Location: Physical Location

Getting there: Getting from the airport to the resort...

Parking: The current Disneyland Parking situation
See our new Parking Information Page for more in depth parking info.

Resort Layout: Text description of how the resort is set-up

This could be one of the most difficult challenges of your trip. The public transportation system in Southern California is pretty close to non-existant. To get from the airport to the Disneyland resort you have several choices(each one has its own merits and problems):

• Drive: You can rent a car and just do the drive. This is the best option if you plan on exploring the rest of Southern California too. Also depending on the length of your stay and the size of your party this can be the cheapest route. The drawback here is you have to have someone who is willing to drive the infamous Southern California freeway system. Having spent many years driving it, I can say it can be bad, but if you use your head and plan ahead its not that bad. You can get good maps from most rental car places, or visit yahoo maps.
• Shuttle Bus: Most of the airports have direct busses to and from the Disneyland resort. This option could be the cheapest if you have an extended stay or have a small party. The drawback is you are stuck on their schedules. The advantage is you just get to sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. The one seen most frequently is airportbus.
• Shuttle Van (or Limo or even Taxi): This could be an expensive option, you should price it out and see. The advantages are you set the schedule and locations. Yahoo Listing (Click Here)
  
  One of our readers suggests to try Super Shuttle. The cost is approx. $15 per person each way. It makes a maximum of 3 stops (much better than the bus) and will take you straight to your hotel. You can pick up the shuttles right at LAX by going out to the common shuttle stop and talking to the attendant (the Geek recommends calling ahead to set up a pickup though, it may be faster). I have not used them so I do not know how reliable or good they are, but the blue vans are everywhere at LAX. I do use a shuttle service from my area to LAX and it works out great (I do not use Super Shuttle because they do not service the area where I live).
• Public Transportation: Los Angeles has an array of bus systems and train systems that can get you where you need to go. The problem is you may have to transfer systems several times and it could take you quite a while, but if you are a public transportation person you can make it work. - Click here for some information on the public transportation systems - Submitted by one of our guests, Tony Louey

See our Parking Information Page for more in depth info.

Disneyland has 3 exits off the freeway to choose from:

Furthest South: Disney Way (Katella)
Middle: Harbor Blvd.

Furthest North(and accessible from Southbound I-5 only): Disneyland Drive - Old Ball Road (has a carpool exit too) Disneyland currently operates several parking lots depending on the crowds. There is no exit for Disneyland Drive coming from the South, you must use Harbor or Katella.

Entering from the North side of the property:
Mickey and Friends parking structure, which holds over 10,000 cars. This garage is built on the old strawberry field and camp ground off West.
Pinocchio: Going to be used for Downtown Disney, located on the old strawberry field by the Disneyland hotel Entering from the

South side of the property:
The Lion King lots:
Timon - located on a small section of the old Disneyland parking lot behind California Adventure
Simba - located behind/next to the Paradise Pier Resort (used to be a field)
Pumba - located where the old Grand Hotel used to be near the 5 freeway
Also Disney uses the Anaheim Convention Center parking lot.

Geek's Suggestion: We have found it best to just park in the Mickey & Friends Garage. To get in coming from the North get off the 5 at the new Disneyland Drive exit (Ball Road) and follow the signs, you will be taken almost directly into the garage. Coming from the South get off at Harbor Blvd, turn right at the off ramp, then Left on Ball, Left on Disneyland Drive then follow the signs to the garage.

See our new Parking Information Page for more in depth info.

If you have been to WDW you would picture Disney as being large and spread out, well here in Anaheim Disney owns a lot less property and its located in the middle of a city. There are other hotels, eateries, etc.. built right up next to Disney. With the recent expansion of Disneyland into a vacation destination Disney is working on creating the illusion of a Disney island. You can now exit the freeway and drive almost directly into a Disney parking lot. The city of Anaheim and Disney have "cleaned" up the streets surrounding the resort. Many more palm trees and other landscaping additions have been made. Signs have been removed and unified along streets (from other hotels). The area really looks good now. The outside the berm places are starting to blend much nicer into the "Disney" site lines. There is a blurring between Disney and non-Disney occurring. There are still extremely drastic changes, but the visual look is much smoother than it used to be.

The Disneyland Resort area currently consists of two theme parks, three resorts, a dining and entertainment center, and several parking lots. The two theme parks are located across a common esplanade with the original Disneyland park located on the North side and Disney California Adventure directly South of it. Traveling West from the theme parks down the Esplanade will take you into Downtown Disney. As you travel West into Downtown Disney you will encounter several shops, eateries, etc… On the South side of the way between Downtown Disney and DCA is Disney's Grand Californian Hotel. If you keep traveling West you will eventual end up at the Downtown Disney monorail station and beyond that is the Disneyland Hotel. Located directly South of the Disneyland Hotel is the Paradise Pier Hotel. Now that I have you completely confused, here is a simple illustration showing you the layout.