taking last Disneyland Express of the night out of SNA

[Lone Star*]

our trip is next week. My plan was to take the Disneyland Express from SNA to our hotel. We did not want to bring our carseat. Our plane is supposed to land at SNA at 6:10pm. The last Disney Express leaves at 7:00pm. Is this do-able? the Disneyland Express is the most affordable option for us. However, i'm a little nervous this is cutting it close. Anyone have experience boarding the last bus of the night? it is packed? are people turned away?
if something goes wrong and we miss this bus... what are our other options? Do you have to call well in advance to find a taxi with a carseat? Do they even exist?

 

[Imdboss]

I've never taken the DL bus but that timeframe is totally doable! We always fly into SNA and we were off the plane at 3:00, 4 checked bags claimed and in our Lansky's car at 3:20.

 

[smartlabelprint]

How big is your car seat kiddo?

What if your flight is delayed?

We use car seats on plane but kids 2 & under.

 

[lalasmama]

I'd have some type of back up plan.... only because this was the plan I had a few years ago. We were delayed leaving home airport, and again at connecting airport, so that we didn't get to SNA after the general airport curfew, let alone the last DLRE bus. A taxi was our only option at that point.

And I've had to wait 2 hours for a Disneyland Resort Express bus to put close me up from LAX, and when I called, they weren't able to tell me when the next one was going to be there.... and told me obviously I had missed the one that "just went by according to the schedule they follow" despite the fact I'd been there an hour at that point...

How old is your kiddo?

 

[Lone Star*]

The kiddo is 5 yrs and his carseat is HUGE! We've never flown with it because we've always had a seat at our destination. Our flight is only 2 hours but yes, if it's delayed that would royally mess things up. I know a lot of people here use Lansky but that's pretty pricey for us. However, it might be worth it if we don't have to stress about the carseat.

 

[heffalumpz]

You can buy the shuttle tickets on-site, so you can always wing it if that's not too scary of an option. I took the shuttle once and there were only three other people on it and we were all going to the same hotel! I assume this isn't always the case, but I can't imagine it being packed as LAX tends to be the more popular airport.

 

[lunaland]

From SNA you should be fine. The bus parks and waits. From LAX the bus travels to stops and I got passed over because the bus driver couldn't get over to pick me up due to traffic. He just shrugged at me and I had to wait another hour.

 

[lalasmama]

The kiddo is 5 yrs and his carseat is HUGE! We've never flown with it because we've always had a seat at our destination. Our flight is only 2 hours but yes, if it's delayed that would royally mess things up. I know a lot of people here use Lansky but that's pretty pricey for us. However, it might be worth it if we don't have to stress about the carseat.

Just an idea, and feel free to ignore me I tend to be a car seat geek. A lot of ladies on my "mommy board" site love the Evenflo Maestro for a travel seat. It harnesses up to 50lbs and 50in (and boosters far beyond that). It's FAA approved when used with the harness. $80 at Kohls online, could likely find it even cheaper. $67 for Amazon if you have Prime.

Another option if he is over 40lbs would be a booster (either high back or backless). You could put that in the overhead bin, and just use it if needed for a taxi. You'd need it eventually anyway (carpool, transition from car seat to regular seat eventually, etc), and they can be less than $20. (As I said, I'm a complete car seat geek. My grandsons are still harnessed at 4yo and 5yo because I'm freaked out to move them to a booster, and thankfully their mom is equally concerned. However, I know we are in the minority. You said your kiddo's car seat is huge, so I'm assuming he's harnessed too. Not trying to talk you into early boostering. Just mentioning it as an option since "booster training" has to happen sometime barring some special need, and in this case, booster training him while you are sitting next to him may help, as you will be able to assure he remains properly positioned). Soapbox over

Of course, traveling with a full harnessed seat or a booster is not nearly as easy and/or convenient as traveling without a car seat, but safer if your flight is delayed...

Assuming you have 2 adults riding on DLRE, it will be $70 round trip SNA/Disneyland Resort area. A taxi would be about $90 (with no additional hotel stops, and no waiting on the next bus). A hired car is in the $150-200 range I believe, and could have the ability to have car seats ready (but not necessarily a correct car seat that will fit your child; Lansky has had an issue with this, and expired seats, within the last few years, but state they have bought all new seats).

 

[BriannaRuth]

It is doable *if* your flight is on time. I know from experience that the DL Express waits for no mouse. Seriously, we cut it close on our last visit so I ran out to the bus while DH grabbed our luggage. Even though I told them he was on his way, they told me if he didn't make it by the time the bus was ready to leave it was too bad. The bus departs right out side (across the street) from baggage claim, so it only takes a few minutes to get there.

