Car Rental - Combine Free Day Coupon with Promo Code?

[amyah]

Hi!

We're getting very excited about our upcoming trip to Disney World next month and are just trying to finalize our transportation plans. We're considering renting a car after hearing about all the delays with the bus service. So my question is, can you combine a free day coupon with a promo code that is listed on mousesavers? For example, I was wondering if I could use the promo code DOL39 to obtain the rate of $199/week for a minivan through Dollar and then use a coupon for one free day? We'll be staying nine days so we go over the weekly rate by one day, thus I was wondering if we could get this extra day free by using a coupon? Has anybody been able to combine a coupon with a promo code?

Thanks for your help!
Amy

 

[JesseBlue]

Except for National a few years ago, I have never been able to get this to work. I tried the minivan rate through Dollar with my Entertainment coupon code last week and no go. Sorry! (You could always give it a try, wouldn't hurt)

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by amyah
Hi!

We're getting very excited about our upcoming trip to Disney World next month and are just trying to finalize our transportation plans. We're considering renting a car after hearing about all the delays with the bus service. So my question is, can you combine a free day coupon with a promo code that is listed on mousesavers? For example, I was wondering if I could use the promo code DOL39 to obtain the rate of $199/week for a minivan through Dollar and then use a coupon for one free day? We'll be staying nine days so we go over the weekly rate by one day, thus I was wondering if we could get this extra day free by using a coupon? Has anybody been able to combine a coupon with a promo code?

Thanks for your help!
Amy

Amy,
The only two places that I know of that lets you combine codes with different coupons is Alamo and National. Alamo allows you to do this on the net, but, I am not sure what they do when you get there. I know National allows this and many of us have done it with great success. The downside to this is there are very few coupons that you can use with a minivan.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

I just used the Sams Club code ($199/wk. for a minivan plus an additional 10% discount) and the $20 off a weekly rental Entertainment coupon with National online. My rate for 10 days including taxes was $323.24. There are many different codes listed at mousesavers.com if you aren't a Sams Club member.

 

[amyah]

Thank you so much for your tips. However, now I'm thinking to just save the headache of booking a rental car and just deal with the headache of bus transportation!

My husband and I have traveled to Disney World on only two other occasions, and both times we were happy with the bus service. However, this trip we will be traveling with DD#1 who will be just about 4 and DD#2 who will be just about 6 months. Since we're not familiar with driving around the Disney Property at all, I think I'm leaning toward the convenience of having someone else take us where we need to go since I'm not the kind of person that deals with getting lost very well . Plus if we were to use a rental car, would there be any additional tolls or parking fees (we're traveling with the FTP and I can't remember off the top of my head if parking was included?)? I'd like to factor that into the cost of a rental car versus the cost of a towncar and using bus transportation - how much more for a rental car am I willing to spend?! Also, at each park, how far is the walk from parking lot to entrance?

I'm just trying to look at the pros and cons of both bus service and rental car. We'll be staying at the Boardwalk Villas so Epcot and MGM shouldn't be difficult to travel to. I'm primarily concerned about the two days we'll spend at Magic Kingdom; I don't want to spend 65 minutes trying to get there with two little ones! Now I'm understanding why everyone suggests staying at a monorail resort if you plan to visit Magic Kingdom a lot!

Anyways, any input as to what would be the better choice of transportation for our family of four?

Thanks again!
Amy

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by amyah
Thank you so much for your tips. However, now I'm thinking to just save the headache of booking a rental car and just deal with the headache of bus transportation!

My husband and I have traveled to Disney World on only two other occasions, and both times we were happy with the bus service. However, this trip we will be traveling with DD#1 who will be just about 4 and DD#2 who will be just about 6 months. Since we're not familiar with driving around the Disney Property at all, I think I'm leaning toward the convenience of having someone else take us where we need to go since I'm not the kind of person that deals with getting lost very well . Plus if we were to use a rental car, would there be any additional tolls or parking fees (we're traveling with the FTP and I can't remember off the top of my head if parking was included?)? I'd like to factor that into the cost of a rental car versus the cost of a towncar and using bus transportation - how much more for a rental car am I willing to spend?! Also, at each park, how far is the walk from parking lot to entrance?

