Any Good Discounts on Car Rentals?

[mjaclyn]

We're looking into renting a car for WDW from April 30th to May 6th and the prices are outrageous!! Does anyone know where I can find a good discount? I'm looking for an Intermediate or full size and I also have to rent a car seat. We were thinking about doing Magical Express, but we have two small children - 3 and 1...I'm just very nervous about putting them in any vehicle without a car seat.

 

[DREAMS161]

hopes this helps...
here's the post: quoting-
"Picking up a car at MCO anytime from April 12th to December 15th - found some great prices with Alamo and Visa discounts.

Checked numerous dates and all seem to give the same price:

Econ - $104 per week - $118.47 total price
Compact - $111 per week - $126.66 total price
Midsize - $119 per week - $136.01 total price
Fullsize - $149 per week - $171.09 total price

Other classes not such a good deal. Rates are for a seven day rental.

Total price increases after 6/30 as coupon expires. "

Use Visa discount ID: 7014615 and Alamo coupon code AD7937SDJ.

Rates may change anytime - this is a great rate to lock in.

Found at http://www.carrentalsavers.com/visa.html

Update: coupons may now be blacked out for some dates leading to slightly higher total price.

 

[njsweetP]

If you are a member try Costco.com under the travel tab.

 

[Tiger926]

If you are a member try Costco.com under the travel tab.

Yup! Just booked a midsize car (Pontiac G5), for 8 days in July from MCO (airport) with drop-off at Dolphin for $166.45!

RE: car seats. By Florida law, your kids must be in car seats. I would never rent car seats from a rental car place as safety and sanitation are usually compromised. I'm confused about the 1 year old - is he/she going to be a lap baby? If not, then you need a car seat for her on plane. The 3 year old is still very young, and so is she not in a harnessed seat any longer? If she is, you can use this on the plane? If not, then you can gate check your seat. If not, then your only other option is take DME back to resort, and you or partner then goes to store alone to purchase your seats for use with your children while on vacation.

Good luck, Tiger

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

I found it is very expensive to rent a car seat and also you have no clue if it has been in an accident (plus it could have been thrown up on, etc...) It was actually cheaper for me to buy an inexpensive seat just for travel and we keep it around as a spare.

When DD was young I got the Cosco Scenera, at three I moved her to the Cosco Highback booster (still a 5-point harness). She is now beyond the weight for the harness and it is booster that uses the seatbelt.

Plus they come in clear bags for airline travel. Sometimes Target has them on sale. No, they are not as comfy as other seats, but my DD has never complained!

Booster
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Cosco-High-Back-Booster-Car-Seat-Polka-Dot-Posies/10759857

Scenera
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Cosco-Scenera-5-Point-Convertible-Car-Seat-Pink-In-Bloom/13004564

 

[puffkin]

You will save a ton of money if you bring your own car seats!

 

[njsweetP]

Yup! Just booked a midsize car (Pontiac G5), for 8 days in July from MCO (airport) with drop-off at Dolphin for $166.45!

RE: car seats. By Florida law, your kids must be in car seats. I would never rent car seats from a rental car place as safety and sanitation are usually compromised. I'm confused about the 1 year old - is he/she going to be a lap baby? If not, then you need a car seat for her on plane. The 3 year old is still very young, and so is she not in a harnessed seat any longer? If she is, you can use this on the plane? If not, then you can gate check your seat. If not, then your only other option is take DME back to resort, and you or partner then goes to store alone to purchase your seats for use with your children while on vacation.

Good luck, Tiger

If you booked thru Costco, go back and try again using the coupon code above (AD7937SDJ) and see if it takes any more off. It is a VISA promotion, so I don't know if you have to pay with VISA when you rent the car or not. Saved me another $10. Booked a midzide for mid June for 132.79!!

 

[Tiger926]

If you booked thru Costco, go back and try again using the coupon code above (AD7937SDJ) and see if it takes any more off. It is a VISA promotion, so I don't know if you have to pay with VISA when you rent the car or not. Saved me another $10. Booked a midzide for mid June for 132.79!!

Thanks, but I believe that promo ends on June 30th - we arrive on July 1st.

