Guests visiting Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, from out of town and traveling by airplane have several options which airport to fly into, and not every choice is economical.
An airport used by many travelers during Disneyland vacations may soon be an even worse option than it already is. Within these changes and the many options to choose from when traveling to Disneyland, we’re here to explain what’s happening and provide you with some ease about your choices. At Mickey Visit, we cover the latest Disney news, like a new Disney gift card discount deal and what happened when the Disneyland Monorail got stuck for hours.
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Airport Near Disneyland May Hike Prices for Rideshare
Many travelers now choose rideshare services such as Uber or Lyft when arriving at an airport for their transportation. This is true for Disneyland travels also.
When rideshare companies pick up or drop off travelers at a terminal curb at an airport, the airport imposes a fee to the rider. This fee is separate from the cost of the ride itself. That extra fee gets paid directly to the airport, not the rideshare service.
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Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) may soon increase its airport rideshare fee by 140%, going from $5 to $12. Uber says this fee would be the most expensive of its kind anywhere in the world.
LAX’s rideshare fee would also apply to pick-ups and drop-offs at airport remote lot, LAX-it, increasing by 50%, from $4 to $6.
Additionally, under the new rules, rideshare services would be severely limited in the number of travelers they are allowed to pick up (30% of their total rides) and drop off (70% of their total rides) in terminal areas. This means in some cases, even if a traveler is willing to pay the extra fee, the rideshare service may not be able to serve them if their quota in either direction is already at its maximum.
Why LAX Wants to Increase Prices, What You Can Do
Some reasons for LAX imposing these price hikes might include goals to decrease traffic in terminal areas and eventually direct more travelers to use the upcoming LAX Automated People Mover, according to the Pasadena Star-News. That new service is planned to connect LAX with airport parking areas and the LA Metro.
The changes are not imposed yet. The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners will vote on the price increase on March 10, 2026.
Again, the changes are being imposed by LAX rather than the rideshare services. In fact, Uber is actively reaching out to customers to oppose the price increases by writing a letter to lawmakers.
LAX is one of three airports in the general vicinity of Disneyland Resort, but we don’t recommend using it for Disneyland visits. The potential price hike for rideshare services adds to the list of reasons LAX may not be the best option for Disneyland guests.
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How this Impacts Your Disneyland Trip and What We Recommend
When flying to Disneyland, guests can travel through Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), John Wayne Airport-Orange County Airport (SNA), or Long Beach Airport (LGB).
John Wayne Airport-Orange County Airport (SNA) is the closest airport to Disneyland at just 14 miles away, and it’s our top choice for a smooth and painless airport experience. Our second pick is Long Beach Airport.
Typically flights are more expensive flying into SNA than LAX or LGB. However, when considering the next step in the travel process requires ground transportation from the airport to Disneyland, SNA has the upper hand by being much closer to Disneyland than LAX (37 miles away) or LGB (21 miles), and thus Uber/Lyft prices being significantly cheaper. Sometimes the combined total of the ride share prices and the flight price make an LAX and SNA flight plus rideshare comparable.
As a bonus, travelers from SNA don’t have to brave Los Angeles traffic en route to Disneyland. The only downside for Long Beach and Orange County is that there are fewer flight options for those traveling a longer distance.
A $7 increase of a terminal curb pick-up and drop-off for a rideshare service may not seem like a big deal. However, when planning a budget-friendly Disneyland vacation, every dollar counts and LAX is already not our top pick.
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