We have the choice of the following flights out of SNA (John Wayne/Orange County) from Anaheim (across from Disney): (on a monday) 7:45 AM, 6:45 AM or 12:40 PM (noonish). Which would be the best choice (i.e. best traffic options)? Also- we will be going on to San Diego from the airport (after we've dropped off some family members). What are the best times to leave SNA for San Diego. May go on over to the Wild Animal Park from SNA. Is that a good idea? Thanks a BUNCH!

Hi Sue--

I don't think you would really have much trouble with any of the flights. Theoretically, the morning flights will put you in commute time, but either of those times is early enough that you should miss the worst of it, especially given that you will have to be early for the flight. If you are concerned but prefer earlier, go for the 6:45, which will be ahead of most workers. (The noon flight will not be without traffic, but it should be more routine, as it's the middle of the day)

Re going to San Diego, you may run into some traffic once you leave Orange County going south. If I understood you correctly, you would drop someone off at say, 7:15, and then hit the road for SD? If so, you may run in to their commute time. A solution would be to stop off somewhere for breakfast in either south Orange County or north San Diego County, and then continue mid-morning. Just make sure you get away from the heart of Orange County while it's still early.

Going to the Wild Animal Park from OC is fine, if that's what you decide to do. Just take the 5 freeway south to Hwy 78, in Oceanside, and go east to the 15. I don't recall the exits, but any brochure would direct you from the 15.

Hope this is helpful-- have fun!

6:45 am flight will mean that you have to be at the airport by 5:45 am, which means checking out of your hotel at 5:15 am. Do you really want to ruin your last full day at Disneyland by reminding your family that they have to head back early to the hotel since you're going to have to get up in the middle of the night?

The 7:45 am flight will actually find you in traffic on a Monday morning.

I'd opt for the noon flight, so that I could enjoy my Sunday to it's fullest.

I know, I know... that is early but it puts them back to the East Coast at a decent hour (late afternoon). If we choose the noon flight, should we leave right away and go to San Diego? What time do the traffic jams start in that direction (SNA to San Diego)? Will we have time to stop somewhere or will we get stuck in THAT traffic? Thanks again for any advice!

I hope somebody from San Diego will see this and comment, but I don't expect you to have muych trouble going south. The worst case scenario would probably be dropping your party off at 7:00 and taking off immediately for downtown SD. Then you would hit north county San Diego, where a lot of the trouble is, at 8-ish, which would be a problem. You run less of a risk with the 6:45 flight, and less still at noon, but you can avoid most of the problem by going directly to the Wild Animal Park, as you mentioned before. The reason is that you leave the 5 freeway in the northern part of San Diego county, before you hit the problem areas. (I am not aware of traffic issues eastbound on the 78-- hopefully none!)

Or, as I mentioned before, kill a little time eating breakfast. Then you would not be in northern SD until 9:30 or so, by which time it should be much better. I remembered a place that would be suitable for breakfast-- The Waffle Lady in San Clemente (Avenida Pico offramp). You would drive about 30 minutes south from the airport (against OC traffic), and then San Clemnte is the last town before entering Camp Pendleton, the dividing line betwen the two counties. From there your drive into downtown SD would be about an hour.

Finally, I don't know how experienced you are with traffic, but, aside from being a pain that wastes your time, it's not the end of the world. The only times you need to be really sensitive are before flights, for obvious reasons. Otherwise, make your best plans and cross your fingers. A bad spot seldom lasts more than ten miles or so!

Sue, Robin's idea about the 7:45am flight and stopping for breakfast is good, except there might be a lot og traffic in Orange County because that will put you right in their morning rush hour. There might not be too much traffic going south, though, and you should be using the car pool lane. If you go directly to the Wild Animal Park, traffic on the 78 will be busy in both directions. There are signposts on the 78 as you approach the 15 which tell you where to go. Really, traffic-wise, the 12:45pm flight would be best. I don't remember when you're coming, if it's before Labor Day, the Park will still be open late so arriving there early in the afternoon would be fine. After Labor Day, the hours change and you should go directly to San Diego, leaving the Park for another day.

Thanks again for all the help. We will be going in December, by the way. May drop them for the 12:40 flight and head on over to the Wild Animal Park. We were going to go anyway because of reduced admission (after 4PM I think) and since they're having the "Festival of Lights", it'll be nice at night. Otherwise- we waste a day by going straight to the hotel in San Diego. Only have 2 nights there... one full day we're saving for SeaWorld and the other for the San Diego Zoo. Thanks again. One more question: Will we have time to stop for lunch on the way to the Wild Animal Park? Or should we just get out of that area (OC)as soon as possible? Guess we could get lunch somewhere near the Park, huh?

Sue, there really isn't anywhere near the Park to have lunch and if you can avoid paying for food inside the Park, do. It is quite expensive. I would stop to eat in Orange County, though there are places along the 78.

Thanks Barbara!
We will do that then (eat lunch in OC). It is people like you who make this travel talk so GREAT! Thanks again a bunch!