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Taxi vs. Express Shuttle Lax to Disneyland Resort

Calgary, Canada
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23 posts
84 reviews
100 helpful votes
Taxi vs. Express Shuttle Lax to Disneyland Resort
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There are 4 of us travelling from LAX to Disneyland Resort. Have heard horror stories about 3 hour trips from LAX to Resort due to frequent hotel stops. We arrive on a Saturday afternoon and leave on a Thursday afternoon and would like your opinions on whether it would be better to take a taxi, rent a car, or use the shuttle service.

West Hollywood...
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33,619 posts
56 reviews
223 helpful votes
1. Re: Taxi vs. Express Shuttle Lax to Disneyland Resort
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Briefly, taking a shared van (shuttle bus) like Prime Time Shuttles (http://redvans.com) or super shuttle (http://supershuttle.com)) will cost about the same as taking the Disneyland Express Bus (http://airportbus.com) ($25-$30 per person, ROUND TRIP OR $50 to $60 each way for all of you.). Here are the details:

1. For the van, when you arrive, you go to the area outside your terminal that has the ORANGE overhead sign saying: "Shared Ride Vans". You will be put on the next van to Anaheim (which may or may not be waiting). If it is waiting, it may or may not have enough empty seats for all of you. If it does, it might attempt to fill up before leaving the airport. (This may cause some delays). The ride is about 40 minutes but plan on it taking about 1-1/2 hours all together as you may have to wait while others are dropped off first. It's unlikely that it would take 3 hours but if you are arriving during a commuter rush hour or national holiday ir could take 2 hours or so.

2. The Disneyland Express Bus is a full-size coach bus (like a Greyhound bus). It pulls up in front of your terminal under the GREEN overhead signs which say: "Flyaway Buses and Long Distance Vans". It is a SCHEDULED conveyance so it arrives at LAX twice per hour and leaves promptly whether it is full or not. It goes to the Disneyland Resort first and then you will either be taken on to your hotel or you will be transferred to a van for the rest of your trip. Count on 1-1/2 hours total time (assuming you are not staying at the DL Resort which would be quicker).

In choosing between these 2, the Disneyland Express bus is a little more comfortable but I would take either one that is ready and waiting. (BTW, there is a $3 discount coupon on the DL Express website -- on the coupon link, just below the photo on the home page),

3. A taxi will be the quickest and most convenient but it will cost ABOUT $90 (it depends on traffic since the meter in the taxi calculates the fare based on distance plus the number of seconds that the taxi is standing still -- in a traffic jam or at a red light).

(None of the above fares include tip (15%).

Another option is to reserve a PRIVATE VAN from either of the two shared van services. This would mean a van all to yourself without waiting for anyone else to arrive or depart from the van. The cost is about the same as a taxi, $88-$92 (+tip) but it's more spacious than a taxi and if you hit traffic, the cost is fixed (no surcharge for standing still). These have to be reserved in advance.

Calgary, Canada
Level Contributor
23 posts
84 reviews
100 helpful votes
2. Re: Taxi vs. Express Shuttle Lax to Disneyland Resort
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Thanks HopSkipJump. We are staying at the Paradise Pier so it looks like the Disneyland Express would be the best option for us. It sure is nice to get the kind of information that you provided - very thorough.

Yucaipa, California
Destination Expert
for Anaheim
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28,035 posts
4 reviews
9 helpful votes
3. Re: Taxi vs. Express Shuttle Lax to Disneyland Resort
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Just want to mention to travelers that I found information a couple of months ago from the City of Los Angeles (can't remember the exact website or webpage). They regulate taxi services and have all but cut out the "pirate" taxi services that where driving without licenses and charging too much. There are now strict laws regarding service boundry areas and it appears that LA taxi drivers (who must be registered with the City of LA) cannot cross over into Orange County. Therefore, it is pretty much impossible to get a taxi from LAX or a Los Angeles or Hollywood Hotel to Disneyland. I believe I interpreted the information I found correctly, but I welcome informed comments to my post.

Laredo
1 post
4. Re: Taxi vs. Express Shuttle Lax to Disneyland Resort
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There are 4 of us travelling from LAX to Buena Park Holiday Inn. Do "express shuttles" stop frequently at all hotels? What is cheaper...shuttles or taxis?

Yucaipa, California
Destination Expert
for Anaheim
Level Contributor
28,035 posts
4 reviews
9 helpful votes
5. Re: Taxi vs. Express Shuttle Lax to Disneyland Resort
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The shared airport shuttles such as Prime Time and Super Shuttle will stop wherever their passengers need to, such as a hotel or a home. Frequency depends on how many parties are in the shuttle and how many different places each party is going to. I have read that drivers often try to fill the van before leaving the airport, which could delay your departure from the airport.

The Disneyland Express, which is run by Grayline Coach goes directly to Anaheim Resort/Garden Grove Hotels. For Buena Park hotels, a transfer is made once arriving in Anaheim.

http://graylineanaheim.com/docs/GL%20Anaheim%20DRE%20Brochure%202009.pdf

http://graylineanaheim.com/airport_info.shtml

The taxi rates and, perhaps the shuttle rates, have gone up since this thread began. I think for convenience sake, your best deal would be to book a private shuttle.

Note: Thanks for adding a post to this thread. Gives me a chance to correct what I said about taxi service, back in 2006 (when this was all pretty new to me). I have since found out that legit taxis can, indeed, travel from LA County into Orange County. There are, however, some technicalities regarding their ability to pick up fares in the OC upon return to LA County.

Vancouver, Canada
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678 posts
56 reviews
26 helpful votes
6. Re: Taxi vs. Express Shuttle Lax to Disneyland Resort
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Try Zippy Shuttle (http://www.zippyshuttle.net).

We used them twice in March (2 trips), and again in 2 weeks (3 trips).

Very prompt email response, prompt pickup, clean vans, friendly service, private shuttle service (no other pickups/stops).

Highly recommended, we were even offered cold bottled water. Great service.

7. Re: Taxi vs. Express Shuttle Lax to Disneyland Resort

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