Metrolink/ART to Disney - need help planning our trip :)

[Melb]

We are going up from San Diego tomorrow. Our plan was to park at the Oceanside train station and take the Metrolink up to Anaheim and then take the ART to Disney.

It will be me, my brother, my sil, a 13 year old, a 4 year old and two 14 month olds. We were planning on riding the train and renting strollers at the park.

I can't find the Metrolink schedule or fares online. There was a horrific train accident yesterday and all links on the Metrolink site show the same page. It does not appear that they've closed down the line we need to take and while it's terrifying to think about the accident, I am pretty sure the trains are safe (yes I'm trying to convince myself here).

I'm a planner - and it drives me nuts when I can't plan. I need to know what time the earliest trains leave - what time they arrive in Anaheim. Is the ART part of the OCTD and do you transfer for free or do you need to buy passes?

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!!!

 

[Sherry E]

We are going up from San Diego tomorrow. Our plan was to park at the Oceanside train station and take the Metrolink up to Anaheim and then take the ART to Disney.

It will be me, my brother, my sil, a 13 year old, a 4 year old and two 14 month olds. We were planning on riding the train and renting strollers at the park.

I can't find the Metrolink schedule or fares online. There was a horrific train accident yesterday and all links on the Metrolink site show the same page. It does not appear that they've closed down the line we need to take and while it's terrifying to think about the accident, I am pretty sure the trains are safe (yes I'm trying to convince myself here).

I'm a planner - and it drives me nuts when I can't plan. I need to know what time the earliest trains leave - what time they arrive in Anaheim. Is the ART part of the OCTD and do you transfer for free or do you need to buy passes?

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!!!

A minimum of 23 people were killed in that accident yesterday. We always seem to have accidents with the whole Metro system out here - the subway, trains and buses. I am very uneasy getting on them because it seems that too many accidents are happening lately, but I guess it is no less safe than driving in a car.

 

[eduk8r26]

You don't want Metrolink--you want Amtrak's Surfliner. Go to the amtrak.com page and put in all your info and you'll get times and fares. I looked briefly and the first 2 leave Oceanside at 7:01 and arrive at Anaheim at 8:06 and also 7:55 and arrives at 9:08. ART is just for the Anaheim Resorts--the hotels around Disneyland. There are a number of different routes, but not connected to Metrolink.

 

[jlmarr]

We are going up from San Diego tomorrow. Our plan was to park at the Oceanside train station and take the Metrolink up to Anaheim and then take the ART to Disney. ...

I can't find the Metrolink schedule or fares online. There was a horrific train accident yesterday and all links on the Metrolink site show the same page.

Once the emergency page has passed this link should help:

http://www.metrolinktrains.com/lines/line_orange_county

Metrolink does run as far south as Oceanside, so you can use it as an alternative to Amtrak. It's cheaper but maybe a little less comfortable. Since you're getting on at the beginning of the line you'll have an easier time getting that many seats together.

ART picks up at Anaheim station where both Metrolink and Amtrak stop, but as this page shows the ART schedule is built to accommodate Amtrak:

http://www.rideart.org/amtrak.html

 

[Melb]

Thank you for your help.

We are trying to save as much money as possible this trip. We are bringing lunches and cutting any corner we can.

I can't find a metrolink schedule anywhere. I'd drive to the station to SEE the schedule but that would take a ton of gas.

 

[Tink33]

My guess is that there is no service right now. Here is another link with a phone number at the bottom of the page.

http://www.octa.net/metrolink.aspx

 

[Melb]

I called the metrolink schedule number - It appears that there's only 2 trains leaving O'side - one at 6:27 and one at 2:10. The return trains are at 1:26 or 9:25. If I understand the ticket pricing - it would have cost us $45 for three adults then $10 for one child - with the other 3 kids riding free.

Amtrack would have cost about $105 even with a military discount.

I guess we are driving and paying to park

 

[Califgirl]

Whenever I take the train up from Oceanside, I take the Amtrak Surfliner.

However, I would suggest driving. The last time I drove to Disneyland from North County it was about $25 round trip. Parking at Disneyland is $12.
If you take the train you have set times that you can leave for Disney and set times you must come home. Also, when we went up by train one weekend, we found that ART was only at the train station for the first train of the day. So we needed to take a cab (@ $10) to get to the parks anyway. I think there is also a city bus, but I'm not positive of the schedule.

If you drive you can at least go up there when you want, and leave when you want. You won't be tied to the train schedule and it will be less expensive for you.

Have a great trip!