Can you rent a car for a day?

[not-too-old4fun]

We hadn't planned on renting a car but I was wondering if it is at all possible to rent a car once you get to the resort you are staying at or does it have to be rented at the airport only?

We were considering possibly going off site for one day during our stay but we want to play it by ear first so we don't know which day ahead of time.

Is there somewhere on site where you can rent a car last minute?

I wanted to take the boys to see the ocean while we were there and maybe scoot over to Nascar.

I know we probably won't want to leave once we are there but just wondered what the options are.

Thanks in advance!

 

[safetymom]

Sure you can. Alamo is onsite at the Car Car Center and the Dolphin.

 

[OKW Lover]

Most of the big car rental companies have a presence on WDW property.

As noted above, Alamo/National is at the Swolphin.

Avis is at the Hilton. Hertz is at Shades of Green. Dollar is at the Grosvenor. Budget is at the DoubleTree. (or do I have those last two backwards?)

 

[ncbyrne]

The onsite Car Care Center has the longest daily operating hours. Be sure to check on the operating times so that you can return without penalty.

 

[not-too-old4fun]

Wonderful!

Thanks for all the info. I've written it all down.

 

[bavaria]

you should probably make a reservation - don't assume that you can just call. Rates are usually higher for walk in clients, and if you are going at a busy time they may not have cars in all classes (or any cars) available.

 

[canwegosoon]

you should probably make a reservation - don't assume that you can just call. Rates are usually higher for walk in clients, and if you are going at a busy time they may not have cars in all classes (or any cars) available.

This is very true...esp. during convention times(which might be hard to judge). I remember one year that I had a 4pm pick up and I called at 1pm to re assure them that I would be over at 4 to get the car. When I got there the lady said it was a good thing that I called because she was totally out of cars and if I wasn't there-she had a couple of people who wanted the car. So I would recommend having a reservation-call early if you are coming for a late pickup, and you can always make an extra reservation for a 2nd day(I do this incase of bad weather) just cancel it asap.

 

[DJT]

Yes, Dollar is at the Grosvenor. We rented one from there for a day in December. We had reserved it ahead of time. Although the car rental desk closes at 4:30, the rental agent told us we could return the car anytime that night by filling out a little info sheet and dropping the keys into a drop slot there at the counter. That's what we did and then walked over to the bus stop at Downtown Disney and took the bus back to our resort. Very easy.