Help convince me: Ground Transport

[MandNCC]

Ok getting close to finalizing everything for our trip, I'm trying to justify spending more on our ground transportation with Lansky versus the Disneyland shuttle. I like the idea of the car service taking less time, truly being door to door (Camelot) and the stop for groceries. DH is being quite negative about the grocery stop, he doesn't seem to think I can get in and out of a store that quick... Anyone who has used them have some feedback?? Thanks!

 

[justgrace]

I know that for the Disneyland shuttle, it only stops directly at some hotels. For Camelot, it drops you off at the bus stop next to Captain Kidd's restaurant (a few hotels down, right across from the walk way into Disneyland) and then you have to walk to the hotel. With luggage, this can be a pain in the neck.

I haven't used Lansky car service, so don't have any advice there. But, if it is a concern about time with grocery shopping, there's always the option of ordering groceries through Vons delivery. We've used Von's delivery the past 4 trips to Disneyland, and it has been wonderful! Your first order over $50 is free. You just have to pick a window for them to drop off your order, but you have to be present as the front desk won't accept or hold deliveries for you. We've just picked a window where we knew we were going to be back at the hotel for a break, and it worked out perfectly.

 

[Aladora]

We used Lansky's a couple of trips ago when we went to Universal before heading to Disneyland. I left DH and DS in the car while I ran in to Target to grab stuff. We didn't need a huge amount of groceries so 20 minutes was plenty.

As someone else recommended, ordering from Von's is a good alternative.

 

[planningjollyholiday]

We have used lansky before and really liked it. I don't like to have to wait for buses, or the multiple stops, so taxi and private car are the way to go for our family. As long as you have a list prepared for the grocery stop then the 20 minutes should be fine. I found the stop to be a huge help, since we just needed some basics, and it was nice to get it over with at the beginning of the trip.

 

[lalasmama]

How long are you staying? How many people will you have? Ages? I'm wondering about children in the car seat age range, mainly. If there's kids needing car seats, I'd use the Disneyland Resort Express (DLRE), basically just to avoid having to install car seats in an unfamiliar vehicle. (I don't trust rented seats--has it been in an accident? Vomited on? Peed on? Cleaned appropriately [yep, there's a correct method to cleaning car seats]? Will they bring/have the appropriate seat for my child's height/weight/size/age? Lansky's just replaced their seats about a year ago, after having a fleet of expired seats, and drivers with no clue how to actually install them.) Yes, DLRE can be a pain--having to walk a few hotels from your stop when you get dropped off, and then another (possibly different) spot to be picked up. They aren't very punctual either. But, for the price (are kids still free?), it's a pretty fair deal. And an even better deal if it means not having to install car seats more than necessary!

As far as the grocery stop goes, I've always meant/planned to do Von's, but in all reality, it's rarely ever been needed, even when DD8 and I stayed for 8 days. We found we just never really ate in the room/hotel much, other than maybe at breakfast and a midnight snack for me after she was in bed. Tropicana (next door to Camelot) has a small market with basic necessities, some frozen food items, milk, etc. If there's something we need "often," I usually would just pop into whatever market was nearby. A little more expensive, perhaps, but the money I'm saving my not taking a hired car would make up the difference. Of course, if you have a family of 8 or such, where 8 breakfasts at the minimart would be cost-prohibitive, there's always Vons as well--free delivery on orders over $50--and delivered right to the hotel's front door. Or Amazon Fresh delivers to the resort area as well, if you are a Prime member. I don't remember how long Lansky's will stay for the grocery stop--20 minutes?--for me to shop, even for just essentials, for a family of 8 (that's what we currently have at our house!) would take me longer than the allotted time. (And holy cow, keeping several kids in the car with DH/DD23/Son-in-law while 1 or 2 adults went in to conquer it? There would be mutiny!) But, I also am completely terrible in new grocery stores, and get annoyed/frustrated when I can't find what I'm used to, in the place I'm used to it being.

It's a tough decision, obviously!

 

[MandNCC]

It is me DH and DS who is 2.5. We will have our car seat for the plane regardless of our ground transport and both of their vehicle types are ones I'm familiar with. I think if we had more than one kiddo or he was big enough to be on the plane without a car seat the bus would be more appealing.

 

[bumbershoot]

The quickness of any car service's grocery stop is absolutely impossible for me. Especially when you're dealing with totally unfamiliar grocery stores. (I don't do grocery shopping at Target, in case that's the place where it stops, since someone else mentioned it) Nope.

Honestly? I'd rent a car if the grocery stop is important to you.

FWIW, a 2.5 year old is totally old enough to be on a plane without a carseat. The ONLY thing the seat does for the child is keep them in place during the flight. Looks like you haven't done a disney trip with him, so I'm not sure if she's been on a plane. He might do totally and completely fine.