Realistic time frame from SNA until inside park?

[canyoncam]

Flight lands at 1:25pm. We will have checked bags to claim. I do not plan to use Disneyland Express but to catch one of the shared shuttles that should be waiting. Of course checking into hotel, Tropicana right across the street. Then I have vouchers to exchange for the actual tickets. Do you think the rough estimate of being in park by 4pm is accurate? Or should I be expecting later? I really don't expect it to be earlier.

 

[Imdboss]

I think 4 is a realistic estimate. Love flying into SNA, so quick to get bags and get out of there and start having fun!

 

[mom2rtk]

I also loved SNA. The only part I didn't like was our very long walk from our gate to ground transportation. But maybe we just pulled the short straw on the gate we landed at.

 

[Imdboss]

We flying Alaska Air from Seattle and their gates are right by the exit to baggage claim so it's always a short walk for us.

 

[amyg1975]

By 4, absolutely. Our flight landed at 8:50 at SNA, got our luggage, boarded Super Shuttle and were lucky to be the first ones dropped off at PPI. We dropped off luggage, put sunscreen on, got our stuff and we were inside by 10:25. (We also had to exchange our vouchers) We waste no time when it comes to Disneyland.

 

[mom2rtk]

We flying Alaska Air from Seattle and their gates are right by the exit to baggage claim so it's always a short walk for us.

It wasn't baggage claim that was an issue for us. It was the distance from baggage claim (near our gate) to ground transportation.

 

[Imdboss]

It wasn't baggage claim that was an issue for us. It was the distance from baggage claim (near our gate) to ground transportation.

Oh I see, well again I think Alaska has the long straw on that one too

 

[canyoncam]

I think 4 is a realistic estimate. Love flying into SNA, so quick to get bags and get out of there and start having fun!

Thanks! I know it will only give us a few hours in park but it does get the fun started

 

[GeneralTso]

4:00 easy. We fly Alaska from Seattle often and it's amazing how fast we end up at the pearly gates. Depends on traffic of course, but it's very close.

 

[ParkHopper1]

Very realistic. I say figure 2 hours with bags and transportation. We made a reservation once 1.5 hours after touchdown. All adults, had checked bags, took a cab, stayed at the Grand and we were still rushing and ended up barely making it

 

[Disneyluvr2]

Very realistic. I say figure 2 hours with bags and transportation. We made a reservation once 1.5 hours after touchdown. All adults, had checked bags, took a cab, stayed at the Grand and we were still rushing and ended up barely making it

I agree. Shouldn't take more than 2 hours, and if you're lucky and don't have to wait long for the shuttle to fill up, and you're the 1st one off, you could be at your hotel in an hour or so! We fly from Sacramento to SNA all the time and I usually figure 1 1/2 hours from landing to walking through the gates at Disneyland.

 

[Aladora]

Definitely doable, even faster if you skip the shuttle and grab a cab! If I remember correctly, it was around $40 plus tip.

 

[Minniekins]

So, might it be easier/faster to grab a cab? First grabbing luggage(which I sorta forgot about, always using Magical Express at Wdw, lol), then going out to the transportation area and then you can just grab a cab, right? They are usually waiting outside there, correct? Wouldn't that maybe get you there within an hour of landing? Not having to stop at other resorts and just going straight to the motel. I've read it's about $45, (that's for two people, right?), is that with or without a tip? What's customary for a tip for that trip? Thinking maybe the $45 would be a decent price to pay, maybe not the absolute cheapest, but cost effective in time to get the motel and then Disneyland park!

Not sure how the shuttles run, but is a cab the most expensive way for two or sort of average?

 

[pmaurer74]

Are the shuttles or Disneyland express better for 2 adults and 2 kids?

 

[canyoncam]

Very realistic. I say figure 2 hours with bags and transportation. We made a reservation once 1.5 hours after touchdown. All adults, had checked bags, took a cab, stayed at the Grand and we were still rushing and ended up barely making it

Definitely doable, even faster if you skip the shuttle and grab a cab! If I remember correctly, it was around $40 plus tip.

No reservations so I won't have to stress if we don't make it. I have thought about grabbing a taxi but it is an added expense. I know I need to take one going back to airport as we are coming out of the 24 hour day so I want to maximize time then and not have to wait for shuttle. But for only another $20-25 suppose I could since I did buy my tickets before the increase. I might just see how I feel when we land.

Thanks for the confirmation on my timing. Never been to DL before but have my timing down at WDW!

 

[Disneyluvr2]

I've never taken a cab, because that cuts into my churro fund! LOL!! There's usually only 2 of us and the shuttles are $11 per person. They're all lined up and ready to go when you get there. You usually don't have to wait more than 5 or 10 minutes at the most for the shuttle to fill up, unless you're the last one on, then you're on your way. The stops are all going to be at hotels within a few blocks from each other, and there's normally only 3 or 4 stops at the most. We've only had one experience where we went off the beaten path to drop someone off, and it was late at night. I guess cab vs shuttle depends on what you have more of....time or money.

 

[Indiana Scott]

We take a cab form SNA to our hotel (across the street fro DLR entrance), check in and are in the park in less than an hour after landing at the airport.
The efficient cab ride is the key!

 

[squidlet]

So, might it be easier/faster to grab a cab? First grabbing luggage(which I sorta forgot about, always using Magical Express at Wdw, lol), then going out to the transportation area and then you can just grab a cab, right? They are usually waiting outside there, correct? Wouldn't that maybe get you there within an hour of landing? Not having to stop at other resorts and just going straight to the motel. I've read it's about $45, (that's for two people, right?), is that with or without a tip? What's customary for a tip for that trip? Thinking maybe the $45 would be a decent price to pay, maybe not the absolute cheapest, but cost effective in time to get the motel and then Disneyland park!

Not sure how the shuttles run, but is a cab the most expensive way for two or sort of average?

SNA has a 'Ground Transportation' area. There are taxis and shuttles waiting for customers. There is also what I'm calling mobile dispatch people who usually approach you -- tell them you want a taxi they escort you to one and then the driver loads your luggage and off you go. It all happens very efficiently and smoothly. There is NO flat rate from SNA, but it is usually just under $45 -- for everyone, be it one person or more. That does not include tip -- for two people, $5 is probably plenty. Depending on traffic, it will take less than 30 minutes to your hotel.

The shuttles are about $12 per person, plus tip ($1-2 per bag). I think they are cheaper if you make a reservation before hand. Anyways about half the price for two people. They do take longer to load at the airport. I've always had to wait about 10-15 minutes before leaving the airport. You do have to make multiple stops, which can take time. I would allow at least an hour from the airport and possibly more.

I used a taxi for the first time last February and it was a real treat -- always used the shuttle before. There is nothing wrong with the shuttle, but if it works into your budget, take the taxi.

 

[KCmike]

May I ask how far the car rental places are from the hotel?

 

[jina]

Our last 2 flights in we've arrived at SNA at 10:30am, got our bags from baggage claim, hiked to the taxi stand (it is a long walk to the taxi stand from the Southwest Airlines baggage claim area), checked our bags at HoJo's, and hiked over to DL. We were through the gates by 12 or 12:15 each time (the 2nd was 15 min longer because we were converting 3 day hoppers into AP's). Once was a weekday, the other time was a Saturday. This time we're renting a car as HoJo's has free parking and somehow we got a $14/day rate which is cheaper than cabbing it both ways. I expect we'll need to add another 30 minutes to our time to deal with the rental car stuff. (Hertz Gold which can be instantaneous or an hour if there is something wrong with the car that's waiting for you).