Staying near LAX and visiting Disneyland: distance, drive times, parking, tickets and transit
Courtyard Los Angeles LAX/Hawthorne is 29.7 road miles from the Disneyland parking structures in Anaheim, about 44 minutes without traffic and 45 to 60 minutes on a typical morning. It works well when Disneyland is one or two days of a Los Angeles or beach trip, or when you fly in or out of LAX. For a trip that is only about the parks, a hotel in Anaheim is more convenient. Park facts and prices are as of September 21, 2026. This hotel is not affiliated with the Disneyland Resort.
Last updated: September 21, 2026
Measured distances
- Disneyland, Mickey and Friends and Pixar Pals parking structures: 29.7 road miles, about 44 minutes without traffic
- Disneyland, Harbor Boulevard drop-off by the main entrance: 29.4 road miles, about 42 minutes without traffic
- Disneyland, Toy Story parking area: 32.7 road miles, about 42 minutes without traffic
- Anaheim Convention Center: 30.1 road miles, about 44 minutes without traffic
- Angel Stadium: 31.6 road miles, about 46 minutes without traffic
- Honda Center: 31.9 road miles, about 45 minutes without traffic
- Knott's Berry Farm, Buena Park: 24.5 road miles, about 33 minutes without traffic
- Universal Studios Hollywood: 17.5 road miles, about 37 minutes without traffic
- LAX terminals: 6.8 road miles, about 12 minutes without traffic
- Long Beach Airport: 16.0 road miles, about 22 minutes without traffic
- John Wayne Airport, Orange County: 37.5 road miles, about 46 minutes without traffic
- Times are measured without traffic. Travelers report 45 to 60 minutes on a typical drive to Anaheim and 90 minutes or more at the worst of rush hour, which runs eastbound from about 3:00 to 7:00 PM.
Is this the right base for a Disneyland trip
- Yes, if Disneyland is one or two days of a wider trip. You get the beach cities, LAX, SoFi Stadium, Hollywood and Universal Studios from one hotel, and you drive to Anaheim for the park day.
- Yes, for the night before or after a flight. Travelers who land late at LAX, or fly out early, commonly sleep near the airport or in the South Bay beach towns and move on the next day.
- Consider a split stay if you want two or more park days. The common advice from Disneyland planners is to book Anaheim for the park days and a Los Angeles or beach hotel for the rest, instead of commuting daily.
- No, if the trip is only about the parks. A hotel within walking distance of the gate lets you take a midday break, which a 30-mile drive does not.
- Hotel early entry ended on January 5, 2026. Disney hotel guests now get one Lightning Lane entry per stay instead, so no guest gets a head start at opening, wherever they sleep.
Driving to Disneyland for the day
- Leave by about 6:00 to 6:30 AM for an 8:00 AM opening. Regular visitors report that security opens around 7:00 AM, and they aim to be at the gate by 7:30.
- Usual routes: Interstate 105 east to Interstate 605 south to Interstate 5 south, or Interstate 405 south to State Route 22 east. No toll is required on either route.
- Disney directs drivers arriving from the LAX direction to the Mickey and Friends and Pixar Pals parking structures. A tram runs from there to the main entrance. The Toy Story lot uses a bus.
- Parking is $40 per day for a car, $60 for preferred and $45 for an oversize vehicle, and it can be paid ahead of time. The lots open 60 minutes before the earliest park opening.
- Trams and buses run until about one hour after the last park closes. The drive back after 10:00 PM is the easy leg, about 40 minutes.
- Carpool lanes in Southern California run 24 hours and need two or more people in the car.
- The 405 Express Lanes in Orange County require a FasTrak transponder for every vehicle, including carpools. Stay in the regular lanes if you do not have one.
- ChargePoint electric vehicle charging is available in limited numbers at all three Disneyland parking locations.
Getting there without a car
- Rideshare is what most visitors use. A January 2026 fare survey put UberX from LAX to Disneyland at about $73 and Lyft at $50 to $60, for a ride of about 45 minutes. Expect a similar fare from this hotel, which is 29.4 road miles from the drop-off.
- The guest drop-off and rideshare area is on the east side of the resort, off southbound Harbor Boulevard, a short walk from the main entrance.
- After the fireworks, long rides back to Los Angeles can be scarce and cost $100 or more. Waiting about an hour, or booking a ride in advance, helps.
