Please Help a Foreigner!!

[Lei]

I'm planning a trip to LA but clueless about the transportation.

We are a party of six, with huge luggages. We'll be flying from Indonesia, arriving at LAX on mid November. We'll be staying at the Universal city area (Burbank, I believe?) for about 4 days and visit DL and USH.

Renting a car will NOT be an option since we're nervous about driving on the opposite side of the ride (we Indonesians drive on the left lane). Plus, we're not too good at reading maps or following GPS (can you tell we're girls?)

1. What is the most convenient and efficient transportation from LAX to our hotel? How much will it cost?

I'd like to take Disney Express, but they only serve Anaheim area hotels, don't they...

2. What is the most convenient and efficient transportation from our hotel to Disneyland anaheim? How much will it cost?

I'm organizing the trip's budgeting right now but still stuck on the transportation part.

Any suggestions, comments, infos or links will be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!

 

[fairycat]

I am local so I am not a huge help, but my suggestion is to look into a livery car (look up limo services) or buses. Sadly there is not a lot of good direct public transportation in LA. And with six people it might just be cheaper and easier to go with a driver.

 

[tinkermell]

I'm not a local, so I won't be much help. Sorry!

But you might try posting this question on the California Trip boards too. Maybe someone there could be of help too.

Good luck!

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

I live up by Universal (in Burbank) so I can tell you a couple ways. Are you concerned with a tighter or looser budget? That will dictate what type of transport you take.

1) You can take Super Shuttle (a van service) to the hotel. That would be the easiest and cheapest for a small group. Towncars or limosines would also be okay - that would be my next option. There are several good services. Are you staying at the Hilton or the Sheraton at Universal or are you actually staying in Burbank? Burbank is the next town over from Universal City. (A side note - it is very difficult to figure out where one town stops and the next starts here. Sometimes the border is in the middle of a city street. )

Just so you know, Limo service to LAX and from LAX is a slightly different price. Being picked up includes airport parking fees, since the driver will be waiting for you with a sign by the baggage claim. It should run about $85 or so for the trip. Maybe a little more with that size of group.

If you take a shuttle, try SuperShuttle http://www.supershuttle.com/

Shared Ride Van Service (Up to 7 Passengers in Party) $20.00 First Person $20.00 each additional person
Exclusive Van Service (Private van up to 9 passengers) $92.00

You can see that when you have that many passengers, the limo is about the same as the van.

2) If you do a limo service, you could probably ask them what their rates would be to take you to around for the time you are there - to Disneyland, be picked up from DL, etc. Maybe they would cut you a deal for using them multiple times during your visit.

3) At the base of the hill that Universal sits on, there is a subway station. You could take that to Union Station and connect to Anaheim. There is a bus from the Anaheim station to the park. The only problem with that option is that you will need to keep a close eye on time to make it back via train. There are always cabs at Downtown Disney (you can get one by ESPN), so that is always an option, although expensive.

I also think the limo service would be your best bet.
Good luck and PM if you need more help!

 

[spacemermaid]

As long as you're not planning on taking and large luggage on public transportation *which I did before, and it was a nightmare!*, the subway from Universal City is the way to go! You would be taking the subway to downtown L.A., then you walk across the street from the subway station and there's a bus that will take you right to the front gates of the Park! Here's a link to the L.A. public transportation website: http://www.metro.net . Go to the "trip planner" in the upper right corner, put in your hotel's address as your starting point & Disneyland as your destination...it will tell you which bus to transfer to from the Red Line and also give a time table. Total cost of trip per person is under $10.

Hope this helps! Have fun on your trip!

 

[Lei]

Awesome. I'll check out everyone's suggestion and see what's the most convenient for us. Will PM you guys if I have any questions. Thanks a whole bunch!

 

[mystic_path]

I also say Super Shuttle. With a family of 6, the chances of you getting your own van is extremely good. It will take you straight to your hotel. You can purchase your transportation online or call up Super shuttle. You do need to make pre arrangments with them before you go they know that a party of 6 is coming and when.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

If you do the Super Shuttle Private van option - double check to see if they send someone in with a sign to meet you. I don't think they do, as I have never seen one park in a lot an wait. If they don't, then you need to make absolutely sure you have instructions on how to meet the van.

Normally when the Super Shuttles come into the airport, you don't have to have a reservation. You can just hop one that is going to your area of town - they have signs in their windows. I would hate for you guys to be stuck at the curb and have someone steal your shuttle, if you weren't prepared with the appropriate instructions.

I would still call a limo company and see if they can match the Super Shuttle rate. Then you have a guarantee of a driver that meets you at bag claim.

