Is it reasonable to think...?

[clairabell29]

If we are landing in SNA at 9:18am on Saturday March 12, do not have checked baggage (only carry on), take a taxi to our hotel, check in and walk the 10min to the park that we would be at DL gates by 11am?

I'm trying to figure out what we're going to do the first day we're there. We will be closing the park that night. I know the 12th is going to be busy, it's the first weekend of spring break and almost all the hotels are sold out on that Saturday night.

Here is my thoughts for that Saturday:

SM (fp)
Matterhorn
Jungle cruise
Indy (FP)
HM
BTMRR (FP)
Pixie Hallow
canoe ride
F! using light trick

Head over to DCA at some point during the day and do

Screaming (fp or SR)
Soarin' (fp or SR)
Monsters Inc
TOT
TSMM
GRR (fp or SR)

Maybe do an early dinner at GK?

It's just my DNiece and I. Am I trying to cram too much in one day? We have Sat from the time we get to the parks, Sun, Mon, and leave Tuesday at 4pm to head to the airport for our 7pm flight home.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Probably.

If you get a taxi fairly quickly, have no issues on your drive, get checked in smoothly and don't spend much time in your room, you could be there by 11am.

Maybe a bit after, but probably.

- Dreams

 

[Peace.love.mickey]

Yes, as long as you are ontime!!!!

 

[TheColtonsMom]

You may even be earlier...when we flew into SNA (with checked bags) at Christmas we landed early and were on the DLR express and headed to the park before our flight was even supposed to have landed. We were checked into our hotel and in DTD 1 hour and 15 minutes after we landed.

 

[Captain Hindsight]

I don't think you can do all that even if you arrive at the park at 11. If the park is real busy you may have a hard time getting all those fastpasses. Also the canoe ride takes time.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

yes, we fly into SNA all the time--and that is the great thing about it. It is so close to parks. We often land at 11:00, and are sitting in Carnation Cafe eating lunch by noon. And this is even with check in to the Disneyland Hotel. I love SNA! It is super easy to get a taxi, too. They are always just lined up out front waiting to take you to the pearly gates.

 

[clairabell29]

Probably.

If you get a taxi fairly quickly, have no issues on your drive, get checked in smoothly and don't spend much time in your room, you could be there by 11am.

Maybe a bit after, but probably.

- Dreams

Am I wrong in thinking there are tons of taxi's just waiting outside of SNA? I've never flown into there before, always done LGB with shared shuttle. Thought we'd do a taxi because the cost to quickness ratio seemed good.

You may even be earlier...when we flew into SNA (with checked bags) at Christmas we landed early and were on the DLR express and headed to the park before our flight was even supposed to have landed. We were checked into our hotel and in DTD 1 hour and 15 minutes after we landed.

WOW! You've given me hope! That would be very nice if it were to happen that way! I won't count on it though

 

[Karenann*]

I think you will be able to be in the parks enjoying your time by 11. De-board and walk out of the terminal by 9:45, at you hotel checking in by 10:15 (or at least stowing your carry-ons). Walk to the parks and voila!

By the way, I like your vacation ticker...good taste!

Have a magical time with your niece...you are a great auntie!

 

[LisainCalifornia]

Am I wrong in thinking there are tons of taxi's just waiting outside of SNA? I've never flown into there before, always done LGB with shared shuttle. Thought we'd do a taxi because the cost to quickness ratio seemed good.



There are always taxis waiting at the curb to take people to Disneyland from SNA--it is a big source of income for the drivers there. It is easy and quick. We always check our bags, but even that is a very quick process at SNA. Once we get our bags, we are at our hotel within 15 mins or so.

 

[cloudconnected1039]

I would say the most time consuming part of the process would be getting your bags, that is if you're checking them. I've heard the baggage claim is pretty slow at SNA, but I wouldn't know, I always just have a carry on Otherwise, the taxi bay is AMAZING to say the least. Whenever I get back, I can run to the taxi bay, get a slip, and I have the taxi driver waiting for me with the trunk open and friendly smile on their face Compared to other taxis I've been in, OC taxis are fantastic

 

[clairabell29]

By the way, I like your vacation ticker...good taste!

Have a magical time with your niece...you are a great auntie!

Like your ticker too We hope to have a wonderful time. It's her first time and my first time during a really really busy spring break. We went during spring break one year, but it wasn't super busy, mid-august was a lot busier. With all the hotels booked up 3 weeks out, I'm expecting massive crowds and am a little Just don't want to be unable to enter the park due to the gates closing because of crowds!

I would say the most time consuming part of the process would be getting your bags, that is if you're checking them. I've heard the baggage claim is pretty slow at SNA, but I wouldn't know, I always just have a carry on Otherwise, the taxi bay is AMAZING to say the least. Whenever I get back, I can run to the taxi bay, get a slip, and I have the taxi driver waiting for me with the trunk open and friendly smile on their face Compared to other taxis I've been in, OC taxis are fantastic

Can you tell me where the taxi bay is? Or is it easy to find? Do I go there to order the cab or just walk up to a cab that is parked? I have never used a taxi from an airport. Thank you!

 

[LisainCalifornia]

Can you tell me where the taxi bay is? Or is it easy to find? Do I go there to order the cab or just walk up to a cab that is parked? I have never used a taxi from an airport. Thank you!

The taxis are right outside of baggage claim. You just get your bags and walk straight outside. There is usually a man with a notebook who is directing the taxis that are lined up. You just go up to him and tell him you need a taxi to Disneyland, and he points to one. The taxi guy jumps out and helps you with your bags, and then you are at Disneyland Resort in about 15 minutes. We always get his card, so that we can call him for our return trip to the airport at the end of our trip. It makes it very easy.