- Cheapest route: the Metro C Line to Norwalk station, then Metro Line 460 to Disneyland, which takes 58 to 77 minutes. The whole trip is one $1.75 fare with free transfers and takes about two hours each way.
- From this hotel: the Hawthorne/Lennox C Line station is 2.0 road miles away. The C Line reaches Norwalk station in about 23 minutes.
- The last Line 460 bus that still connects to the C Line leaves Disneyland at about 10:20 PM, so public transit does not work for a night that ends with fireworks.
- By train: Metrolink runs from Los Angeles Union Station to Anaheim in about 45 minutes for $8.75 one way, with fares rising on October 5, 2026. The last train back leaves Anaheim at 7:36 PM on weekdays and 6:46 PM on weekends. The last Amtrak Pacific Surfliner leaves Anaheim at 11:10 PM.
- Anaheim Resort Transportation, the ART shuttle network, shut down on March 31, 2026. From the Anaheim train station, take OC Bus Route 50 for $2 to Katella and Harbor, then walk about three blocks. Older guides that mention ART are out of date.
- There is no scheduled shuttle between LAX and Disneyland. The Disneyland Resort Express ended in 2020, the FlyAway bus does not serve Anaheim, and Karmel Connect, the one shuttle Disney names, quotes on request at (714) 670-3480.
- The hotel does not run a shuttle to Disneyland or to LAX.
Tickets, reservations and Lightning Lane as of September 21, 2026
- Every guest aged 3 and up needs both a ticket and a theme park reservation for the same park on the same date. Children under 3 do not need a ticket.
- One-day, one-park tickets run from $104 to $224 for adults and $98 to $214 for children aged 3 to 9, across seven price tiers by date.
- The Park Hopper option adds $70 to $100 to a one-day ticket. You reserve your first park and can cross to the other later in the day, subject to capacity.
- Multi-day tickets for one park per day: 2 days $336, 3 days $426, 4 days $480 and 5 days $525 for adults.
- Lightning Lane Multi Pass starts at $34 per ticket per day. Single Pass prices vary by ride and date, with a limit of two rides per day. Premier Pass starts at $399 and sells in very limited numbers.
- Typical hours in late September 2026 are 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM at Disneyland Park and 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM at Disney California Adventure. Hours vary by date, so check the official calendar.
- Disney has raised ticket prices in the second week of October in each of the last three years. No 2026 increase had been announced as of this date.
- Downtown Disney needs no ticket or reservation. Parking there is $10 for the first hour, with longer stays validated by purchases.
Bags, strollers and food rules
- Bags, backpacks and coolers can be up to 24 by 15 by 18 inches. Use reusable ice packs, because loose and dry ice are not allowed.
- Strollers can be up to 31 inches wide and 52 inches long. Wagons, including stroller wagons, are not allowed.
- Not allowed: selfie sticks, glass containers other than small baby food jars, folding chairs, alcohol, drones and shoes with wheels. Guests aged 14 and older cannot wear costumes on regular days.
- Outside food is allowed if it is not in glass, and there is a free picnic area with lockers outside the Disneyland Park entrance.
- Lockers cost $7 to $15 per day. Stroller rental is $18 per day for a single and $36 for a double.
Disneyland calendar, fall 2026 to 2027
- Halloween Time runs through October 31, 2026.
- Oogie Boogie Bash, the separately ticketed Halloween party at Disney California Adventure, is sold out for 2026. On party nights that park closes to day guests at 6:00 PM.
- Holidays at the Disneyland Resort runs from November 13, 2026 to January 6, 2027.
- In February 2027 the "Remember... Dreams Come True" fireworks and the original "World of Color" return. A Super Bowl LXI champions cavalcade is planned for Monday, February 15, 2027, the day after the game at SoFi Stadium.
- The "Magic Happens" parade returns in summer 2027. The Avengers Campus expansion opens in 2028.
- Closed as of late September 2026 with no reopening date: Indiana Jones Adventure.
- Anaheim hotel rates and traffic rise during large Anaheim Convention Center shows: the NAMM Show on January 26 to 30, 2027, Natural Products Expo West on March 2 to 5, 2027, and WonderCon on March 26 to 28, 2027.
Other theme parks from this hotel
- Universal Studios Hollywood is 17.5 road miles away. Its Fast and Furious: Hollywood Drift roller coaster opened on September 16, 2026, and Super Nintendo World has been open since 2023.
- Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park is 24.5 road miles away. Daily parking starts at $40 when bought online.
