Transportation from VGC to Universal

[disneypoor]

Hello! We fly out bright and early tomorrow morning for our vacation to Disneyland! I am thinking we will buy the SoCal City Pass and look to add a day or two to the Disneyland part of the ticket. We won't use the Sea World ticket, but if I'm figuring things correctly, it will still save us some money to purchase our tickets this way even if I add a 4th day to the DL parks. Please correct me if I'm wrong on this.

Anyhow, my question involves Universal Studios. Our kids REALLY want to go to US which is why I'm looking to get the city pass. However, I'm really torn on how to get to US. The cheapest option for our family of 4 is to rent a car (it would be around $45) and drive it. We rented a car on a previous trip to DL and vowed to never, EVER do it again. I need some help from some of you experts or people who have done it recently. Is it really as bad as I remember it? We are flexible on days and could go to US any day between Wednesday and Friday if one of those days is better than another. Any input on helping to avoid traffic would be GREAT!

I've also read about using Grayline to get there. They are around $35 per person plus a $3 surcharge, so that would make the transportation pretty pricey in my opinion. If it makes it a lot easier than car rental, we'd be fine with it but just want to hear from some of you. Also, I'm assuming a taxi would be ridiculously expensive?

What would you do? TIA!!!! Looking forward to our DL vacation!

Susan

 

[perlster]

short version: rent the car

With four of you, the cost of Grayline would be way more than a car rental, even adding the cost of parking at USH.

I really have no idea what the cost of taxi would be. It wouldn't hurt to call a service when you get to Anaheim to figure out if it's feasible.

There is another thread here about taking public transportation, but especially with kids, that option may be cheaper, but a lot more of a hassle.

Leave early in the morning so you don't feel rushed on the way to USH and (especially on a weekday) don't be surprised if traffic slows or even stops at points.

 

[disneypoor]

short version: rent the car

With four of you, the cost of Grayline would be way more than a car rental, even adding the cost of parking at USH.

There is another thread here about taking public transportation, but especially with kids, that option may be cheaper, but a lot more of a hassle.

Leave early in the morning so you don't feel rushed on the way to USH and (especially on a weekday) don't be surprised if traffic slows or even stops at points.

Thank you for your reply! When you say to leave early....how early should we leave? Is it pretty easy to drive to US with the exception of traffic? TIA!

Susan

 

[perlster]

The calendar shows that it opens at 9AM for the next couple of weeks.

Friday would be the worst driving back from USH

I would aim to park (or be dropped off) about 20 minutes before opening time. In my experience, tickets are scanned and guests are let in before then.

2 alternative touring plans:
1) tram tour, then down to lower level, back up
2) Transformers and rest of lower level first, then upper level

Google gives three routes:

The first (listed below & supposedly the fastest generally) is listed at 40 minutes, but 1 hour 4 minutes now, which is a couple of hours after rush hour ended


1. Head north on Disneyland Dr/S West St toward Disney Way
Continue to follow Disneyland Dr 1.2 mi

2. Slight right to merge onto I-5 N toward Los Angeles 22.3 mi

3. Continue onto Hwy 101 N/US-101 N 11.7 mi

4. Take the exit toward Universal Studios Blvd 0.1 mi

5. Merge onto Buddy Holly Dr 0.3 mi

6. Turn right onto Universal Studios Blvd
Destination will be on the right

 

[disneypoor]

Thank you so much for your help!!! I went ahead and rented a car, and we will go to US on Thursday. I appreciate your help!!!

Susan

 

[Ryan120420]

What is VGC?

 

[disneypoor]

What is VGC?

The villas at Grand California

 

[Ryan120420]

The villas at Grand California

Here is the public transportation directions on how to get to Universal from Disneyland.

You have a few options:

1.

Take LA Metro Bus 460 from Disneyland (picks you up on Harbor beneath the monorail beam) to Figueroa and 7th Street in DownTown LA. From There you would transfer to LA Metro REDLINE (subway) to North Hollywood. Get off at Universal City Station. Go up to street level and take the free shuttle to the park.

Price: $7.80 round trip per person.

2.

Go to either Anaheim or Fullerton Amtrak/Metrolink stations. Take Orange County Metrolink train to LA Union Station. Get off at Union Station and transfer to the LA Metro REDLINE to North Hollywood. Get off at Universal City Station. Go up to street level and take the free shuttle to the park.

Price: $10.40 (Metrolink to LA. 460 Back to Disneyland) per person
$18.00 (Metrolink only to and from LA) per person


3.

Take LA Metro Bus 460 from Disneyland (picks you up on Harbor beneath the monorail beam) to Fullerton Park and Ride. Transfer to OCTA 721 bus to Downtown LA. Get off at Figueroa and 7th Street in DownTown LA. From There you would transfer to LA Metro REDLINE (subway) to North Hollywood. Get off at Universal City Station. Go up to street level and take the free shuttle to the park.


Price: $12.40 round trip per person. (assuming you take the 460 back to Disneyland from LA)

Website links

OCTA 721:

http://octa.net/eBusbookJune2013/

LA METRO 460 and REDLINE:'

http://www.metro.net/riding/maps/

MetroLink (orange county line)

http://metrolinktrains.com/schedules/line/name/Orange County/service_id/1152.html


TIPS:

If you take the 460, make sure you purchase a Metro Day Pass ($5.00), this will get you free transfers to the REDLINE and you will get a $1.50 discount on the 460 to and from LA. LA Metro 460 Regular Fare is $2.90 each way.

If you take Metrolink, KEEP YOUR TICKET!!!. Your ticket is a Metro Day Pass. It will get you free transfers to most LA Metro buses and trains, regardless if the ticket is round trip or one-way. It will also get you a $1.50 discount on the LA Metro 460 back to Disneyland.






Fares:

Metrolink - $9.00 1-way.
OCTA 721- $6.00 1-way.
LA METRO 460 to Fullerton Park and Ride - $1.50 1-way.
LA METRO 460 to DownTown LA- $2.90 1-way.
LA METRO REDLINE- $1.50 1-way.


LA METRO DAY PASS- $5.00

Have fun!