If your kids are little and/or missing school days is not a problem, plan on going to Disneyland during weekdays. This time of year, crowds aren't bad at all during the week (just make sure it is not during a normal school spring vacation week!), and they will get a lot more time on rides and a lot less time standing in line. (I find the place intolerable during the summer, or duing weekends, due to the extremely long waiting time for rides.)

 

I see the busses dropping off all the time

 

I second that. We just got back on Saturday from a week at Disneyland. We got a three day/two night package. It was awesome....less than 5 minute wait in pretty much most of the lines from Monday thru Wednesday. Thursday it picked up a little due to it being closer to the weekend. We were able to hit the good rides several times! Kids had a blast as it was their first trip to Disneyland.

 

Thanks everyone, this is great gouge!

 

Since traffic can be a nightmare during morning and evening commute hours, I would seriously consider flying into SNA. Rental cars are probably cheaper at LAX, though.

 

Fly into SNA if you can, otherwise Long Beach is great. LAX can be a slog depending on what time of day you arrive. The 405 is not fun during rush hours.

You'll love California Adventures (our version of Epcot). The Disneyland portion is almost exactly the Magic Kingdom. California Adventures has some great rides (and you can get an adult beverage or three). Have fun!

 

I agree with the above posts on the SNA thing. You can do the Disney shuttle from SNA. We usually just drive from PHX so I can haul my surfboard for a beach day after the park day but I see the shuttle used quite a bit. Also, if you do go on a weekend and have a car, staying around the SNA airport can be quite cheap (for Socal) when the business folk have left for the weekend. We like to stay at the Marriot suites by south coast plaza. They have good rooms with a sofa sleeper and the king bed is in a separate room. I have big and little kids so that gives us a break. For some strange reason Qantas has some crews staying there as well. You may be able to get a rate from the hotel.

If you go more than one day get the parkhopper ticket. The only place to get beer or wine is in Cali Adventure and it is nice to walk over and have a refreshing beverage after a long day of lines and rides. The food is a little better there as well. Most Disney food sucks.

The hotels right by Disney are only good if you have to be by the park (due to lack of transport). Most are older properties and it is hard to escape the tourist traps outside the park. The Disney properties are OK but again, the food is not that great for what you pay. Disney usually gives you a good experience for your dollar(s) but not when it comes to food.

If you really have the gumption (and the passes), go to Tokyo Disney. We went last summer when we were in Japan and the kids (and I) had a blast. It was not really more expensive for the day (minus getting to Japan) than Anaheim and the park was way cool. We did one day and we spent it at Disney Sea, the Tokyo version of California Adventure. The train out from the city was fast and easy. Disney and Japan - they kind of go together.

 

We did Disneyland last month via LAX
We used Limos.com and ended up hiring Access Limo.
$126 after taxes and tip(included) for a 6 passenger Lincoln Limo each way. There were 5 actual paying passengers.
My math said we paid about $2 extra per person for the limo. Car was nice and clean.
Money well spent for on demand (they were there when we walked out of baggage claim), and being dropped right at your hotel.
Even got a compliment from my Mother-In-Law.

 

I can fake a pretty good limp, if ya wanna pick up my ticket cost.....


kidding, kidding.

 

Depending on the size of the seat, and the pitch of said seat on the plane you go on, and your height...the limp may not be fake after all...