What time to leave GC to SNA via Super Shuttle

[pixiedust519]

We are going to DL this week and I'm planning on taking the Super Shuttle from the Grand Californian to John Wayne. (we have friends picking us up but need a ride back) The flight is Southwest at 1:10pm and I'm trying to figure out what time the Super Shuttle should pick us up. Would we be okay leaving at 11:00 or should we leave sooner? I don't know anything about John Wayne or how long it takes or if they have long security lines etc so any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[kandyk]

11:00 am sounds like a good time to me. SNA is only about 20 minutes away from the Grand. Check in is usually very fast and barely any line for security. We have used this airport several times in the past. We have had the same expirence with Long Beach airport as well.

 

[kandyk]

One other thing to consider is if Super Shuttle has to make any other stops, if it's just your group you will be fine. If they have to make multiple other stops than you might want to leaver earlier.

 

[lntsmom]

Most of the shuttle companies I've used tell you what time they'll be there, based on their bookings. I've talked with others who agree with me that this time is usually too early. Last year we were through security and at the gate and had about 90 minutes to wait for our flight. A friend suggested looking up other flights, choosing one an hour or so later than the one you're actually on, and telling them that time. I don't know that I'm going to risk it, but it's an idea!

 

[robynv]

intsmom,

what method are you using again to get to your hotel? we leave on the same day right?

I'm getting excited!!

 

[lntsmom]

day, so I'm renting a car and we're headed there first thing. I'm still trying to nail down how we're getting to HoJo's! I had thought of going to HoJo's first, checking our luggage, then heading out from there, but all the car rental places in the area have very early closing times.

I ended up deciding to go right from the airport. I called Budget today to see if they will give us a ride to HoJo's when I drop the car off. If they will take you one way, why should it matter to them if it is to pick you up or drop you off...other than that they already have your money for the latter?

The message on their machine asked me to leave a message and said they'd return the call within 24 hours...so I should know by 10 a.m. our time tomorrow.

If not, we might just do the Disneyland Express. It is so much less expensive than everything else, and it will be later in the evening, so hopefully they won't have as many stops.

Are you going to the park that first day?

 

[bumbershoot]

Be careful when going away from their suggestions. They have their reasons.

When leaving from the ladies trip, I went with their suggestion (going to LAX). I almost missed the shuttle, not because I was late, but because they had my name spelled in some way that I don't comprehend (I made the reservation online, and my name is ridiculous simple; you can spell it ALL sorts of wrong and it's still going to be SAID the same way) so she didn't think I was going on her shuttle, AND I guess I was a touch too close to a pile of luggage with a carseat, so she didn't realize I was alone (and her fare was one person). I practically had to force my way on her shuttle, and thankfully I had my confirmation page printed so she could look up my number and see that I was the person on her shuttle.

After that, I spent *at least* an hour on that shuttle, going back and forth, up and down Harbor. Picked up pre-booked person after pre-booked person, and we were early to each place, so we had to wait for each group of people.

Now it was pleasant...most of the people on the shuttle had been to a natural products seminar and I had scads to talk about with the friendly people, but it could easily have been an hour of misery.

By the time we finally got to the airport, I did NOT have the 2 hours or 1.5 hours I wanted there before my flight. If I had set my own schedule based on what I felt it would take, time-wise, I would have been absolutely late for my flight through no one's fault of my own.

So be CAREFUL when messing with their times. They have their own schedules, and they put in plenty of fudge time, just in case they have their shuttle as packed as they did with me. I know that it's a special brand of torment to be way too early for a flight (one time I was very early and then my flight was delayed by hours!), but ultimately it's better to be too early than too late.

 

[juju]

We were planning the same thing for later this month. However, using a rate from Mousesavers, we will be renting a car from Alamo. We will be picking it up at the Downtown Disney location and driving and returning to John Wayne Airport the next day. It was only about $20 including taxes. There are two of us so it was the same price as the shuttle and we will have more flexibility on our return.

 

[lntsmom]

We were planning the same thing for later this month. However, using a rate from Mousesavers, we will be renting a car from Alamo. We will be picking it up at the Downtown Disney location and driving and returning to John Wayne Airport the next day. It was only about $20 including taxes. There are two of us so it was the same price as the shuttle and we will have more flexibility on our return.

How the heck did you get $20 for two days on a car rental??? I looked and looked and the best rate I found was about $40 from Dollar...and they don't take debit cards.

I tried the Mousesavers rates and still didn't find anything great. Just curious, are you using your car on a weekend? I found MUCH better rates for weekends. My rental is during the week. The rock bottom that I could find was $63...without all the taxes added in!

 

[juju]

It is a weekend rental, Sunday to Monday. You're right, they are lower.
Used the Walmart code however and the rate dropped in half.

 

[avalon451]

When we took super shuttle from DL to SNA, they gave us 3 time choices, I think around 30 minutes apart. The earliest would have put us there 3 hours before our flight; the latest 1 hr. 45 minutes. We took the latest and were glad we did. We still sat for almost 2 hours before boarding.