosters or car seats. The only kind of vehicle that is exempt is a big ol' bus.

And, that means that if you have any kids under eight your options are:

1. Check your boosters/car seats and bring them with you. Most airlines will check them for free. Then you can take whatever cab/shuttle service you want.

2. Use the Disneyland Express.

We used the DLE and found it to be pretty convenient, and we were glad to not have to store the car seat in our hotel room. If you look online you can usually find coupons or pre-paid vouchers, and I think there's some sort of "family rate" which will help bring the price down.

Checking your Carseats with an airline is not recommended. The baggage handlers are not gentle with anything and could cause damage to your seats. If your children are in a paid seat it is much safer for them and your Carseats to use them on the plane. I am on the fence about bringing them or using the Disney express. I am leaning toward the Disney express for ease of use.

 

[cypressmom]

The Disneyland Resort Express

LAX Family Pass round-trip $99.99 (up to 5 people)


EDIT: Sorry - I thought I read 5 people, not 5 kids.

 

[disneymum58]

How old are your kids?

 

[MCBWHITE]

The Disneyland Resort Express

LAX Family Pass round-trip $99.99 (up to 5 people)


EDIT: Sorry - I thought I read 5 people, not 5 kids.

They will still let you do the family pass for five of the people in your group. They will even let you pay for the two extra people at the cheapest rate for your group. For example, you can use the family pass for the two adults and three of your full-fare kids. If two of your kids are ages 3 - 11, you can pay for those two with the child rate, saving you a few dollars. Kids under 3 are free. Hope that makes sense....

 

[NiceOneSimba]

Checking your Carseats with an airline is not recommended. The baggage handlers are not gentle with anything and could cause damage to your seats. If your children are in a paid seat it is much safer for them and your Carseats to use them on the plane. I am on the fence about bringing them or using the Disney express. I am leaning toward the Disney express for ease of use.

Oh, I agree, and my daughter has flown in her car seat a number of times.

I mentioned checking the seat, because my understanding is that you can't use a booster on the plane. It has to be a car seat you can secure to the airline seat with the seatbelt. So, you pretty much have no option but to check the booster if your child needs a booster instead of a carseat.

We found that we love the CARES harness system for her on plane trips. She is still under the weight limit for them, and they keep her safe and secure (and prevent her from kicking the seat in front of her, which she could do in her car seat). We check the high-back booster when we go to places we'll be driving. To Disneyland, we just take the DLR.

 

[ImNoPrince]

We flew to DL a couple of weeks ago with our 3 and 7 year olds. Boosters can not be used on the plane (or at least on Alaska) so we planned to gate check 7y.o.'s booster seat after reading here about not checking in kid's seats. Then, we ended up sitting in the row right behind first class. In those seats you can not use child car seats so we needed up having to gate check DD's car seat also. Not sure how careful the baggage handlers were, but we had no other choice once we got to the gate to board the plane.

I bet there are mini-van taxis. Might be worth some calls. Our friend who had a car ended up leaving DL with a family emergency so we arranged our own ride to the airport for flight home. We took a taxi with the two kids, and it only cost about $30-31.

 

[californiamomof4grls]

We also have a family of 7. Our last trip was planned for us and a car service came with car seats in a van shuttle thing. They brought the wrong kind of carseats the first time around and I told them and they had the still had the wrong seat when they picked us up. Having said that. When I planned the trip I looked in to the Disneyland Express and felt that was the best option for our large family. I can't imagine dragging carseats in addition to luggage, backpacks, strollers and my 5 kids! Good luck with your search!

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

We also have a family of 7. Our last trip was planned for us and a car service came with car seats in a van shuttle thing. They brought the wrong kind of carseats the first time around and I told them and they had the still had the wrong seat when they picked us up. Having said that. When I planned the trip I looked in to the Disneyland Express and felt that was the best option for our large family. I can't imagine dragging carseats in addition to luggage, backpacks, strollers and my 5 kids! Good luck with your search!

And you never know if the seats are expired or have been in an accident and should not be used. We always travel with our own car seat, brought the ones that are FAA approved for the plane (kids do planes better if they are strapped into a seat they are used to), and now that she is 8 we still bring the bum booster, and put it in the overhead on the plane. Yep, it's more work, but I'd rather be safe than sorry!

 

[luvsmickey1968]

When my kids were younger, we took the Disneyland Express all the time because I did not feel safe on the freeways without my children in booster seats. I have ridden in the shuttles without my children and I think they drive a little crazy! I also think it is a pain to bring your own boother with everything else you have to carry.

Yes, it takes a little longer to get to your hotel but on the positive side, you get a little sight seeing tour of Anaheim and get a feel for where all the hotels are that your not staying in.

We now rent a vehicle and we always rent an SUV because even though there is only 4 of us, we are overpackers so we have 4 large suitcases and we have found it is difficult to fit that much luggage into anything smaller.

I assume that the passenger vans they pick you up in account for people taking luggage but I don't know because we have never taken one.

However, with regard to renting a minivan, can you really fit 9 pieces of luggage in the back when all the seats have to be up for the 7 passengers?

Just some thoughts!

 

[sweakley]

Thank you for the great comments! I think we'll do the DL Express then