What time would you leave?

[TulipsNZ]

Are the driving times to LAX on the travel times thread still considered correct? If you had a Monday 9:45pm international flight and had to return a rental car at 7:30pm what would be the latest time you would leave Anaheim?

 

[TulipsNZ]

Anyone? I'm trying to plan if we go to the park on th Monday

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

On a good day it takes an hour to get from DLR to LAX. During commute time on a Monday, I'd leave a little bit longer, plus time to return to the car, so I'd say closer to 2 hours on the conservative side. FWIW, LAX recommends being at the airport 3 hours before an international flight.

We've always taken DLE and taken their recommendation, so if this isn't what others would, hopefully they'll chime in

 

[lk2500]

Are the driving times to LAX on the travel times thread still considered correct? If you had a Monday 9:45pm international flight and had to return a rental car at 7:30pm what would be the latest time you would leave Anaheim?

We like to leave about 3.5 - 4 hours prior to our flight departure time to be safe. We only left about 3 hours prior to departure time last June, ran into a few snafus returning the rental car, and made it to our gate only about 30-45 minutes prior to boarding, which is too close for comfort for us.

I think leaving at 5:45PM would be about right for you, maybe even a bit earlier since it is an international flight. Especially dealing with rush hour traffic and having to re-gas your car. Better safe than sorry.

 

[TulipsNZ]

I was planning on leaving about 5pm, that should hopefully work.

 

[disneychrista]

I would leave at least 2 hours before the car had to be back (I assume at the Airport).

 

[zanzibar138]

I'm a bit paranoid about being at airports early, and like to arrive 3 hours before an international flight. If it was me, I'd look at returning your rental car a bit earlier (before 7pm).

Having said that, if you leave DLR no later than 5pm anyway, you should be a bit earlier with your rental car anyway. I definitely wouldn't leave any later than 5pm.

 

[Iceman93]

I'm a little more risk-tolerant than most here, it seems, and would have recommended leaving Anaheim by 6pm. Of course, the earlier you leave the less stress there will be in completing all tasks (driving, returning rental car, getting through security, etc.) but also the less time to enjoy the magic at Disneyland.