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Everything You Need to Know About Flying to Disneyland 2023

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Planning to fly to Mickey’s home in Southern California for a vacation? Even though my family lives in Northern California, we fly to Anaheim much more often than we drive. Flying to Disneyland is a totally different ballgame than flying to Walt Disney World in Orlando. Air travel to the Los Angeles area may seem daunting if you are not a frequent flyer or do not know the area well. There are numerous airport choices, big city traffic, and more challenging and often more expensive ground transportation choices. 

New Colors of Sleeping Beauty Castle

But never fear! Here are the essentials you need to know to make your flight arrival and departure logistics on your Disneyland trip much, much easier. (Note that this guide has been fully updated with pricing, rules and regulations as of the start of 2023 so you can have the most up-to-date accurate information to plan your trip!)

Related: How to Plan for & Visit Disneyland Differently in 2022-2023

(Trips With Tykes uses affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through links in this post. See our full disclosure policy linked in the menu at the bottom of this site.)

Flying to Disneyland: Which Airport?

LAX is the largest airport in the Disneyland area
LAX – the largest airport option (but not the closest!)

If you are not familiar with the geography of greater Los Angeles, it is important to learn a little bit before booking your flight. Southern California has a lot of airport choices. And traffic can be quite bad in LA. This means you really need to choose your airport carefully or you may find yourself stuck on the freeway rather than in line for Space Mountain.

Here are the major airport options to consider when flying to Disneyland:

1. John Wayne Orange County Airport (SNA)

Flying to Disneyland - John Wayne Orange County Southwest Check in
No lines for Southwest check-in at Orange County’s John Wayne Airport.

Orange County’s John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana is my personal pick for the best airport to use when headed to Disneyland. Located just about 13 miles from the main gate, you can often make it from the airport to your hotel in under 20 minutes.

SNA is a small airport, meaning that walks are short and lines are reasonable. I’ve never waited for checked bags for more than 5-10 minutes and am usually out the door and at my hotel in record time.

John Wayne is served by many airlines, but some of the airlines with the most service include Southwest, United, Alaska and Delta. Other airlines operating at SNA are: Air Canada, Allegiant, American, Frontier, JSX, Spirit, and WestJet.

For tips for flying some of these airlines, scoring good airfare deals, and flying with kids, check out these related posts:

2. Long Beach International Airport (LGB)

Flying to Disneyland - Long Beach Airport LGB
Open air beachy vibe at tiny and convenient Long Beach Airport.

Long Beach Airport is a close second choice. LGB is just about as close to Disneyland than SNA, but it usually takes about 10 minutes longer of a drive to Disneyland. There is not as direct of a freeway route to take and the roads can have a little more traffic some times of day. LGB is even smaller and more navigable than SNA. Expect short TSA lines and very quick bag handling. 

Long Beach used to be a major JetBlue hub, but the airline pulled out of LGB in 2020 (see tips for flying JetBlue with kids). Southwest snagged a lot of the slots and has increased its service. Other airlines operating at Long Beach include: Hawaiian, Delta, and American.

3. Los Angeles International (LAX)

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is one of the largest airports in the United States, so it goes without saying that it will have the most flight choices from the most destinations. Its larger size also means more airline competition so prices may often be cheaper here. For larger families on a budget, those flight savings can really add up.

LAX is huge and at times, incredibly inefficient. Give yourself extra time for security and check-in lines and plan for generally tougher logistics. At about 33 miles from Disneyland, plan for about an hour from the airport to your hotel, although it can sometimes be shorter if you are traveling at a very low traffic time. Nearly every major airline in the world has a presence at LAX.

4. Ontario (ONT)

LA’s Ontario airport is 35 miles away – not much further than LAX – but that trip usually takes longer given LA traffic patterns. Ontario is smaller and easy to navigate like SNA and LGB. I personally wouldn’t recommend using it for Disneyland, however, due to distance and fewer ground transportation options unless prices are much, much cheaper than your other options.

5. Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR)

Burbank’s Airport (formerly known as Bob Hope) is the furthest of the bunch at 41 miles. The trip is often well over an hour to Disneyland because of traffic. I’d consider using it in the same circumstances as ONT – for great deals only – because the distance and ground transportation is harder.

