LAX or SNA?

[Matchboxjen]

What airport do you usually use when going to Disneyland? I will not be staying at a Disney hotel, so transportation to and from the airport is up to me. Flights into LAX are a little bit cheaper, but not sure if the travel time to the parks makes it worth it. What do you usually take to your hotel? Shuttle? Taxi?

Thanks!

 

[Disneyluvr2]

I always fly into SNA. I love that airport! It's so easy to manage and it's the closest airport to the park. You might pay a little more for your flight into SNA, but you'll get to your hotel faster and ground transportaion will be a lot less too. It's usually about a 20 minute ride to the hotel.

LAX can be a 45 minutes to an hour shuttle ride(depending on time of day) and will cost a lot more than the shuttle from SNA. It's been years since I've flown into LAX (Thank goodness!) so maybe someone else can give you more accute numbers.

 

[MickeyFan18]

Definitely SNA or LGB, LAX is farther and you hit a lot more traffic... Plus, taxis and shuttles can be gotten way easier from SNA and LGB,

 

[Matchboxjen]

Definitely SNA or LGB, LAX is farther and you hit a lot more traffic... Plus, taxis and shuttles can be gotten way easier from SNA and LGB,

Thanks. Leaning towards SNA!

 

[Califlove]

The last few times I've flown into SoCal, it's been via SNA. It's a nice aiprort, not much bigger than Winnipeg's and so low key compared to LAX. Taxi will cost b/w 40-45.00. A shuttle will be a bit less. We usually rent a car when we're down there.
If you choose SNA, you won't regret it.
And West Jet flies in there too. Rates are quite reasonable, as you may have already found out.
Good luck and Happy Travels.

 

[BirdsSingWords]

SNA, always. As mentioned above, any increase in airfare is offset by the cheaper and faster transport to the hotel. We use Super Shuttle, reserved in advance.

 

[Matchboxjen]

The last few times I've flown into SoCal, it's been via SNA. It's a nice aiprort, not much bigger than Winnipeg's and so low key compared to LAX. Taxi will cost b/w 40-45.00. A shuttle will be a bit less. We usually rent a car when we're down there.
If you choose SNA, you won't regret it.
And West Jet flies in there too. Rates are quite reasonable, as you may have already found out.
Good luck and Happy Travels.

Yeah I'm thinking SNA.

I thought rates were kind of pricey actually. I'm having difficulty finding anything under $550, $600.

 

[Husker Mickey]

We've flown into both. SNA is a wonderful little airport, but we also have encountered much higher rates. We will be flying into LAX this time due to the flights being much less and the times were much better too. We take the Disneyland Express to our good neighbor hotel. It is very doable from either airport as long as you are staying at a good neighbor hotel. Rates are reasonable.

 

[Geemo]

SNA is our preferred airport. It's small and easy to navigate.

However, as mentioned also check the rate for flights into LAX. Sometimes LAX is flights are a lot less. Then it depends on the price difference.

Geemo

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

We've flown into both. SNA is a wonderful little airport, but we also have encountered much higher rates. We will be flying into LAX this time due to the flights being much less and the times were much better too. We take the Disneyland Express to our good neighbor hotel. It is very doable from either airport as long as you are staying at a good neighbor hotel. Rates are reasonable.

This! We fly into SNA if it's possible, but this upcoming trip we are flying into LAX because the flights are significantly cheaper (especially when x6 of us) and the cost of the Disneyland Express is only a few dollars more per person from LAX. Yes it's more time, but not enough to put out the extra money for airfare.

 

[Davidg83]

SNA is my favorite and I don't mind paying a little extra to fly into there, however, if there's a killer deal at LAX I'll go there. SNA is much closer, and a lot less crowded than LAX. You can usually get checked in and through security fairly quickly at SNA. If you choose LAX avoid flying in during commute times. You'll be sitting in traffic for a long time during the afternoon commute.

