National Car Rental

[Dennis the WDW Menace]

National EA service was great and I was in and out without any problems, as was advertised. I got a SUV because they were low on cars, and I was happy with that.

[baileybrad]

How did returning the vehicle? Was your bill correct? Did you have to show your EC card (I have misplaced mine) or could you just show them a copy of reservation along with any coupons that you were using? Thanks for any feedback. We are going down on the 20th of the month for 9 nights and with taxes and everything got a total of $148 for a full service on the EA.

[carolrie]

How did you get such a great rate? We got $191 for a compact for 10 days and can't seem to get a better rate. Any tips wouild be appreciated!!!!

[maciec]

Go to travelcoupons and you can get a great rate through National. I originally was quaoted over $230 for a full-size car and through travelcoupons I got the rate down to $146.14 over the internet. I forgot to book the car using my EC# and when I called them on the phone they ended up giving me a better rate of $138.84. We are going 12/2-12/9, but it doesn't seem to matter when you plug in your dates you get the rate of $146 for a full-size. Here's the link for you. Also, if you have any questions there is a person named travelcoupons who floats around on these boards who I guess runs travelcouponsonline.com and he will be able to help you out with any other questions. He did for me! :-)

http://www.travelcouponsonline.com/best.html

[Barbruka]

Just returned one day ago. National was great. No problems. Got a beautiful 2001 silver Oldsmobile Aero. Just picked it out, went through the gate, showed them my coupons and reservation forms, and left. When we returned, just drove up, clerk gave me receipt, I checked it, it was on my charge, and left. They charged me $1.50 for gas per gallon. Went smoothly and seamless.

[Dennis the WDW Menace]

returning the car was very easy. We just pulled into National, got out of the car and got our luggage. They checked for the gas level and gave me a reciept on the spot. The amount was correct. I did present my EA card and coupon at the gate when we exited, I think your printed reservation would have worked also. We got a rate of $146 with the Enter. coupon.

[uromac]

Hi!

Quick question - When you pick out a car (we have a mid size ressie) at the Emerald Aisle location, can you get any type/size car that is on the aisle that is available, or only a mid-size car if there is one there that?

Thanks for your help!!

Melissa

[GAIL HAYDEN]

If you have EA ressies you can select any car that is on the Aisle.

[uromac]

Thanks Gail!!

I can now breathe a BIG sigh of relief!!

:D Melissa
One happy EA customer!!

[mmouse37]

I am so glad about this thread. I just booked National EA for 5 days for a total of $128 for full size car. I found a National coupon on Mousesavers.com.

I lost my card, and was told to just bring my printed on-line reservation confirmation and my driver's license.

I am so glad the return is hassle free!!!!!

MJ

[Mickeyswife]

Baileybrad, you said 9 nights. Was it 8 days for the rental car?

[baileybrad]

Mickeyswife.
Actually it is 9 days, pick-up on Sat. the 20th around noon, return around 10:30 am on Monday the 29th. We are using the internet coupon and for a free day. Also, based on a previous post using the contract code for hospitality 1st instead the one that I used to join the Emerald Club that gives another 5% discount. Total with all taxes and fees is $148.59. Reserved a full size instead of intermediate (cost was the same) just incase the EA might be totally barren. Hope this helps. Avis had always had the best price for us base on coupons, etc. in the past but National is much better this time. Go figure. Our main interest is picking up and dropping off on airport instead off-site....traveling with little ones is much easier that way. If I were traveling solo on business, it wouldn't matter to me.

[minnieandmickey]

Can you still register for EA for free with the disney card, if so how do you do it?

[maciec]

actually you can go directly to Nationals website and sign up ... that's how I did it and it was free www.nationalcar.com (http://www.nationalcar.com)

[castleri]

Guess I am missing something here. I went into National EC Site and entered the codes for Hospitality discounts and the coupon number. It returned a quote of $248 for 10 days for full sized car. I already have one reserved using the Disney Membership and an entertainment coupon for a free day for $232. This is for Dec 22-Jan1 so maybe that makes a difference. Have some of you used more than one coupon? My e-mail confirmation also says it is counter service because of the coupon. Any input will be appreciated. Thanks

[lawgs]

national will not let you use more than one coupon id

but you can also use the contract id code from various "organizations" which sometimes gives you % off the base rate....

the coupon also comes off the base rate before all the "tax grabs" are added

sometimes clerks at the check out say you cannot have "two" discounts....eg contract id and coupon id ( they have been told in training that "double dipping" is not allowed ) but as long as the website allows them ....you can be sure they will honour them at the check out

with respect to your dates.....they would be one of the highest "rate" times of the year being the christmas holiday period.....but by all means keep checking the website and your rate......if a better one comes up....BOOK it .....would not suggest that you try to change a "present" reservation as often when you do that ....the rate becomes MUCH higher for some reason

[SalandJeff]

We just got back 9/29. Used EA for the 1st time (which we joined for free thru Capital One site) and used coupons from Mousesavers.com. We paid $127 for 7 nite rental for full size. We booked online, which allows you to put in coupon codes and go under EA section to book.

