Getting there (Part 1)

I am going to divide this into two parts. The first will be an air travel related post and the second a road trip related post.

I love to fly. The window at my work looks toward the Salt Lake City airport and there are moments when I catch myself just watching the planes land and takeoff. I often wonder where are the planes headed and where did they come from? This window is also a little bit of a tease. Watching these planes all the time makes me want to run straight to the airport and hop on a plane to some fabulous destination. It is just that whole being a responsible adult thing that gets in the way.

If you’re planning to fly to Disneyland, you should know you have a couple of options when it comes to airports to fly to.

Our preferred airport is Long Beach (LGB).

Long Beach is a small airport but is serviced by many of the major airlines that fly out of Salt Lake. We’ve taken both Delta and Jet Blue to Long Beach.

Getting your bags at Long Beach is usually quick and the rental car area is conveniently right in front of the airport. You can easily pick up your bags and walk out to your car. It is a pleasant experience. We’ve also used an Uber from the Long Beach airport to our hotel. The Uber pick up spot is easy to get to and not a hassle like it is at some airports.

It is about 30 minutes to go from Long Beach to the Disneyland area.

Next up is John Wayne Airport (SNA), located about 22 minutes from the Disney area.

John Wayne is also a great airport. Like Long Beach, it is more of a regional airport so it is not as chaotic as a major airport. We took a taxi out of this airport so I have no intel on the rental car experience. I believe most airlines that fly out of Salt Lake also go to John Wayne, though you may have a funny plane change or layover during your flight.

LAX is my last resort if I’m taking trip and only going to Disneyland. If you’re doing things in the area, then LAX can be a good option, but if you’re planning to spend most of your trip in Anaheim, I would avoid LAX. The drive is about 45 minutes to over an hour, the airport is huge and chasing around your young kids in a large airport is not the most fun experience. Sometimes it is the cheapest option, so I don’t blame you for picking LAX, but I’d look at some of the others and see if you can find them in a similar price point.

One other airport to look at is Ontario International (ONT). It is another smaller regional airport in Southern California about an hour away from Disneyland. If the price is the right, you may want to give this one consideration.

Remember I love flying. It is my preferred way to travel. I like that I can leave Salt Lake around breakfast and then plan to have lunch in Disneyland. It’s awesome! But with my three kiddos, all under the age of eight, air travel is tricky.

I’ve heard horror stories of people on planes with their kids. We have been lucky enough, so far, to avoid any major issues.

A few things that have helped us on our flights are:

• Have a set of headphones for each kid. More and more airlines are offering free TV (to some extent) on their flights. If the airline you are traveling on does, have a set of headphones for each kid ready.
• Don’t be afraid to pack some snacks. Yes, going through security with your carry-on bag of snacks can be “fun” but if you follow the TSA approved list, it should be pretty painless.
• Suckers can help with ears. I won’t guarantee that a sucker will help your kids with uncomfortable ears while flying, sometimes it has helped with our kids and other times it hasn’t. I’m still packing suckers in the carry-on when we go in the fall.
• Avoid bringing small toys. A stuffed animal is fine but something like a hot wheels car (or possibly a Lightning McQueen car) is better for your checked bag than having your child carry it through the airport. It will get dropped, left, lost or thrown and then you’ll find yourself buying a new one while on your trip only to find they had the old one in their pocket the whole time.
• Strollers. It is possible that the guys that chuck your checked bags onto the airplane will also lob your stroller into the same compartment. It may survive, it may not. If you can handle not having a stroller at the airport, it may be worth purchasing a cheap stroller through Amazon or Walmart and having it delivered to your hotel the day before you arrive (just call your hotel to let them know and most will be happy to store it for you until you arrive). If not, just be cautious with your stroller. All joking aside, the airlines do try to take good care of your stroller, but there is a chance something could happen (We’ve had one stroller meet its death thanks to being smashed in the luggage compartment on the airplane). Just have that in mind as you plan for your stroller. Also know that Disneyland has limits on strollers/wagons so check those before you go to make sure your stroller isn’t too big. You can also rent a stroller from Disneyland if you don’t want to bring yours.
• Car seats. Bringing car seats on a trip where basically I’m using them to get from the airport to the hotel and then from the hotel back to the airport is one of my least favorite things about traveling. Don’t get me wrong, I get it. Safety for my kids is top priority. I wouldn’t dare travel without the proper seats for my kids, it just is another set of large awkward things you have to pack and lug through an airport. If I can make a suggestion, take a look at the mifold brand booster seats, they do make smaller booster seats that work well for traveling. If your little one(s) still need a full-size car seat, you have my sympathy and know for our trip we will also be lugging that thing through the airport.
• Ask to see the cockpit (see the picture above). We once boarded a plane then were told we would be waiting until they could get the fuel truck over a snow pile that the snowplows made at the airport made. Needless to say, it was a long delay. Fortunately the good Delta folks were kind enough to let my kids wander up and down the aisles of the plane to stretch their legs and even let my son check out the cockpit with the pilot for a few minutes. It made what could have been a bad situation fun and eventually we took off and had a delightful flight.
• Look into to doing the TSA precheck. Going through security is an experience with our kids. One time one of the staffers saw us and all our kids and said come through the precheck line. It was amazing. A quick walk through security checks and we were on our way. Every other time we haven’t been so lucky. It has been pull our stroller through the airport, Get to security, wait in a long line, take off your shoes, take off your jacket, remove your belt, grab your kid that is trying to inspect a stranger in the line’s luggage, and keep all your stuff together. It is a hectic, frustrating, scary moment. If you can, pay the $85 for TSA precheck and enjoy that for the next five years, you can keep your jacket, shoes and belt on and get through security screening a lot quicker. If your kids are under 12, they don’t need to be prechecked, yours will count for them. More info can be found here.