 

[lalasmama]

I've flown into each airport in the past year... Here's my take:

SNA is smaller and feels somewhat "easier" for someone new to airport travel. I loved the "Ground Transportation" signs. So easy when I had never been there before! However, it cost more to fly in there (by about $50+ each way). I take the Disneyland Resort Express (DRE) to the hotel from either airport. I think it's about $15 less for round-trip DRE from SNA vs LAX. So, it's generally $35+ more in transportation costs (airline + ground transportation). One of the other options would be Super Shuttle or a flat-rate taxi, which is approx. $45 one-way... Or about $60 more than taking the DRE round-trip...

LAX is bigger, and I will admit to being freakishly scared of flying in/out of it before my first trip. When I finally conquered my fear, I found that LAX is just as well-marked re: directions as SNA. The color signs confused me momentarily (they call it something like "tour buses" or something, and I was trying to figure out if DRE was a "tour bus" or not, LOL). It was $50+ cheaper (each way) to fly into. DRE is under $35 round-trip from LAX and takes about an hour to get to the resort area. Taxi is approx. $105 one way from LAX to the resort area (without tip!). It seemed like it was a much shorter walk to get to the bus area at LAX.

I became a LAX believer when I worked out the numbers....

Airline prices: $50+ more for SNA
Ground transportation (DRE): $15 more at LAX
End result: $35+ less to fly into LAX

And where's that $35 going? That's 9 Dole Whips. Or 3 pins. Or 4 corn dog lunches. Or 9 pretzels. Or like 30 pressed pennies. Or a t-shirt. Or a few vinylmations. I could go on... and that's assuming the very *least* amount of savings, *one way*.

ETA: I'm willing to save $35+ by spending an extra hour on a tour bus each trip!

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

I've flown into each airport in the past year... Here's my take:

SNA is smaller and feels somewhat "easier" for someone new to airport travel. I loved the "Ground Transportation" signs. So easy when I had never been there before! However, it cost more to fly in there (by about $50+ each way). I take the Disneyland Resort Express (DRE) to the hotel from either airport. I think it's about $15 less for round-trip DRE from SNA vs LAX. So, it's generally $35+ more in transportation costs (airline + ground transportation). One of the other options would be Super Shuttle or a flat-rate taxi, which is approx. $45 one-way... Or about $60 more than taking the DRE round-trip...

LAX is bigger, and I will admit to being freakishly scared of flying in/out of it before my first trip. When I finally conquered my fear, I found that LAX is just as well-marked re: directions as SNA. The color signs confused me momentarily (they call it something like "tour buses" or something, and I was trying to figure out if DRE was a "tour bus" or not, LOL). It was $50+ cheaper (each way) to fly into. DRE is under $35 round-trip from LAX and takes about an hour to get to the resort area. Taxi is approx. $105 one way from LAX to the resort area (without tip!). It seemed like it was a much shorter walk to get to the bus area at LAX.

I became a LAX believer when I worked out the numbers....

Airline prices: $50+ more for SNA
Ground transportation (DRE): $15 more at LAX
End result: $35+ less to fly into LAX

And where's that $35 going? That's 9 Dole Whips. Or 3 pins. Or 4 corn dog lunches. Or 9 pretzels. Or like 30 pressed pennies. Or a t-shirt. Or a few vinylmations. I could go on... and that's assuming the very *least* amount of savings, *one way*.

ETA: I'm willing to save $35+ by spending an extra hour on a tour bus each trip!

So now I need to ask - is it considered a tour bus? I'd love to know exactly what I'm looking for since it will be the first time we fly into there.

I know it's a large airport - is it on par with SFO (San Francisco) and/or Atlanta, both of which I've done without a problem? We regularly fly out of SFO.

 

[lalasmama]

So now I need to ask - is it considered a tour bus? I'd love to know exactly what I'm looking for since it will be the first time we fly into there.

I know it's a large airport - is it on par with SFO (San Francisco) and/or Atlanta, both of which I've done without a problem? We regularly fly out of SFO.

