Help! Just found out today we are going next week! Never been :)

[heathrow42]

So, our company decided today to send DH and I out to Cali to give a presentation.. We are flying from a conference in Seatlle into LAX and need to go to Marina Del Ray. After the presentation we can go do whatever we want

My questions, that I haven't been able to find answers to:

How far is Marina Del Ray from the Airport? (Can we reasonably take a cab?)

Any recomendations for a hotel in Marina Del Ray? If we're lucky we only need it for one night.

How long would it take to get to DL from Marina Del Ray? (Should we rent a car/cab/shuttle/something else?)

I need to find a hotel in DL too.. I am hoping for one of the DL hotels I will call them in the morning.

Then we need to fly home. Any recomendations on what airport? It seems this area of Cali is like DC - here we have 3 choices for airports, DC is a pain to get to with traffic, Dulles is very yuppy, lots of shops and restaurants, and Baltimore is just boring and usually the cheapest, but I wouldn't go there on a Friday during rush hour

So, What can you tell me about the differences between Orange County (SNA), Long Beach (LGB), Ontario (ONT), Los Angeles (LAX) and Burbank (BUR)? We are going to try and stay until Saturday or Sunday.

Anything we just should not miss at DL? We've been to WDW dozens of times, but have never been to California. I've enjoyed reading about what everyone else loves at DL.

Thanks for any help you may give!!

--heather

 

[tinkerbell13]

I only have help with a couple of things...sorry...Try expedia for the Disneyland hotel. They have been quoting a rate of $169 for me on Tues.I don't know what day(s) you are staying, but that is the best rate I have found besides the AP discount. GC has been booked up for some reason.
Don't miss Soarin Over Cali at DCA, Indiana Jones at DL. Don't know how you feel about parades, but people are raving over the new one, I would rather ride the rides. I haven't seen the fireworks yet, but plan to next week also.
I love ONT airport, it is super easy to get around in, small, and is nice and new. It is about 35 min form DLR with little traffic. Orange County(SNA) is the closest but I have never flown out of that one. Good Luck and have fun!
Try here:http://www.visitthemarina.com/index.php/transportation/from_LAX.html
for transport info, it seems close to MDR.

 

[Magix]

Marina del Rey is only a few minutes from LAX. You just head down Sepulveda Blvd a few hundred yards to Lincoln (veer left), which takes you straight into MdR. I'm driving that route tonight for a coastal navigation class in MdR. Literally about 10 or 15 minutes at the most. A cab should be no problem. As for hotels in MdR... the only places I know of are very expensive. I'm talking Ritz Carlton here. There's a hotel along the route, on Lincoln near the airport. Can't think of the name... Furama? I'll check my sailing school website; they have lodging information.

As for airports, if you're in the DL area, OC Airport is the closest, but typically costs more. If you can get a flight out of Long Beach, it's way the best - very small and very easy. Ontario is terrific, but it's a long drive. LAX is typically cheapest, but you need to allow more time to get there and get through security. Don't bother with Burbank... it's always way more expensive than the others and it's pretty far from DLR.

 

[Magix]

Here's a link to local lodging information on the Bluewater Sailing website http://www.bluewatersailing.com/hotels.php . They break the hotels down into three categories by general price range and provide links to the bigger chain hotels. The also give an indicator of how far each is from the school (which is located on Bali Way, if you have a map of the area).

Hope that helps you figure out where to stay!

 

[Judy from Boise]

My advice for DL is to try it all ! You will love it's charm and how close things are. Make sure to get a hopper ticket so you can hit DCA also.

 

[drgalyen]

As far as flying out... we are flying from Portland and have found that it is only a few dollars more to fly into SNA instead of LAX. It is closer and smaller.

 

[HaleyB]

SNA is by far my first choice ONT would be second. Where ever you stay at MDR should offer you free transportation from LAX but a cab would be fine. I don't know of anywhere to stay.

DL and DCA are great. Stay at the Grand Californian if you can.