Tiger

 

[mjaclyn]

Our plan was to bring a car seat for the 1 year old since he'll need it on the plane and just rent one for the 3 year old because she's fine sitting in the airplane seat without hers. We've only rented one seat before, it was in a plastic bag when we picked it up and supposedly had been checked and sanitized. Now that I think about it, it's probably a better idea not to rent one because you never know how well they clean them and if they are in good shape. Our problem is that we already have two young kids, a double stroller and luggage which is hard enough to carry without having to lug two car seats around as well. I think we will try bringing both this time and just check DD's.

 

[cassie58]

Try mousesavers.com for rental car codes - it gives lots of codes for different companies to try. Also, I'd bring the carseat w/you - if you have the option, check your luggage at the curb, so you only have carry-ons for walk across the airport, and/or rent a cart at the airport to put everything on(a few people on the boards have mentioned doing this - sounded inexpensive). If you decide to use ME, you could then rent off-airport(if you want a car while you're there), which saves $$$ - no airport fees, and can use it for less days if you choose. There is a car care center at WDW where you can rent(National/Alamo I think), and we used Dollar at Regal Sun Resort(DTD). Between mousesavers code and off-site rental, we paid $270 for minivan for week! HTH!

cassie58
11/08-ASMo & Timeshare
8/09-CSR

 

[mjaclyn]

Has anyone used one of those car seat travel things? It looks like a wheeled cart that you attach to the car seat and the child can even sit in it while you're going through the airport. I saw one at OneSteapAhead.com and was thinking about getting it for the trip. If it works well it would be worth the $80+ price tag since we travel by air at least twice a year.

 

[LSUmom4kids]

When can I expect to find car rental coupon codes for August?

All I see is March and April coupons.... I certainly don't want to book it now and pay full price....

 

[minnie mouse]

I am renting through National Emerald Club and for 12 Days 303.54..I think I did ok. I keep checking everyday for it to come down. We are going June 3rd - June 15th.

 

[of the seas]

I looked at prices on all the travel websites, then when I saw the cheapest $ per day, I went over to Priceline.com and named my own price at $2 less per day, which they accepted. I did this for our Vegas trip in June.

 

[Wonderdis]

Yup! Just booked a midsize car (Pontiac G5), for 8 days in July from MCO (airport) with drop-off at Dolphin for $166.45!

RE: car seats. By Florida law, your kids must be in car seats. I would never rent car seats from a rental car place as safety and sanitation are usually compromised. I'm confused about the 1 year old - is he/she going to be a lap baby? If not, then you need a car seat for her on plane. The 3 year old is still very young, and so is she not in a harnessed seat any longer? If she is, you can use this on the plane? If not, then you can gate check your seat. If not, then your only other option is take DME back to resort, and you or partner then goes to store alone to purchase your seats for use with your children while on vacation.

Good luck, Tiger

Do you mind sharing which car company you got this great price of $166 for 8 days with, from Costco.com.

thanks

 

[bigmama67]

Has anyone used one of those car seat travel things? It looks like a wheeled cart that you attach to the car seat and the child can even sit in it while you're going through the airport. I saw one at OneSteapAhead.com and was thinking about getting it for the trip. If it works well it would be worth the $80+ price tag since we travel by air at least twice a year.

Yes, it's called the Go-Go-Kidz Travelmate (I HATE when they put a "Z" instead of an "S" but there you go...lol). I got it for a February flight where I was taking DD1 and DS7 to Maine by myself. We just did our second plane trip with it (a LONG one to Arizona with a layover each way), and while we are still on a bit of a learning curve with it, I think it's some of the best $$ I've ever spent! DD has a Britax Marathon and it works quite well, we just have to get it clicked into the right place and make sure it's tightened enough.

By the way, here's a tip - you can use a 20% off coupon from Bed Bath and Beyond at Buy Buy Baby and they carry it, so mine actually cost me $64 instead of $80. (Sometimes Babies R Us, which also has this item, will cross-honor this coupon, and sometimes they won't...argh...but also worth a shot). I'm not sure where in NY you are but there is a Buy Buy Baby in the Chelsea area (22nd Street and Seventh maybe...)?

 

[Tiger926]

Do you mind sharing which car company you got this great price of $166 for 8 days with, from Costco.com.

thanks

It is with Alamo. Sad thing is, we are now giving it up as our waitlist came through and we are staying at Boardwalk Villas for most of our trip, so no car needed!

This was booked in March, and since then it has gone up much higher, as I checked it the other day before our waitlist came through and we were contemplating adding another day.

Good luck, Tiger