Car rental at BWV

[FLYNZ4]

We are leaving in less than two weeks for a short 8 day trip to WDW. We are signed up for Magical Express for transportation to/from the airport... but I am having second thoughts about not having a rental car. The weather in February for walks to Epcot and MGM are fine... but the MK and PI will require buses. We will also do lots of resort hoping for restaurants (Jiko, Whispering Canyon, others) so a car will be more convenient. Plus, if we have a car, we could skip the Wegoshop.com experience of feeling hostage in our room waiting for the groceries to arrive.

8 Days is non-optimal since the 1 day over the weekly rental is likely to be too expensive. I am thinking that maybe I will pick up a rental during our stay at BWV and return it at the end of 7 days. This way I could still use the ME service to schlep the bags to/from the airport and avoid the car rental bus (or wait) at the airport when we arrive.

So... what are my best rental options given the above? I seem to remember that the Swan and/or Dolphin have a rental desk. Any other good choices?

/Jim

 

[BillPA]

The Dolphin has a National/Alamo desk, you can book on line, check mousesaver.com for discount codes. The car care center has later hours, and will pick you up and return you.

Have a great trip.

 

[jekjones1558]

Jim,
What are your dates and what size car do you want?
Jean

 

[FLYNZ4]

Jim,
What are your dates and what size car do you want?
Jean

Arriving 2/11/06 3:00 PM
Returning car 2/18/06 2:00 PM

5 adults so a full size would be best (ie: Ford Taurus or equiv)

/Jim

 

[jekjones1558]

Hi, Jim,
Not sure if the dates you gave were for airport or picking the car up at the Dolphin.
If you want to get the car at airport (no shuttle bus required) on Feb. 11 and return Feb., 18, Alamo has a fullsize for $189.12 inc. all fees. If you want to pick it up and/or return it at Dolphin, a midsize SUV is actually cheaper and would be $197.93 with fees. Last minute specials will probably come out later this week, so you could always cancel and book the better deal if you wish.
If you are interested, just PM me and I will give you codes, coupon links, etc.
Jean

 

[mlill]

The Dolphin has a National/Alamo desk, you can book on line, check mousesaver.com for discount codes. The car care center has later hours, and will pick you up and return you.

Have a great trip.

I thought that the Dolphin only had a National car rental desk? Are you sure that there is an Alamo desk too? Thanks!

-Michelle

 

[jekjones1558]

I thought that the Dolphin only had a National car rental desk? Are you sure that there is an Alamo desk too? Thanks!

Yes. Alamo site lists Dolphin as an option. Alamo and National are actually the same company now. In December I got my Alamo car at MCO from the National rows of cars. The MCO garage desk and check-out kiosks for Alamo and National are the same.

 

[FLYNZ4]

Hi, Jim,
Not sure if the dates you gave were for airport or picking the car up at the Dolphin.
If you want to get the car at airport (no shuttle bus required) on Feb. 11 and return Feb., 18, Alamo has a fullsize for $189.12 inc. all fees. If you want to pick it up and/or return it at Dolphin, a midsize SUV is actually cheaper and would be $197.93 with fees. Last minute specials will probably come out later this week, so you could always cancel and book the better deal if you wish.
If you are interested, just PM me and I will give you codes, coupon links, etc.
Jean

Jean,

Sorry for being non-precise.

The dates that I provided were assuming that I used ME for transportation to/from the airport... and picked up a car at WDW Swan/Dolphin. This is the easiest way that I know of how to limit the reservation to just 7 days rather than going over the weekly rate.

I sent you a PM

/Jim

 

[FLYNZ4]

Jean,

Thank you for the help. We booked the midsided SUV for 5 days at the Dolphin at the rate that you showed. My brother (who is arriving first... and booked the car)... said that he did not see the 15% "pay in advance" option so if you see additional savings... I would love to hear about them. In the mean time... we know we have an SUV for under $200 which is a pretty good deal.

Personally, I am not really crazy about the busses. They are OK once in a while, but I really like having my own car.

Thanks again.

/Jim

 

[swich2mac]

8 days is short?

 

[bobbiwoz]

8 days is short?

My thoughts, precisely!!

In June we're having a more than 1 week Florida stay and we decided on the option you seem to be picking as well. We booked ME and then 2 days later we're picking up a car at the car care center for the weekly rental. We checked some of the threads on the Transportation board, and got pretty good rates, especially compared to what we originally had for the 9 day rental. We're going in June and lots of the present codes end May 31st.

Bobbi

 

[FLYNZ4]

8 days is short?

I guess it is relative. For years... we would typically go for 2 weeks, and sometimes longer.

/Jim

 

[FLYNZ4]

My thoughts, precisely!!

In June we're having a more than 1 week Florida stay and we decided on the option you seem to be picking as well. We booked ME and then 2 days later we're picking up a car at the car care center for the weekly rental. We checked some of the threads on the Transportation board, and got pretty good rates, especially compared to what we originally had for the 9 day rental. We're going in June and lots of the present codes end May 31st.

Bobbi

Bobbi,

We are going to get the car on the first day... so that we can do our grocery runs right after we check-in. This way we can partially offset the cost of the rental car by what we save by not using the wegoshop.com grocery service.

/Jim