SNA or LAX?

[northshoremama]

we've ALWAYS flown into SNA from SEA. i haven't even considered LAX. besides pricing....are there any other advantages to flying into LAX? we'd be staying onsite at GCH...

AND if we decide to fly into LAX,
- what is the best way to get to GCH
- what is the best time to fly into LAX

 

[bumbershoot]

I don't mind lax at all (as the travelled it's all very simple),but if SNA has a decent price there's no need to use lax. Takes longer to get to Anaheim, Disneyland resort express and super shuttle take way longer to get out of the airport, etc.

I personally like a rental car from lax but you have to take a shuttle to any rental car place which adds time. (Especially when the Avis shuttle drive "can't" get over to the lane to pick up the line of people and you have to wait another 20 minutes)

If taking a shuttle I like Karmel.

 

[Imdboss]

Also from Seattle and we always use SNA! In July we flew into LAX since DH is working in LA and wow I missed SNA! Unless it's a big price difference I would never fly into there again.

 

[Darkbeer1]

I would opt for Long Beach, JetBlue flies non-stop from Seattle. It is the smallest and easiest airport to deal with in the region, and also is the closest to the Disneyland resort (Both John Wayne/SNA and LGB are about 14 miles away).

http://www.lgb.org/

 

[northshoremama]

I would opt for Long Beach, JetBlue flies non-stop from Seattle. It is the smallest and easiest airport to deal with in the region, and also is the closest to the Disneyland resort (Both John Wayne/SNA and LGB are about 14 miles away).

http://www.lgb.org/

ah, yes....totally forgot about lgb!!! we flew into LGB once and rented a car from there (that was pre 3rd child...LOL). i think Alaska stopped flying direct there from seattle...cause i just checked and there are no direct flights, but i don't recall flying jetblue out of seattle to lgb. anywhooo....jetblue's prices are like half of Alaska's prices to SNA/LAX! the only downfall is there is only 2 flights per day. coming back to seattle is no biggie, but was hoping for a early evening flight out of SEA...but the 2 flights are at 6:20am and 2:45pm. hmmmm.....decisions decisions!

thanks for reminding me about LGB!!

 

[Canuck16]

We fly from Seattle into SNA and like how short the trip is from the airport to the resort. We have never flown into Long Beach so can't comment on that.

Good luck with you selections!

 

[rentayenta]

I cannot stand LAX. I would look into Long Beach LGB is possible. SNA is good but Long beach is the best.

 

[Nevada Jen]

You could also use two airlines if that worked and fly into SNA and out of LB.

 

[lwanthony]

In order I would choose, SNA (clean close, easy to get to the resort) LGB (Also close, but older, not overwhelming.) PDX, I would rather drive from Portland then ever step foot in LAX ever again. I hate that place with the fire of a thousand suns...... I guess you could say I have feelings about LAX........... not good ones, but feelings.....

 

[Darkbeer1]

In order I would choose, SNA (clean close, easy to get to the resort) LGB (Also close, but older, not overwhelming.) PDX, I would rather drive from Portland then ever step foot in LAX ever again. I hate that place with the fire of a thousand suns...... I guess you could say I have feelings about LAX........... not good ones, but feelings.....

Have you been to Long Beach recently, they went through a massive remodel and now have a new TSA Security check building, and two terminals, which really is only 11 gates (4 on one side, 7 on the other). While the check in building is still classic old school, the vast majority of the airport is new and very clean.

And since the exit to LGB is Ball Road (Called Wardlow in LA County), it is very easy to get to the resort, just exit the airport and keep heading east 13 miles. No hassles, no freeways or the need to change them. When you get to the Disneyland Resort (Ball Road is the northern edge, just turn onto Disneyland Drive or Harbor.)

 

[momsmail]

We fly from PDX and MUCH prefer SNA. I like that it is smaller, and in my opinion, easier to navigate. Getting to baggage and out to the bus/shuttle area is so simple. Lines to get through security have always been pretty much non-existent, we seem to fly through them (no pun intended ). It is about a 30 minute bus ride to the Anaheim Hotels (we take the Disneyland Express, so I'm sure travel times vary depending on what you go with).

 

[Darkbeer1]

We fly from PDX and MUCH prefer SNA. I like that it is smaller, and in my opinion, easier to navigate. Getting to baggage and out to the bus/shuttle area is so simple. Lines to get through security have always been pretty much non-existent, we seem to fly through them (no pun intended ). It is about a 30 minute bus ride to the Anaheim Hotels (we take the Disneyland Express, so I'm sure travel times vary depending on what you go with).

Have you checked out Long Beach, there are non-stop flights from Phoenix on American Airlines. It is smaller than John Wayne/SNA, and very easy to navigate.

I prefer LGB, like SNA, and try and avoid LAX.

 

[momsmail]

Have you checked out Long Beach, there are non-stop flights from Phoenix on American Airlines. It is smaller than John Wayne/SNA, and very easy to navigate.

I prefer LGB, like SNA, and try and avoid LAX.

No, have never tried LB. We fly out of Portland, usually on Southwest, but I will absolutely check out your suggestion. Thanks!!

 

[Darkbeer1]

Oops, I misread the airport code, American flies non-stop from Phoenix.

JetBlue does have non-stop flights to LGB from Portland.

 

[minnieralyks]

SNA all the way. Unless you got a really fantastic deal to go into LAX, I would always choose SNA.

LAX is big, takes longer to get to Disneyland, more traffic, etc.

 

[LALA8971]

We flew from PDX to LAX last week and will NEVER do it again. We decided to choose the cheapest flight and not fly into SNA this time and, once we hit the ground, instantly regretted it. Along with the traffic nightmare that is their arrivals & departure areas, the place is just filthy. I hadn't flown into LAX since 2005 and was shocked by the change.

 

[mamapenguin]

ah, yes....totally forgot about lgb!!! we flew into LGB once and rented a car from there (that was pre 3rd child...LOL). i think Alaska stopped flying direct there from seattle...cause i just checked and there are no direct flights, but i don't recall flying jetblue out of seattle to lgb. anywhooo....jetblue's prices are like half of Alaska's prices to SNA/LAX! the only downfall is there is only 2 flights per day. coming back to seattle is no biggie, but was hoping for a early evening flight out of SEA...but the 2 flights are at 6:20am and 2:45pm. hmmmm.....decisions decisions!

thanks for reminding me about LGB!!

I like the early flight because you get that first almost whole day at the parks. I view the evening flight out as an unnecessary hotel night. JMO. Good luck in your decision, I just booked a flight with JetBlue on Sunday.

 

[Frozen2014]

SNA all the way. Unless you got a really fantastic deal to go into LAX, I would always choose SNA.

LAX is big, takes longer to get to Disneyland, more traffic, etc.

Funny as we are the opposite. LAX is direct flight so it's my preference, but SNA ends up being $1000 cheaper for our family of four, so we'll most likely be flying to SNA (or BUR is another option but also not direct). For us, we'll be spending a few days in LA (probably first) so for distance LAX is ok on that side of the trip.

 

[lalasmama]

For those PDX people.... JetBlue has some direct flights to LGB for $49.

Got thisclose to an extra trip when Hubs saw that fare!

 

[DisneyPiPhi]

This is making me so sad. ( Southwest changed our previously scheduled nonstop from Chicago to SNA into a flight with stops, so we called to reschedule. We are now flying nonstop from Chicago to LAX. Hopefully it won't be too bad - I don't mind big, busy airports. We really wanted those nonstop flights!