Picking the right airport is CRUCIAL before flying to California for a Disneyland trip.
Southern California is home to many airports, so you’ll have no shortage of options when flying out of state (or country) for a Disneyland Resort vacation. However, each airport has its own set of pros and cons, and which one you pick could depend on this list.
We’re going to go over four of the most popular choices when flying into the Disneyland/Southern California area for this list. Keep in mind, pricing and factors like ease of travel will ALWAYS vary. We’ve flown through each of these airports MULTIPLE times, and our experience at one airport can be different from one trip to the next. Still, we’ve been able to come up with some generalities.
John Wayne Airport (SNA)
Located in Santa Ana in Orange County, John Wayne Airport is the closest airport to Disneyland, being only 15 miles from the Resort. It’s generally considered pretty quiet, convenient, and offers a fair number of flights arriving and departing. The airport is also known for being nice and well-kept. If you’re staying at a hotel at or near Disneyland, this is the airport for you.
With all that said, while it offers competitive pricing, it can be slightly more expensive than some of its competitors and has less access to international destinations. Still, it’s this writer’s opinion that if you’re willing to pony up a little more for locational convenience (if you’re staying in Orange County) and less hassle at a moderately sized airport, THIS is the airport you want to use.
Ontario International Airport (ONT)
Another airport known for being quiet, Ontario International Airport is located in Ontario in San Bernardino County. This airport is about 36 miles from Disneyland. It’s a pretty small airport with not a ton of foot traffic and car traffic will be less than driving from Los Angeles. The airport also doesn’t have a significant delay issue.
Unfortunately, due to its size, it does have fewer selection of flights, and its location might not be ideal. Additionally, a lack of flights means it can be a bit more expensive. Ultimately, flying through ONT is usually a really pleasant experience, and if the money and flight selections make sense, this airport is a super solid choice.
Long Beach Airport (LGB)
Noted for its old-school vibes (this airport is tiny and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a jet bridge), Long Beach Airport is only 24 miles from Disneyland. Because it’s so small, typically you don’t have to deal with long waits, and it’s really easy to navigate. Prices here are also competitive, making it a hidden gem of an airport.
Despite being tiny, we’ve had personal experiences where one snag can delay the whole airport — causing missed flights. This isn’t common, but it has happened to us in the past. Additionally, the airline variety is limited. It used to be a hub for JetBlue, but no longer serves that airline. Still, Southwest does a ton of business here if you enjoy flying with them. All in all, when it comes to visiting Disneyland, this is probably our second recommendation behind SNA. It’s generally a simple experience, and with flying, that’s hard to top.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
The big boy, Los Angeles International Airport is the airport most travelers to Disneyland will use. It easily has the most amount of flights (direct or otherwise), plenty of international options, cheapest flights, and a wide range of amenities. Seriously, though, if you’re on a budget, this is the airport you will likely fly in and out of.
(Los Angeles World Airports)
The cons here are pretty apparent, though, especially when you talk to anyone who’s ever flown through the airport. Navigation is a pain, traffic is worse, getting lost is easy since the airport is so big, it is an hour to two hours away from Disneyland (only 34 miles but LA traffic STINKS), and — to put it simply — it’s easy to have a nightmare experience here. Maybe the airport will get better in the future, but until the reputation increases, avoid LAX if you can help it. But hey, even we still fly out of here from time to time because it is so affordable.
What is your favorite airport to use when traveling to Disneyland? Let us know in the comments, and continue to follow us here at AllEars for all things Disneyland!
Airports Closest to Disneyland and Our Tips When Flying to Them
What is your favorite Southern California airport? Let us know in the comments!
“1-2 hours” from LAX to Disneyland?? I live right by LAX and it’s usually 40 minutes to Disneyland any time of day except 2pm-7pm, and even then it’s maybe 1hr to 1+30 max.
What about Burbank Airport?
Well, if you are going to include Ontario airport, you should have recommended Burbank. Lots of flights, small airport, easy access to I-5.
You forgot about Burbank. I agree on your top two but would put Burbank 3 and avoid LAX at any cost.