What is your favorite/least favorite Airline getting to and from DL? why?

[Castaway Kev]

I started a post about Airlines for in and out of MCO, and figure it might be fun to get thought on Disneyland as well.

My wife and I like SNA (John Wayne/Orange County) and LGB (Long Beach). Long Beach is a smaller airport, which makes it easy to get in and out of. Security is a breeze because it is so small. We also like the fact that we can land, and have one person wait for the luggage while the other person crosses the street to get a rental car.

LAX has the Disneyland Express, which is like magical express, but for a fee. That runs from SNA as well.

So, what are your thoughts on Airlines to get to and from DL?

 

[Castaway Kev]

I'll hijack my own thread here, too. I must say, that with Disneyland, I don't hear people talking much about renting a car at the airport, and returning it at DL. I know that Hertz, Enterprise, Alamo, National all have an office within a mile of the park. It's easy to get a one day rental and drop off the car by Disneyland and then get a ride back to your hotel. Then, when you are ready to go back home, get another one day rental. The agency will pick you up at the hotel and take you to rent your car and drop it off back at the airport. This way, you can get away with only paying for two days of rental, and have the convenience of having a car if you need to get groceries or the like. I'm hooked on this method, and am surprised that I don't hear of more people doing it like this.

 

[ScubaD]

We have tried John Wayne, LAX and Long Beach. John Wayne is our favorite, "pilgrim", followed by Long Beach, and then LAX.

For the record, we fly out of Seattle.

Dave

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

I'll hijack my own thread here, too. I must say, that with Disneyland, I don't hear people talking much about renting a car at the airport, and returning it at DL. I know that Hertz, Enterprise, Alamo, National all have an office within a mile of the park. It's easy to get a one day rental and drop off the car by Disneyland and then get a ride back to your hotel. Then, when you are ready to go back home, get another one day rental. The agency will pick you up at the hotel and take you to rent your car and drop it off back at the airport. This way, you can get away with only paying for two days of rental, and have the convenience of having a car if you need to get groceries or the like. I'm hooked on this method, and am surprised that I don't hear of more people doing it like this.

Probably the reason you don't hear about this much is probably because our situation is a bit different. I would say there are a handful of reasons.

1) Folks want to keep their rental to go to places like Hollywood, Santa Monica, Laguna/Huntington/Newport Beach, San Diego, etc?

2) The vacation planned is a shorter "weekend" variety. They don't feel the need to go off site. When coming from LAX, then, the Disneyland Express Bus is the cheaper option than both cab or rental car - and you can get discount coupons online for it.

3) I would bet that a lot of people don't think to, or tend to get groceries when they come out here (due to short stay) - or they use the delivery option that Vons and Albertsons offers.

I would say that you do hear more about people renting a car from these local agencies in the middle of their stay and just for the day, to go see the other sights. A more practical and cost-effective option.

 

[BriarRosie]

I've flown in and out of all three airports in the last few years, and I have to say I liked John Wayne best. It's closest to the resort, and I have no problems getting a Super Shuttle to take me to my hotel. But since I'm solo, it's not a huge cost. I'm not sure what the cost difference is between that and the Disneyland Express bus.

The biggest culture shock for me was the Long Beach Airport. By that, I mean O'Hare is my "home" airport, so seeing an airport with 4 gates, and you exit the plane outside...well for me that's unheard of. I kept expecting Crystal Bernard, Tim Daly and the rest of the "Wings" cast to greet me.

LAX is ok, but as it's far away from DLR, I would make it my last choice.

 

[Freddy Bear]

Our favorite is AirTran due to direct flights from Indianapolis, low fares and average to above average service. Our least favorite is Northwest due to several bad customer service experiences.