I haven't been to many airports to compare LAX with. The only other "large" airport I have been to was PDX, and I'd say it's bigger than PDX, but I find it pretty easy to navigate! There are signs EVERYWHERE!

For the DRE, you will exit the plane and follow the signs to baggage claim. When you exit baggage claim to the outside of the airport, you will see passenger loading areas. Cross into the center "median" area (they call them islands, I think). You will catch the DRE under the green bus sign. There are these green bus signs at every baggage claim area, I think. If you don't see it immediately, walk one way or the other, and you will find it (other colored signs are for other modes of transport, like taxis and rental cars). And make sure to get the big Greyhound-style Disneyland Resort Express, not the little shuttle that says something like "Going to DISNEYLAND? We're EXPRESS!" They are NOT the same thing! There are conflicting reports about if LAX allows the DRE to be decorated; all the DRE busses I have been on to/from LAX are *not* decorated in any Disney fashion--just plain white. They just have a little sign in their front window that says Disneyland Resort Express. I think it took about 20 minutes from unloading to sitting on the island/median last time I went (in Feb). You can't count much on the times listed for DRE pick-up at LAX, in my experience--they drop off everyone first, then come to do the pick-ups, so their time is most dependent on how long it takes to unload everyone.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

I haven't been to many airports to compare LAX with. The only other "large" airport I have been to was PDX, and I'd say it's bigger than PDX, but I find it pretty easy to navigate! There are signs EVERYWHERE!

For the DRE, you will exit the plane and follow the signs to baggage claim. When you exit baggage claim to the outside of the airport, you will see passenger loading areas. Cross into the center "median" area (they call them islands, I think). You will catch the DRE under the green bus sign. There are these green bus signs at every baggage claim area, I think. If you don't see it immediately, walk one way or the other, and you will find it (other colored signs are for other modes of transport, like taxis and rental cars). And make sure to get the big Greyhound-style Disneyland Resort Express, not the little shuttle that says something like "Going to DISNEYLAND? We're EXPRESS!" They are NOT the same thing! There are conflicting reports about if LAX allows the DRE to be decorated; all the DRE busses I have been on to/from LAX are *not* decorated in any Disney fashion--just plain white. They just have a little sign in their front window that says Disneyland Resort Express. I think it took about 20 minutes from unloading to sitting on the island/median last time I went (in Feb). You can't count much on the times listed for DRE pick-up at LAX, in my experience--they drop off everyone first, then come to do the pick-ups, so their time is most dependent on how long it takes to unload everyone.

Thank you so much! This is very helpful!

 

[philliplc]

always LGB since we're coming from Portland and JetBlue typically runs stupidly cheap fare sales from there (last October $55 each way tax included).

 

[lalasmama]

always LGB since we're coming from Portland and JetBlue typically runs stupidly cheap fare sales from there (last October $55 each way tax included).

Any idea how much a taxi would cost from LGB to Harbor? That's always new my big fear flying into LGB--I've always rode the DRE to our hotel, and know the costs involved for that, and the unknown cab fare from LGB makes me anxious.

 

[halfgirlhalfmouse]

HANDS DOWN Sna. It is way closer, much smaller and easier to navigate through. There would be no reason I would ever go to LAX unless the price was way cheaper for some reason. But any time recently that I have booked a flight, LAX ended up being only about 10 bucks cheaper (and you will end up spending much more than that on a transportation fee). SNA every time for me. Have fun!

 

[Midnightred]

I really wanted to fly into SNA, but for my family, the price was $400 less to fly into LAX. Not to mention, we were able to get direct flights from El Paso. We have DK Livery picking us up at the baggage claim. We are flying in on a Sunday afternoon, so I really don't know how the traffic will be. I'm just glad we're not driving this time!

Midnightred

 

[Priory]

I would love to try SNA, but from my neck of the woods there are almost never flights there. If there are they are either wildly expensive, force you to fly well out of your way with layovers, or both. LAX is a nightmare, but it's one I've actually gotten very used to.