I think you will really like SNA. It is so clean and modern compared to Long Beach or LAX.

 

[momrek06]

Wait, I am confused. SNA as in John Wayne …. I lived in Newport Beach for 2 years (after relocating to CA from MA) …. we drove all the time to DL from NB but it was more than 15 minutes and that traffic can be horrific at times.

We are now in SD but I am trying to figure out how it is a 15 minute cab ride to DL … ?

BTW, how much are you all paying to take a cab from SNA to DL?

 

[LisainCalifornia]

Wait, I am confused. SNA as in John Wayne …. I lived in Newport Beach for 2 years (after relocating to CA from MA) …. we drove all the time to DL from NB but it was more than 15 minutes and that traffic can be horrific at times.

We are now in SD but I am trying to figure out how it is a 15 minute cab ride to DL … ?

BTW, how much are you all paying to take a cab from SNA to DL?

If you mapquest it, it is 13 miles from SNA (John Wayne Airport) to Disneyland. They time it at 16 minutes. We have gotten there quicker. We have flown into SNA a few times a year for the last 10 years, and have never gotten stuck in traffic, thankfully. It is a quick freeway ride, then the cab gets off right by Disneyland.

It is usually 45.00 for a one way trip from SNA to DL.

 

[momrek06]

If you mapquest it, it is 13 miles from SNA (John Wayne Airport) to Disneyland. They time it at 16 minutes. We have gotten there quicker. We have flown into SNA a few times a year for the last 10 years, and have never gotten stuck in traffic, thankfully. It is a quick freeway ride, then the cab gets off right by Disneyland.

It is usually 45.00 for a one way trip from SNA to DL.

Thank you, Lisa, for your reply.

Yikes on the $45.00.

Well we went OFTEN on Friday evenings after work, 5pm, and that is the problem right there … that 15 minute ride is usually 45 minutes with the traffic. It would literally take us almost an hour to go those 13-15 miles to DL from NB.

 

[clairabell29]

The taxis are right outside of baggage claim. You just get your bags and walk straight outside. There is usually a man with a notebook who is directing the taxis that are lined up. You just go up to him and tell him you need a taxi to Disneyland, and he points to one. The taxi guy jumps out and helps you with your bags, and then you are at Disneyland Resort in about 15 minutes. We always get his card, so that we can call him for our return trip to the airport at the end of our trip. It makes it very easy.

I think you will really like SNA. It is so clean and modern compared to Long Beach or LAX.

Thank you so much! That sounds easy enough. On the way back do you usually get the flat $45 rate too?

Well we went OFTEN on Friday evenings after work, 5pm, and that is the problem right there … that 15 minute ride is usually 45 minutes with the traffic. It would literally take us almost an hour to go those 13-15 miles to DL from NB.

Thank you for the heads up on traffic. Our flight leaves on Tuesday at 7pm, so I'm assuming we want to leave about 4:30 to be there in time for check in? That is if the traffic flowing the opposite direction is as bad as NB to DL.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

45.00 is not really that much, especially when you have more than one person who is riding. We have a family of 5, and this is a total bargin to us! It actually costs less than using something like Super Shuttle.

I think you are comparing Newport Beach to SNA as far as the drive, but they are at different points. My husband is from Los Angeles (Palos Verdes) and we go several times a year, and believe me--I have been stuck in many L.A. traffic jams! We know the times to go around his house to avoid rush hour. Our trips into SNA are super painless compared to that--and the drive is truly easy. The only time we ever took a frustratingly long time to get to Disneyland was our last trip--we flew into Long Beach. Between the terrible car rental and street traffic (stop and go the whole way) we didn't get there for a few hours.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

Thank you so much! That sounds easy enough. On the way back do you usually get the flat $45 rate too?

Yes, the driver will quote you a flat rate for drive back. These drivers do this disneyland drive all the time, and they have it down to a science.

If your flight doesn't leave till 7:00, I wouldn't leave so early (4:45). This airport is very modern, but also very small. It isn't like checking into LAX. I would probably leave Disneyland at 5:15-5:30.

 

[clairabell29]

Thank you all so much! That really helps me feel a bit better about our first day there. Do you think I'm trying to cram too much in the first day, or is that a reasonable list of things to do? I'm trying to get her on most of the rides that have music during the fireworks between Sat and MM on Sunday so she will recognize the references on Sunday night.

Thanks again for all your help! You all are wonderful!

 

[Eeee-va]

As far as fitting the rides in, I think you might be being a bit optimistic for DCA--it appears you're trying to cram in 5 major rides there with a late start, plus 8 attractions and 1 show in DL (and maybe Goofy's Kitchen, which I imagine could take 90 minutes to 2 hours to execute?).

I think you MIGHT be able to do all of those (might take a LOT of rushing)...but when it comes down to it, you're basically planning to do probably half of DCA plus about 1/3 of DL in 13 hours, with a late start. If that were your only day at the parks I'd say YES, absolutely, go for it! But you have several more days. I found the one time I focused primarily on getting all the rides done most efficiently, I missed out on so much more magic in the parks. Did you have a particular reason you wanted to get so much done in DCA on Saturday?

Personally, I'd plan to take it a little easier that first day. If you really want to do everything, I'd narrow your list down by putting maybe 4 rides/attractions into a "nice to do" column. That might help alleviate stress because it wouldn't be like you "have" to do everything.

Since you're fine with doing Single Rider in DCA I would definitely do it for Indy if your priority is fitting the most rides in. It is most often a much faster wait than using a FP, and it's not unusual to end up in the same jeep, even.

Have a great trip!