We at Beyond the Berm have been asked to give advice to a friend about how to enjoy Disneyland without a car. The truth is simple . . . you don’t need a car! A car at Disneyland (IMHO) just gets in the way. Here’s the best way to enjoy Disneyland without a car.

First recommendation: Fly into Santa Ana John Wayne Airport (abbreviated SNA). Depending on the size of your party and whether or not you are arriving at rush hour, a taxi may be a cheaper way to get to Disneyland than the Disneyland Express (bus from SNA). A taxi will cost between $35 – 40, while (last time I checked) the Disneyland Express cost $20 per adult, with one child per paying adult free. The Disneyland Express also leaves SNA only once per hour, so a taxi can be more convenient if you just missed a shuttle.

Second recommendation: Staying at one of the three Disneyland hotels makes life without a car a no-brainer. Not only do these hotels provide a fully immersive Disney experience, there really is little reason to venture out of the Disney park area and into greater Anaheim. All of your needs can be met within the Downtown Disney district and the hotels (although last trip I was unable to find contact lens cleaning solution without venturing out to find a CVS, that is the only time such a thing has occurred). Although significantly more expensive than most of the “Good Neighbor Hotels,” if your budget allows, we recommend these three properties. The Grand Californian is the most expensive, next is the classic Disneyland Hotel (the personal favorite of Beyond the Berm), and Paradise Pier is the least expensive of the three.

In addition to the convenience of the three hotels inside the park area, there are other perks to staying at one of the three hotels. Although being able to use your room key to charge food and other purchases to your room is convenient, as is being just a few steps away from the park, there is a much more compelling reason to stay at one of the three hotels: Magic Hours. For park hotel guests, every morning they are offered admission to one of the two parks an hour before all other park guests. Although it may seem early, it is very wise to arrive the hour early and ride some rides whose lines later in the day are simply not worth waiting in (like Peter Pan, although one of our favorite rides, with lines that can be an hour long for a 180 second ride, we ride it during Magic Hour or not at all). More on ride strategies in another posting.

The final reason to stay in one of the three park hotels is your feet. When your dogs start barking at the end of a long, hot, fun-filled day, being a few steps from the park entrance or monorail stop will seem like a very good idea. Although hotel shuttles are fine and usually reliable, they can add anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to your trip back to your room. If you are traveling with small children or seniors, this can feel like forever.

More recommendations to come!