I❤MICKEY
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2011
- Messages
- 988
Prior to our cruise I asked in this group about Budget car rental in Port Canaveral. Now that we’ve returned I wanted to share what was a huge frustration/disappointment from our vacation so others have an idea of what to expect.
On 3/5/22 we arrived at budget and returned our minivan around 11:15 AM. There was a very long line inside and everyone cheered when I went to the return side. I didn’t think much of it at the time but I certainly learned why on debarkation. The shuttle had just arrived and the driver asked who was sailing DCL. A few people raised their hands. He asked PAT. Ours was 11:15 and so we were able to get in the shuttle. There was a family with a 1:00 PAT and he told them they would need to wait until the time was closer to be taken over. He was really nice. My mom is disabled and he helped her get into the front seat. It was a very easy process. I wouldn’t think twice about embarkation day in the future.
Fast forward to debarkation on 3/12. The porter knew exactly where to go and took us to wait for the shuttle. We waited ~10 minutes. It was the same shuttle driver and he was awesome. Again helped my mom get into the front seat. He asked our departure flight details and said there was a long wait. There was ~20 people in line in front of us when we arrived at Budget. We’re a family of 6 (with my mom). I rented a minivan. We NEEDED a vehicle that could accommodate 6 people. While in line we were told there were no cars available. As they were returned they would be washed and given in a first in/first out basis. Some people lucked out with upgrades to convertibles or SUV’s. I would say the average wait for a car was an hour for most. There was a handful of us all waiting for a minivan. We watched as a single man get into one and drove away. Then a family of three. Again, first in first out. They didn’t take into consideration what other guests NEEDED or the fact that minutes later a vehicle that would accommodate them came in. There is one bench in a covered area outside and a few chairs inside. The seats were all taken. Someone gave up their seat on the bench outside for my mom which was appreciated. There was a tornado warning and it started to rain. There really wasn’t anywhere to take cover. We got wet. Our suitcases got wet. We asked multiple times how much longer and were told…soon. Cars started to pile up in the lot but again they wouldn’t accommodate 6 people. One family chose to take 2 vehicles - there was no discount to do this. They paid full price for the second vehicle. After 3 hours we saw one minivan pull in. It was the first one we had seen in over an hour. Then a Dodge Durango with 3rd row. I thought finally. I heard our name called. They gave us a 12 person van. She said it was an upgrade. It was old. Drove horrible. Gas guzzler. But at that point I was just thrilled to have a vehicle.
I will NEVER rent from Budget for debarkation one way ever again. It was the worst car rental experience of my life. It would have cost ~$300 extra to pay for parking and the extra rental days. It would have been worth it to not have the frustration.
On 3/5/22 we arrived at budget and returned our minivan around 11:15 AM. There was a very long line inside and everyone cheered when I went to the return side. I didn’t think much of it at the time but I certainly learned why on debarkation. The shuttle had just arrived and the driver asked who was sailing DCL. A few people raised their hands. He asked PAT. Ours was 11:15 and so we were able to get in the shuttle. There was a family with a 1:00 PAT and he told them they would need to wait until the time was closer to be taken over. He was really nice. My mom is disabled and he helped her get into the front seat. It was a very easy process. I wouldn’t think twice about embarkation day in the future.
Fast forward to debarkation on 3/12. The porter knew exactly where to go and took us to wait for the shuttle. We waited ~10 minutes. It was the same shuttle driver and he was awesome. Again helped my mom get into the front seat. He asked our departure flight details and said there was a long wait. There was ~20 people in line in front of us when we arrived at Budget. We’re a family of 6 (with my mom). I rented a minivan. We NEEDED a vehicle that could accommodate 6 people. While in line we were told there were no cars available. As they were returned they would be washed and given in a first in/first out basis. Some people lucked out with upgrades to convertibles or SUV’s. I would say the average wait for a car was an hour for most. There was a handful of us all waiting for a minivan. We watched as a single man get into one and drove away. Then a family of three. Again, first in first out. They didn’t take into consideration what other guests NEEDED or the fact that minutes later a vehicle that would accommodate them came in. There is one bench in a covered area outside and a few chairs inside. The seats were all taken. Someone gave up their seat on the bench outside for my mom which was appreciated. There was a tornado warning and it started to rain. There really wasn’t anywhere to take cover. We got wet. Our suitcases got wet. We asked multiple times how much longer and were told…soon. Cars started to pile up in the lot but again they wouldn’t accommodate 6 people. One family chose to take 2 vehicles - there was no discount to do this. They paid full price for the second vehicle. After 3 hours we saw one minivan pull in. It was the first one we had seen in over an hour. Then a Dodge Durango with 3rd row. I thought finally. I heard our name called. They gave us a 12 person van. She said it was an upgrade. It was old. Drove horrible. Gas guzzler. But at that point I was just thrilled to have a vehicle.
I will NEVER rent from Budget for debarkation one way ever again. It was the worst car rental experience of my life. It would have cost ~$300 extra to pay for parking and the extra rental days. It would have been worth it to not have the frustration.
