How To Get From LAX To Disneyland (Updated 2024)

Every time I go back home to visit my parents, I fly into Los Angeles (LAX) and need to get to Anaheim (Orange County). Rather than spend $80-120 on a shuttle or taxi, I take public transportation and save BIG BUCKS. Luckily, there’s a pretty direct route from LAX to Disneyland and taking public transit is super easy, if a little time-consuming.

I’ve written instructions on how to get from LAX to Disneyland using public transportation.

It’s not a very complicated route, but it’s a little tricky to navigate if you aren’t familiar with Californian public transportation. I’ve tried to be as detailed as possible and included pictures where I can, but please let me know if there’s any confusing parts.

Originally posted: December 2022. Last updated: August 11, 2024

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and buy something, I get a small percentage at no extra cost to you. Your support helps keep this blog running— thank you! Read full disclosure here.

What's In This Post

How to get from LAX to Disneyland Resort

Disneyland’s castle for the 60th anniversary

Quick Facts

Distance: ~31 miles / 50 km
Time: 2.5-3 hours, depending on traffic
Cost: $1.75

You’ll need the following schedules:

📱Coming to the US and need a SIM card? Grab an eSIM from Airalo!

Pre-Trip

Los Angeles’ public transportation system uses a specific type of card called a TAP card. You can buy a physical, reloadable TAP card at a metro vending machine (with an additional $2 fee) or you can download the TAP app to your smartphone, get a digital TAP card, and just do it that way (and with no fee).

I recommend just downloading the app since it’s easiest. It’s available for both iOS and Android phones. Here’s instructions on how to download the app, load money onto the virtual TAP card, and use it on your phone.

Check for Delays

Be sure to double-check your route to make sure you know of any delays or detours. For instance, when I rode this route the Metro line stopped 2 stops before the one I needed due to construction, but there was a complimentary shuttle to complete the route.

Getting from LAX Arrival Terminal to Anaheim

Okay, you’ve made it through immigration/customs and are now free to roam about the country! Where do you go?

Navigate through the arrivals area, following signs that say GROUND TRANSPORTATION. This is where taxis, shuttles, and so on pick passengers up.

It’s on the ground floor of every terminal, so you should be able to get to this location no matter where you’re coming from.

Follow the PINK signs that say LAX SHUTTLES until you find the correct bay. There may be more than one sign that says shuttles, but you want the one that looks closest to this.

Shuttles come roughly every 15-20 minutes, so you shouldn’t have to wait long. You’ll see a lot of ones for the parking lots come by, but eventually the one for the Metro Station will come. No worries! Just keep waiting.

Please note there are no shuttles between 1:00 am and 5:00 am. If you’re coming in at that time, just hang out in the airport for a while until they start up again.

These shuttles are free, so you don’t need to pay anything to use them. Yay!

LAX Shuttles bay sign. Wait close to that sign so the shuttle driver knows you need to be picked up.

There are multiple shuttles that stop in this area, so look for one that says METRO CONNECTOR on the electronic sign at the front of the bus. This bus is called the “M Shuttle” despite multiple websites claiming it’s called the G Shuttle.

Board the shuttle at the back of the bus. There may be a rack to put suitcases; if not, just keep your luggage next to you.

The M shuttle stops at the terminals, the rental car depot and then the Aviation/LAX Metro station. This takes about 10-15 minutes, assuming there’s no traffic.

Get off at the Aviation/LAX Metro station. Exit via the front of the shuttle bus. You’ll be in a bus bay next to a tall structure. That tall structure is the Metro station and the gate is at the end closest to the street.

The Metro C (Green) Line entrance gate at the Aviation/LAX station.

Tap your TAP card (or the electronic TAP card on your phone) to the pad on the gate and push through the rotating barrier. Go up the stairs, or via the very tiny escalator.

Wait by the side of the platform that says NORWALK. Facing forward from the stairs, this’ll be on the right side of the platform.

Get on the Metro C Line (Green). It takes about 30 minutes to get from Aviation station to Norwalk. There will be an electronic sign in each car that has the stop names, and probably an announcement system too.

Tbh the LA Metro is not my favorite, especially at night, but this section/line doesn’t seem to be so bad. The cars may be in rough shape but the passengers tend to be people just trying to get home after work.

Exit at Norwalk Station and find the bay for the 460 Bus. The bus bays are to the side of the parking lot area. The sign looks like this:

The 460 Bus Sign at the front of the bus bay.

There’s a sheltered bench nearby to sit on if needed.

Buses for both north and south routes will stop at this bay, so be sure to get on the one that says DISNEYLAND on the electronic sign at the front of the bus. Depending on the time and day of week, it could be up to a 45 minute wait between buses, so get comfy.

Enter the FRONT of the bus and tap your TAP card (or the electronic one on your phone) to the pad on the fare box near the driver. If it’s been less than 2 hours since you tapped it to the Metro pad, the transfer will be free!

Stay on the bus until the Disneyland stop. This’ll be roughly 1.5 hours, again depending on traffic.

On the bus, there are red buttons that say STOP that you can press to let the driver know you want to get off at the next stop. The bus PA system should announce every stop automatically, but if you’re unsure just let the driver know you need to get off at Disneyland.

Disneyland Bus Stop Location & After the Trip

The precise GPS location of the Disneyland ending bus stop is: 33.81004640595619, -117.91556170079627. It’s on Harbor Blvd between Manchester and Disney Way. Some other major bus lines stop here, so it’s great if you need to make more bus connections elsewhere into Orange County.

Please note that if you DO make a connection, you’ll be switching over to Orange County‘s bus system (OCTA) which is a totally different system from LA’s Metro. You’ll need to download the appropriate app beforehand, or just use cash. Here’s OCTA’s schedules and fare information.

There’s also the Disneyland passenger drop-off/pick-up circle further up the street if you have someone coming to get you.

Hope this helped! Let me know if you have any questions and I’ll do my best to answer.