If they can't meet the price - definitely take Super Shuttle. I have never been stood up by a Super Shuttle, but I have had limo companies screw me over. I used to fly in and out of LAX every week for work and had towncar service, so I have a lot of experience with that!

 

[Lei]

Hi everyone, thanks for the additional information. From what I read on the website, it does seems that Super Shuttle won't have someone to meet us.

YellowMickeyPonchos, can you recommend a limo company / town car service so I can make comparisons?

Thanks!

 

[erin1998]

Good morning everyone....
Lei, I hope you don't mind, but I would like to ask a similar question as well. I am also looking for a company that will take us from the Renassaince Hollywood Hotel to Anaheim for our trip next year. I figure that the Super Shuttle can take us from LAX to the Hollywood hotel and Disneyland Express can take us from Anaheim to LAX, but I have no idea how to get from Hollywood to Anaheim. Any towncar recommendations???
Thanks
Erin

 

[Lei]

bump!

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

I'll try to look that up for you when I have a chance later in the day. I used to use a company called Black and White - they are headquartered here in the valley. They weren't bad, but they didn't show at the airport a couple times (I forgot to call to reconfirm those, but one would think...). Never had a problem in 6 years with a pick-up at my house, though.

I think they would be fine for a trip from the Renn-Hollywood to DL.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

Lei and Erin - I would also call/email the hotels you are staying at and see if they have any recommendations, as well.

Erin - can't believe I didn't think of this before..... you are at the Renn - a very popular upscale hotel designed to cater to celebrities when they are in for the Oscars. They can call you a towncar on a minute's notice!

 

[erin1998]

Erin - can't believe I didn't think of this before..... you are at the Renn - a very popular upscale hotel designed to cater to celebrities when they are in for the Oscars. They can call you a towncar on a minute's notice!

That is wonderful! Thank you very much for response. I was stressing about what we were going to do, but that would make it so much easier!
Thanks again
Erin

 

[Lei]

Erin, you are so lucky!

There are some changes since the last time I posted. I'll be staying in Anaheim (about 0.5 miles from Disney) instead of Universal City area. We'll still be visiting both Disney and Universal Studios, though.

Thanks to everyone's suggestions here, I've made my transportation plan. Initially, I want to prioritize practically, but then I decided to tighten the budget. Any inputs/comments will be appreciated!

1. From LAX to Anaheim hotel (round trip): SuperShuttle Shared Ride Van. I will make reservation online.

2. From hotel to Disney parks: hotel shuttle. They offer shuttle service every 15 minutes or so, all day. Yay.

3. From hotel to Universal City: catch a cab or ART to Anaheim station, and ride the Metrolink to LA Union Station. From there, ride the Metro red line to Universal City. Then walk or ride the complimentary shuttle to the park gates... I think...

I haven't figured out the route back to Anaheim though... is it just going in exact reverse?

So there you go. How does it sounds?


Less then two weeks until my 24 hours flight!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Sounds much better to stay closer to Disney.

What hotel did you choose?


My hubby has visited both Bali and Jakarta, and tells me that the countryside in Jakarta is incredible. I think he's jealous of you!

 

[jlmarr]

3. From hotel to Universal City: catch a cab or ART to Anaheim station, and ride the Metrolink to LA Union Station. From there, ride the Metro red line to Universal City. Then walk or ride the complimentary shuttle to the park gates... I think...

I haven't figured out the route back to Anaheim though... is it just going in exact reverse?

Grayline tour #2 might also work for you - fewer "moving parts".

 

[Lei]

Sounds much better to stay closer to Disney.

What hotel did you choose?


My hubby has visited both Bali and Jakarta, and tells me that the countryside in Jakarta is incredible. I think he's jealous of you!

Hi Bumbershoot!

My travel agent (and not a very good one) gave me only two options for our Anaheim hotel: Holiday Inn Anaheim or Crowne Plaza Garden Grove. We chose CP Yea, I guess it'd be nicer to stay closer to Disney, but we won't be in Anaheim for long anyway


Oh, it's so nice to hear that your husband likes Indonesia!! Bali is GORGEOUS, although some parts of the island have become too touristy. But most of it is still beautiful and mysterious.

Which Jakarta countryside did he visit? Bogor? Depok? Because as for Jakarta itself, the city is quite a nightmare with its hellish traffic, crime, and heat. I live smack in the middle of Southern Jakarta, the busiest part of the city

Visit Indonesia sometime when you have the chance

 

[Lei]

Grayline tour #2 might also work for you - fewer "moving parts".

Ooh, the service sounds nice. But it's much more expensive though

 

[Lei]

Oh, almost forgot. How about taxi van? For my party, is it cheaper to go with taxi's flat rate to and from the airport (compared to supershuttle)? How much is the rate, usually (from LAX-anaheim)? Thanks!