Will NEVER use Dollar again out of PC

[winniedapooh]

Waited yesterday for an hour and a half for the shuttle to pick us up at port to pick up our rental. We were about 10th in line, when the shuttle came people snuck around and got on. The lady watching the line had turned around to help the Budget people. All the while saw at least 10 shuttles come back and forth for Hertz, Budget, and Avis.

Got to Dollar and waited in line for another hour and a half. I was so mad. We had planned to go to DTD for a few hours, instead we had to go right to the airport. NEVER again!

Oh, and before anyone asks, it is cheaper for our large family to rent a car for the day, rather than take Disney transportation.

 

[StephenKay]

Hi there,

I too dont like the disembarkation process and then the dreaded hastle of waiting for your turn in the shuttle line, made even worse when other large ships disembarks on the same day. The day is like this, queue for breakfast, then to get off the ship, again for Disney check out using the Key card luggage and customs/passport control. More queuing at rental pick ups and the worst queuing at the rental counter, which can easily be all too much for us all. If I were Disney I would look at the whole process and I cant help but think why dont they make the cost of DCL transport so cheap by filing the often empty buses to make the logistical process quicker and smoother to allow people enjoy what is left of the vacation. As for rental companies, do you really believe when they tell you "it will be 5 mins till pick up" the whole pick up ramp is a mess and is in need of a fresh approach to try and deconflict the mass of people and bags.

Hope you get a better service next time.

 

[Bear3412]

Sorry to hear it was a pain.
This is one of the reasons we choose to leave rental in garage.

 

[quickcat]

We used Dollar last Jan and waited forever after dropping off the car and waiting to use the shuttle to get to the port. The shuttle had people for Carnival too so it was just packed and took hours to get to the port.
We are just parking at the port this year, much quicker and less stress for our family.

 

[CrawfordMomof2]

We have been planning our first cruise out of Port Canaveral for a few weeks now. Unfortunately you are not the first person I have heard complain about that. You would think these companies would get their act together!

Since we are only a 1/2 day of driving away, we decided to rent a car, which I know a lot of people do. I told my husband I thought it would be worth the 75.00 to not have to worry about the shuttle thing. I figure, we're already paying how much for the cruise? Not to mention port adventures, souvenirs, etc. What's an extra 75.00?

I really am sorry to hear that you had a bad experience, but that's for letting the rest of us know ahead of time!

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

this is why we use the Magical Express, no waiting!

If we have time to go to WDW for a few hours, we rent at MCO.

AKK

 

[quentina]

Sorry to hear it was a pain.
This is one of the reasons we choose to leave rental in garage.

Us too...my DH often argued that it was a waste of money to pay for rental and parking BUT, once we get off boat and walk by the masses of people waiting...he is now grateful

 

[kcashner]

We were on the Budget van when the driver got a call asking if he could help out Budget with their shuttle needs. He took us to Budget (which runs 2 shuttles on cruise days) and then went to help them--IF his line was finished.

No cure for other guests crowding around or cutting the line--why didn't OP call them on it? Still wouldn't help an hour or more in line to get the car though.

Not sure what DCL can do about the situation or why they would want to do anything. If you don't like the car rental system, you can pay DCL's prices would be their attitude.

 

[carmie3377]

Sounds like our experience with them 3 years ago. Shuttle took forever (while budget had multiple shuttles), service at rental location was slow and employees were extremely rude and the car we got was filthy! There were cigarette burns in backseat, "keyed" dented and rusted scratches all along the side of the car, stains all over interior. Said it was the only car. By now, I knew it would be difficult to get a car elsewhere plus I ddnt have a way to check (no iPhone yet to easily find numbers). The employees didn't evn want to mark any damage on the form. I got more angry, began taking pictures (with their sign showing to prove it was before I left with car), and finally she marked the damage on th form. While driving to Orlando, noticed the car had registration from one state (GA I believe) that was expired a couple months and inspection from another state that had been out almost a year. I called corporate, they apologized and sent vouchers. Didn't matter. Was never gonna use them again. That car shouldn't have been a rental and those employees needed to be replaced.

