San Diego to Anaheim

[cfrith5]

What time would you leave San Diego (Miramar area) on a Tuesday to get to DLR security gates at 7am?

Mapquest says it is 1 hour 39 minutes. Thanks!

 

[sonnyjane]

Miramar is only about 15-20 minutes from my house. The estimate you got from Mapquest is accurate if not a little long for a person that travels at or below the speed limit. I have been known to go about 5 - 10 miles over and can do the drive in about 80 minutes if there is no traffic.... but don't take that as advice to speed lol! That early in the morning, you really shouldn't have issues with traffic, but once you factor in parking at the structure and getting to the front to line-up, unfortunately you're looking at leaving around 5:15 I'd say...yawn!!! That's early!

 

[HydroGuy]

What time would you leave San Diego (Miramar area) on a Tuesday to get to DLR security gates at 7am?

Mapquest says it is 1 hour 39 minutes. Thanks!

I would leave by 4:30AM if I wanted a 99+% chance of making it to the security gates by 7AM. And I would plan to drop off the group at the Harbor entrance in the 15 minute lot before parking the car unless I was way ahead of schedule.

I would leave at 5PM if I did not care too much and I was OK with a 60% chance of making it by 7AM. This is making it to the security gates.

 

[sonnyjane]

I would leave by 4:30AM if I wanted a 99+% chance of making it to the security gates by 7AM. And I would plan to drop off the group at the Harbor entrance in the 15 minute lot before parking the car unless I was way ahead of schedule.

I would leave at 5PM if I did not care too much and I was OK with a 60% chance of making it by 7AM. This is making it to the security gates.

I have to say, Hydro, I'm kind of surprised by the 4:30 AM recommendation. I totally understand that if it is important to be there AT opening, then leave early, but I can't imagine it taking 2.5 hours from Miramar that early on a Tuesday morning. Any reason why you think it might take so long?

 

[SoundGuy]

I left North Island last Thursday at 5:45am and made it to John Wayne by 7:15am. I would guess that if you left Miramar by 5, since it's farther North than NASNI, it would give you enough time for traffic/parking, and you would make it to the gates by 7am.

 

[sonnyjane]

I left North Island last Thursday at 5:45am and made it to John Wayne by 7:15am. I would guess that if you left Miramar by 5, since it's farther North than NASNI, it would give you enough time for traffic/parking, and you would make it to the gates by 7am.

Sorry to thread jack, but SoundGuy, are you stationed down here? My husband shuffles between the Amphib base and the training unit by the airport.

 

[HydroGuy]

I have to say, Hydro, I'm kind of surprised by the 4:30 AM recommendation. I totally understand that if it is important to be there AT opening, then leave early, but I can't imagine it taking 2.5 hours from Miramar that early on a Tuesday morning. Any reason why you think it might take so long?

The key here is the OP asked for time to get to the DLR gates. I would count on it taking 30 minutes to park and get to the gates at DLR based on past experience. So that leaves 2 hours to get to DLR if one left at 4:30. There might be early morning traffic in OC. If one left at 5AM that would leave only 90 minutes to get to DLR by 6:30 so one could get to the gates by 7AM. I think that is chancy for anyone who wanted to for sure, for sure make it by 7AM. Don't you agree? With the uncertainty of OC traffic coming into DLR?

I admit my expertise is a bit dated - I used to live right off Miramar - well, Pomerado - same thing - and then later in UTC, but unless things have gotten better which I doubt I think that is reasonable.

 

[bumbershoot]

Having gotten to DLR later than expected, twice, because of leaving too late... I would definitely leave on the earlier side. Just like with airports, it's better to stand around far too early and be bored, rather than have to rush rush rush and be behind schedule!


Of course, when leaving from my brother's, we're going from snooty parts of Chula Vista and have that plus downtown traffic to deal with. So we definitely needed to add lots of time-padding.

 

[CalvaryMike]

I hate being late and I would follow HydroGuy's advice, if I really wanted to be there by 7:00. If I was going by myself, I would leave later. How often do we leave when planned when others are involved? I often times get to my destination early. But with no stress and if we hit unexpected traffic or miss a turn, no worries.

 

[wdwrich]

I live in the Miramar area, and we always allow a minimum of 2 hours to get to the DL gates- more if you are traveling when traffic is likely to be heavy. Use the car pool lanes on I-5 if possible. There is an exit for DLR from the car pool lane, so there's no need to get out of the car pool lane to get off at DLR in Anaheim.

 

[cfrith5]

Thank you everyone!

Also, what parking lot? I've heard lots of people seem to like Toy Story. And are there signs directing you to each lot?

 

[wdwrich]

Also, what parking lot? I've heard lots of people seem to like Toy Story. And are there signs directing you to each lot?

Normally, there is signage for "Disneyland Parking", not to any specific lot. Most times, the signs will direct you to the Mickey and Friends parking structure. When arriving early (prior to park opening), I really don't see an advantage to the Toy Story lot over the parking structure.

 

[cfrith5]

Normally, there is signage for "Disneyland Parking", not to any specific lot. Most times, the signs will direct you to the Mickey and Friends parking structure. When arriving early (prior to park opening), I really don't see an advantage to the Toy Story lot over the parking structure.

Thanks, good to know!

 

[prncssmel]

We live in downtown San Diego, and we leave at 4:45 a.m. to get to the entrance gates by 7 a.m. Those are weekend times, though, so I agree about leaving by 4:30, in case you run into traffic on a weekday.