I'm just trying to look at the pros and cons of both bus service and rental car. We'll be staying at the Boardwalk Villas so Epcot and MGM shouldn't be difficult to travel to. I'm primarily concerned about the two days we'll spend at Magic Kingdom; I don't want to spend 65 minutes trying to get there with two little ones! Now I'm understanding why everyone suggests staying at a monorail resort if you plan to visit Magic Kingdom a lot!

Anyways, any input as to what would be the better choice of transportation for our family of four?

Thanks again!
Amy

Parking will be free at the parks because you are an onsite guest.
Tolls from the airport will be 2.00 each way.
The parking lots have trams, the walk is minimal.
Personally, I would not be at WDW without a car. I hate busses (no offense Tyler). The "signage" at WDW is excellent, you simply have to pay attention. I get lost very easily, but, have yet to get lost at WDW and it is a pity to say that I know that area better than I know New Haven ( I get lost every time I go there).
Hopefully this has helped in your decision making.

BTW, there are less expensive rentals than a mini van, a full size for me for 8 days was a max. of 188.00 including all taxes. A full size car should be more than adequate for you.

 

[amyah]

Gail,

Thank you so much for your posts; they're always so informative! And now you've got me swayed back towards renting a car. I know we probably wouldn't need as large of a car as the minivan and the rate you've secured for the full size sounds great! Do you mind me asking what combination of rate codes, corporate ids, and coupon codes you used, if any? Now I need to re-visit National and Alamo and plug in the codes for a full size!

Thanks again!
Amy

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Amy,
I gave you the highest full size price I have encountered.
For that I used BJ's code and a fee day coupon, that, as I said was for 8 days.
For my present reservation with National I used the DC code and a 20.00 off coupon from BJ's. The total for 8 days is 167.31.

For an intermediate on the Emerald Aisle using the same as above, the rate is 148. (and change). There is always the possibility of finding something larger.

There are so many codes out there. If you have Sam's Club, BJ's, Costco, use their codes and coupons.

Hopefully this helps.

Also, try the kiss3 code with Dollar.

 

[DJT]

I need your opinion on this. We're flying into Tampa on SW because we got a great deal on tickets with SW. The best car rental I could come up with was $183 with Alamo until I was able to get an Entertainment coupon for National. With that coupon alone, the rate wasn't any better than I had with Alamo.

I went to the SW website to check rental car rates and then went to the ATA website to check rental car rates. From the ATA website, I can rent with National using the National coupon from the Entertainment book and ATA's code, and get a full size for 8 days for $166.31 total cost. I didn't see anything on ATA's website stating I have to fly with their airline in order to get that rate. Do you know if this is an okay deal? I wondered if you have heard of anyone else renting through an airline but not flying that airline. I appreciate any information you can share with me on this. I always use the information you post. Thanks!

Donna

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by DJT
I need your opinion on this. We're flying into Tampa on SW because we got a great deal on tickets with SW. The best car rental I could come up with was $183 with Alamo until I was able to get an Entertainment coupon for National. With that coupon alone, the rate wasn't any better than I had with Alamo.

I went to the SW website to check rental car rates and then went to the ATA website to check rental car rates. From the ATA website, I can rent with National using the National coupon from the Entertainment book and ATA's code, and get a full size for 8 days for $166.31 total cost. I didn't see anything on ATA's website stating I have to fly with their airline in order to get that rate. Do you know if this is an okay deal? I wondered if you have heard of anyone else renting through an airline but not flying that airline. I appreciate any information you can share with me on this. I always use the information you post. Thanks!

