When employing the tips every Disneyland visitor should know before their trip, your first port of call is probably securing your flights if heading to California. Many airports serve the region, including LAX, which is the largest international airport nearby, so it will probably be easiest to find flights from your city. Plus, there’s the bonus of possibly seeing A-list celebrities arriving and departing amid a flash of paparazzi cameras! However, as one TikTok user points out, flying into LAX might not be the best idea considering its distance to the Magic Kingdom.
User @whatstuartknows rightly points out that Disneyland isn’t actually in Los Angeles; it’s in Orange County. So, if you choose to fly into LAX, you’ll be 40 miles away from the park and resort. That might not sound like a lot, but surely you’ve heard about the infamous LA traffic: 40 miles might as well be 400! It turns out that if you want to avoid the LA congestion, fly to the closest Disneyland airport. In this case, your best bet would be John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, named after the famous star of Hollywood Westerns and gunslingers. Adhering to this advice means circumventing one of the top mistakes visitors make in Los Angeles. TikToker and travel expert planner @rachaelplansdisney calls this an “airport hack” she “highly recommends.” Here’s why.
John Wayne Airport is only 13 miles from the park
@whatstuartknows
LAX is not the easiest airport to use when visiting Disneyland, John Wayne Airport is #travelhacks #disneyland #californiaadventure #johnwayneairport #LAX #burbankairport #southerncalifornia
♬ original sound – What Stuart Knows
John Wayne Santa Ana Airport in Orange County should be your preferred airport if you’re trying to get to Disneyland because it’s only 13 miles away from the park and resort. But that’s not the only reason. If you’re staying at one of the many hotels that serve the Magic Kingdom, the majority of them offer shuttles to and from John Wayne airport, meaning that you won’t have to shell out for an Uber, a taxi, or even a rental car. And even if you do choose a rideshare or a taxi, it will be a short ride, only lasting around 15 to 20 minutes.
According to TikToker @rachaelplansdisney and Tripadvisor users, the airport fees are higher at John Wayne than at LAX, but the cheaper ground transportation to the park makes up for any excess fees. Disneyland also notes that you can easily take public transit from John Wayne Airport to the park, reducing the need for a rental car or a taxi! However, it may be a short distance from the park but be prepared for a degree of frustration. A 2023 study published on Nasdaq found 65% of tweets that mentioned Santa Ana was “angry,” with the words “noise,” “staff, “TSA,” “complaints,” and “delayed” used most often. Food for thought!