Just an FYI though - I was expecting to get to the airport and select from a row of cars - there was ONE 2 door intermediate size in the EA. The woman told us to take one of two SUVs which were not in the EA. My DH and I started to walk over to the SUV, but returned because it seemed ridiculous for the 2 of us to be using this SUV when a family might show up and need it. When we went back to the woman, a Dodge Stratus was just returned so we took that. So just don't get too excited about the type of car you might end up with! (I think that rentals are up because of people not flying).

[stressedmom]

Are these good rates everyone is getting? I booked National through Expedia.com and got a $99/wk rate for a full size car Dec 8-15. Their rates have gone up a little bit since then but have $90/wk for compact and $132/wk for full size.

[yoopermom]

For the person going in late Dec, I have a car booked 12/26-1/4 total price $188.15 using DC coupon and code. For that time period (such a busy time!), I'm happy with the price.
Terri the Yoopermom

[jfulcer]

I've been using this since ever since I joined EA, and been here on the DIS. It was code I got from the old boards. The contract ID you enter (instead of the default EA ID) is 5450190. I don't know what corporation it is, but it gives you a slightly lower rate, plus tacks on another 10% discount (at least it does for me). Good luck.

FWIW, when I was there in April - when we got to the EA, there were NO cars on the aisle. We complained, and were told we could only take the minimum we booked with EA which was an intermediate car. We would have needed to have 2 cars for the amount of luggage we had. :eek: About 5-10 mins later, cars started streaming onto the 'aisle'. We snagged the first van driven over, and by the time we were loaded and waiting to check out, the aisle was full of lots of different cars - inlcluding 3 or 4 vans and 4 or so SUVs. I think this shows that it pays to question the choice, and if it's low they start to fill it up.

[lawgs]

we have done that in the past too.....

did not see anything that was suitable to us on the aisle ...so asked if there were more cars coming over.....they said yes........we asked if there were any more regals coming....and about 10 minutes later they arrived with a regal for us

do not know if this will happen now that someone says they will NOT have suv or minivans on the line any more.......guess it will all depend on what happens when we all get there........and who is "there" on the aisle or at the booth.....


by the way.....that code only offers 5% discount on a very high "base rate" of 200$+ ..... lately the DC rate was 125$ and a discount of 20% but now the rate for a full size for dec 1 -8 seems to have also jumped to 200$+ for the week...

[castleri]

Thanks to those who anwered my questions - I went back in to EC and
currently have a full size car reserved for 12/22/01-1/1/02 for $188. That is down from the original one I had made in July for $258 so am very happy. Another question - I guess I don't understand how you can have an intermediate car reserved and end up with an SUV - don't you have to pay the higher rate? Why make a reservation for a full size if you can reserve something smaller and just take anything? I am obviously new to EC so please bear with me.

[janetm]

I reserved a car through Avis website for October 26 (morning) thru night of October 30 and I have to pay 129.00 taxes and all. I got a Grand Am or similiar. I just checked them and they are still the same price.

[GAIL HAYDEN]

What happens,castleri, on the EA is that you book anything from an intermediate to a full size car. You then have your pick of anything that suits your fancy on the aisle.
The price for an intermediate, standard and full size are the same 99% of the time, so, the obvious thing to do is book a full size car. If you need something larger and don't mind taking a gamble it can sometimes pay off. However, if you absolutely need say a van or SUV or your heart is set on a convertable, then you really need to book it straight away. The only thing you are guaranteed is the size you rent. Many people have the mistaken idea that because you are an Emerald Club member and you have reserved a car for the Emerald Aisle you are entitled to anything from their fleet. This is a bad mistake, you are entitled to what you reserve, nothing more.
Hope this clears this up for you. Have a great day!!!!

[dopeyeq]

Wow! This all seems overwhelming! We need a car fo only 2 days at the end of our stay. We want to get it as easily as possible from CBR and then return it to the airport the next day when we depart. Any suggestions? Also...what kind of rate do you think I can get...it seems like just renting for 2 days is so expensive!

[OKSTATE99]

Always print out and bring your coupon at National I was told twice I didnt need one when I rented in Las Vegas last year. Then when I go to leave EA they asked for it, of course I didnt have it and got charged an extra $40.00. So ALWAYS have the coupon I learned the hard way.