Added Addt'l Driver To Nat'l Rental Later?

[rhays]

Since my DH is arriving a day later and leaving a day earlier than the rest of us, I was thinking of doing this: I pick up the rental car at the Nat'l EA at MCO, he takes (half of roundtrip) TTC to resort when he gets in...then he returns the rental car when he leaves and I take (the other half of the roundtrip) TTC to MCO when I leave. I called Nat'l about adding him as a driver, and the lady said I could go to any Nat'l counter and add him, it didn't have to be only at pickup.

I know this sounds sort of crazy...and you're wondering why I want to split the pick ups/returns like that. Well, my reasoning is this:

1. I figure I can find my way TO the resort easier than finding my way BACK to the car rental return and the ticket counter for check in at MCO (I have anxiety over that!)...and I also thought it would be easier on him to just have TTC meet him at MCO since his flight doesn't get in until around 11:00 instead of picking up the car and driving to the resort. (He's still sort of recovering from his accident and I'm trying to make things as easy as possible for him.)

2. It would be earlier in the day for him to return the car on his departure day and dropping off should be relatively easy. Besides, the reservation is in my name w/my EC number and I'm tired of changing it!

3. TTC can drop me and the kids right off at the TWA entrance, thus easing my anxiety!

Actually, my questions are: Is this too confusing? Has anyone added a driver onto their agreement DURING their rental period? Where are the Nat'l rentals at WDW? Would TTC have a problem with picking up my husband and then taking the rest of us back? (I don't see why they would...the trip would already be paid for.) Is it too late to reserve TTC anyway? (We arrive on the 8th...he arrives on the 9th...he departs on the 13th...we depart on the 14th)

Thanks for any help!

Ruth (only TWO days to go!)

 

[tarmand]

I'm not sure if saving money is a concern, but by picking up on the 8th and dropping off on the 13th the current rate I came up with was $188.33, plus isn't it $80 for TTC? That's $268.33. By picking up on the 8th and dropping off on the 14th the current rate is $197.42. Is picking your husband up and dropping him off not an option? It could save you about $70. and you would have a car available the entire trip.

 

[robinb]

Ruth,

Call the EA customer service and double-check about your husband being an extra driver. They told me that my DH could be a FREE extra driver automatically since I was an EA member. There was no need to add him to the car.

FWIW, dropping a car off is really no biggie. Just follow the signs, drive up, wait for an attendent to print out a receipt, leave the keys in the car and walk to the ticket counter. You could scope it out when you drop your hubby off the previous day. If you don't want to carry your bags, you can always double-park at the departures gate and have a Red Cap take your bags and then drop the car off. That way you can also skip the ticketing counter and go right to your gate.

 

[rhays]

Thanks for the comments! Our rental is only $123 for the 7 days...and using MY way of thinking...even adding on the town car, it was LESS than we paid LAST year for a much smaller car! Of course my DH doesn't see it that way!

However, I've decided (a good thing too, since we leave Wed morning!), that I will pick up the car at the airport and then when he comes in the next night, I'll pick him up (at least I'll only have the stress of picking him up and not having to get us there for a flight!), and depending on how I feel later in the week, he'll either take a shuttle back to the airport (he already agreed to this so my kids and I didn't have to leave the parks to take him back) and I'll return the car the next day, or he'll return the car and I'll call TTC for a one way trip! I'm just trying to keep as much stress off me since we've had a TERRIBLE summer so far...I just want to ENJOY this trip as much as I can. (I haven't travelled by myself in quite a while, so I'm out of form!). Even though this our fourth year in a row to WDW and we always rent a car, I NEVER PAY ATTENTION how we drive there!

Thanks for the information though, it did help me think! By the way, I did call National tonight and ask them if my husband was already authorized since I'm an Emerald Club member and she said yes...he didn't have to appear with me at the time of rental. So that's good!

Ruth (only 2 days to go! Almost 1 1/2!!)

 

[tink2dw]

It costs $5.00 a day more to add a Second driver at Budget but there must be a fee or something Cuz it really shot the whole cost super high!!

 

[poppins50]

National was going to charge me for the extra driver last week, but we declined. She was going to charge $5 a day. So what is the story? It's so frustrating when you get different answers from companies. I have a Emerald card.

 

[robinb]

Poppins:

That's why I suggested that people double-check with National's EC Customer Servcie about adding your spouse as an additional driver. They told me over the phone (and I made note of her name on the copy of my reservation) that my husband could be a free additional driver without adding him to the rental. I think that people get into trouble when they try to add the additional driver at the customer service desk where they are trained to charge you extra.

 

[tigger4ever]

I agree with Robinb -

I also called the EC Customer Service # listed on National's website to ask if there was an additional charge for my husband as a second driver since I am the one who is the Emerald Club member and he isn't. I was told by the customer service rep that there would be no additional charge - " the fee is waived for spouses".

 

[poppins50]

Thanks robinb. I'll give that a try.