- Families who want Disneyland and Universal on one trip often ask about staying between them. From this hotel the two parks are 29.7 and 17.5 road miles away, in different directions, so neither day starts with a drive across the whole region.
What you get at this hotel
- Two-queen guest rooms sleep up to five with the sofa bed, and the connected king suite has two bedrooms
- The Bistro serves breakfast and Starbucks coffee a la carte, and dinner and drinks when you get back. Breakfast is not included in standard rates
- Year-round outdoor pool, hot tub and fire pits for the non-park days
- A group of six to eight, or anyone who wants a kitchen, fits better in the TownePlace Suites at the same address
- On-site self parking is $22 to $25 per day
- LAX terminals are 6.8 road miles away for the flight home
What customers say about Visiting Disneyland from this hotel
Value for money. Close to the airport and LA beach cities. The pool is nice. Parking fee is a bit high (25 USD per day). Staff is friendly. Overall a recommendable place for visiting LA and the area.
Very nice, comfortable and great value. This is where I will be staying when visiting LA going forward
We've had friends stay here while visiting from out of town and they've always had a great experience at this Marriott. In fact, they refuse to stay anywhere else!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Loved my stay here! This was my first time visiting California, and the front desk receptionist, Isabella Lopez, made me feel right at home. She gave amazing recommendations for restaurants, cool sights to see, and even money-saving tips. Every time we returned to the hotel, she greeted us with such genuine energy that it felt like catching up with an old friend. Highly recommend staying here!
I love this property! Amanda, Skyler, & Danielle were excellent and provided first class hospitality. It is definitely my property of choice when visiting. Clean, great location, and great associates.
Frequently asked
- How far is Courtyard Los Angeles LAX/Hawthorne from Disneyland?
- 29.7 road miles to the Disneyland parking structures, about 44 minutes without traffic. Allow 45 to 60 minutes on a typical morning and 90 minutes or more at rush hour.
- Can I stay near LAX and visit Disneyland for a day?
- Yes. It is a common plan with a car. Leave by about 6:00 to 6:30 AM for an 8:00 AM opening, park at Mickey and Friends or Pixar Pals for $40, and drive back after 10:00 PM in about 40 minutes.
- Is it better to stay in Anaheim or near LAX for Disneyland?
- For a trip that is only about the parks, stay in Anaheim within walking distance. If Disneyland is one or two days of a Los Angeles or beach trip, or you have an early or late LAX flight, a hotel near LAX works well. Many families split the stay.
- Is there a shuttle from the hotel or from LAX to Disneyland?
- No. The hotel runs no shuttle, there is no scheduled LAX to Disneyland shuttle, and the FlyAway bus does not go to Anaheim. Visitors use a rental car, rideshare, or Metro plus bus.
- How much is an Uber or Lyft to Disneyland?
- A January 2026 survey put UberX from LAX at about $73 and Lyft at $50 to $60 each way, about 45 minutes. Fares rise after the fireworks, when rides back to Los Angeles can cost $100 or more.
- Can I get to Disneyland by public transit?
- Yes, for a $1.75 Metro fare, using the C Line to Norwalk and then Line 460. It takes about two hours each way, and the last connecting bus leaves Disneyland at about 10:20 PM, so it does not work for a fireworks night.
- How much is parking at Disneyland?
- $40 per day for a car, $60 for preferred parking and $45 for an oversize vehicle, as of September 21, 2026. Lots open 60 minutes before the earliest park opening.
- Do I still need a reservation for Disneyland?
- Yes. Every guest aged 3 and up needs a ticket and a theme park reservation for the same park and date. Downtown Disney needs neither.
- How much are Disneyland tickets?
- One-day, one-park tickets run from $104 to $224 for adults and $98 to $214 for children aged 3 to 9, depending on the date, as of September 21, 2026. Children under 3 are free.
- Which airport is best for Disneyland?
- John Wayne Airport in Orange County is the closest, then Long Beach. LAX usually has more nonstop flights and lower fares. This hotel is 6.8 road miles from LAX and 16.0 from Long Beach Airport.
- Does the Anaheim ART shuttle still run?
- No. Anaheim Resort Transportation shut down on March 31, 2026. From the Anaheim train station, OC Bus Route 50 costs $2 and stops about three blocks from the park.
- How far is the hotel from Universal Studios Hollywood?
- 17.5 road miles. Knott's Berry Farm is 24.5 road miles away.