Combining Disneyland Resort in Anaheim and the city of Los Angeles (with Universal Studios Hollywood) is the ultimate Southern California dream trip. However, Los Angeles' urban sprawl and legendary traffic can turn this dream into a logistical nightmare. This guide presents you with the ideal strategy to optimize your travel, choose your accommodation and structure your 5 to 7 day itinerary without wasting hours in traffic jams.
- ✦ Recommended duration: 5 to 7 full days on site
- ✦ Ideal distribution: 3 days in Anaheim (DLR) + 2 to 3 days in Los Angeles (Hollywood/Universal/Beaches)
- ✦ Mandatory hotel change: do not make the daily round trip from a single point
- ✦ Highly recommended rental car for the Los Angeles portion
- ✦ Universal Studios Hollywood: 1 full day is more than enough
- ✦ Flight: arrive at LAX (Los Angeles) or SNA (John Wayne Airport, much closer to Anaheim)
Updated May 2026. The classic trap of European tourists is to stay in the same place for the entire stay and tell themselves 'it's only 40 kilometers away'. In California, 25 miles can mean 2 hours of bumper-to-bumper traffic. We are campaigning for a stay split into two distinct stages to preserve your energy and your budget.
Split your stay: start with 2-3 days in Los Angeles/Universal staying in Hollywood, then move for the end of your stay to a hotel within walking distance of Disneyland in Anaheim.
This method saves you from the horrible rush hour traffic of I-5 and allows you to enjoy the evenings in each destination without the stress of night driving.
1. The ideal typical itinerary over 6 days (2026)
For a balanced first trip combining Disney magic, Universal cinema and Californian culture, here is the reference structure recommended by our experts:
Day 1: Arrival & Hollywood. Landing at LAX, collection of the car. Check-in at your hotel in Hollywood. Walk on the Walk of Fame and sunset at the Griffith Observatory for a breathtaking view of the Hollywood sign.
Day 2: Universal Studios Hollywood. A full day to discover the original Studio Tour, the land of Super Nintendo World, and the thrills of Jurassic World. Evening on Universal CityWalk.
The choice of airport
If you can, book a multi-destination flight: arriving at LAX (Los Angeles) and departing from SNA (John Wayne Airport in Orange County, located just 15 minutes from Anaheim). This saves you from having to drive back to LAX on your last day.
2. Logistics: Why splitting your accommodation is crucial
The absolute mistake is to choose only one hotel for the entire stay. If you stay in Hollywood and travel back and forth to Disneyland every day, you will spend at least 2.5 to 3 hours a day in your car, tired after 15 kilometers of walking in the parks.
Step 1 (LA / Universal): Stay in Hollywood, West Hollywood or Universal City. It is the perfect location for visiting Universal Studios (accessible by metro or 10 minutes by car), Griffith Park and the cultural center of LA.
Step 2 (Disneyland): Stay in Anaheim, definitely on Harbor Boulevard within walking distance of the entrance (see our Budget DLR guide). This completely eliminates Disneyland parking fees ($30/day) and evening road fatigue.
3. Transport: Should you rent a car?
In Los Angeles, the rental car remains king. The city is huge and public transport, although existing, is very slow to connect tourist points of interest.
The alternative without a car (Uber + Train): If you absolutely refuse to drive in the United States, it is possible but requires organization. Use Uber/Lyft for your trips in Los Angeles (allow for a significant budget). To connect Los Angeles and Anaheim, take the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train or the Metrolink commuter train from Union Station (LA) to Anaheim Station (ARTIC). The trip is pleasant, avoids traffic jams, and costs less than $20 per person.