Lax?

[Momof2]

We're trying to put together a summer trip to DL and San Diego. We'll be flying into LAX and wonder what the airport is like? How easy to navigate? How easy to get in and out of? Hope to do a couple days at DL either before or after a 5 days or so in San Diego. Any thoughts on which we should do first? DL or San Diego? We think we wouldn't need rental car for the DL days, so we'd either go directly from LAX to DL by taxi or shuttle, and rent a car when we're ready to leave for SAn Diego. Or if we did San Diego first, guess we'd maybe want to return the car before settling in at DL. HELP!! Any advice on how to do this would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Judy from Boise]

I don't mind LAX at all...it is like any other busy airport. The Bus/shuttles to the hotels are right outside of baggage claim, all you have to do is cross 2 lanes into the meridian.
If you don't want to rent a car until you get to SD, you can always take the Amtrac train from Anaheim to SD. Many hotels have a free shuttle that will pick you up at the train station.

Either way, i think waiting to rent your car till after DL is a good idea. Even if you want to do a sight tour, I think paying for a Greyline Bus tour is still cheaper and easier than driving in LA on your vacation.

 

[teri]

LAX is a busy place, large... I just flew through there again last week, got stuck there for 3 extra hours and that was no fun. But getting transportation to Disneyland Resrot from LAX is no problem. We have done Super Shuttle, a taxi-van, AirportBus , and rental car. Of those choices, if you have coupons from Travelocity or club programs, Supershuttle will be your most economical choice. If you don't have the coupons, Airport Bus is more economical. If you have a large group, then a taxi-van or limo service might actually be cheaper. The Airport Buses come on a regular schedule, and the shuttles do not take reservations. You just go out to the center island, wait for the bus or shuttle, get on and go. If you are going to an onsite Disneyland Resort, the Airport Bus will drop you off there first. If you are staying offsite, you may need to transfer to a smaller shuttle, or walk a short distance.

The rental car agencies have buses that pick you up outside the baggage claim area. (If you have Disney Club, use National and get the double discount if it is still available.)

 

[nuts4sn00py]

I would say it depends on when you plan on arriving in LAX which you want to do first...San Diego or DL. If I had it to do over again , I would have done San Diego first & than DL. Only because I found the parks to be much busier on the weekend than during the week. And that was during the off season! I loved San Diego, but I just loved the overall atmosphere of DL & would have loved to end my trip on that note! As far as rent a car, we rented a car for the week & definitely didn't need it the first 3 days. As a matter of fact we checked in very late on Friday nite, & didn't see the car again until Tuesday morning when we checked out! We didn't have any trouble with LAX, & found it quite easy to navigate. If there is anything else I can help you with let me know, & I will try to respond! Either way, I know you will have a great trip! I'm already looking foward to going back! Kathy

 

[Momof2]

Hi Kathy - Thanks for your reply. As it stands right now, if we go, we'll probably be going Tues-Tues or Tues-Wed. With that in mind, we've been thinking that if we do DL first, we will find hopefully smaller crowds than being at DL over a weekend. Also, the way the flight times would be seem to suggest DL first. Where did you stay in San Diego? And what did you enjoy most? We're thinking we would skip Sea World because we've been to the one in Orlando a few times. We do have friends in San Diego that we will spend some time with, but even though they will offer, I'm not sure we want to stay with them for the whole stay. We are regular visitors at Disney World and that has become such a routine trip for us to pull together. This seems so much bigger because its all new for us. Again, thanks for your response.

 

[Lyneigh P]

I don't know if you already bought your plane tickets, but sometimes it's cheaper to fly into Orange County and a lot closer to DL. LAX is pretty easy to navigate. It would take shuttle to DL and rent a car before you go to San Diego. When my family and I vacation in San Diego, we like to stay at Paradise Point Resort. It's very close to Sea World. All of the rooms were remodeled a few years ago. It's a very nice family oriented beach front resort. My kids didn't want to leave the resort to go to Sea World or the Zoo. Some of the rooms come with kitchens.
hope this helps

 

[Lyneigh P]

I don't know if you already bought your plane tickets, but sometimes it's cheaper to fly into Orange County and a lot closer to DL. LAX is pretty easy to navigate. It would take shuttle to DL and rent a car before you go to San Diego. When my family and I vacation in San Diego, we like to stay at Paradise Point Resort. It's very close to Sea World. All of the rooms were remodeled a few years ago. It's a very nice family oriented beach front resort. My kids didn't want to leave the resort to go to Sea World or the Zoo. Some of the rooms come with kitchens.
hope this helps

 

[nuts4sn00py]

Hi Momof2, We stayed at the Hilton Mission Bay Resort. It was a beautiful resort, very big. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't as nice as we would have liked, so we didn't do all that much. We did go to San Diego Zoo, which was wonderful! We also went to the Hotel de Coronado (I think that's what it is called). It's a beautiful hotel & I believe the Grand Floridian was modeled after it! (If it wasn't, than I'm dumbfounded--they could be twins from the outside). We strolled along the streets & window shopped, & we went to Birch Aquarium, which was also very nice. Not a very large aquarium, & can easily be done in the morning. We would have liked to see more of Balboa Park, but just didn't have time. I know I'll be going back, & hopefully not before too long! Also, I booked LAX before I really new where I wanted to go in CA & I wanted direct flights. Otherwise I might have flown into Orange County or San Diego Intl. airport if I was starting in San Diego. Of course, I always go with the fastest route & the cheapest! LOL. You will be going when the weather will be much nicer so I'm sure you will find plenty to do. There are plenty of amusement parks, museums, & other off the beaten path things to do. If I can help you any further, let me know! Kathy