Which airport to fly into?

[guidosmom]

I had just assumed we'd fly into LAX, but now I'm seeing that it's quite a ways from Disney. Is there another airport which would be closer and less hectic to go through?

 

[Michelle]

Hi guidosmom, and welcome!

Orange County (airport code SNA) is the closest airport to Disneyland, and is much smaller than LAX. You should be able to find plenty of flights from Phoenix (or wherever you are in Arizona) to SNA.

Good luck!

 

[tinagirl]

I agree with Michelle 100%. The only time that I EVER go out of LAX is when I fly to Orlando non -stop, as the fares are often much cheaper than the non stops out of SNA.

This is just to let you know, that there is one other option other than SNA. Especially if you will be getting a rental car. That is Burbank (Airport Code: BUR). It is one of the older airports in the area (I always loved it as a kid, as it was often featured on I LOVE LUCY!) hehe.

BUR is just up the 5 freeway on Hollywood Blvd, in Burbank. From Burbank to Anaheim, it typically takes about 40 minutes, although I do find that baggage seems to come out quicker there, than at SNA. It is also less crowded.

Some of the best fares that I've seen are as follows.
PHX to SNA -Aloha Airlines - $66.50 including all taxes, except for September 11 fee of $2.50 per segment. Must purchase both directions by August 31. You can also travel until December with a fare of $83.50 and more flight options. (Travelocity.com)
PHX to SNA - Aloha Airlines - Fare of $82 on Aloha Airlines, almost all the time (www.expedia.com).
PHX to BUR -America West - $78 until November, but has some restrictive date availability.(www.travelocity.com)

Hope this helps
~Tina

 

[Michelle]

Actually, Tina's comment just reminded me about LONG BEACH (airport code LGB), the closest of all. Now that is one SMALL airport, very few airlines fly in and out of there, but America West is one and I know they fly many flights in and out of Arizona. It's very quiet and if you can get a reasonable fare would be the easiest airport by far.

Good luck!

 

[tinagirl]

Once again Michelle is right! Long Beach totally slipped my mind. And if you get a rental, then you can even check out the Queen Mary and Aquarium of the Pacific before heading to Anaheim!

Cool


~Tina

 

[WDW2002]

Can't give opinions since I have never flown before but itsn't Ontario another option?

 

[tiggeroo42]

Yes, I flew into Ontario a couple years ago. It takes about 30-40 minutes to get to Disneyland from there, about the same as LAX, but it's not nearly as busy, and there's virtually no traffic out there.

You should look into flying into one of the smaller airports if you want a less hectic experience, but they are usually more expensive than LAX. I don't bother unless the prices are pretty close.

 

[disneydawn6]

I live in Nothern CA and I always fly on Southwest. 4 small trips to DL gives me one free ticket to WDW. They always have great fares to Burbank, Ontario, and LAX. They fly into Orange county which is a 15 ride to Disneyland but those fares are never on sale Done LAX twice but hated it... Usually I go to Burbank. It is a small airport where you have to walk down to the tarmack to enter the airport. Right down the street is the Walt Disney Studio and you can see the cute dwarf building that is corperate head quarters for Disney. Also the Animation buiding is across the street with the great sorcerer hat out front and the ABC building next to that... One block over is NBC where you can go wait in line to Jay Leno.. Walt Disney Imagineering and Steven Speiburg's Dreamworks is in Glendale next town down. It does take about 45 min to get there from Burbank but I can't resist the rates, especially when they had those $30 rates for their aniversary last year..