Sudden Airport Switch: LAX-to-DLR Transportation?

[DisneyPiPhi]

Hi everyone! The only thing we have booked for our February Disneyland trip is the flights, and I got an email from Southwest today that they changed my flights all around so they were no longer nonstop. This is a big deal for us, so I called to see about flying from an airport closer to home (we are driving to Chicago for the nonstop flights) or a different nonstop flight. Long story short, we are now flying to LAX instead of SNA.

So: what is the best way to get from LAX to the DLR Good Neighbor hotels? We don't know exactly which one we'll stay in. Also, for us, a major component of "best" is "cheapest."

 

[Darkbeer1]

Will you have children under 8? If so, you have to be worried about required car/booster seats.

As for cheapest, I would say the Disneyland Express Airport Bus. (exempt from the need for Car Seats).

http://www.graylineanaheim.com/docs/DRE Brochure.pdf

 

[mamapenguin]

Hi everyone! The only thing we have booked for our February Disneyland trip is the flights, and I got an email from Southwest today that they changed my flights all around so they were no longer nonstop. This is a big deal for us, so I called to see about flying from an airport closer to home (we are driving to Chicago for the nonstop flights) or a different nonstop flight. Long story short, we are now flying to LAX instead of SNA.

So: what is the best way to get from LAX to the DLR Good Neighbor hotels? We don't know exactly which one we'll stay in. Also, for us, a major component of "best" is "cheapest."

They can do that? Make nonstop flights have connections? Eek! I was considering Southwest for summer travel, but I think that I will now just cross them off my list. I normally fly Alaska, but am considering Jet Blue... I do Supershuttle from SNA to DLR, but I would think that they are probably one of the least expensive options out of LAX as well. We will be there in February also

 

[grelca]

They can do that? Make nonstop flights have connections? Eek! I was considering Southwest for summer travel, but I think that I will now just cross them off my list. I normally fly Alaska, but am considering Jet Blue... I do Supershuttle from SNA to DLR, but I would think that they are probably one of the least expensive options out of LAX as well. We will be there in February also

FWIW, I wouldn't discount Southwest just for that. It can happen on any airline as schedules get shuffled around. Happened to my parents flying into LAX from New Orleans last year on United.

 

[Darkbeer1]

They can do that? Make nonstop flights have connections? Eek! I was considering Southwest for summer travel, but I think that I will now just cross them off my list. I normally fly Alaska, but am considering Jet Blue... I do Supershuttle from SNA to DLR, but I would think that they are probably one of the least expensive options out of LAX as well. We will be there in February also

Look into both Alaska and jetBlue to Long Beach instead. Closest airport to Disneyland, with less flights, much less likely for a connecting flight, depending on your starting city.

 

[mamapenguin]

Look into both Alaska and jetBlue to Long Beach instead. Closest airport to Disneyland, with less flights, much less likely for a connecting flight, depending on your starting city.

Thank you. I am going to look at LGB after JetBlue opens more of their summer schedule. I normally fly into SNA from PDX, so the idea of connection is not appealing. I thought SNA was the closest....

 

[Darkbeer1]

It depends on how you measure it, LGB is west of the DLR, basically down Ball Road about 13 miles from the DLH.

SNA using the main freeway route (405 to 55 to 5) is 14 miles.

So basically the same, LGB has no freeway needed, just one city street.

Santa Ana is large, and has multiple exits from the airport, I am using the most common one in message, where you leave the terminal area and take a special bridge over the 405, and basically get on the 405 for one exit, and then take the 55 north, and then enter the carpool lane, and then the special 55 to 5 carpool flyover exit, and then the 5 to either Gene Autry (will place you pon Katella after a short trip on Haster) or Disney Way, which will place you on a road that can take you to Harbor.

But the easiest thing to say is that both LGB and SNA are equal, but LGB is smaller and easier to deal with. Both airports have rental car offices and pick up lots right across the road from the terminals (easy walking distance, even with luggage).

 

[DisneyPiPhi]

They can do that? Make nonstop flights have connections? Eek! I was considering Southwest for summer travel, but I think that I will now just cross them off my list. I normally fly Alaska, but am considering Jet Blue... I do Supershuttle from SNA to DLR, but I would think that they are probably one of the least expensive options out of LAX as well. We will be there in February also

In Southwest's defense, they were incredible helpful. The woman who answered at customer service was like, "I see why that is a problem. I can get you a refund," right away. When I asked about flights departing from our local airport, she offered to switch me to those at no cost (despite them being much more expensive, according to the website). They she actually suggested the Chicago-to-LAX thing as a way to stay nonstop. She was very, very helpful.

Will you have children under 8? If so, you have to be worried about required car/booster seats.

As for cheapest, I would say the Disneyland Express Airport Bus. (exempt from the need for Car Seats).

http://www.graylineanaheim.com/docs/DRE Brochure.pdf

Yes, my daughter is four, and if we are taking any kind of taxi or Uber, we will take her car seat for the plane and the car ride. If we're doing the bus, we'd probably leave the car seat at home. She would be okay on the plane without it.