Donna

Donna, if they put that code out there for people to use, then you are most likely ok with using it. Often, however, you have to be a member of their "frequent flier" club to use the code, so, easy solution, join their ff club and you will be covered. Here is another hint, run that ressie for EA for intermediate (assuming you are an Emerald Club member, if not, join for free at www.turnertravel.com. Don't worry about the screen that says they are going to zip your cc for 50.00, it is a "default" screen used all the time. The fact that their contract code is in the contract code box when you sign up is all it takes to waive the fee.
Anyway, back to Emerald Aisle, often you will get a full size or better for the price of an Intermediate.
Another thing, National at Tampa is offsite, a very short shuttle ride, but, they do have Emerald Aisle.
Hope this helps.

 

[DJT]

I am already a member of the Emerald Club. There will be four adults and four large suitcases and I was concerned that if I reserved an intermediate and there were no full size vehicles on the Aisle, that we would have a difficult time getting all our luggage in the trunk of an intermediate.

I will definitely sign up for the FF club on ATA's website. I'm trying my best to save as much as possible. Besides, that's part of the fun!

Thanks again for all your help.

Donna

 

[dorisdvu]

Originally posted by Letsbgoofy
I just used the Sams Club code ($199/wk. for a minivan plus an additional 10% discount) and the $20 off a weekly rental Entertainment coupon with National online. My rate for 10 days including taxes was $323.24. There are many different codes listed at mousesavers.com if you aren't a Sams Club member.

I'm a Sams Club member. Where did you get the code to use?

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by DJT
I am already a member of the Emerald Club. There will be four adults and four large suitcases and I was concerned that if I reserved an intermediate and there were no full size vehicles on the Aisle, that we would have a difficult time getting all our luggage in the trunk of an intermediate.

I will definitely sign up for the FF club on ATA's website. I'm trying my best to save as much as possible. Besides, that's part of the fun!

Thanks again for all your help.

Donna

You are welcome, anytime. Finding a good rental is a lot of fun, sometimes, for me, a full time occupation. LOL.
I can say in all the times I have used the EA there have always been full sized vehicles, but, I do understand where you are coming from. We once had an intermediate via Alamo in Tampa for 5 adults and luggage (what was I thinking I had my 23 y/o DD with me, LOL) we almost made it with the luggage, but, no quite.
We did have to upgrade (which they very nicely did at no charge) to a full size. The rate you have for 8 days full size is very good, and I would grab it. You can always keep your eye on the rates and if they drop, make a new one and cancel the old. Or, try modifying it (that nifty feature now works well). Full size using the DC code and the BJ's coupon would be 167.31 for 8 days in Orlando. So, you are not far off the mark.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by dorisdvu
I'm a Sams Club member. Where did you get the code to use?

From the website. Go to www.samsclub.com click on travel, on the right hand side you will see a picture for travel destination guide (it has a yellow umbrella on it) click on that, click on coupons, then click on the car agency you want the coupon for.
Pretty tricky, eh? It took me forever to find this the first time.
Hope this helps. Apparently, you don't need to be a member for this. At least it did not ask me to log on.

You can try this link, not sure if it will work. http://www.samsclub.com/eclub/main_...V_EngineID=ccdhadcjfdidgmicfkfcfkjdgoodfkg.0#

 

[DJT]

I'm tempted to go for an intermediate but our plane arrives at 11:05 P.M. and I'm afraid by the time we get our luggage and get to the Emerald Aisle, there might not be anything but an intermediate or two on the Aisle. Then one of us would have to deal with holding a suitcase, and I doubt any of us will volunteer for that! LOL

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by DJT
I'm tempted to go for an intermediate but our plane arrives at 11:05 P.M. and I'm afraid by the time we get our luggage and get to the Emerald Aisle, there might not be anything but an intermediate or two on the Aisle. Then one of us would have to deal with holding a suitcase, and I doubt any of us will volunteer for that! LOL

I hear that, but, perhaps someone could sit on someone's lap?

 

[DJT]

Gail, you have so many great ideas! Thanks for the chuckle!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by DJT
Gail, you have so many great ideas! Thanks for the chuckle!

Welcome!!!

 

[uofl]

I currently have a reservation for full size for 8 day Sept. 20 - 27 through Alamo using the Sams Club coupon for the free day, the total with taxes is $207.00, would I be able to use anything else to get a better rate?