ALAMO? Heard conflicting reports

[poohraedopey]

I was told to rent through them by a friend who goes 4 times a year and always uses them says its easier to catch thewir shuttle and be on your way than to wait at a terminal counter since the alamo shuttle picks you up right down form the baggage counter? Is this false info? I read on mousesavers and form soemone else that alamo is hit ro miss and can be a pain in the butt.

Anyone had good luck or bad luck with them? i already made a res through them and have a coupon from the entertainment book but i could always change it I guess!

 

[ducklite]

They are the flippin PITS!!!

OK, here's the scenario...

You gather up all your luggage, and drag it outside. There you have to wait up to half an hour for a shuttle bus to show up. Now you schlepp all your luggage onto that. You ride over to their offices, and schlepp the luggage off the shuttle and into the line with you. If you are VERY lucky there will only be a few people in line. Often the wait to do the paperwork is over an hour. Now you get the paperwork, and schlepp the luggage again out to the car. Getting the picture?

If you rent at the airport from one of the onsites, you schlepp the luggage into the line (which usually there isn't much of one), and then schlepp it to the car. My last time at Alamo was over three hours from the time I got off the plane until I was driving away in the car. At the airport it's never been more than a half hour.

Anne

 

[Lewisc]

I waited at Alamo for an hour. The offices had long line ropes, video games, food vendors, live entertainment. Yes long lines were the norm. If you must use Alamo go to their website and try to get their quick rent option.
Another suggestion is to go to Pluto4presidents FAQ and try National (with EC). Might not cost much more.

 

[poohraedopey]

AUGH! Thats a scenario I dont wanna be part of! I will cancel on that one! Thanks! ANy particular one you would recomend?

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by poohraedopey
AUGH! Thats a scenario I dont wanna be part of! I will cancel on that one! Thanks! ANy particular one you would recomend?

I use National, as I get a special discount with them due to where I work. I've also heard really good things about Dollar. I've always found Avis to be expensive.

Anne

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

I have yet to wait for an Alamo bus,(either in Orlando or Tampa) the driver puts my bags on the shuttle, they unload at the terminal. The ride is 10 mins. max. I belong to Quick Silver , I insert said card into the kiosk, the kiosk spits out the assigned car, where it is parked and we go, get the car, drive it to the bags, and we are outta there in about 10 mins. max.
Quick Silver is free to join, just go to the website. You can also use the quick rent option on the web site, same idea as above.
Naturally, if the rate is better with National, I pick National, but, if the rates are lower with Alamo, I will go there. I have used them often and do like them. I think I am in the minority here. I have waited in line with Budget and Avis, and by comparison, I like Alamo better, especially with Quick Silver.
BTW, you catch the shuttle one floor down from baggage pickup.

 

[poohraedopey]

LOL see what I mean. I guess they are just hit or miss like everything else. I already booked through travelocity and made sure I can use the weekly rate for my week and a free day coupon for my last dropoff day...... Maybe I will call again and see about the quick pickup thing? Otherwise I will look into national.

Thanks again everyone! i guess even if we get stuck wiating around its no biggie since we have NO plans for our arrival day except probably dinner with relatives. Our room wont be ready for hours anyways!

 

[ncbyrne]

My advice is to go with the best price. I usually find that Dollar (which is onsite at MCO) has the best price. But, I have also used Avis, and National (Also both onsite). The only time that I booked a WDW trip through a travel agent, I was assigned Alamo. It was "ok", but the busses were a pain to deal with. We had two kids (one a 7 month infant) and no one helped me with bags and stroller onto the bus! Unless I found a considerable savings at Alamo, I will always choose an onsite rental agency. Those located onsite at MCO are: Avis, Budget, Dollar and National. (there's also an independent agency, L&M). Most of the auto rental agencies have programs you can join (most free) that will expedite your service. Check out their websites.
Even though your room won't be ready when you arrive at WDW, you can still check-in and head to the parks.

 

[Beverly Lynn]

I haven't had any problems with alamo. sometimes the rates are so good I can't pass it up! I guess if you go during a peak time you will encounter lines but I haven't had that happen yet either.

 

[seashoreCM]

Alamo -- Where All The Miles Are Free

I'm not sure whether they still use that slogan but Alamo was one of the companies that let you (if you wished to and cancelled your return flights) keep the car and drive all the way home on Sept 11 and the few days after that airports were closed, for no more than your daily rate for the days it took.

One family reported (on this forum) that they had to pass up that bonus because there was no Alamo office near their home. However they might have been able to drive home and then one family member drive to the nearest Alamo office to drop off the car and take a bus back.

I have used Alamo on a number of occasions including at MCO and have not encountered any problems so far.

While their location seems far from MCO proper, they are right on the Bee Line (Rte 528) which takes you right to I-4 which goes right to Disney, the tolls you pay are a little less than the Greene Way (south airport exit)

More Disney tips:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

9/65 Disneyland
3/75 (World Inn* off I4 near DD)
4/85 (Kon-Tiki* on 192)
'80s Disneyland once or twice
7/94 PORiv
9/97 ASMu
11/98 ASMu
12/98 (Knights Inn on 192)
9/99 ASMo
12/00 ASSp
9/01 ASSp
11/01 ASSp planned
*no longer exists

 

[Disnydad]

I go to the Orlando International home page on the web. Then I shop all the on site agencies with all the discounts I gather up at Mousavers.com. Low bid wins. I've done the bus off site to Alamo & Hertz in the past. No more. Now this is generally, but usually National w/DC discount wins for cars. Dollar w/discounts wins for minivans. Budget w/discounts wins for SUV's.