Alamo at MCO

[NJ Disney Dad]

Hi all, this is my first time renting a car in the past decade so need a refresher. We are renting from Alamo and I have already done the online check in. Just curious, can I go pick out a car and then head pack in the terminal to help my party with luggage or is it once I leave, I can't go back inside?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Why not go out together to get the car? You will end you wasting time by walking all the way out to the cars and then back into the airport. But if that is what you want to do then yes you can go back in to baggage claim area.

You've done online check in all you have to do is get in the car with your printed reservation papers, credit card and drivers license and head to the exit booth.

 

[LisaS]

I agree. It's easy enough to just get the luggage and bring it across the street to the rental car garage. Alamo is on the ground level so it's very easy if you have rolling bags.

If we have a lot of luggage then we set it all down at the top end of the row of whatever class of car we've booked. We make sure everything is out of the way of other passengers. I wait there with the luggage while DH walks down the row and selects a car. Then he takes the keys from the car and walks back up the row and we roll our luggage down to the car he has selected.

If we don't have much luggage then we both just wheel our bags down the row until we find something we like.

 

[richmo]

I did that once, thinking I'll pick out the car since I was doing the driving, without input from the family. I asked an Alamo garage agent if it was OK to do that and he said yes, just lock the car up.

In practice, it really wasn't necessary, since I walked back to the terminal and the bags still hadn't arrived. It really didn't save any time.

If you do this, remember when you come back into the terminal at the rental car level, you will have to take the elevator back up to baggage claim level. The escalator from baggage to car rental only goes down, there is no up.

 

[NJ Disney Dad]

Thanks all, you've given me much I hadn't thought about. My only concern is that since I'm tall I'd have to look around for a car that fit plus we have a toddler with us so I was trying to save as much time as possible. Guess I'll just stay in the terminal and head over as a group. Thanks.