California

Trip Overview

Six days in Southern California: a short hop down to Burbank aboard Alaska Airlines, two nights in Anaheim within walking distance of Disneyland, then a short drive south to the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach for three nights on the ocean. Ground transportation shifts gears partway through — Uber out of the airport, feet around Disneyland, rental car from Anaheim onward.

At a Glance

Day by Day

The Flight Out

Alaska Airlines AS 530 · Saturday, April 18, 2026
SEA 2:43 PM → BUR 5:15 PM · nonstop · 2h 32m · 939 miles
Seats 24A and 24B · Saver fare (seats assigned at gate)

Arrival Logistics

Burbank (BUR) is a small, pleasant airport — easier to escape than LAX by an order of magnitude. Baggage claim is a short walk from the gate, and the Uber/Lyft pickup zone is clearly marked outside the terminal. Expect to be in a car within 15 minutes of deplaning if the bags behave.

Drive time to Anaheim is roughly 40 miles, typically 45–75 minutes. The route is I-5 S most of the way — straightforward, if sometimes slow.

Anaheim & Disneyland

Two nights at a hotel within walking distance of Disneyland. The Disney "Good Neighbor" hotels on Harbor Boulevard and along West Street put you within 10–15 minutes of the gates on foot, which is the quiet superpower of this arrangement — you avoid parking fees, shuttle schedules, and the long march from offsite lots.

Park Notes

Two full Disney days over a weekend stretching into Monday should mean crowds easing by Day 2 (Monday is historically among the lighter weekdays). A few things worth knowing:

• Early arrival pays dividends. The first 90 minutes after park opening are the quietest you'll see all day.
• Lightning Lane & Genie+. Disney's paid skip-the-line system is called Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Worth pricing out for popular attractions; less necessary if you plan to be there open-to-close.
• Midday retreat. The walking-distance hotel means you can break for an afternoon rest and return refreshed for the evening shows and fireworks.
• California Adventure. Across the esplanade from Disneyland — Pixar Pier, Cars Land, and Avengers Campus live there. A Park Hopper ticket lets you move between after 11 AM.

Dining Nearby

Downtown Disney runs between the parks and the hotels, offering a range of options that don't require park admission — good for an evening meal after a rest. Harbor Boulevard south of the parks has the usual lineup of American chains if you need something predictable and fast.

The Transition

Tuesday morning: check out of the hotel, pick up the rental car, head south to Newport Beach.

The Drive

Anaheim to the Balboa Peninsula is a short one — roughly 15 miles, typically CA-55 S straight down to the coast. Expect 25 minutes on a good day, closer to 40 in traffic. The peninsula narrows as you approach the Airbnb; East Oceanfront is a one-way street, so follow the signs patiently.

Newport Beach

Airbnb: 302 East Oceanfront, Newport Beach, CA 92661  ·  map

The Balboa Peninsula is a long, narrow spit of sand with ocean on one side and a harbor on the other. At 302 East Oceanfront you are, quite literally, on the beach — the sand is on your doorstep, and Balboa Pier is a few blocks west.

Walking Distance

• Balboa Pier — the peninsula's landmark, good for a morning walk and pier fishing if that appeals. Ruby's Diner sits at the end.
• Balboa Fun Zone — a small, unreconstructed stretch of boardwalk with a Ferris wheel and arcade. Charmingly of another era.
• Balboa Island Ferry — three cars at a time, a three-minute crossing. Balboa Island itself is an hour-long loop of small shops and frozen bananas.
• The Wedge — at the far east end of the peninsula, famous among bodysurfers for its freakishly large waves on a south swell. Spectacle even when it's flat.

Short Drive

• Lido Marina Village — waterside shopping and dining across the peninsula from the Airbnb.
• Corona del Mar State Beach — the bluffs just south offer one of the prettier stretches of coastline in Orange County.
• Crystal Cove State Park — twenty minutes south, with preserved 1930s beach cottages and an excellent café.

Practical Notes

• Marine layer. Late April mornings on the coast often open gray and cool before clearing by midday. Pack a light layer.
• Parking. The peninsula streets are narrow and parking is scarce in season. The Airbnb listing should specify what's available.
• Water temperature. Around 60°F — tolerable for a wade, brave for a swim.

The Flight Home

Alaska Airlines AS 537 · Thursday, April 23, 2026
BUR 3:02 PM → SEA 5:56 PM · nonstop · 2h 54m

Departure Logistics

From Newport Beach back to Burbank is the longest drive of the trip — 55 miles, and on a weekday afternoon, the 405 and the 5 can conspire to stretch an hour into something worse. A conservative departure from the Airbnb is 10:30 AM. That leaves room for a coffee stop, the rental return, and security without hurry.

BUR's security line is generally mercifully short, but don't bet the flight on it.

Quick Reference