Consistently over-inflated car rental prices - MCO

migel · Mar 24, 2015

Is it just me, or has there been a significant change in car rental prices at MCO since last year. I realize prices fluctuate almost daily, and there are numerous booking sites & coupons to try, but I find the prices consistently high. I tentatively booked a vehicle for 13 days in August at 389 USD through Costco, that price I can live with, especially since it's a mid size SUV. I can manage with a compact, but even through Costco, compacts are $500 and up.

Now just for curiousity's sake, I checked out how much my 5 day rental in October will cost, knowing this is off season and I only need a compact. 7 months in advance of the date, prices range between $225 and $400! Last year I paid $105 all in, for the same dates, and a mid sized.

And like the August rental, sites like Expedia and Hotwire are telling me they are currently experiencing high volume rentals IN OCTOBER, so I'd better act soon. Laughable.

I won't rent off terminal, so I realize there are some cheaper options. Priceline tried to tell me $380 for my 5 day October rental is a deal to jump on. Ha!

lost*in*cyberspace · Mar 24, 2015

Nothing unusual here. Rental prices are often high so far out. Keep checking for price drops.

Disneyfanatic108 · Mar 24, 2015

Over the last year National prices have been extremely high and a lot of people are steering away from them. Budget seems to be offering the best prices but I do not like them.

Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina · Mar 25, 2015

Our initial car rental reservations are always WAY higher than what we end up paying by the time we travel. Prices generally drop substantially about 6-8 weeks out. Unless we are within two weeks of our departure, we never book a non-refundable (ie Hotwire) reservation because there is an excellent chance that a better deal could be secured, especially if you are open to any rental agency.

Subscribe to the August and October car rental rate threads on this board. Other Disers are great about sharing their rates and dates and any codes that they used to secure their pricing.

If it helps, my October rate is also high.....but I am anticipating we'll start seeing something better around mid-August. My upcoming May rental started out the same way, then dropped like a stone at 8 weeks out to the day.....and I ended up with a full size car for 9 days for $114 taxes included (and in Canadian funds, no less).

The only rental this year that I don't hold out a lot of hope for is my Christmas week rental. Right now, we have an SUV for 9 days for $272. Because of the time of year, I am steeling myself that it may not get any better than that.

Tonka's Skipper · Mar 25, 2015

The facts of life are that the rental companies will charge what the market will pay.!

AKK

DebbieB · Mar 25, 2015

They have definitely gone up over the years. I used to rent a lot around 2000-2005 and only paid $100-$125 for a week incl tax with National. Now it's double that, I've started using DME.

kaytieeldr · Mar 25, 2015

Well, I paid$10,000 for a car in 2003 where the current model starts at over twice that - so the blame isn't fully on the rental companies.

OrangeCountyCommuter · Mar 25, 2015

kaytieeldr said:
Well, I paid$10,000 for a car in 2003 where the current model starts at over twice that - so the blame isn't fully on the rental companies.

Actually this a very good point. Rental car companies are not getting the great deals on car purchases they used to get so they can't rent them as cheap. Prices are up nationwide not just at MCO

Ranger111 · Mar 25, 2015

All of you who became accustomed to somewhat "cheap" car rental prices over the past seven or so years will probably be highly disappointed in the next year or three.

With the "economic downturn" and subsequent drop in corporate travel, car rental companies have been struggling during the past few years.

Yes, believe it or not, it is not the Disney traveler who keeps the rental firms afloat, but the corporate trips that float the rental boat.

But, rental companies have cut fleet sizes and now corporate travel is up. Significantly. Rental companies are straining to boost their earnings. And, guess what? Prices are going up, up, up.

If you have a decent corporate account and a good record with a company, you can still score some decent prices, but nowhere near the bargain rates of a couple of years ago (cavet that prices change at a whim, and anyone could get lucky on any given day).

