if I was to plan a trip...???

[SandrA9810]

I would really love to go to California, but I've never been there and have no idea where to start at.

What airport do I fly into? And does Disney offer a shuttle service or is renting a car best?
I really want to stay at one of the hotels there, so transportation during isn't necessary. Plus it would be a really short trip, 3 or 4 days tops.

Where do I start??

 

[jonsmom57]

I would really love to go to California, but I've never been there and have no idea where to start at.

What airport do I fly into? And does Disney offer a shuttle service or is renting a car best?
I really want to stay at one of the hotels there, so transportation during isn't necessary. Plus it would be a really short trip, 3 or 4 days tops.

Where do I start??

I am in the very early planning stages-so much to learn....so much to do. I have never been to California either.

From what I have read, flying into Santa Ana, Orange County airport is the closest, most hassle-free airport.

Disney does not offer a shuttle service, but their are several buses, car services that are available, I dont think I am allowed to post them. If you visit HydroGuy's tips, you will get many many ideas.

From what i have read, staying on property does not have the priviledges that come from staying on property at WDW. There are many good neighbor hotels that offer good rates on rooms.

I do not plan on renting a car since I will stay in a good neighbor hotel and walk to DLR & DCA.

jonsmom

 

[disneegrl4eva]

I am in the very early planning stages-so much to learn....so much to do. I have never been to California either.

From what I have read, flying into Santa Ana, Orange County airport is the closest, most hassle-free airport.

Disney does not offer a shuttle service, but their are several buses, car services that are available, I dont think I am allowed to post them. If you visit HydroGuy's tips, you will get many many ideas.

From what i have read, staying on property does not have the priviledges that come from staying on property at WDW. There are many good neighbor hotels that offer good rates on rooms.

I do not plan on renting a car since I will stay in a good neighbor hotel and walk to DLR & DCA.

jonsmom

did a good job on your homework jonsmom but I just want to advise of one thing...be really careful which good neighbor hotel you are staying at because alot of them say they are 1 or 2 blocks from DL and CA but they arent really walkable....imo, only the ones directly in front to the left/right of the main walkway are walkable....now some like to walk for 15 or 20 min but that cuts in too much playtime and what about when you are leaving the park? tired and such...who wants to walk that long???

 

[jonsmom57]

Lynn,

I love your signature. So cute!

The hotels which I am considering are said to be across the street. Many have recommended BWPPI, HO JO's, and Carousel.

I agree with you, at the end of a very long day, that 10-15 minute walk can seem endless.

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

well for airfare go to airline website for the best price you will pay more for fees for orbitz and travelocity and what ever other ones they have.

Best place to fly into is long beach it is much cheaper then SNA in my case anyways but long beach is only 2 miles futher. I would price both to make sure.

I have always rented a car from long beach using priceline and bidding my own price I can get the cheap car for 15 bucks a day.

Someone can chime in about taxi or whatever what the flat rate is from both airports. If the taxi is alot cheaper from SNA then it is from LGB then it might be a wash on the airline tickets.

This time Im going next weekend and Im flying into burbank because it was cheaper then LGB and SNA. But the rent a car is costing me 22 bucks a day instead of 15 so really it is a wash I could of went to LGB and paid the same in the end oh well live and learn.

Im still trying to figure out why people would pay more money to go to SNA when LGB is cheaper and only 2 miles longer am I missing something

 

[jonsmom57]

bluegrizzlies1

I have never priced airfare from Long Beach. I didnt realize it was just two miles further.

When it does come time to book my flight I will look into SNA, LGB and even LAX since I dont plan on driving or renting a car in DLR/DCA. Whichever is cheaper works for me.

SNA seems to be hassle-free according to people's opinions on these boards.

I live in the Boston area and we can either fly out of Boston or out of Providence, RI. Providence is a smaller, stress-free airport, but flights in/out are exceptionally high. It is also the only airport that we can access SWA, which is often less than some of the major carriers flying out of Boston.

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

Im not sure what you pay for tickets but jet blue flys from boston to long beach.

 

[jonsmom57]

I have never flown to CA, so I dont know what is a "good" price.

I am flying to Miami in 8 weeks and paid over $400 for those tickets.

But....it is school vacation, peak cruising time.

It is a direct flight.

When I was pricing tickets Jet Blue was $300 one way. YIKES.

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

what days do you plan on going

try www.bookingbuddy.com it can help compare everything that is available.

 

[jonsmom57]

Not til next year, thanks so much, what a great website

 

[ballarinamom]

We always take a cab from SNA (orange county) to DLH and it runs about $35 each way. The bell captain ca give you a coupon for a gauranteed fare going back. If you won't need a car while there, that's an easy option. While planning you meals, check out allears.net for the menus of all restaraunts at DL, DCA, DTD and the hotels. Also checkout the Disneyland site for the calender so you know when the park hours are and EEs are. Also, figure out where all of the Fastpasses are and that Grizzly River Rapids and Roger Rabbit Ride are not connected to the fastpass system. That means if your fastpass window hasn't opened yet, you could still grab a fastpass for these rides

 

[blackjackdelta]

did a good job on your homework jonsmom but I just want to advise of one thing...be really careful which good neighbor hotel you are staying at because alot of them say they are 1 or 2 blocks from DL and CA but they arent really walkable....imo, only the ones directly in front to the left/right of the main walkway are walkable....now some like to walk for 15 or 20 min but that cuts in too much playtime and what about when you are leaving the park? tired and such...who wants to walk that long???

I find the walk back to the hotel after the park closes kinda nice. The place we stay at is under 1/2 mile and I like to get away from the tired and cranky on the shuttle or wait for the shuttle when I could walk faster.
I do agree with Lynn, that if you can find accomadtions that meet your needs across Harbor from the entrance, go for it, but make sure what you are seeing distance wise is in actuality correct.

Jack