Traffic on Saturday

[LD500]

We're finally headed to Anaheim this Saturday!
We probably will pickup our rental car around 4:30PM.
How bad does traffic from LAX to Anaheim get on a Saturday for rush hour?
Are we better off finding a restaurant near LAX and sit back until 8PM?
Would love to get to Downtown Disney for dinner but maybe it's not the best plan since my young children might not enjoy the traffic jams.

Please give me your tips on what to do. THX.

 

[DisnyMama]

We have to drive from the north L.A. area every time we go to DL and we usually take the I-5 fwy, (sometimes we have taken the 210 to the 605 to the 5 depending on traffic) but you will be off of the 405 fwy which we have also done. Saturday afternoon and early evening traffic will be about the same. Based on experience it truly won't lighten up enough to make a defference till about 8:30-9:00 p.m.

If you p.u. your rental car at 4:30 and take Sepulveda Blvd. South and then take the 105-E to the 605-N to the 5-S and then you will see the signs that say Disneyland exit.....should take you about an hour to an hour and a half tops.

Have a great vacation and drive safe!

 

[LD500]

Our GPS keeps suggesting to take the 91 Artesia Fwy as the main route East to get to 5 Hwy instead of 105 as you suggested.

Sometimes I find the GPS can choose the wrong routes.
Is 91 far inferior to 105 to head east from LAX to #5 South to Disneyland?

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Welcome to the DIS

Slight correction.

105 doesn't go to the 5.

You take the 105E - 605N (for about a mile) - 91E - 5S -- Disneyland.

The 105 ends at the 605. Take the carpool lane almost all the way. On the 91E take the carpool lane & the carpool lane will get off on the 5S. Stay in the carpool lane to get off on Disneyland Drive, which will either take you to Downtown Disney parking or theme park parking (whichever you want).

I do not expect rush hour traffic at that time on a Saturday afternoon. IMO, I would say after you get the rental 45-1 hour to get to Disneyland, unless there is a traffic snarl.

Here are directions I put together with a map: http://www.maryjomellado.com/lax_to_dlr.htm

 

[LD500]

Thanks. I guess my question was really whether or not I should be avoiding my GPS recommendation to take 91. Like if it was a old death trap road
All things being equal I would rather stick with the GPS rather than have to read maps while navigating unknown roads.

Two side questions:
1. I read on one website the directions to drive from LAX to Disneyland.
It warned not to exit off the highway in certain areas because they were high crime areas (like Compton). Is it really that scarey?

2. Heard that California has a limitation on where you can mount your GPS on the windshield. We have a 4.3" GPS, I heard it must be mounted on the far left or far right of the windshield?

Sorry for the simple driving questions but getting from LAX to Alamo to Disneyland is the main concern right now. Lots to juggle with young kids.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

You should take the 91, but to get there, you need to take the 105 to the 605

So --

You would take:
105-East At the end of the freeway get in your right lane, and take the
605-North Stay on your right, and in a couple of miles you will get to the
91-East Once on the freeway, make your way to the #1 lane/carpool lane and stay there. You will pass Beach Blvd & will see Knotts Berry Farm to your right. From the carpool lane take the
5-South Stay in the carpool lane for a few miles (maybe 5-10 minutes) and get off on
Disneyland Drive

I wouldn't really worry about the crime rate, however, if you want to get groceries, there is a great Ralphs Market on Sepulveda, near the LAX airport - maybe 2-5 minutes away. The freeways are wide here.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Thanks. I guess my question was really whether or not I should be avoiding my GPS recommendation to take 91. Like if it was a old death trap road.

91 is a big freeway. If you take 105-E you have to take 91. If you take 405-S you do not go on 91.

Two side questions:

1. I read on one website the directions to drive from LAX to Disneyland.
It warned not to exit off the highway in certain areas because they were high crime areas (like Compton). Is it really that scarey?

No, it's not that scary, but why would you want to get off the freeway? There's nothing to see.

2. Heard that California has a limitation on where you can mount your GPS on the windshield. We have a 4.3" GPS, I heard it must be mounted on the far left or far right of the windshield?

Have no idea.

 

[Dizneydaz]

I also say take the 105 East to 605 south to 91 East to 5 South. I recently drove my DSis to LAX on a Thursday afternoon. No Traffic. I took 91 West to 605 North to 105 West and made great time (same as mentioned at start, just in reverse.) On the way hope I took 105 to 605 to 5 and I shouldn't have. The 5 is a pretty narrow freeway and before I ran into the 91 (you would continue on 5 to get to DLR) I ran into construction. So, skip the 5 from 605 to 91 and pick it up from the 91.

I also agree that traffic shouldn't be too bad on Saturday. Maybe just a little bit. Take the carpool lane wherever you can.