Rental Car in Anaheim - what do you use it for?

[808Mom]

I'm trying to decide if I should just scrap the rental car in Anaheim and take a shuttle from LAX. We're at HoJo for almost 5 days - first trip for my kids (4 & 2). Flying home out of SNA (had to use Alaska Air credit.)

Those who rent cars while at DL, mind if I ask what you use it for? Where do you go?

Shopping? Groceries? San Diego?

 

[ironpig70]

I have always driven to the parks. On this last trip after we dropped everything at the hotel we used the car to get grocercies and then it sat for the whole trip. Once at the parks I have never needed a car.

 

[briangl]

When you factor in the cost of a taxi to/from the airport a rental car really isn't costing you very much. I can usually get a car for $150/week. We go to Legoland, Knotts, shopping, and eating out. All the places I've stayed have free parking so that isn't an extra cost with a car. Driving in Southern California is a breeze and very easy to navigate. Compared to Seattle which has worse traffic than Orange County and is much harder to navigate.

 

[Mouse13]

We always rent a car. We usually drive over to the pier at Huntington Beach on one afternoon and always go to the Character Warehouse to shop. Also, on a couple of days, I make early morning runs to a nearby Del Taco because we love their Big Breakfast Tacos. Although I always have groceries delivered to our hotel, we always end up needing to make a run to the store for something or other.

 

[SnowWhite09]

On our last trip we used our rental car to go and get groceries, visit the local shopping malls, to visit San Diego (twice) and to go to Universal Studios. We never used it to go to DL as we stayed at Hojos and it is an easy walk from there.

Have a fun trip!

 

[HydroGuy]

Some of the hotels who used to offer free parking are now charging per day. So the cost of a car is more than just the rental.

To the OP, once we arrive at DLR we never user our car unless something unexpected happens (e.g., sich kid - need to go to Walgreens). So unless the cost of the rental (plus parking) is less than the cost of airport transportation then you do not need the car.

 

[DahliaRW]

We're taking the shuttle from the airport (cheapest option for our group of 7). But we are doing a one wan rental on Sunday so we can get to Church and probably do a grocery run if we need more stuff.

 

[808Mom]

Thanks for the replies. I am thinking the car will be unnecessary. Love this board!

 

[Hound 109]

Sounds like you're already leaning against it.

Another thing to consider (if you start leaning back toward it) might be the significant drop charge for picking up in one location & dropping off at another.

I know I've priced this several times, & it always seems like 3-5 days rental from & back to LAX is always $70 - $100. But if i pick up at LAX & drop off elsewhere (burbank or john wayne) it seems like the price is $160 + (sometimes higher) for the same time period.

 

[DisneyMax74]

We always get a car. We have had times where we would have been in big trouble without one.

Two trips ago my daughter came down with an ear infection and I was out running around anaheim and the surrounding area at 3 am looking for an open store with childrens pain reliever and a heating pad. I finally found one after about an hour. The next day we had to drive to a medical facility to have her looked at and then go get a perscription.

That has happened twice to us so it is nice to have a car for emergencies.


Outside of that, we use it to go to the beach for a day or even drive down to San Diego which is not far away.

It really just depends on whether or not you want to shell out the extra cash.

 

[kailuagirl]

The couple times we've gone we've always had a car, but for the most part it does just sit there, but we do go marketing, have to hit In'nOut, character warehouse, target, trader joes, etc.. Since you are dropping off and picking up at different locations, it will cost alot more to rent a car, but check it out, and like other's have said there's the cost of parking at the hotels (does HOJO's charge?).

If I were you, I'd check out the cost for the rental (try different companies, I always seem to find Dollar the cheapest at out of LAX), factor in gas, and any parking charges, then check out the cost of your airport transfers for all of you and see what the difference is. If it's not that much difference I'd go with a rental car as you never know when you might need one and it is nice to have. For me, I hate the idea of being stuck somewhere, drives me crazy just thinking about it. But then again, you'd be stuck at Disneyland, so no better place than that to be stuck LOL

If you don't do the rental, I highly suggest ordering from Vons, you'll save so much money by getting a couple cases of water, juice, milk, cereal, fruit, snacks, etc.

