4 weeks to go and weve decided we want a car now.

[PoppyAnna]

Is it too late? There are 3 adults and 2 children, we need a mini van.
Should we add it to our virgin booking (if we can) or should we leave it until we get there? We would both want to be insured to drive, how much more expensive does this make it?
Can anybody recommend a company directly at MCO that you use rather than through your holiday company?
Many Thanks

 

[Claire L]

You can book directly through Dollar or go through one of the brokers such as airline network. It is much cheaper to pre book rather than wait til you get there. Just make sure if you have transfers with Virgin that you let them know you no longer require them so that they don't woder where you have got to!

Claire

 

[wayneg]

I have used Airline network for years and had great rates but this afternoon checked price for our August trip for 25 nights full size car platinum insurance. For the first time ever(for us) its cheaper direct with Dollar.co.uk.
I always advise Dollar for the rental company, others will advise other companies, good and bad with them all. Just dont do it out in Florida prebook with platinum insurance, you get any driver over 25 and full tank of gas (take it back empty).
Virgin usually work out dearer but get quotes from lots of places.

 

[MorningGlory]

I booked mine through a company called Florida Homes & Travel which is based in England. Very nice to deal with, and they give you an extra driver free of charge. Im sure 4 weeks is plenty of time to book it.

PM me if you want their contact details, or you can find their website on Google

 

[PoppyAnna]

Thanks for the advice so far.
Did a quick quote on dollar and for a minivan plantinum package is 373.00!!
Is it me of does that seem like a lot of money? May stick to the original plan of hotel shuttles and taxi's as I don't think I'll spend 700.00usd on cabs in fourteen days.
All in a tizzy now.........

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Thanks for the advice so far.
Did a quick quote on dollar and for a minivan plantinum package is 373.00!!
Is it me of does that seem like a lot of money? May stick to the original plan of hotel shuttles and taxi's as I don't think I'll spend 700.00usd on cabs in fourteen days.
All in a tizzy now.........

The actual car rental isn't that expensive, it is the insurance specifically LDW (Loss Damage Waiver) and SLI (Supplementary Liability Insurance) that bump the price up. Really for full cover and piece of mind you need both.

To be honest 373.00 doesn't sound a bad price to me, you have to also bear in mind a Minivan is closer to the top end of the price range than the bottom.

 

[Claire L]

Perhaps you could keep the transfers and then hire the car a couple of days into the holiday and then drop off a couple of days before you leave to cut down on costs, there are several places to hire on or near WDW property. Then you could go for a smaller car as you don't need to transport luggage.

Claire

 

[wayneg]

Thanks for the advice so far.
Did a quick quote on dollar and for a minivan plantinum package is 373.00!!
Is it me of does that seem like a lot of money? May stick to the original plan of hotel shuttles and taxi's as I don't think I'll spend 700.00usd on cabs in fourteen days.
All in a tizzy now.........

7 seater with Airline network with platinum Ins(only £11 for 2 weeks) is £336
or a Full size car(easily fit 5 people) £275
Personally I dont know how people do Orlando without a car, I would rather stay at home than use Disney transport and taxi's. Even if car hire was double these prices I would pay it, but only you know your plans.
Good luck

 

[PoppyAnna]

I have done some shopping around and Dollar's Platinum package does seem the best price..........or does it?
They don't give you any indication how much they are going to charge for child car seats. I need a car seat and a booster. I don't want to get there and land another huge cost. Does anybody know how much they are per day from Dollar?
Quote from the Dollar website:
"Please Note: Equipment may not be available at all locations and is on request only. Additional charges may apply and are charged locally at time of pick-up."

 

[wayneg]

I have done some shopping around and Dollar's Platinum package does seem the best price..........or does it?
They don't give you any indication how much they are going to charge for child car seats. I need a car seat and a booster. I don't want to get there and land another huge cost. Does anybody know how much they are per day from Dollar?
Quote from the Dollar website:
"Please Note: Equipment may not be available at all locations and is on request only. Additional charges may apply and are charged locally at time of pick-up."

If you look at Airline Networks website www.airnet.co.uk all charges are on there. Here are the T&C's http://www.airline-network.co.uk/CarHire/Terms.ashx?depot=MCOT01&provider=DU
carseat looks like $7/day+tax.
So still works out cheaper with Airnet I think with the seat than Dollar.co.uk without the seat.

Edit: sorry did not see Booster as well, don't you have one you could take?

 

[PoppyAnna]

If you look at Airline Networks website www.airnet.co.uk all charges are on there. Here are the T&C's http://www.airline-network.co.uk/CarHire/Terms.ashx?depot=MCOT01&provider=DU
carseat looks like $7/day+tax.
So still works out cheaper with Airnet I think with the seat than Dollar.co.uk without the seat.

Edit: sorry did not see Booster as well, don't you have one you could take?

That's better isn't it, I can request a toddler seat with them and check in a booster that I can buy for about £8. Marvellous!

I'm so glad you sent the link to airnet this time as after your glowing report from your first post I went to airlinenetwork.com and it was one of those annoying link sites Thought I was really missing something.
Thank you so much for the advice, think I will use airnet. Do they send you full details of which desk to go to etc once you have booked with them?
Sorry for sounding like such a numpty, I've never EVER hired a car before in my life......

 

[wayneg]

You just print off voucher(I always do 2 because they keep it) when you have you luggage go down 1 level in the elevator and its there, well signed and Virgin staff will be about if you have problems.
We have never had to wait more than about 10-15 mins, people who have booked with Virgin have there own desks so does not get as busy at the main desks now.
I think you still have time to join Dollar express if you are concerned about a wait at the Dollar desk, I have enrolled but never had to use it, its a fast track system you can get a card if you want.
https://www.dollar.com/expressmember/index.aspx?r=01c3c7efb00847b3a3135439287a8099

 

[Disney owl]

Have you tried Travel supermarket.com?

they bring up lots of quotes from different firms so that you can compare them. We used it last year when we booked a car for our trip to Italy.

 

[wayneg]

Have you tried Travel supermarket.com?

they bring up lots of quotes from different firms so that you can compare them. We used it last year when we booked a car for our trip to Italy.

I tried getting quotes off their site today, could not get their links to work. I use them for hotel searches, very good search engine usually.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

We take our own seat.
We have a Britax very lightweight seat and take it with us, much better than using seats that you have no history of.

 

[Groovee]

mr friend uses yes Car Hire as they've found it to be a reliable service which uses a variety of car hire places etc. I think the amount you were quoted for a mini van is fantastic as we've paid £300 for a basic car. Another idea is to pre book for the downtown disney car pick up place and just get a car from there for maybe a week instead to give you flexiblity.

 

[wayneg]

mr friend uses yes Car Hire as they've found it to be a reliable service which uses a variety of car hire places etc. I think the amount you were quoted for a mini van is fantastic as we've paid £300 for a basic car. Another idea is to pre book for the downtown disney car pick up place and just get a car from there for maybe a week instead to give you flexiblity.

Next time you want a car check out Airnet. We can rent for 25 nights in Aug from £345. They do 2 weeks hire from £188. So if yours is for 2 weeks its a bit OTT. Even direct with Dollar would be better Than that I think. Is there a penalty for cancelling and rebooking elsewhere?

 

[martina857]

Martina.

 

[kevin harrison]

The Dollar mini van you can hire has built in seats and is very good. We have never taken baby seats and always hire this vehicle.