car rental from National - questions!

[mermaidwannabe]

My family of 5 (2 adults and DD8, DD5, DD2 1/2) will need a car after our DW stay and so we'll need to pick one up from National at WDW Car Care Center and then drop off a week later at MCO. My questions are:

Is it too early to book for April 2005 (to use coupons and codes)?
Is a full-size big enough for us (2 suitcases, 3 little child suitcases and an umbrella stroller)?
Does EA/ER only help if picking up at airports or do the benefits apply at the WDW Car Center?

If you can believe this, I've never rented a car before!!!

Thanks for any advice!!

 

[mishoe01]

I love renting from National when I'm in Orlando - haven't booked it from the Car Care Center, but use the location at the airport.

A full size car for National is a Buick Regal (or something similar) which has 4 doors, seats 5 adults (supposedly), and can hold 4-5 pieces of luggage (medium size). Sounds like it should work for what you have.

Booking this early and discounts - IMO it never hurts to book in advance. You can always book something now, then in a few months call back (don't mention at first that you have a reservation already) and see what they have to offer. If it's better than what you're holding, then let them know you have a reservation and you want the new rate applied to it. I have saved $ doing this over the years.

Just realized that EA/R is Emerald Aisle/Reserve---that's not offered at the Car Care Center.

Hope this helps!

 

[mermaidwannabe]

Thanks Monica!! Your info helped a lot. I booked a full-size for a week at $191. I couldn't use any coupons yet since they all expire before I go, but I'll keep checking!