 

[lalasmama]

Thank you. I am going to look at LGB after JetBlue opens more of their summer schedule. I normally fly into SNA from PDX, so the idea of connection is not appealing. I thought SNA was the closest....

Book as early as you can with JetBlue for the best prices. $70 each way (or less) isn't uncommon for PDX -> LGB and back if booked early. If you have any LGB questions, let me know. It's by far my favorite airport now.

 

[bumbershoot]

I don't love the Disneyland express from LAX. There is nowhere inside to hang out for 50 minutes if you miss the current hour's bus. And it's unpleasant waiting outside especially with little kids.

I dislike super shuttle more every time I use them, and we've used them off and on since my 12 year old was 3.

For shuttles I prefer Karmel Shuttle.

But I like a rental car best of all. At LAX all rental places are offsite and require a shuttle (no seatbelt shuttle) ride when renting and returning.

They can do that? Make nonstop flights have connections? Eek! I was considering Southwest for summer travel, but I think that I will now just cross them off my list. I normally fly Alaska, but am considering Jet Blue... I do Supershuttle from SNA to DLR, but I would think that they are probably one of the least expensive options out of LAX as well. We will be there in February also

Any airline can do it and likely has done it.

Look into both Alaska and jetBlue to Long Beach instead. Closest airport to Disneyland, with less flights, much less likely for a connecting flight, depending on your starting city.

But LGB has completely different transportation options. No chance of Disneyland express. Entirely different pricing structure for super shuttle. I don't think Karmel goes there.

I made the mistake of using a non-main airport once with ds and it cost us all the money I saved flying into that airport. LAX and SNA are more popular and shuttle pricing is generally lower. Flying into ONT was so much more expensive for transportation.

Op look at all the options and costs before switching again.

 

[Darkbeer1]

I made the mistake of using a non-main airport once with ds and it cost us all the money I saved flying into that airport. LAX and SNA are more popular and shuttle pricing is generally lower. Flying into ONT was so much more expensive for transportation.

Op look at all the options and costs before switching again.

Yes, the Disneyland Express doesn't go to LGB.

Taxis offer a flat rate of $45 from LGB to the Disneyland area. (LAX doesn't offer a flat rate, and is about $100 or more)

There are restrictions on Uber/Lyft.

Prime Time Shuttle is well known and is quoting $50 for a single, and then $10 per person after that.

Rental Cars are the price another nearby airports, and the facilities are right there across from the terminals.

Now with Ontraio, they tend to be higher than LAX, even though the are the same distance away from the Disneyland, about 35 miles.

 

[heffalumpz]

Same thing happened with my Feb Chicago - SNA flights! We're just doing the Disneyland Express shuttle from LAX when we were going to be doing it from SNA

 

[mamapenguin]

Book as early as you can with JetBlue for the best prices. $70 each way (or less) isn't uncommon for PDX -> LGB and back if booked early. If you have any LGB questions, let me know. It's by far my favorite airport now.

I owe you a HUGE THANK YOU! I was able to get round trip airfare on Jet Blue for 116pp for the dates that I wanted.

 

[felice]

+1 here also for using Karmel Shuttle, first time my wife and I used them was when we were at DL in October 2016. We'll be using them again for sure

 

[minnieralyks]

That's not good. I would be none to happy to have that happen, flying with connections or flying into LAX. We've had our flight times changed, but never had a change as drastic as yours. It seems like Southwest has got more and more expensive flying to California, anyway, so I'll be cautious if we decide to use them in the future.

 

[lalasmama]

I owe you a HUGE THANK YOU! I was able to get round trip airfare on Jet Blue for 116pp for the dates that I wanted.

Make sure you sign up for their True Blue program. I had 800 points saved from a prior flight. After 1 round trip flight, I'm up to 1482. A $49 flight (April 4, for example, PDX to LGB) is only 2600 points. So, it can take just a few round trip flights to earn a free one. If you have multiple people traveling, you'll need to do their family share program. Basically, each separate person needs a different email, and then you'll just connect them all.

 

[MillauFr]

I would just use Lyft or Uber. We used Lyft from SNA and it was $22 each way between the airport and the Candy Cane Inn. They pick you up curb side at SNA.

 

[gottalovepluto]

We Ubered to & from LAX/DLH between 11am and 1pm on weekdays & our Ubers were about $45 each & the ride about 45 mins to an hour. If there are just 3 of you, one being 8, you should be fine in a normal Uber luggage wise. Expect to be picked up in a car about Prius sized. If you need more space you'd need an UberXL. If you are a first timer keep your eye out for a deal. Chase is running ChaseUber for $30 off thru 12/31/16 for example, but previously I thought $20 off was a good offer. If both of you are new both can make an account & you'll get a discount both directions. Idk a lot about comparing Uber with shuttles. I used Super Shuttle once to the DLR area (Uber wasn't allowed at LAX then) & it was $20/person, shared with a number of people, & the ride itself was scary as the driver was bonkers & I had the front seat to see it all!

ETA: you can bring your car seat in an Uber.