Car rental decision - your opinon

[tgreencreatemem]

Here are my options for my upcoming trip on June 29.

I can pay WAY TOO MUCH money to do a one way car rental - from MCO and then drop off at WDW. I need the car rental for less than 24 hours while we visit family before starting our WDW vacation on June 30.

Or could I rent at MCO and return the next morning to MCO and then use Magical Express to take me to my resort for check in before we start our activities. We have flown in the day before, but does that matter?

Or do I take Magical Express from MCO on June 29 over to rent the car at WDW. Then use the car, and we check in to our resort the next morning, then drop car back off at WDW rentals before starting our day at Epcot?

What would you do?

 

[jadejazzkayla]

alamo - picking up a compact car at noon 29 june
dropping off 30 june also at noon in the buena vista palace resort (downtown disney area)

total cost is $40

 

[3pletprincesses]

When is your trip? I know that alst year, it was cheaper for me to drop our minivan at Disney care center vs MCO although we had rented the car from MCO. If you wait a bit closer to the date, I'm sure your rate will drop.

 

[tgreencreatemem]

So dropping the car off at Downtown disney, we can then use Disney transport to get to Epcot right? I am so unsure about all of the locations.

 

[Donna M]

There are no buses that run from DTD to the parks. You would have to get to a resort and go from there, SSR maybe.

 

[LisaS]

If you are renting from Alamo you can drop the car off at the Dolphin and walk to Epcot or take the boat.

 

[goofy4tink]

A few thoughts...you can only use DME if you have an active resort reservation...so, if you arrive on the 29th, and checkin at your WDW resort on the 30th, then you can't use DME until the 30th.

You could rent at MCO on the 29th, then drive to WDW on the 30th, drop everyone off at your resort, with the bags. Then, you drive back to MCO, return the car and take DME back to your resort. Just be sure to book DME prior to arrival.

Or, keep the car, go to your resort, get checked in, and then drop the car off at the Dolphin. You can then walk over to Epcot..takes under 10 mins, or you can take the boat over.

If you return the car to a DTD area hotel, you are going to have to go to a WDW resort first, then transfer to an Epcot bus or boat. No way to get to Epcot directly from DTD.

 

[dancin Disney style]

A few thoughts...you can only use DME if you have an active resort reservation...so, if you arrive on the 29th, and checkin at your WDW resort on the 30th, then you can't use DME until the 30th.

You could rent at MCO on the 29th, then drive to WDW on the 30th, drop everyone off at your resort, with the bags. Then, you drive back to MCO, return the car and take DME back to your resort. Just be sure to book DME prior to arrival.

Or, keep the car, go to your resort, get checked in, and then drop the car off at the Dolphin. You can then walk over to Epcot..takes under 10 mins, or you can take the boat over.

If you return the car to a DTD area hotel, you are going to have to go to a WDW resort first, then transfer to an Epcot bus or boat. No way to get to Epcot directly from DTD.

Exactly what I would suggest.

 

[tgreencreatemem]

Thats exactly what I needed - thanks!

Only reason I don't want to return the car to Dolphin/Swan is it jumps up the price to well over $100 for an economy rental. Other rental to outside of WDW is around $40 with taxes. I didn't know the rules on using Magical Express - so our option is really simple now - I like your input and thats what we will go with!