Eta: just reread. You said dollar, my experience was with thrifty but I believe they are the same. I know they were 3 years ago

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[bitlerzx4]

Oh that stinks. I am so sorry. I would have been so mad!

 

[Zeppelin]

unfortunately no uncommon....we had a similar issue with Budget getting to the port and ended up saying "screw it" and took a cab...

one recommendation is make sure you put your estimated time of arrival to the car rental agency as close to when you think you'll get there....i put in 1PM thinking "no big deal" and had to wait an extra hour as they did not have enough cars when i got there at 10AM- the dude said they rely on your time of arrival to make sure they have enough cars coming in from MCO in shifts...

 

[allears]

this is why we use the Magical Express, no waiting!

If we have time to go to WDW for a few hours, we rent at MCO.

AKK

Magical Express does not run to and from the ports. Totally different beast.

Also with Kcashner, the rental car problem is not DCL's. The DCL transportation isn't that expensive and really hasn't gone up much in years. And the system works very well, not sure they have to be very motivated to make it cheaper.

 

[winniedapooh]

No cure for other guests crowding around or cutting the line--why didn't OP call them on it? Still wouldn't help an hour or more in line to get the car though.

Not sure what DCL can do about the situation or why they would want to do anything. If you don't like the car rental system, you can pay DCL's prices would be their attitude.

I did call DCL lady on it--I did not want to start a conflict on the DISboards saying this--they would not look at the lady when she told them to get off the bus, sat on the floor, and acted as if they did not understand English...the guy driving spoke to them in Spanish and they still refused to get up. He shrugged his shoulders and left. DCL lady told me to stand by the curb waiting for the next shuttle--she was just as ticked as me!

 

[MichelleVW]

We got off the Dream on Sunday and used Thrifty (same building as Dollar). The shuttle was fast picking us up, but the service was horribly slow picking up the car! We were about 4th in line and must have waited 30 minutes. I will never use them again. They has two incredibly slow individuals working the counter. It was a nightmare.

 

[mmouse37]

I have to say that each of the rental companies can have days like that...it really is hit or miss.

We had the same scenario with Budget last year...waited forever and then other people tried getting onboard the shuttle before us.

Once at Budget waitined 30 minutes to get to the counter to find out the van we rented was not available for our 7 people and luggage so had to rent two smaller cars. Was not happy.

Other times we have had great service from Budget.

MJ

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

This is why I'm willing to pay the extra for DCL transfers. After a beautiful, relaxing cruise, that's not a nice way to end it.

Once, while waiting for Budget shuttle, people from the back of the line tried to jump in front of everyone but the whole line practically jumped them. By the time we got our car off the Budget lot, my parents were probably already at MCO. Not to mention shlepping luggage up & down off a shuttle then cramming in & out of the trunk, then getting it all to check it at the airline.
We make sure we fly home on a participating airline so we can use DCL's Onboard Check In. Once we put our bags out the night before, we don't see or touch them til the next day at our home airport. In the am, we hop on the DCL bus with boarding passes in hand and a small carryon of our dirty PJs (which we gate-check for free) then hop off & head to our gate.
So sweet! Once you try it you won't want it any other way.

 

[FLVacationGirl]

I did call DCL lady on it--I did not want to start a conflict on the DISboards saying this--they would not look at the lady when she told them to get off the bus, sat on the floor, and acted as if they did not understand English...the guy driving spoke to them in Spanish and they still refused to get up. He shrugged his shoulders and left. DCL lady told me to stand by the curb waiting for the next shuttle--she was just as ticked as me!

Some people. I don't understand how some people only worry about themselves and basically say screw everyone else. Very frustrating. I usually end up feeling like this when that kind of thing happens, as much as I try to be all zen. Working on it.