Rental or Uber

Question

My family and I are planning a Disneyland/ Los Angeles trip in March for 8 days , Getting in at John Wayne Saturday at 12:30pm and staying within walking distance of Disneyland where we would be for three days leaving Tuesday. Then heading to Short Stories Hotel for the remainder , hitting Warner Brothers studio tour,observatory, the grove, farmers market and Santa Monica Pier area for a day . Heading back to John Wayne Saturday at 1pm . I’ve loosely added up an estimate for UBER at $488 vs rental and parking fees $700 am I missing something or a reason we shouldn’t use Uber or Lyft ? It would take a little stress out of finding parking and driving.

Answer

For an 8-day Disneyland and Los Angeles trip, deciding between using Uber/Lyft versus renting a car depends on convenience, cost, and the locations you plan to visit.

Cost considerations:

Based on your rough estimate, Uber/Lyft would cost around $488, while a rental with parking fees totals approximately $700. A few additional factors could affect these numbers:

Airport drop-off/pick-up fees for rentals at John Wayne, if applicable.
Parking fees at Disneyland, Warner Brothers Studio, or hotels. Some LA hotels charge daily parking fees, which can add $20–$50/day.
Potential surge pricing for Uber/Lyft during busy times (weekends, evening attractions, peak traffic).
Gas costs for the rental, though for short distances in Disneyland and LA they may be minimal.

Convenience and flexibility:

Using Uber/Lyft removes stress related to:

Finding parking at crowded attractions like Disneyland or Santa Monica Pier.
Driving in heavy traffic areas, including downtown LA or around Hollywood.
Returning cars at rental locations on time.

However, a rental can offer advantages:

Flexibility to leave early or stay late without relying on ride availability.
Ability to explore less accessible areas or multiple locations in one day (for example, stopping at multiple neighborhoods or beaches).
Potentially better for carrying shopping or souvenirs without having to manage Uber rides back and forth.

Practical recommendation:

Since your first three days are concentrated around Disneyland (walking distance) and the rest of your itinerary is mostly well-known tourist spots with good Uber coverage, using Uber/Lyft is a reasonable and convenient choice. It will save stress with parking and navigation, and your cost estimate of $488 is realistic, though keep a small buffer for surge pricing.

If you anticipate wanting more flexibility to explore surrounding neighborhoods, multiple stops in one day, or spontaneous outings outside typical tourist zones, renting a car may be worth the additional cost.

Additional tips:

Check if your hotel offers complimentary or discounted parking if you do rent a car.
Consider Uber Pool or Lyft Shared rides for short intra-city trips to save costs.
Plan airport transfers during non-peak hours to avoid surge pricing.

Overall, for your described itinerary, Uber/Lyft is a practical and cost-efficient option that reduces driving stress in busy Southern California traffic.

Rental or Uber

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