You booked the flights. The Disneyland tickets are ready. The kids already know which attraction they want to ride first.
Now you have to get everyone from LAX to Anaheim.
For families, that short line on the itinerary can involve a surprising amount of planning. There are suitcases, carry-ons, strollers, car seats and tired kids to account for, all while navigating one of the busiest airports in the country.
If Disneyland Resort is your destination after landing at Los Angeles International Airport, planning the airport-to-hotel portion before your flight can make arrival day much easier to manage.
Here is what families should know about traveling from LAX to Disneyland and Anaheim.
How Far Is Disneyland From LAX?
Disneyland Resort is located in Anaheim, southeast of Los Angeles International Airport. The road trip is roughly 35 miles, although the exact distance depends on your hotel and route. However, driving time is much harder to predict.
Southern California traffic changes throughout the day, and the trip between LAX and Anaheim can take considerably longer during busy periods. Families should therefore avoid building an arrival-day itinerary around the fastest drive time displayed by a navigation app.
If you are heading directly to Disneyland after landing, remember that your actual travel time begins before you leave the airport. You still need to deplane, reach baggage claim, collect luggage and possibly retrieve a stroller or other checked family equipment before meeting your transportation. For families traveling with younger children, simply getting everyone and everything out of the airport can be an adventure of its own.
What Is the Best Way to Get From LAX to Disneyland With Kids?
There isn’t one answer for every family.
The better question is: What transportation works for the number of people and amount of gear you are bringing?
A couple traveling with two carry-ons has very different needs from a family of five arriving with several suitcases, a double stroller, backpacks and car seats.
Transportation choices from LAX include prearranged private transportation, taxis, app-based rides and other ground transportation services.
Karmel Connect offers Disneyland Resort transportation for travelers heading between Southern California airports and the Anaheim Resort area. Families who want to travel together in one vehicle can also consider a private van, particularly when luggage and larger travel items make a standard passenger vehicle impractical.
Why Vehicle Size Matters More When You’re Traveling With Children
One of the easiest mistakes to make when arranging airport transportation is counting passengers without counting belongings.
Five people might fit into a SUV, but five people plus five suitcases, several carry-ons, a stroller and other vacation gear might not.
Disneyland trips can be especially luggage-heavy because families may be staying for several days or combining Anaheim with another Southern California destination, such as Universal Studios.
Before choosing a vehicle, think about everything coming off the baggage carousel.
A typical family might be traveling with:
- Full-size suitcases and carry-ons
- One or more strollers
- Car seats or booster seats
- Diaper bags and children’s backpacks
- Medical or mobility equipment
- Souvenirs on the return trip
That last one is worth remembering. Your bags may require more room on the trip back to LAX than they did when you arrived.
When Does a Private Van Make Sense for an LAX to Disneyland Trip?
A private van can be particularly useful when several family members are traveling together.
Instead of dividing adults, children and luggage between multiple vehicles, the family can remain together for the trip to Anaheim when an appropriately sized vehicle is selected.
That can be helpful for multigenerational Disneyland vacations, too.
Grandparents may be traveling with parents and children, or several relatives may be meeting in Southern California for the same vacation. Keeping the group together means nobody has to wonder whether Grandma’s car is still somewhere on the 105.
A private van service can also provide more room for luggage than a standard passenger car, depending on the vehicle selected.
The important part is providing an accurate passenger count and accounting for luggage when making the reservation.
What Should Parents Know About Car Seats?
California law has specific child passenger restraint requirements based on a child’s age, height and other factors.
The California Highway Patrol states that children under 8 generally must be secured in a car seat or booster seat in the back seat, while children who are 8 years old or have reached 4 feet 9 inches in height may use a properly fitted safety belt. Children under 2 must generally ride in a rear-facing car seat unless they meet specified height or weight thresholds. Parents should review the current requirements applicable to their children before traveling. (chp.ca.gov)
When arranging your airport transportation, ask about available child restraint options and requirements before booking. If you are bringing your own car seat, account for it when determining how much vehicle space your family needs.
What Happens After You Land at LAX?
If this is your first time flying into LAX with children, knowing the airport process beforehand can help.
After landing, your first job is getting everyone to baggage claim and collecting your belongings.
From there, where you go depends on the transportation you selected.
LAX uses a facility called LAX-it for many taxi and standard ride-app pickups. LAX-it is located near Terminal 1, and the airport provides free shuttle transportation from designated terminal pickup areas. Passengers can also walk to the facility from certain terminals.
Private transportation can follow different pickup procedures, so families using a prearranged service should follow the instructions provided with their reservation rather than automatically heading to LAX-it. This distinction can be important when you are moving through the airport with young children and several pieces of luggage.
