Looking for advise. My hubby and I fly in on Thursday and it is our first time not staying 'on property'. Is a taxi our only option? We aren't renting a car. We like the
Disneyland Express but I think it only goes to the Disney hotels.
Thanks for any tips.
TK
Hi there!
If you're at the Best Western at 1630 Harbor, you couldn't have gotten much closer to the parks. Good on you!
DLR is our "local" and we have held annual passes for years now, even after a move to Seattle. At this point, giving them up would feel like "letting Seattle win." We're down -- twenty-hour drive, one way, Space Needle to Disneyland Main Entrance -- every chance we get.
So, transit options. We've done them all.
RENTAL CAR
It's nice to have a car, but depending on how long you're there, parking fees could really rack up. I'm not sure how much they are at the Best Western, but you'll want to check -- they're $14 a day at the Hilton, for example.
DISNEYLAND EXPRESS
You'll save a lot, but you'll make up for it in time. The bus stops at various hotels along the way and takes a long time, start to stop. Not bad if you've budgeted a day for travel there and a day back, but if you're trying to "cheat" a few extra hours on a hotel checkout day, you might be pushing it.
CAB
Taxis can be smelly and expensive, but are a known quality. Did you say you were coming in through LAX? It's quite far away and could cost you as much as $100 for the fare. Still, you'll have the ride to yourself, unlike...
FAKE DISNEYLAND EXPRESSES
Made this mistake exactly once. These jerks hang around at the Disneyland Express pickup area and poach customers. When you ask, So is this the Disneyland Express? they'll say, We go to Disneyland, sure! Expect nasty, stinky shuttles, beaten-down upholstery, and a stop at what feels like every other block. And then, when they pull you up at the hotel, don't be surprised if they suddenly say "cash only" and instruct you to go into the hotel and use the ATM. The one and only time we fell for this, I was complaining to at the reg desk of the hotel, and they told me these "pickup artists" (heh) are banned from their hotel...which explains why they let me out curbside and didn't bring me up to the door, ho ho. Even worse? I think it ended up being no much less than a cab...which we at least would have had to ourselves.
UBER and OTHER RIDE-SHARES
Depending on the airport, you may have to request the fancier Uber service such as the ones that come with a dude in a suit driving a Lincoln SUV. Super swank, but also super expensive. "Super Shuttle" is not terrible, but could be booked depending on your dates; you'd want to check. Not very inexpensive, and takes a long time due to the stopping-at-all-the-stops thing.
CONCLUSION
If you have the time, Disneyland Express is your best bet. You're so close to the park at Best Western -- just look at the location on Google Maps and figure out which hotel the Express DOES go to, and then get off there. Just because you get a drop off at a certain hotel doesn't mean you have to STAY at that hotel -- it's not as though anyone asks for IDs or room keys. This is what I'd do, anyway!
Please feel free to ask any questions you may have!
NF