If you plan to combine your Disneyland vacation with a trip to Universal Hollywood, however, Burbank could make very good sense for your travels. It’s just minutes away from Universal. Like John Wayne, Long Beach and Ontario, the airport is small and easy to navigate.

6. San Diego International (SAN)

Seriously, San Diego? Yes!  I wouldn’t recommend this airport to someone flying in for a quick weekend trip to Disneyland, but visitors who plan a longer Southern California trip should consider it if prices are right. If you are headed to Legoland California in Carlsbad (just north of San Diego) in addition to Disneyland, keep SAN on your radar.

Flying to Disneyland: Rental Car or Not?

Disneyland Lightning McQueen Meet & Greet

If you are only planning to visit Disneyland during your trip, you almost definitely do NOT need a rental car. There are numerous other ground transportation options to get you from the airport to your hotel. In addition, most hotels in the vicinity of Disneyland have their own shuttles or are on the Anaheim resort shuttle stop system. These same hotels almost always charge for parking, so you’d be paying twice if you rented a car. Save yourself the money!

If you are planning to visit other attractions in Southern California before or after your Disneyland visit, a rental car is nearly a necessity. Let’s face it: the Los Angeles area is not known for its spectacular public transit. You’ll need a car to get around.

Quick tip: If you are staying at Disneyland for most of your visit and only need a car for a day or two to go elsewhere, there’s another option: rent locally. There are several rental car companies with locations in the convention center area. (Alamo used to have a rental car office located right in the lobby of Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel but the status of that is TBD as the hotel is undergoing renovations in 2022-2023).

Flying to Disneyland: Other Ground Transportation Options?

If you decide to opt out of a rental car, there are several other options for getting from the airport to the parks and your hotel. Note that not all airports have every option (or at least every option priced competitively), so choose carefully.

Several of the ground transportation options you may read about elsewhere were discontinued in 2020 with no plans to resume, so take note. Those include the Disneyland Resort Express as well as several shuttle companies. The options that remain include:

1. Uber/Lyft

Ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft are allowed to operate at all Southern California airports for both pickups and drop offs. My family has used ride-sharing services at both SNA and LGB regularly and very successfully in our Disneyland travels. Fares for a standard UberX or Lyft are about $25-30 to SNA, $30-40 to LGB, and $50-75 to LAX when surge pricing isn’t in effect.

As with all passenger vehicles, you’ll need a car seat or booster for kids under the age of 8 as required by California law. There is no “Uber Car Seat” option in Southern California like a few other US cities offer. You must bring your own.

I highly recommend the inflatable and very compact Bubble Bum Booster Seat for travel with kids who are over 4 years old and 40 pounds. For younger kids needing a convertible car seat, my top travel pick is the Cosco Scenera NEXT, which is very inexpensive and lightweight. Make sure to get the full scoop on using Lyft and Uber with kids before your trip.

Ride-sharing is constantly evolving and sometimes controversial, resulting in battles that passengers need to know about and monitor. For example, early in 2019, SNA moved its ride-sharing pickups from the arrivals curb to somewhat less convenient top level parking deck pickups. Look for the signs to head to the right place for each of the three arrival terminals.

Flying to Disneyland - Orange Country Airport Uber Lyft Pickup
Follow the signs to the new and more remote ridesharing pickup spots at John Wayne Airport.

In summer 2019, Uber stopped operating entirely at ONT due to a disagreement over fees the airport assessed the service but returned in 2021.

And as of fall 2019, an even bigger ride-sharing change for Disneyland travelers came to LAX. LAX now requires that arriving passengers take a shuttle to a parking lot near Terminal 1 (LAX-it) in order to catch a ride on Uber and Lyft. This step adds 15-30 or more minutes after arriving at LAX. Families with a lot of luggage or kids of stroller age or anyone with mobility issues should consider carefully whether this is a convenient option. Ride-sharing services are able to drop off curbside at LAX at least.

2. Shared Shuttles

There used to be numerous shuttle companies operating in the LA area that offered flat rate transportation from area airports to your Disneyland hotel. Quite a few of them shuttered during the 2020 closures. Quite a few others pivoted from offering shared vehicles and are instead operating more like executive car services.

