Almost Free Traveling

One of the great things about Disneyland’s Anaheim, California location is it’s proximity to many Los Angeles airports: there are four main LA airports to choose between on your next trip to Disneyland, and based on your itinerary, it might even make sense to fly into one airport and out of another (read more about how to use use miles to fly into these airports for almost free, and find out how we use points and miles to book hotel, airfare and Disneyland tickets).

LAX

34 miles from Disneyland, Los Angeles International Airport is the giant, catch-all LA airport with lots of affordable flights coming in daily from all over (if you’re coming in from overseas, you will almost certainly fly into LAX). ~60 minute ride/drive to Disneyland, it’s not the closest to the parks–commute times can vary wildly depending on traffic–but if you can book a great flight, it might be worth it. From some locations, the only direct flights into Los Angeles are LAX flights, which makes this airport the best option for many; also, if you’re tacking greater LA sightseeing days onto a Disneyland trip, LAX might make sense on the way in or out..

Long Beach Airport

24 miles from Disneyland, many prefer this airport because it’s smaller and less crowded than LAX, but keep in mind that flights typically cost more (and some airlines, like our beloved Alaska air, do not fly into Long Beach). Travel times are more predictable than LAX and will range from 30-60 minutes (you could even take the 90 minute city bus ride from LB to Disneyland for only $6/person).

John Wayne/Santa Ana Airport

15 minutes from Disneyland, this little airport is the closest and a fan favorite for many West Coast/west of the Rockies travelers–especially if you can find direct flights. If you’re within driving distance to Disneyland, there may be roundtrip SNA direct flights that will entice you to fly.

Ontario Airport

36 miles inland from Disneyland, this little gem is a more obscure Disneyland airport choice, but let me share a story: we were once flying out of Disneyland on Thanksgiving, and Ontario airport was offering insanely cheap nonstop Alaska flights to PDX. We booked a $90 one-hour Uber from Disneyland to Ontario and still came out way ahead. The airport was small, quiet and clean, and we will definitely use it again if the price is right (keep in mind that during rush hour, commuting to/from Ontario might take up to two hours).

Ground Transportation

This is moving target and depends on your traveling party’s needs, but generally, most of these airports offer shuttle services like Karmel, Uber/Lyft, and car rentals. If you’re getting a Lyft/Uber and your schedule is flexible, be patient and watch for surge pricing to fluctuate; if traveling with kids ages 3-10 who need carseats, consider traveling with a packable safety vest like a Whizrider (affiliate link):

I’ve also read about many travelers using public transportation to/from the parks, which can be an affordable adventure.

Takeaways

There’s pros, cons and trade-offs to any of these four main LA airports; the great thing is, you have options! Decide what you value most (cost, nonstop flights, distance from Disney, other trip plans) and then book what’s right for you. Have a magical Disneyland trip!

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