LAX or Another Airport: Which Is Better for Disneyland?
LAX isn’t the only airport serving Southern California.
John Wayne Airport in Orange County is geographically closer to Disneyland Resort, while Long Beach Airport is another option that some travelers consider. LAX, however, provides a much larger selection of flights and destinations.
That means the best airport may depend on where you are coming from, airfare, nonstop availability and your family’s schedule. A nonstop flight into LAX can sometimes make more sense than adding a connection simply to land closer to Anaheim. When comparing flights, look at the complete trip rather than airfare alone.
A slightly different fare or airport can change your flight schedule, ground transportation requirements and the amount of travel time your children spend in transit.
Where Should You Stay Near Disneyland?
The Anaheim Resort District includes Disneyland Resort hotels along with numerous other hotels within the surrounding area.
Where you stay can affect what transportation you need after arriving. Some families prefer being within walking distance of the parks. Others choose hotels based on room configuration, pools, dining, loyalty programs or other amenities. Before booking, check the actual distance between the hotel and Disneyland Resort rather than assuming every Anaheim hotel is immediately next to the parks.
Also consider how you plan to spend the rest of your Southern California visit. If Disneyland is only one part of a longer Los Angeles vacation, your transportation needs may be different from those of a family spending the entire trip in Anaheim.
Planning More Than One Day at Disneyland
Families visiting Disneyland Resort should look at the trip as more than an airport transfer.
Park reservations, tickets, hotel arrangements, transportation and daily plans all fit together. Karmel’s Disneyland tours and vacation options provide another resource for visitors planning Disneyland as part of a broader Southern California itinerary. Building some flexibility into arrival day can make the first full park day much more appealing.
Traveling to Disneyland With a Larger Family or Group
Disney vacations have a habit of growing. What starts as two parents taking the kids can turn into grandparents, cousins, siblings and family friends joining the trip.
Once the group gets larger, transportation becomes a coordination problem. If everyone is arriving on the same flight, selecting a vehicle that can accommodate the entire party may be simpler than dividing the group among several cars. If family members are arriving on different flights, however, automatically waiting for everyone at LAX may not be the best answer.
- Compare the arrival times.
- A 20-minute difference is one thing. Asking one family to wait several hours at the airport for another flight is something else entirely.
- In that situation, separate airport transportation to the same Anaheim hotel may make more sense.
What About Disney Creators and Larger Hosted Trips?
Disneyland travel is not limited to traditional family vacations.
Content creators, hosted groups and social media teams may travel with cameras, lighting equipment, multiple suitcases and other gear that changes their transportation requirements.
Karmel also works with Disney influencers and content creators who need transportation around Disneyland Resort and Southern California.
For these travelers, vehicle selection should account for production equipment as well as passengers and ordinary luggage.
Quick Answers for Families Flying From LAX to Disneyland
How far is LAX from Disneyland?
Disneyland Resort is roughly 35 road miles from LAX, depending on the exact destination and route. Travel time varies considerably with Southern California traffic.
Can a family take a private van from LAX to Disneyland?
Yes. Private vans are an option for families and groups traveling between LAX and Anaheim. When selecting a vehicle, consider luggage, strollers and other equipment in addition to passenger count.
Do children need car seats when traveling from LAX?
California has child passenger restraint laws based on age, height and other criteria. Families should review current California requirements and confirm car-seat arrangements with their transportation provider before traveling.
Is Disneyland in Los Angeles?
No. Disneyland Resort is in Anaheim, California, in Orange County. Visitors flying into LAX therefore need ground transportation from Los Angeles to Anaheim.
Is LAX the closest airport to Disneyland?
No. John Wayne Airport in Orange County is closer to Disneyland Resort. Long Beach Airport is also closer geographically. LAX remains a common choice because of its extensive domestic and international flight network.
Can we go to Disneyland on the same day we land at LAX?
Yes, depending on your arrival time, hotel arrangements and park plans. Families should allow time for baggage claim, transportation to Anaheim, traffic and hotel or luggage arrangements before planning their first park visit.
Before You Leave Home
The easiest time to figure out how your family is getting from LAX to Anaheim is before everyone is standing at baggage claim.
Start with your passenger count, then count the luggage, stroller, car seats and anything else that needs to fit in the vehicle.
Review your LAX pickup instructions before flying. Check your hotel policies. Leave some flexibility in your first day’s schedule.
And if you are arranging transportation ahead of time, Karmel Connect offers Disneyland Resort shuttle and transportation options, including private van service for families and groups that need additional passenger and luggage capacity.
Once everyone is in Anaheim, you can move on to the much more important family debate: which Disneyland attraction gets to be first.