Which Airport?

[uromac]

Hi!

Help! We are flying southwest from Philadelphia and were wondering which airport would be best for us - I believe it is best to fly philly to orange county going out there because we will be at the Grand Californian but then we are going on a cruise from San Pedro for 4 days on RCCL then 2 days at the Renaissance hotel in West Hollywoood. - Would you still leave out of orange county or would you go to LAX or burbank? The only advantage I see on going to LAX would be a nonstop, versus a 1-2 stop!

Also would it be best if we take a shuttle, taxi or should we rent a car and drop it off at the San Pedro pier.

Thanks!

Melissa

 

[DangerMouse]

Have you tried pricing the trip flying into SNA and then returning from LAX? That seems like it may be the best idea for you.

 

[mattmommy]

We're flying from Newark into SNA. We flew into LAX and gave ourselves FOUR hours to get from DLH to LAX and BARELY made it. And this was prior to 9/11. Thank goodness for the carpool lanes.

This time it's more money, but we're flying into SNA. I've heard good things about that airport.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

We flew into SNA last month and it was great. Only 20 min from Disney. We had very little wait for baggage or our rental car. We were at Disney and hour after we landed.

 

[luv2boys]

My vote is for SNA. Easy in, easy out. Absolutely no wait for anything (except for McDonald's before our 12:00 flight). Getting through security, baggage, rental car, and check-in counter - no wait for any of it. I will always fly in and out of there even if it is more. It is worth not having as much stress.

 

[uromac]

Hi Everyone!

Thanks for the info -so is it better to leave PHL for SNA at 8:25am with a stop/change of planes and arriving at 1:25pm or leave PHL at 6:40 am with a stop but no change of planes and arrive at LAX at 10:30am. We are a WDW crazy family so we were wondering if those 3 hours will make a difference on a Saturday morning (June 30th) since we are only staying until Monday morning and going to San Pedro to board the RCCL Monarch of the Seas hoping to get there around 12-1pm. We will have a 3 day hopper pass and hope to use it in the morning for anything we may have missed as we are staying on DVC points at the Grand Californian Hotel. Also if we arrive at SNA should we just take a taxi and then take a shuttle to the port or should we rent a car - although it just looks as though Enterprise is the only rental car agency at the port and I don't believe they have cars that can be picked up/dropped-off. Does anyone know of another agency we could use? Or is LA driving better off left to LA professionals LOL!!! One more thing - Southwest also flies out of Burbank - when we leave to go back home would it be easier to leave from there since we are staying at the Renaissance hotel in Hollywood which I believe is near the new Kodak theater.

Thanks in advance for everyone's help!

Melissa

 

[uromac]

Hi everyone -


Another question on our return - should we leave on a Sunday from Burbank or LAX via Southwest, as we are staying in West Hollywood at the Renaissance Hotel. Also do you think we will need a rental car for 2 days or just cab it or tour bus it? We are also interested in all the "touristy places" Rodeo Drive (drive by not buy by LOL, Famous Homes Tour, etc.) any tour company recommendations? Also are there any restaurants or key food places we should go to - read about Pinky's & it's going to be on our list of things to eat as we are a "foody" family and a WDW one, so we want to make the best of our short trip to LA and Disneyland too!

Thanks again!

Melissa

 

[noryglory]

Definitely fly home out of Burbank. You'll be much closer to the Burbank airport and it's delightful. It's small towny and soooo easy to get in and out of. My husband who was born and raised in LA and used LAX his whole life has decided based on a couple recent trips that Burbank is the way to go. We flew in and out of there in December for a family funeral that was being held in Hollywood and it just took a few minutes to get to the airport. LAX is far more difficult and complicated, plus there's just no easy way to get there. You have to drive down Sepulveda for what seems like forever. Definitely do NOT fly home from SNA, that would be really much further away than necessary.

That's a tough call on your Saturday arrival, you gain two hours with LAX but you might find yourself on the road most of that time whereas if you fly into SNA you will be basically there once you arrive. SNA is also a smaller, easier-to-navigate airport. The locals who know the Saturday traffic from LAX area can help. Plus that's less time dinking around with connections too so if traffic isn't terrible then that might be the way to go. Hmm. I'm sure you'll get some great answers to help you with that. Good luck!

 

[uromac]

Thanks!!

I think Burbank then it is on Sunday at 2:20pm arriving at PHL 1:10am. Dh will have to work a little bleary eyed! Now I've got to settle the departure day airport - anyone out there with other ideas SNA vs. LAX this coming Saturday. Tour ideas, car/no car?

thanks again for everyone's input!

Melissa

 

[wvnative]

I think I'd fly in SNA. Of course, I'm biased because that's what we always do anyway. We've flown into LAX once. It was super crowded and it was a much longer drive through LA to get to DL. We usually take a supershuttle from SNA to our hotel, but we also never stay onsite.

Sorry, no tour info. We always go just for DL (and to see our friends from Rancho Cucamonga ).