Transportation from SNA to Disneyland Hotel

[lilibc]

Hello,

One of the last things I need to book is our transportation to the Disneyland Hotel (From SNA). We arrive at SNA this Sunday early afternoon.

There are two of us adults, and our two children (aged 2 and 5). They both ride in carseats and we'll have them with us (and want to install them for the drive so the Disney bus is out).

What's a better option, Super Shuttle or a taxi? Do they have many taxi vans? Anyone know if Super Shuttle or the taxi vans use "latch/UAS" (this would make it super simple to install our seats).

Any suggestions or other thoughts? Thank you!!!!

 

[Bumble Bee Tuna]

Just grab a cab. It's a short ride from SNA. The shuttles are useful from LAX.

 

[beckymomof2]

I just requested a quote from DK Livery service after a reference from this site. They have Disneyland specials. You can view it at http://www.dklivery.com

Since they didn't list Orange County I emailed them. For us round trip going from SNA to our hotel near Disneyland and then from hotel back to LAX is $174. SNA part is $84 and LAX part is $90.

There will be 6 of us, so it's a decent price. They also allow one 20 minute stop to a grocery store if you would like and include bottled water. Gratuity is also included. I know these aren't a deal breaker but it seemed like they have a well-put together concept instead of we pick you up and rush you here and there.

The other part that I liked was if there are children they require a car seat and will provide it. I know you are saying you want to install your own which I'm sure would be acceptable. I'm just glad they provide it because we won't be able to bring our own due to the distance that we are traveling.

 

[Stitch35]

Grab a taxi, ask for a flat rate, runs $35-$40. They have bigger cars for the same price if you need more room as well.

 

[lilibc]

Anyone know if taxi's have the "latch" system for installing car seats? Not crucial information, but I like to be prepared ;-)

 

[larina]

I think that depends on the company and/or the particular car.

 

[Caramel]

We really like Execucar from SNA to Disneyland. We've done a multi-family shuttle before, but hate all those time-wasting stops for other people. We also despise taxis. Seems no matter where we catch them we're in for a rough ride, and sometimes fitting four with car seats is impossible. Plus, not sure taxis will be patient enough for two car seat installs.

Execucar is door to door and fairly inexpensive. For four of us, it is $100 round trip, though we usually can find a coupon code online to get it a little cheaper (maybe 5 - 20% off.) You call their 800 number when you get to your arrival airport and they're there immediately. You select a pick up time from the hotel for your return flight when you make the online reservation. The cars are nothing fancy; late model basic SUVs, that sort of thing.

http://www.execucar.com/

 

[larina]

Plus, not sure taxis will be patient enough for two car seat installs.

Of course they will wait, they'll just turn the meter on.

 

[lilibc]

I can't find "SNA" in their options....... maybe they just do LAX?

We really like Execucar from SNA to Disneyland. We've done a multi-family shuttle before, but hate all those time-wasting stops for other people. We also despise taxis. Seems no matter where we catch them we're in for a rough ride, and sometimes fitting four with car seats is impossible. Plus, not sure taxis will be patient enough for two car seat installs.

Execucar is door to door and fairly inexpensive. For four of us, it is $100 round trip, though we usually can find a coupon code online to get it a little cheaper (maybe 5 - 20% off.) You call their 800 number when you get to your arrival airport and they're there immediately. You select a pick up time from the hotel for your return flight when you make the online reservation. The cars are nothing fancy; late model basic SUVs, that sort of thing.

http://www.execucar.com/

 

[starshine514]

Anyone know if taxi's have the "latch" system for installing car seats? Not crucial information, but I like to be prepared ;-)

My guess would be yes. I've not ridden in a ton of taxis, but they've always been late-model regular passenger vehicles. I believe all regular passenger vehicles have been required to have LATCH since 2001 (or was it 2002)? So, I would think that taxis would have LATCH.

If anybody knows different info, please post.

 

[Phoenixrising]

I've used Execucar a couple of times with mixed feelings. The first time traveling solo they tried the old bait and switch on my return leg in Oct/10 (didn't work, I had all my doc's with me). The second time I used them was Sept/11, and going as a family had no problems with really good drivers. Just make sure you've got all your reservation confirmations with you. I'm split between using them again for my upcoming trip to DL in Nov or just taking a cab to and from SNA.

 

[bumbershoot]

I can't find "SNA" in their options....... maybe they just do LAX?

It's under "orange county-John wayne".

 

[bcla]

Anyone know if taxi's have the "latch" system for installing car seats? Not crucial information, but I like to be prepared ;-)

Every passenger vehicle sold in the US from the 2002 model year will. Almost all modern taxis will be newer than that, although there are exceptions (I recently saw a mid-90s Camry converted to a taxi. The main difficulty you might have is that nearly all LATCH positions are on the window seats, with a few rare ones having options for a center position (some borrow from one side while others have two independent anchors). The difficulty will of course be in seating someone in between two seats. I've been in a car with just one child seat in the back in an window seat LATCH position and two adults. That didn't look like fun. Being an adult sitting in between two seats would be even worse.