Regardless of the vehicle used (sedans or 15 passenger vans), you’ll need a car seat for your little ones if you use them just like you would in ride-sharing vehicles or rental cars. Here is the pricing of a few of these companies to and from the Grand Californian Hotel as of December 2022:

The advantage of shuttles has traditionally been cheaper pricing, especially for solo travelers. For families, the cost of multiple people often canceled out any savings, and made a ride-sharing service more economical. Compare prices carefully.

3. Executive Sedan, Car, or Limo Services

If you prefer the certainty of having a private ride booked in advance with a driver meeting you at baggage claim, consider a private car or limo service. There are numerous options in Los Angeles. The service is certainly pricier but is more full-service for families that may be juggling a lot of bags.

In addition, some car services offer extra conveniences that matter for families. Lansky Transportation, for example, will provide car seats upon request and also make a quick stop at a grocery store so you can stock up your hotel room refrigerator with snacks. Additionally, a representative for Lansky confirmed that their drivers are able to do in-airport pickups at LAX and are not affected by the new rules limiting the location of ride-sharing pickups. Lansky’s vehicles transport up to 6 passengers $105 one way from SNA, $115 from LGB, and $180 from LAX.

4. Taxis

Last but certainly not least, taxi service is available from all area airports. The cost, however, is simply prohibitive from airports other than SNA or LGB that are very close to Disneyland (SNA and LGB fares are about $50-60). From the next closest airport (LAX), a cab would cost over $100. Always compare them to their ride-share counterparts to maximize savings.

Note also that at LAX, the taxi services also operate out of LAX-it and require guests to take a shuttle to a parking lot near Terminal 1. So there is no time-savings over ridesharing there.

Where to Book Your Disneyland Vacation & Save Money!

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Save big on your Disneyland vacation with trusted Trips with Tykes partner, Get Away Today. Get Away Today sells park tickets at a discount, helps you find great deals at both on-property and off-property hotels, and provides expert customer service from representatives who visit Disneyland all the time.

For park tickets, don’t purchase direct from Disney and pay more! Book discounted Disneyland park tickets from Get Away Today here. Tickets purchased now are valid through January 12, 2025. Both park hopper and single park per day tickets are available, as well as tickets that include Genie+.

To take advantage of hotel and other package discounts from Get Away Today, explore and book Disneyland vacation packages here. Be sure to use code TYKES10 for $10 in additional savings.

Current Get Away Today Specials & Deals:

  • Adults at Kids Prices Black Friday Special!: From November 20-29, 2023 purchase adult tickets of 3 days or longer and get them at the regular kids prices.
  • Kids Special Ticket Offer!: For visits from January 8-March 10, 2024, kids ages 3-9 can visit for as low as $50 per day! Deal valid on 1, 2, or 3 day tickets (note: Get Away Today sells multi-day tickets only). Genie+ and/or park hopper option is available as well. No blockout dates but use is subject to theme park reservation availability.
  • Extra Day Free Tickets: Get 5 days at Disneyland for the price of 4 with this extra day free special for longer vacations.
  • 3rd or 4th Night Free: available at select Anaheim area hotels exclusively through Get Away Today bookings (can be combined with all ticket discounts).
Flying to Disneyland? Compare Southern California airports like LAX and Orange County as you look at air travel options. Plus, get the scoop on ground transportation like shuttles, Uber and Lyft, and car rental.

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Jon Disney1

Tuesday 3rd of January 2023

I'm so glad this guide was helpful! I remember my confusion when I took my trip a few years ago. We flew into Long Beach and it was a great experience, especially since we arrived during an off-peak hour, avoiding the traffic and using parkingaccess made car parking a breeze. I'll definitely be bookmarking this page for future reference.

Parkobility

Friday 18th of June 2021

Havent been to Disneyland yet but always wanted to go :p. Maybe should plan a trip now

LAX Car Service MGCLS

Wednesday 7th of August 2019

I love your transportation service to Disneyland. You can easily avail our service by just calling us.

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Tuesday 16th of May 2017

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Saturday 12th of November 2016

[…] in an Uber upon your arrival into the airport, check to see if it is available. For example, both LAX and MCO airports will not allow Uber or Lyft to pick up on their property. While I know many a solo […]