Transportation Options

[Fairy_Tale_Bride]

This will be my first trip to Disneyland and my first trip to Cali! My DH and I will be staying at some "dive motel" walking distance from Disneyland. I'm wondering if there are any shuttles that drop off in specific areas that we could use or would our best bet be just to take a taxi to and from the airport? I'm sure the Disneyland hotels and resorts have shuttles/buses, but I don't know if they are only available to guests staying at a Disney resort or hotel. What would be our best transportation option?

 

[mystic_path]

OK well you definately have some options.

#1. You can rent a car to get yourselves around incase you want to go to some offsite attractions like knottsberry farm etc.

#2. Pay out your nose for a taxi

#3. There is a disney bus line that you can take to and from your hotel to the airport

#4. There are also shuttles that you can take to and from the airport. They are called Super Shuttles. You call super shuttle to book, pay for the shuttle when you get to the airport, or if you book a trip online with travelocity, expedia etc. you can include it into your package. What you do is when you book your shuttle online, on the phone or at the airport, you give them the name of your hotel and they will drive you there, and on your last day when you want to be picked up to get dropped off at the airport you just tell them when you want to be picked up at your hotel and they do so. If you are flying into SNA (John Wayne) the cost is only like $10 or 11 dollars per person each way (To and from the airport). Its not that expensive. The shuttle may have a few people to pick up or drop off on the way, but its in your hotel area, and you can double check with them before you throw your luggage in the back of the shuttle and take off. It doesnt take long at all. At the end of your trip you will get to the airport on time for your flight home so its not a huge ordeal. Its a fun way to meet people and talk about disney and things to do there etc. It got us hyped for our trip when we took the super shuttle, and we were given extremely great tips on how to take on the parks.


#5. If you want to go to other attractions like Sea World, the Zoo, Medieval times Dinner and Tournament, Universal Studios etc. Look into their free shuttle services down there. Like Super Shuttle you tell them where you are staying and a bus picks you up at your hotel, takes you to those places and drives you back to your hotel at the end of the night. So incredibly convenient.

Also if you are talking about trams that go to and from your hotel to the disneyland resort, there are tons of busses. If the hotel you are staying at is in the disneyland area then there will be a route where a disneyland bus will pick you up at. Take a look at the ART bus system and it will give you a map of where the disney bus routes are. Each bus has a number, and that same number bus picks you up in the morning, and drives you back to your hotel at night. The bus loop area at the resort is lined with numbered poles which coordinate with the number your bus is. (Say your bus is #6, at the end of the day, or during the day when you want to go back to your hotel for any reason, you stand at the pole with the #6 on it)

Keep in mind that the bus system stops running an hour after the park closes and they stop running and go for breaks around 1-2pm in the afternoon. If your hotel is walking distance but you are too tired to walk, keep in mind you might wanna consider a taxi. There are tons of those near the bus loop area of the resort.

 

[hlbtimes2]

What airport are you flying into? It will make a difference as to what transportation would be best for you. Also depends on if you are staying at a "good neighbor" hotel or some place else.

With out knowing airport and hotel I would recomend Super Shuttle or renting a car. A taxi, if you are at LAX, will be VERY expensive. If you are staying a dive that is a not a good neighbor, the Express bus won't help you.

 

[Fairy_Tale_Bride]

Okay, I guess I needed to post more details! Sorry about that! Here we go!

We are flying into LAX from Orlando and will be arriving at LAX around 9:15pm. We are staying at Americas Best Inns in Anaheim, which is pretty close walking distance to Disneyland. We are going to choose to walk to and from there everyday and we will just be visiting Disneyland, so we only need transportation to and from the airport.

Thanks! I hope you can maybe help me with some more detailed information now.

 

[hlbtimes2]

I would go with Super shuttle. I dont think the express bus will service that hotel. I think it only goes to good neighbor hotels. Super shuttle will take you anywhere. Even if the express bus would take you to the hotel, the bus only runs every hour at night, so you might end up with a long wait, depending on how fast your able to get your bags. Super shuttle always has vans waiting. There is a chance you'll have to take people to personal residents between the airport and hotel, but it's not usually that bad.

The hotel is going to be a pretty long walk. You might check out the ART bus www.rideart.org You might have to walk a block or two to get to a stop, but its better then walking all the way! Its pretty cheap if you buy a multi day pass.

 

[Fairy_Tale_Bride]

I would go with Super shuttle. I dont think the express bus will service that hotel. I think it only goes to good neighbor hotels. Super shuttle will take you anywhere. Even if the express bus would take you to the hotel, the bus only runs every hour at night, so you might end up with a long wait, depending on how fast your able to get your bags. Super shuttle always has vans waiting. There is a chance you'll have to take people to personal residents between the airport and hotel, but it's not usually that bad.

The hotel is going to be a pretty long walk. You might check out the ART bus www.rideart.org You might have to walk a block or two to get to a stop, but its better then walking all the way! Its pretty cheap if you buy a multi day pass.

Thanks so much for the great info! The ART bus looks like a great idea and there is a stop right at our hotel area, which will be very helpful! So, is there a specific area where these buses are at Disneyland/California Adventure to get back on them for our ride at night back to our hotel?

 

[Fairy_Tale_Bride]

Oh, and about the Super Shuttle...Is this something I should call and book ahead of time or do I just do this once I land at the airport? I'd like to call and have all of this arranged ahead of time if that is possible. Do you know a website I can look at or the number by any chance? You have all been so helpful!

 

[hlbtimes2]

www.supershuttle.com You can arrange it in advance. YOu can also book your return trip.

You'll pick the ART shuttle up at the same place it drops you off. You'll want to know which route you are on. The shuttles will have letters on them. Its really close to the main gates. Downtown Disney is on one side of the gates and the shuttle drops off is on the other, right off Harbor.

 

[Fairy_Tale_Bride]

www.supershuttle.com You can arrange it in advance. YOu can also book your return trip.

You'll pick the ART shuttle up at the same place it drops you off. You'll want to know which route you are on. The shuttles will have letters on them. Its really close to the main gates. Downtown Disney is on one side of the gates and the shuttle drops off is on the other, right off Harbor.

Great! Thanks so very much! This is really making my trip and planning so much easier, since I didn't know what to expect! We will be at the Grand Californian Hotel one night for dinner and from there will be heading back to our hotel, is there a bus pick-up there by any chance or will we need to go back to the main gate area? Is that the only pick-up and drop-off?

 

[hlbtimes2]

You'll need to go back to the same place after dinner at the GC. You might want to check and see what time the last ART is if you are having a late meal. Its not far at all from the GC to the shuttle area.

When you get there you'll be really suprised just how close everything is. If I had more time I would find you the arial photo that shows the shuttle drop, main gate and Downtown disney/ GC hotel- as well as the park enterances.

 

[hlbtimes2]

Ok, here is an arial map from the sticky at the top of this page: http://www.wdwinfo.com/photopost/data/556/11450dlmap.jpg

If you look a little over 1/2 way down the right side you'll see 3 yellowish/green circles in a parking lot (right below a white rectangle shaped building and the white circle that is Space mt). Those circles are the ART/ shuttle drop off area. To the right you'll see the enterance to both parks. Its a brick area, looks brownish in the pick. Then to the left of that you'll see DTD and the GC. Top 1/2 the pic is DL, bottom 1/2 is DCA.

I believe the hotel you are staying at is on Ball rd. That road can be seen at the very top edge of the map. It runs across the back side of DL.