The best airports for Disneyland

29.03.2024 - 22:43 / thepointsguy.com / Airlines

Before Disneyland visitors can take a spin on a teacup or race in Radiator Springs, many will need to take another ride first: on a plane.

If you plan to fly to Southern California for a vacation at the Happiest Place on Earth, the airport options may seem a bit overwhelming. While the vast majority of visitors to Walt Disney World in Florida arrive at a single airport, visitors to its California cousin have about half a dozen viable options.

Which Southern California airport is the best for your Disneyland vacation? It depends! I've flown into them multiple times on my travels and certainly have my favorites. Which ones will work best for other Disneyland visitors, however, depends on a variety of personal factors, including distance, availability of nonstop flights, preferred airlines and price.

The closest airport to Disneyland — and the only one located within Orange County, California — is John Wayne Airport. It is in the city of Santa Ana, just two suburbs south of Disneyland's home in Anaheim.

John Wayne Airport may not have a big name outside of California, but it punches well above its weight. The airport has flights on just over a dozen U.S. and Canadian carriers, including all five of the largest U.S. airlines. SNA offers nonstop service to nearly 50 cities in North America. At the same time, it still feels small and easy to navigate, with short walks and reasonable security lines (TSA PreCheck is offered, but there are no Clear Plus lanes).

Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines offer the most flights at SNA, with frequent service to many major West Coast cities. For example, there are usually four to eight arrivals daily from Oakland International Airport (OAK) and five to 10 daily from Las Vegas' Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) aboard Southwest alone.

The airport only serves a handful of nonstop destinations east of the Mississippi, so East Coast travelers may find the overall travel time to SNA less appealing if a connection is required.

The easiest way to travel from SNA to Disneyland is by using a ride-hailing service. Shared shuttle services out of SNA are often more expensive than a standard UberX or Lyft ride, even for solo travelers. The 14-mile ride takes about 20-30 minutes and usually runs $25-$30 before the tip. The two ride-hailing service pickup zones at SNA are within easy walking distance of the terminals.

Related: Things to know before using a ride-hailing service at the airport

SNA also has all major car rental companies on-site within walking distance. Consider the overall cost carefully, however, before you rent a car. In my experience, most visitors won't need one due to Disneyland's compact size. Additionally, parking charges at many Disneyland-area hotels