I have planned a trip for my son and I and we have decided to fly instead of drive like we usually do. We are flying into Orange County airport and renting a car. How long does it normally take to drive from the airport to the hotel. We are staying at the Hyatt. Since my DH is not with me I don't want to get too lost. :D

No traffic = 15 minutes. Taxi would be about $40 before adding a tip, fyi.

And with traffic = probably an hour or more! Don't do it between 4:30 and 6:00 p.m. if you can't get to your mental happy place while sitting motionless on the freeway. (On the upside, you won't get lost when the traffic is heavy because you have a looooong time to read freeway signs!)

If early evening is your expected travel time, get dinner near the airport or see a movie. Or go to the mall. Anything besides getting on the freeway!

from Elizabeth, who lives one mile from SNA and would rather poke an eye out than get on an Orange County freeway at a bad time...I know there are folks out there who have no problem with the traffic; I am not one of them.

Enjoy your trip!

We always take a morning flight into SNA and arrive about 8:20 a.m. We get luggage and either do a cab or shuttle... and around 8:50-9:00 a.m. it's never taken us more than 20 min. Now if I was driving myself (which we don't want to) it might take longer because I would be so stressed out I'd be sure to get lost- lol! :)

nvmom

If you have more than one person, use the Carpool lanes, shouldn't be more than 30 to 40 minutes in heavy traffic, about 20 minutes in light traffic.

Follow the signs at the airport to the 55 North, once you get onto the 55 (the ramp to the 55 is over a mile), get into the carpool land as soon as possible (Do not cross the double Yellow Lines, only enter when it is a dotted white line, and FYI, 2 or more people in the car qualifies for the carpool lane). There is a special carpool exit ramp to the 5 south. Take that and stay on the 5 until you get to the special Disney Way carpool exit. Take Disney Way to Harbor Blvd, make a left, and drive south about 2 miles to Chapman (where the Hyatt is).

Darkbee's directions are excellent, just be sure to take the 5 norht or you might end up in San Diego.

Is SNA closer to DL than LAX?

Wondering because it is $2 cheaper to fly into SNA.

Thanks Darkbeer. The directions are great. We are arriving on Sunday morning around 9am. The only thing I am worried about is the return on Wed. I will make sure I will give myself ample time due to weekday traffic.

Is SNA closer to DL than LAX?

Wondering because it is $2 cheaper to fly into SNA.

Thanks!

SNA is way closer. It's also a small, beautiful airport that's much easier to navigate than LAX.

SNA is way closer. It's also a small, beautiful airport that's much easier to navigate than LAX.

I just have to second this. SNA is so much nicer (smaller) and I've never had issues navigating inside it. Especially if you're comparing two non-stop flights (or two one-stops or whatever). Plus I think ground transportation is a ton cheaper from SNA than LAX to the Disneyland area (in large part due to distance).

SNA vs LAX? SNA, every time. For one of my trips, I'd booked LAX and changed to SNA at an additional cost of $50 round trip. Worth every penny. Both for the time it takes to get to and from the airport and because LAX is the pits!

Note, Long Beach is the same basic distance as John Wayne (aka SNA/Santa Ana/Orange County), about 14 miles from the DLR. LAX and Ontario are the next 2 closest at about 35 miles away.

And for those who think John Wayne is small and easy to navigate, Long Beach is much smaller and only has one terminal. Its main airline is Jet Blue, though a few others service it, including Alaska, Delta and US Airways. But the main drawback, it is a slow airport, so hard to find a flight from where you live to Long Beach, unless your airport is serviced by Jet Blue, or you use Alaska that flys from or thru Seattle.

A taxi from either LGB or SNA is about $40 plus tip. And if you are driving, it is basically just down Ball Road (which is Wardlow in Long Beach). Just exit the Airport going east on Wardlow, and it changes names into Ball and then you will see Disneyland on the right side in about 14 miles.

I like Long Beach over Orange County, but both are good. I refuse to use LAX. I have only used Ontario once, and it was just too far away. (I live in OC)

A taxi from either LGB or SNA is about $40 plus tip.

How much would I expect to pay for a larger "mini-van" taxi from SNA to hotel on Harbor? I don't think the 5 of us would fit well into a regular size taxi.

Are these larger taxis readily available at curbside?

Thank you in advance for the help!

We did this the last time. I beleive it is the same cost--but if anything it is like a dollar or two more--not much if anything more. The taxi dispatcher who works the sidewalk line at SNA called on his radio for a van and within 4 mintues one pulled up. There are both mini-van taxis and big van taxis. 5 should fit into the mini-van type. That depends somewhat on the amount of luggage.

SNA vs LAX? SNA, every time. For one of my trips, I'd booked LAX and changed to SNA at an additional cost of $50 round trip. Worth every penny. Both for the time it takes to get to and from the airport and because LAX is the pits!


Agreed. I rather even brave the long drive to Ontario than to navigate LAX. It has to be close to the worst airport in the US.

I primarily fly American Airlines, and never have problems at LAX. Lucky, I guess.

I agree though. John Wayne is the best.

So close to Disneyland, quite a few options with regards to nonstop flights, transcontinental included.

It's soooooooooo easy to get from SNA to DLR... CA-55 N to I-5N and take any Disney exit. If you drive in cirlces around the park (Harbor, Katella, Ball...) you can usually find what you are looking for. You may just need the directions for this portion. Plus, once on I-5, at some point you can see the park to the left, so you know you should be seeing the exits soon! There are also more than 1 exit, in case you miss!!

I prefer to have a car in case I need to run to Target or something. Also, I've found that cars are less expensive than shuttles some times. A shuttle runs about $26 round trip per person. For my 2 day trip this week, I am getting the car for $26. Meaning, the shuttle would be double the cost and we would be on their schedule -- not my "I have to speed to Disneyland" schedule. (Oh yes, I run through the airport, to the car, etc... because I can't wait!!!)

As far as LAX and ONT, I've done both and neither were fun. I always recommend SNA, whenever possible. It would be worth some extra $$, if you ask me!

Whoohooo... only a few more days before I leave rainy Seattle for rainy Anaheim!

DisneyJenn, if you have a chance, try the Nonstop Alaska Flight from Seattle to Long Beach. I have a good friend that lives in Seattle and had to pick LGB once, since the SNA (aka John Wayne) flights were full, and she will never go back to SNA, she LOVES LGB, it is so much smaller than SNA, and the drive is basically a straight line east from the airport to Disneyland, no freeways, just one road, called Wardlow in Long Beach, but changes its name to Ball Road when you enter Orange County.

DisneyJenn, if you have a chance, try the Nonstop Alaska Flight from Seattle to Long Beach. I have a good friend that lives in Seattle and had to pick LGB once, since the SNA (aka John Wayne) flights were full, and she will never go back to SNA, she LOVES LGB, it is so much smaller than SNA, and the drive is basically a straight line east from the airport to Disneyland, no freeways, just one road, called Wardlow in Long Beach, but changes its name to Ball Road when you enter Orange County.


Thanks for the tip... I actually work for Alaska and fly into which ever city I can get into (that's why I've experienced 4 of the 5 LA area airports)!! Always try for SNA because the flight times are better for quick trips. I've been wanting to try LGB based on suggestions from co-workers, but there's only 3 flights, which really limits what you can do in a 1 night trip. You always need to stay an extra night, if you want a full 2nd day at the park. One of these times, I will try it though! Thanks for the tip!