:wave:My wife and I are huge Disney fans have been to WDW every year for all 12 years of our relationship. This year we thought we would try to visit DLR. Our plans are to visit 5/22 - 5/26; being at the parks Sat - Mon and spending Tues exploring the SoCal area. What kind of crowd levels can we expect this time of year? We are usually at WDW during spring break or the 1st week of June which we have never found to be unbearable. I noticed that the 22nd is the only day that is included in the SoCal AP blockout dates. Any help from some of the DLR veterans would be helpful.:shrug:
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WDW Fan Planning 1st DLR Trip...
- Thread starter jkelly8
- Start date
During the week it should be fine. Anytime the locals are in school and at work the crowds aren't bad.
The 22nd is blocked out because every Saturday from March 13th through June 26th is blocked out.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
Hello. A couple of things, in no particular order...
1. Welcome to wdwmagic! Your first post and everything! :wave:
2. Do a search here for threads of the past few months. There's plenty of other folks just like you posting the exact same questions about once a week. There's been TONS of really great advice doled out to them by us locals. And then they usually disappear without so much as a "thanks".
3. Also check the Disneyland websites. This is a WDW site with a teeny, tiny Disneyland section. Miceage would be a good place for you to start.
4. Plan, plan, plan. SoCal is one of the largest megalopolises on the planet with enough activities for weeks. DLR and SoCal are radically different from WDW, and you won't find the same vibe as Orlando which is basically a small city in the swamp with more alligators than humans and a bunch of touristy things built for, well, only tourists.
5. Have fun and good luck! Don't forget that search feature here.
No...but you can pay $32 round trip for a shuttle from the airport.
http://graylineanaheim.com/docs/GL Anaheim DRE Brochure 2009.pdf
TP2000
Well-Known Member
No, it doesn't. The problem is that there are four major SoCal airports to choose from around Disneyland, five or six if you include Burbank or San Diego. Seven if you include Palm Springs.
John Wayne Airport (Orange County International) is the closest airport about 15 minutes from Disneyland, and about a 40 dollar cab fare from Baggage Claim to the Disneyland Hotel. You can find shuttle services for much less than that, or Town Car services for a bit more. Alaska and American have lots of daily flights into John Wayne, with Southwest, Virgin America, Continental, Delta, Frontier, United, USAirways, and Air Canada picking up the slack at John Wayne.
Long Beach Airport is the next closest airport about 25 minutes from Disneyland, and is the major JetBlue hub for SoCal. Alaska, Horizon Air, Delta and USAirways also fly into Long Beach.
Ontario International Airport is the next closest, about a 30 minute drive from Disneyland. Alaska and Horizon have lots of lights into Ontario, with AeroMexico, American, Continental, Delta, Great Lakes, United, Southwest, and USAirways also at Ontario.
LAX is the granddaddy of them all, of course. It's about a 40 minute drive from Disneyland, but locals and smart travelers avoid it like the plague. It's huge, sprawling, congested, dirty, and rather unpleasant to deal with. Every airline on the planet that serves the USA flies there though, so it can be easy to get flights into LAX. Still, try to get a flight anywhere but LAX.
There's also Burbank Bob Hope International Airport, just north of LA and about a 50 minute drive from Disneyland. Alaska, JetBlue, American, Delta and United fly into Burbank. It's smooth and easy like Long Beach, and it also has a large private jet facility that a lot of celebrities use for their flights. You can always spot lots of big black sedans whisking people up to their private Gulfstreams at Burbank, and it can be fun to guess who they are.
Palm Springs International is about 90 minutes from Disneyland, and is serviced by Alaska, Horizon, Allegiant, Sun Country, United, Southwest and Continental. San Diego International is another big airport about 90 minutes from Disneyland, with all the major American players, plus Mexicana, AeroMexico, Air Canada, etc.
nemofinder22
Well-Known Member
TP your info is always a pleasure to read! If I wasnt already from CA I would use your info as a guide,
TP2000
Well-Known Member
Expedia.com makes it very easy to compare/contrast flights into all of these SoCal airports, with that nifty little drop down menu on the left side of the screen.
As a local in OC, when planning a trip I often try out two or three different departure airports and/or two or three different arrival airports for the best schedules and fares.
Hot4Hudgens
Member
I took my first trip to DLR last fall. Great time. So much to do and a lot more convenient to get from park to park (and to Downtown Disney) since they're all literally only feet away from one another. Anyway, you'll love it. Anyway, if you have any other questions or tips feel free to ask!
Hot4Hudgens
Member
I went during that exact time last year and it was not busy at all during the week. The weekend though? Super packed.