Traffic Question

[bnbheartdisney]

We originally planned to arrive at our hotel in the evening, but may need to change our plans and arrive in the morning and go straight to the park. We’ve done this only one other time, but on a weekend and didn’t have to worry about traffic. That being said, if we leave in the morning from San Diego to arrive before/at rope drop (which will be at 8 a.m.), should leaving at 6 a.m. be enough time? Thanks in advance!

 

[LavenderPeach]

Not sure about exact driving time from SD but wanted to remind you that if you're parking at M&F (which I'm assuming you are since it sounds too early to check into your hotel?), you need to allow for about 30 minutes to get from the parking structure over to the entrance gates. If it was later in the day you might need more time than that but I think 30 minutes should be fine first thing in the morning.

 

[bnbheartdisney]

Right, I have taken that into account. Oh how I dread Disney parking!

 

[skiingfast]

If you are driving from SD itself you will want to leave earlier. By 6 the I-5 is going to be crazy busy when you get upto LA. If you want to make rope drop I'd be thinking 5am.

 

[Capt Silly]

We just spent a week at Capistrano Beach, about 30 miles south of DLR, and it took 50 minutes during rush hour (8:40-9:30) to get from our Hotel to get to the Carnation Cafe on Main Street (we had called for priority seating, so I know the times). That includes parking in the Pumba lot and walking into the park.

San Diego is about an hour south of where we stayed, so I would think 6am or a little before would do just fine.

Be sure to use the diamond lane once it is available, and just stay in it all the way to Disney. There is a diamond lane exit for Disney Way, so you don't even have to try and merge clear across the freeway to exit. You will probably end up parking in either a Lion King or Toy Story parking lot, which seems to get you to the gate faster than the Mickey and Friends lot (I have not timed them, it just seems faster).

 

[tommya60]

Where in San Diego? It can make a big difference. Disneyland is between San Diego and Los Angeles, but you are likely to hit some traffic. Use the diamond lanes, it will save a lot of time (as noted by an earlier poster). I'd probably leave about 5:30, but I'm like to be early......

 

[Disney Dreams]

If you want to be safe, I would suggest leaving between 5:30 - 5:45am. Part of it depends upon where in SD you are. The further south, the more time you need.

5:30am gets you to M&F by 7 / 7:30am depending upon where in SD you are. The trick here is that you will probably arrive at DLR much earlier than needed. However, if you leave at 6:00, you will hit traffic starting around 7am and be stuck in it for 1/2 of your drive, getting you to DL after 8am.

There's a little window that you get hit before the traffic builds, which gets you to DL early, thinking, "I could have left later," but if you leave later, you'll be sitting in traffic thinking, "AHHHH!"

Welcome to So Cal rush hour,
Dreams

P.S.

We just spent a week at Capistrano Beach, about 30 miles south of DLR, and it took 50 minutes during rush hour (8:40-9:30) to get from our Hotel to get to the Carnation Cafe on Main Street (we had called for priority seating, so I know the times). That includes parking in the Pumba lot and walking into the park....

That's amazing! Welcome to DIS!

 

[Monkey Monkey]

I live 90 miles from DLR, and take the 15 to 78 to 5 to get there. When I head up in the morning, I can usually get there in 90 minutes, with slower traffic when getting on the 78, again at the checkpoint near San Onofre, and again in Irvine. Most of the way is pretty quick, and I always have 1 or both of my kids with me, so I use the HOV (diamond) lane.

That said, I would leave no later than 5:45am (from my house) to make sure I would be at 8am rope drop. And I always take the Harbor exit to park in the M&F parking structure, which I have found to be much quicker than the Toy Story lot. YMMV.

HTH!

 

[canadadisney]

As we are driving this route as well (and we are from rural Canada), what is a diamond lane?

 

[nana50]

It is the "carpool" lane and it is the left lane of the freeway. There are diamonds on the pavement that's how you know it is a "diamond" lane.As long as there are 2 or more people in your car you can use it. The people can be children or even babies. It is wonderful when there is traffic.

 

[Monkey Monkey]

It's also called the HOV (High-Occupancy Vehicle) lane. And if you choose to take advantage of it, PLEASE, for the love of all that is good in the world, PLEASE drive at least 10 MPH over the speed limit. Because there is nothing worse than getting stuck behind someone driving the speed limit with no traffic in front of them!

 

[Disney Dreams]

... PLEASE drive at least 10 MPH over the speed limit. Because there is nothing worse than getting stuck behind someone driving the speed limit with no traffic in front of them!

Although technically this could result in a speeding ticket as it is still breaking the speed limit.

 

[Monkey Monkey]

Although technically this could result in a speeding ticket as it is still breaking the speed limit.

True, but there is no point in being in the HOV lane unless you want to go faster than the speed limit!

 

[darph nader]

True, but there is no point in being in the HOV lane unless you want to go faster than the speed limit!

We have very few of those in Az,(Phx),I'm pretty sure that is NOT thier intended purpose. But then again watching a guy pass you on the frontage road doing 95-100 can be a little odd. (We were doing 75 on I-10)

 

[wdwfanatic316]

Sorry to hijack but any tips on leaving from Legoland and driving to Hojo to check in in the evening? What time do we need to leave by or wait until "rush hour" is over to leave? Is 45 minutes about how long it takes? I'm pretty nervous about driving in Cali, coming from Kansas! Thanks!

 

[Monkey Monkey]

Sorry to hijack but any tips on leaving from Legoland and driving to Hojo to check in in the evening? What time do we need to leave by or wait until "rush hour" is over to leave? Is 45 minutes about how long it takes? I'm pretty nervous about driving in Cali, coming from Kansas! Thanks!

Leaving at around 7 or later is probably your best bet, and it should take about an hour depending on how fast you drive.

 

[wdwfanatic316]

Leaving at around 7 or later is probably your best bet, and it should take about an hour depending on how fast you drive.

Thanks!

 

[skiingfast]

Leaving at around 7 or later is probably your best bet, and it should take about an hour depending on how fast you drive.

Yeah get some dinner in Carlsbad or Oceanside, first. If you take enough time you can watch the sunset as you drive right along the coast and get to Hojo just in time for bed.

 

[canadadisney]

We drove that highway a couple of years ago and it seemed like everyone was going at least 10mph over on the normal lanes!!!!

 

[Capt Silly]

Sorry to hijack but any tips on leaving from Legoland and driving to Hojo to check in in the evening? What time do we need to leave by or wait until "rush hour" is over to leave? Is 45 minutes about how long it takes? I'm pretty nervous about driving in Cali, coming from Kansas! Thanks!

It probably will take closer to an hour. Again, highly recommend using the diamond/Car Pool/HOV lane. This will start after you pass San Clemente, and continue right up to Disney Way. You don't have to ever get out of it because Disney Way has an exit on the left directly from the diamond lane.