Anyone have experience using National Car Rental?

[wdwfan]

I just made a reservation for a car with National on our upcoming trip. I was able to use my Disney Club card for a discount. I can pick the car up at the Dolphin. Has anyone had any experiences using National that they can share? Also, does anyone know where National Car Rental is located at the Dolphin? Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[hulabird]

If you booked ressie online make sure you call them and verify, last year we used them and they had no record of our ressie in their system, even though I had a confirmation # AND receipt from their website AND email I sent them, we were forever at the counter cuz of this problem EVEN though we are Emerald Club members, my DH was angry and this year we have already booked through Dollar. Hope u have better luck.

 

[wdwfan]

Thanks for your reply! I did call over the phone. I hope all goes well. Any other experiences?

 

[Lew]

We use both National and Dollar depending who has the better rates. We have never had a problem with either in 17 years of WDW visits.

I would recommend optaining National's Emerald Club card or Dollar's Fastlane card...both are free. National's card allows you to bypass the counter and go directly to your car; Dollar's provides a special line at the counter.

 

[Deb8821]

We have used ntional the last 3 or 4 trips - always emerald isle and its been a breeze. About 3 years ago I got a great deal from Alamo - but . . . long long long long wait to get car and even longer hassle just to return it. Now I stick with national

 

[DebbieB]

I've used National at MCO many times and like them. I have Emerald Club, so it's very easy to go straight to the garage. With Disney Club, you get 20% off and also a free day if you are staying over a Saturday, be sure to pickup both the contract # & coupon # (and print the coupon from the website). I only had a problem once, about 2 years ago, the final printout did not include a discount I had on the original reservation, I had to go into the counter when returning for them to correct it.

 

[GoldenOldie]

You can do the paperwork at the Dolphin but you can't actually pick the car up there. You will be bussed in National's courtesy van to the Care Care Center by the MK to pick up the car. It would probably save you more time in the long run to make your reservation to pick up at the CCC in the first place.

There is no EA service at either the Dolphin or the CCC.

 

[wdwfan]

Thanks for the tips! How often do the shuttles over to the Car Care Center run? Also, what is EA service? Thank you!

 

[GoldenOldie]

The National courtesy van does not run a "route" on a schedule. It goes to wherever it's needed when called. Sometimes it comes in a few minutes, other times it could take an hour or more.

EA service is Emerald Aisle. It saves EA members a great amount of time when renting from the airport but is not available at WDW.

 

[GoldenOldie]

Just found out from someone in another thread http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=214941 that the Dolphin once again has cars on site. This is a change back to their original policy as recent history (post 9/11) has shown that they were sending folks to the Car Care Center to pick up the car. So it appears you may be in luck after all.

 

[wdwfan]

Thanks GoldenOldie for the info! I'm going to call the National desk at the Dolphin Hotel and find out for sure what is up with where to pick up the rental. I'll post when I know something.