Hey, I just noticed we are both from Hawaii Get the car and go to Trader Joes!!!

 

[haydeecm]

I only get a car when we've gone to Legoland, and then I usually return it the next day. I personally prefer not to drive on vacation. You won't need a car if you are staying at Hojo's, we usually get groceries delivered, which works out better for us cause we have time to make our shopping lists, and dont have to waste vacation time going to the store. Last time Hojos put away our groceries in our room before we checked in, so about 30 minutes from landing on the plane (walk to taxi at LGB was FAST) I was already feeding cereal to my son in our room at Hojos. That was fast! Last time the line to get a rental at SNA took over 30 minutes (though maybe its cause we arrived at night, there was only one person).
BTW, I believe HOJO's still had free parking last I was there.

 

[Huff]

Generally speaking a car is unnecessary if only going to DLR. From Hojo you can walk or use the shuttle.

We have used a car to go over to Knotts just for breakfast or dinner. Excellent popular diner outside the Knotts gates known for their fried chicken and biscuits.

Car can also be used if visiting Universal Studios, Legoland, Sea World, Magic Mountain, San Diego Zoo or Safari Park etc.

That said, if just going to Disneyland it would probably be cheaper to take the airport shuttle bus or other transportation.

 

[RuthieT]

We have always rented a car.. But, we usually do a day trip to San Diego, do some shopping at the Character warehouse, go to the beach, Laker Game, Hollywood..

 

[LisainCalifornia]

We never use a rental car while in Disneyland. I think you are smart to get rid of the car. There are lots of places you can walk to near the parks, and once you park your you won't want to move it, because it is just too much trouble. When we fly, we always just take one of the cab/vans that are lined up outside of SNA. If there are only regular cabs, you just walk up to one and they will call a van if you need it, and it comes in under 5 mins. I love this option at SNA, because we never have to pre-arrange a shuttle or waste time waiting--they are already there and we are at our hotel in 15 mins! The fare is about 45.00 to a hotel near Disneyland.

The times we have driven to Disneyland, our car has just sat unused.

 

[808Mom]

Thanks for all the great responses. Yep, I think I will axe the car rental in Anaheim for the 5 days, and instead just rent one for a day if we decide to drive down to Carlsbad. Although it goes against my control-freak nature to be without my own transportation, I hate to think of the car just sitting there unused on most days.

 

[808Mom]

Hey, I just noticed we are both from Hawaii Get the car and go to Trader Joes!!!

I know, right?! Why oh why don't we have one here? Victoria's Secret finally gave in and opened. Shoot, even Whole Foods opened before Trader Joes.

We'll be in LA visiting some family for a few days before we go down to Anaheim and I'm thinking I'll stock up then.

Thanks for the advice

 

[taaren]

We like having access to the car to go to Target for stuff we forgot (or don't want to pack), and also have a few favorite restaurants on Harbor that are too far to walk and too inconvenient to bus/cab to. Bucca di Beppo in particular we love (about 5 min s on Harbor), and DH requires an In n Out Burger run once or twice a trip (10 min N on Harbor, by the Disney Outlet Warehouse place for cheap souveniers). Plus sometimes we go 20 min east to Corona to visit DHs cousins and pick up some Miguels burritos. Mmm.

 

[dalstitch45]

I usually rent a car for a day or two if I am going on day trips outside of Anaheim. The ART system is really great, and I find the car just sits there most of the time. Plus, as previously mentioned, most of the hotels charge for parking. Usually when I am going somewhere else for several days, I wait until the last day in Anaheim to pick up the car. When I went this summer, I took Super Shuttle one-way to the airport and picked up the rental car at SNA. I at least saved the $15-20/day parking fee.