Alamo or Budget

[kenny]

which do you prefer? Have similar rate with both. Wasn’t sure which has nicer SUVs and quicker pick up/drop off

 

[Ralph&Pam]

which do you prefer? Have similar rate with both. Wasn’t sure which has nicer SUVs and quicker pick up/drop off

We usually end up with Alamo to take advantage of their Alamo Insider program that allows you to go directly to the garage/aisle and pick your car. That makes pickup quick. Drop off is also very efficient, since they hand you a printed receipt right in the garage. No experience with SUVs, since I usually prefer a full size sedan (which is really similar in size to what my DW’s Honda Accord rather than truly full size).

We have also dropped off at the Dolphin and then walked to the Boardwalk. Drop off there is very efficient, since you simply hand the keys to the valet and get a hand written receipt for the car. The rental desk emails you a copy of the actual receipt. These have always been accurate. Picking up at the Dolphin is not as nice as at MCO, since you don’t get to choose your own car and you have to go to the rental counter inside the hotel.

 

[georgina]

I prefer Alamo but will do Budget if it is significantly cheaper. I do the Alamo Insider skip the counter also. I am not a fan of the way Budget charges you for electronic tolls, it is much more than Alamo does. I usually pay cash but we have gotten caught with all electronic places occasionally. I don't get SUVs so no help there!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Alamo, but both have nice(r) vehicles.

 

[jeff_h]

Last trip we rented with Budget and it took about 45 minutes to get our keys at the "Fastbreak" kiosk outside in the garage, which is only for Fastbreak members -- inside at the counter there were a LOT of people in that line so I'm glad I wasn't there.

So of those two I would go with Alamo, and I recommend being enrolled as an Insider to skip the line inside the terminal.

 

[writerguyfl]

I prefer Alamo but will do Budget if it is significantly cheaper. I do the Alamo Insider skip the counter also. I am not a fan of the way Budget charges you for electronic tolls, it is much more than Alamo does. I usually pay cash but we have gotten caught with all electronic places occasionally. I don't get SUVs so no help there!

The bold is worth highlighting. Here's the difference between good (Alamo) and bad (Budget):

Alamo: $3.95 per usage day, not to exceed $19.75 per rental period. There is no TollPass Convenience Charge on rental days that you don't use a toll road.
Source: https://www.alamo.com/en_US/car-rental-faqs/toll-charges/other-state-toll-options.html

Budget: Under the e-Toll program, once you pass through an electronic toll, you will pay a convenience fee of $3.95 for each day of the entire rental period, including any days on which e-Toll is not used, up to a maximum of $19.75 per rental month, plus incurred tolls at the maximum prevailing rates posted by the toll authority.
Source: https://www.budget.com/en/products-services/services/e-toll

If you make a mistake or end up going through a toll point that doesn't have the option to pay cash, the "penalty" at Alamo is the cost of the toll plus $3.95. With a Budget vehicle, the penalty will be the cost of the toll plus $19.95 if your rental is 5 or more days.

 

[jo-jo]

I'm glad you started this thread. We are thinking of renting a van in Dec. I was reading about Alamo and Disney car care center. Can anyone tell me more about that?

 

[Minniesgal]

We think Alamo is the best.

Last trip I got a flight car deal and it was budget and my husband and son waited close to three hours for a car due to the line and lack of staff. Never had that issue with alamo we do the pre check in and go straight out to collect a car.

 

[Psychodisney]

Another vote for Alamo (through Costco if you are a member for great rates). You can skip the counter with both ALamo and Budget. Customer service with Alamo is top notch. Unfortunately, cannot say the same with Budget.
I had a Budget rental last month for a Minivan around noon on a Friday. Went out to the Fast Break line...no minivans available. Had to wait a little bit but was very turned off by the personnel.

 

[SinCityMMAFan]

Alamo for me. Being an Insiders member and using the numerous promo codes available help me get some really good rates plus I like the Skip the Line feature they have. Makes is super easy to just grab your bags then proceed to your rental car.

 

[jcvalenti]

I used to switch it up quite a bit, but the last 3 or 4 trips I have just used Alamo and been very happy. IMHO, Budget generally has older vehicles, and they didn't seem as well cleaned as Alamo. Our last two trips on Alamo, we've gotten vehicles with 11 miles and 30 miles on the odometer. My last Budget rental the best I could find in the aisle was around 20,000 miles. As noted above, Alamo also has the best "SunPass" fee structure of all the MCO rentals. It essentially costs your $8 per vacation to not have to bother with a sock full of change for the toll roads.

Basically, though, you can't go wrong with either. I'd definitely stay away from the smaller rental operations at MCO, though - we used one of those once and it was a nightmare.