Anyone got a quote from DVC re:Alamo Car Rental?

[luckytso]

I checked DVC's website today and saw the annoncement saying MS can make Alamo rental reservation for you with discounts. Did anyone so far tried to get a quote yet?

I am thinking about calling MS and just see what type of rate I would get, camparing to National (with DC discount) and Dollar.

Also, if it were just a 1-way rental to go from Orlando Airport to WDW or vice versa, does anyone know where you can drop off the Alamo car? Any place on-site or near?

Since we will be staying at BCV, I currently have a reservation with National because I can drop the car off at Dolphin.

Also, where is the Disney Car Care Center? Where do you prefer to do the drop-off or pick-up when you are on-site?

Any comments will be greatly appreciated.

 

[RobDoc]

I can't answer your Alamo rate questions, but the Car Care Center is located near the Magic Kingdom. They do provide transportation to/from your resort.

There is another center located at the Dolphin, which may be more conveniently located for many.

Enjoy!

 

[PamOKW]

You may want to confirm this, but my guess is that the Alamo cars will be dropped off the same place as the National cars. A discussion on the Transportation board had a CM post that Alamo already has a desk at the Car Care Center. It wouldn't surprise me if they also have one at the Dolphin now or in the near future. The theory is that since Alamo and National are now owned by the same company, they are setting National up as the business rental unit and Alamo as the leisure travel company. My bigger concern is that they become available at MCO without having to take a shuttle.

 

[luckytso]

Thanks for the reply.

My bigger concern is that they become available at MCO without having to take a shuttle.

Wouldn't it be better if you don't have to take a shuttle?

 

[wdeversole]

National has a location IN the airport. Alamo's is OFF the airport property - maybe a mile away. You actually have to get on an Alamo mini-bus shuttle to get to their car lot.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

You actually have to get on an Alamo mini-bus shuttle to get to their car lot.

All the ones we have seen at MCO are standard size busses, not a lot mini about them.

 

[jade1]

We would pay twice as much for National or Avis or any "onsite" airport car rental than Alamo. Loading bags on a bus to shuttle took us minimum 1/2 hour and then the line was long at Alamo. It took an extra 2 hours (although it was Christmas week) before we headed to WDW. Then my 9 year old has an asthma attack on the way from standing out in the wind around Alamo etc. On top of it you have to allow extra time on the return trip. From then on one of us heads down a level below the bag claim, the rest wait for the bags, we walk across the street, get in the car and leave-takes about 10 minutes.

 

[mistermouse]

Per the National agent at the desk, Alamo and National are merging; both will now be located at MCO, under the name Alamo-National - no more offsite for Alamo reservations.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by mistermouse
Per the National agent at the desk, Alamo and National are merging; both will now be located at MCO, under the name Alamo-National - no more offsite for Alamo reservations.

Do you know if that means that the ALAMO cars will also be on site or just the counter?

 

[JADEMM]

That would be good news if the cars are on site also. Our friends rented Alamo for Christmas week before I could stop them. It would be nice to find they wont need to shuttle anymore, does anyone know yet?

 

[jennybobenny]

Can't help with the Alamo/mco question, but for what it's worth we have a reservation with Alamo for the first week of December, picking up (and dropping off) at the Dolphin Resort.

 

[DJPICKLES99]

Hi,
I use to use Alamo every year till this year. The rates more then doubled. I was told the reason for the price hike is due to them filing chapter 11 bankruptcy. I found the best rates even without a discount was from Payless car rental. 2 week rental was $230 less then Alamo.
The Payless lot is off airport just like Alamo. The difference between Payless and Alamo is not just price. At Alamo , the pick up spot is nice, clean and very efficient. At Payless, it is small, not so clean and the employees seem not to care. They tell you if you see any damage
on the car to just mark it down on the drawing of the car they give you. My car was so not the best i have ever had, including the white paint someone dripped on it. But for the big price difference of trying to save some money i took it. The car ran fine, but looked like it had been through some rough years. So if you are going off airport, give up a little quality and try Payless. A little extra hint, if you are renting a car for around 12 or 13 days, rent it for 2 weeks and return it early. The differnce is pretty big savings wise. All car rental prices give special weekly rates. I t is cheaper to rent it for a week then to rent it for 4 or 5 days.

 

[Pluto4President]

ah nice - but, will there still be the option of an emerald aisle type of service like national currently offers???

 

[yasuern]

We like Dollar rental car they are on site at Orlando Int'l AP and we always had good service and good cars/minivans - I always check mousesavers.com for any codes - I recently booked a minivan for 10am PU on the 1st of Dec and DO at 6pm Dec 7th 2002 and with a code taxes and all its alittle under $254.00 - (base rate $199.99) - without the code base rate was $452.00 - I check back weekly to see if there are any new and better codes and if so I modify my reservation, They also have codes for the other rental car companies.

http://www.mousesavers.com/groundtrans.html
MouseSavers.com - Save on Rental Cars, Limos and Other Ground Transportation

 

[zulaya]

The problem with Dollar is they only guarantee a Caravan - regular size minvan. If you want a Gradn Caravan or extended van, they are going to charge you more per day for it at the counter now. This is direct from a Dollar rep.

Since I don't want huge surprises picking up my car, and since we are traveling with 6 people and the luggage that goes with 6 people, I cancelled my ressie with Dollar when National's rate came in the same range. It's actually within $0.63 or something like that.

IF Alamo comes to MCO, I hope the cars are there, I might be willing to give them a second chance. I also hope they have an EA type program at the airport too.