Anyway, over the past six months, Budget, Dollar, Thrifty, Avis, Hertz, etal have all had horribly high prices. But, I am getting tremendous deals each month from National....I don't know...I would like to think it is my codes and status with National...my wife seems to think it is because I look a bit and act a bit like Patrick Warburton, the actor who has been doing the National commercials lately. J/K :rolleyes:

DebbieB · Mar 25, 2015

kaytieeldr said:
Well, I paid$10,000 for a car in 2003 where the current model starts at over twice that - so the blame isn't fully on the rental companies.

I bought a Toyota Camry in 2003, it stickered around $21,000. I think current models are not that much more, I just priced a 2015 with similar options at $23,000.

n2mm · Mar 26, 2015

I always say, that was then and this is now. My threshold of what I'm willing to pay is much higher than past years. I visit about 4+ times a year and find October to have the highest prices and if you throw a hurricane into the mix you better hope you reserved something. I'm always on the hunt for good codes and coupons I can use. I like to stay with alamo and national myself. These boards are great for folks alerting you to better rates. I try to do my part in return.

Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina · Mar 26, 2015

Ranger111 said:
Anyway, over the past six months, Budget, Dollar, Thrifty, Avis, Hertz, etal have all had horribly high prices.

That hasn't been my experience. I have a 9 day, full size reserved with Dollar for May for $114 Canadian. A price that is definitely nothing close to what I would consider "horribly high".

Ranger111 · Mar 26, 2015

Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina said:
That hasn't been my experience. I have a 9 day, full size reserved with Dollar for May for $114 Canadian. A price that is definitely nothing close to what I would consider "horribly high".

Of course, and as I said in my original post, anyone can get lucky with any agency on any given day. :jester:

But, my last trip a week ago, as an example, and by no means an isolated one, I was quoted $108 for a full-size, five-day rental from National -- all taxes, etal. The next cheapest was Alamo at $420-something. Dollar, Budget and Thrifty were in the $600-plus catagory.

Pays to check them all, often, if you have the time to waste.

Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina · Mar 26, 2015

Ranger111 said:
Pays to check them all, often, if you have the time to waste.

Time devoted to saving is not "waste" in my book. However, YMMV.

ilovethisplace · Mar 27, 2015

I find that about 3-4 weeks out is the best prices. I always make a reservation as soon as we have plans set but I've never once kept that initial reservation. The best rental car prices I've been finding lately have been through the AAA website for those of you who are members. Usually Thrifty or Dollar and I've had fine experiences with both.

bsbrady · Mar 28, 2015

Has anyone tried priceline. I used it several times, got a mid sized from a major (once National, once Hertz) for $18 per day +tax. People I know use it consistently and get rates of half of what you can find direct

Ranger111 · Mar 28, 2015

bsbrady said:
Has anyone tried priceline. I used it several times, got a mid sized from a major (once National, once Hertz) for $18 per day +tax. People I know use it consistently and get rates of half of what you can find direct

Cee · Mar 29, 2015

We didn't book in advance. When we arrived at MCO we walked up to the first place without a line, National, and asked how much for a week. $150.00.

draybook · Mar 29, 2015

Sounds about right. We just rented a mid-size SUV from Feb 9th-18th and it was $494. Now, most of the time mid-size SUVs will run less than most cars because most of the demand for rentals at major airports are for short term tourists and business travelers, ie cars. We're getting another mid-size SUV next weekend for our April 6th-15th trip and it's only running us $356. That's in Memphis, so the location helps.

migel · Mar 29, 2015

bsbrady said:
Has anyone tried priceline. I used it several times, got a mid sized from a major (once National, once Hertz) for $18 per day +tax. People I know use it consistently and get rates of half of what you can find direct

Bill Shatner may be a from Ottawa, but he's done nothing to help this fellow Canadian. I've tried Priceline for 3 different trips through MCO, and their prices were not competitive. Every quote rejected. Now, timing has a lot to do with it, but for me, Bill has not come through.

Consistently over-inflated car rental prices - MCO

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