A passenger van might be a better option, but you'd need to call to ask if they have LATCH setups on their seats. I'd also learn how to use the seatbelts. LATCH isn't necessarily any safer than a properly set up child seat secured with a seat belt. LATCH was really designed for more convenience and to be easier to use. A lot of the seat belt attachments have lockoffs and other things that may be hard to figure out and takes timg. You also need to pull out the seat belts until they ratchet and lock. My wife has a habit of pulling out her seat belt that far and we heard this ratcheting sound as it retracts and it locks.

 

[Aladora]

Every passenger vehicle sold in the US from the 2002 model year will. Almost all modern taxis will be newer than that, although there are exceptions (I recently saw a mid-90s Camry converted to a taxi. The main difficulty you might have is that nearly all LATCH positions are on the window seats, with a few rare ones having options for a center position (some borrow from one side while others have two independent anchors). The difficulty will of course be in seating someone in between two seats. I've been in a car with just one child seat in the back in an window seat LATCH position and two adults. That didn't look like fun. Being an adult sitting in between two seats would be even worse.

A passenger van might be a better option, but you'd need to call to ask if they have LATCH setups on their seats. I'd also learn how to use the seatbelts. LATCH isn't necessarily any safer than a properly set up child seat secured with a seat belt. LATCH was really designed for more convenience and to be easier to use. A lot of the seat belt attachments have lockoffs and other things that may be hard to figure out and takes timg. You also need to pull out the seat belts until they ratchet and lock. My wife has a habit of pulling out her seat belt that far and we heard this ratcheting sound as it retracts and it locks.

While it is correct that seat belt installations, when done correctly, are as safe as LATCH installation, also when done correctly, I have to correct one thing you said.

If a vehicle only has the LATCH attachments for the two outboard seats (the window seats), you are NEVER supposed to use a car seat with LATCH in the centre position. Instead, if you want to install a car seat in the centre position, you must use the seat belt. Do not "borrow" a LATCH attachment from either side.

 

[bcla]

While it is correct that seat belt installations, when done correctly, are as safe as LATCH installation, also when done correctly, I have to correct one thing you said.

If a vehicle only has the LATCH attachments for the two outboard seats (the window seats), you are NEVER supposed to use a car seat with LATCH in the centre position. Instead, if you want to install a car seat in the centre position, you must use the seat belt. Do not "borrow" a LATCH attachment from either side.

There are various setups out there. I've heard of some with six anchors for 3 independent LATCH setups. I've also heard of some vehicles with five anchors, where one of the anchors can be used for either a center or window position, but not both. If the center position is chosen, it's typically not going to be dead center but offset a little to the side of the unused anchor. The following is a pretty good description of what I was referring to:

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=33718

A few vehicles have a fifth anchor that is shared by the center and outboard positions: o__oo__x__o (with x being the shared anchor). The shared anchor can only be used for one position at a time.

Here's a picture of what it would look like (the asterisk is above the shared anchor):

http://thecarseatlady.wordpress.com/latch/center-latch/center-latch-color-coding-key/

 

[Aladora]

There are various setups out there. I've heard of some with six anchors for 3 independent LATCH setups. I've also heard of some vehicles with five anchors, where one of the anchors can be used for either a center or window position, but not both. If the center position is chosen, it's typically not going to be dead center but offset a little to the side of the unused anchor. The following is a pretty good description of what I was referring to:

Yes, that is correct. What I was trying to clarify was that if a car ONLY has the LATCH set up for the window positions, then you CANNOT use the two inside attachments for the centre position. Below is a picture of the kind of setup I was talking about. In this case, you can only use a car seat with LATCH in the window seat positions.

 

[PoohsFan1]

Grab a taxi, ask for a flat rate, runs $35-$40. They have bigger cars for the same price if you need more room as well.

This is exactly what we are planning on doing

 

[Kristin5]

Grab a taxi, ask for a flat rate, runs $35-$40. They have bigger cars for the same price if you need more room as well.

How many people do the bigger taxis accommodate? We will have 6 in our group.

 

[bcla]

How many people do the bigger taxis accommodate? We will have 6 in our group.

Almost universally four passengers plus the driver if it's a car or compact SUV. Not sure about minivans though.

Here's an interesting picture taken in front of the Hilton Anaheim:

It's from an article from the OC Register stating that in 2010 Disneyland decided that it would only allow Yellow Cab of Greater Orange County to pick up passengers on its property, and that a court upheld their right to do so. Before then, the Marriott, Hilton, and Anaheim Convention Center also instituted a similar policy because they felt they were providing a higher level of service and because they overall had a fleet of cleaner burning vehicles.

I don't believe SNA can keep any licensed Orange County taxi out.

So you can see you can find the typical Crown Vics and a couple of minivans. I think a Ford Escape is also a pretty common taxi vehicle these days.

 

[Stitch35]

How many people do the bigger taxis accommodate? We will have 6 in our group.

They are 6 passenger vans (7 with driver), so your party would fit fine.