 

[Lone Star*]

Just an idea, and feel free to ignore me I tend to be a car seat geek. A lot of ladies on my "mommy board" site love the Evenflo Maestro for a travel seat. It harnesses up to 50lbs and 50in (and boosters far beyond that). It's FAA approved when used with the harness. $80 at Kohls online, could likely find it even cheaper. $67 for Amazon if you have Prime.

Another option if he is over 40lbs would be a booster (either high back or backless). You could put that in the overhead bin, and just use it if needed for a taxi. You'd need it eventually anyway (carpool, transition from car seat to regular seat eventually, etc), and they can be less than $20. (As I said, I'm a complete car seat geek. My grandsons are still harnessed at 4yo and 5yo because I'm freaked out to move them to a booster, and thankfully their mom is equally concerned. However, I know we are in the minority. You said your kiddo's car seat is huge, so I'm assuming he's harnessed too. Not trying to talk you into early boostering. Just mentioning it as an option since "booster training" has to happen sometime barring some special need, and in this case, booster training him while you are sitting next to him may help, as you will be able to assure he remains properly positioned). Soapbox over

Of course, traveling with a full harnessed seat or a booster is not nearly as easy and/or convenient as traveling without a car seat, but safer if your flight is delayed...

Assuming you have 2 adults riding on DLRE, it will be $70 round trip SNA/Disneyland Resort area. A taxi would be about $90 (with no additional hotel stops, and no waiting on the next bus). A hired car is in the $150-200 range I believe, and could have the ability to have car seats ready (but not necessarily a correct car seat that will fit your child; Lansky has had an issue with this, and expired seats, within the last few years, but state they have bought all new seats).

You are correct, he is still harnessed for the reasons you mentioned. Also, he just hit 40lbs which is the minimum for a lot of booster seats. That being said, I feel like we need a back up plan to just hoping we arrive on time! A booster seat seems like a good idea. I'm assuming they weigh less than convertible carseats.
I mentioned buying a booster to Hubby for traveling ease and he didn't like the idea but i'll try again. i feel like this might be our best option.

 

[minnieralyks]

I don't know, 50 minutes might be okay. If you are one of the later ones to get off the plane, it could be cutting it close. We were on Southwest and had to go all the way to the back to find 3 seats together (even though we were first in group B, wayyy too many single people/families saving seats for people in late groups. But that's a different discussion altogether!). Getting off the plane took forever. Then you have to go to get checked bags, etc. Also if you have little ones, it might be stressful trying to get everyone/everything to move quickly through the airport. SNA is a small airport though, so it could be possible.

Have you checked the taxi service? I always thought the Disneyland Express bus was pricier than Super Shuttle or taxis. I've also heard that unless you stay at one of the Disneyland hotels, it just drops you off at one of the ART bus stops where you have to walk to your hotel.

 

[Darkbeer1]

Have you checked out a BubbleBum, an inflatable booster seat that is approved in the USA.

https://www.amazon.com/BubbleBum-Inflatable-Booster-Black-Silver/dp/B00AQYZCXK?th=1

 

[lalasmama]

You are correct, he is still harnessed for the reasons you mentioned. Also, he just hit 40lbs which is the minimum for a lot of booster seats. That being said, I feel like we need a back up plan to just hoping we arrive on time! A booster seat seems like a good idea. I'm assuming they weigh less than convertible carseats.
I mentioned buying a booster to Hubby for traveling ease and he didn't like the idea but i'll try again. i feel like this might be our best option.

Booster seats are cheap and very light-weight. I had (still have!) a pretty scrawny kiddo, and she's short, so that booster went everywhere with us.... including multiple plane trips. They will fit in the overhead compartment (can't use them on the plane), and they don't count against your carry-on/personal items. It weighs less that 5 pounds probably, and easy for a kid to carry.

As DarkBeer pointed out, there's a booster called the Bubble Bum. About $45 at Walmart. It looks like a piece of human-sized blow-up Barbie doll furniture, but is pretty awesome. It's rolls up nice and small when you don't need it. When you do need it, you inflate it and use it. What I like about it is the fact it has guides on the side to make sure the seat belt is properly placed low on the hips, not across the tummy.

Even using a booster for a little bit occasionally definitely can feel scary! But, I personally think it's a great time to try it while you will be right there making sure he's sitting up, the belt is fitting right, etc.

 

[Lone Star*]

thanks everyone. I ordered a lighter car seat to take with us, so now i don't have to stress about missing the bus!

 

[amyg1975]

thanks everyone. I ordered a lighter car seat to take with us, so now i don't have to stress about missing the bus!

That's what we did too, and we use that car seat all of the time for travel.