Car Rental Help

[EEyorelover22]

We had a near disaster on our latest trip so I need to examine other options one of which is renting a car.

We would drive from Sanford airport (hour from Orlando), park the car for a week and drive back.

What would you estimate the cost from Sat to Sat?
I assume I have to pay resort parking each day too, right?

Thanks.

 

[safetymom]

If you are staying onsite at WDW then parking is free.

 

[EEyorelover22]

Thanks.
Why do they have signs that say parking $7 per day then?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Thanks.
Why do they have signs that say parking $7 per day then?

Parking at the theme parks is now $9 — but only for guests who are not staying on-site and who do not have annual passes.

If you're staying on site, you won't pay for self-parking anywhere at Walt Disney World.

For the Magic Kingdom resorts, you'll normally pass through the Magic Kingdom parking toll plaza. But if you're checking in for a Magic Kingdom resort, stay toward the right. The parking attendant will waive the fee and point you to your resort. When you check in at your resort, you'll get a parking pass for your dashboard. From then on, the parking attendant at any theme park will wave you through.

The other possibility is that you saw a sign for a valet parking fee at a resort.

 

[EEyorelover22]

I bet it was for valet parking at AKL. For 7 bucks I can park my own car, but I think we'll get there and never use it again so perhaps I'll pull up and unload and have them park it. ??

Seems odd probably to some, but I've never done this so it's all new to me. I hate not knowing what I'm suppose to do.

We had a horrible experience on our trip that we just returned from so I'm looking at other options for December.

 

[mommy*RN]

I was just playing around on Alamo's website and put in a Saturday to Saturday rental in December and got some pretty good rates! You might want to consider shopping around and booking these now before they shoot up!

Here's what I found 12/9-12/16 *wasn't sure of your dates of travel
Compact: $181.53
Intermediate: $190.51
Full-size: $214.48
Intermediate SUV: $341.68
Full-size SUV: $341.68

These are the total costs including taxes and other fees. To get these rates I used the Walmart code (430710 / BY) and if you go the SUV route there is a coupon (D24C).

These are actually very good rates compared to what I've been seeing for my October travel ($600+ for an SUV). You might want to jump on them soon! To make a ressie just requires your name and email usually...no $$$ down! I currently have 3 ressies for my travel dates...hoping the rates drop more!

In-terminal rental companies in Sanford include: Hertz, Alamo, Avis, and National.

Near Airport rental companies in Sanford include: Budget, Thrifty, Dollar, Enterprise.

Check out www.mousesavers.com under the transportation link to find discount codes and coupons for all these companies!

Best of luck to you finding a great rental price!!!

 

[EEyorelover22]

Thank you to everyone for your help. I've never rented a car so I am completely clueless. A friend goes and flies from Sanford and used Alamo and I knew I would get a discount for being a passholder too.

mommy*RN: 1000 thank yous! I have an SUV reserved. We are going the week of Christmas so I'm sure I needed to book early. There was only a $10 difference between a compact and the SUV. We are 4 adults in size with too many bags (DH's description of the luggage!). It's 371 for the week and perhaps I might get a different rate, but like you said, they may go up and up and up too! I would cost $200 for a towncar to pick us up plus the tip and we stayed over night in a hotel at an additional $100 and the non free shuttle to the airport in Sanford. So, it's about the same cost for us.


One additional question: What is the additional driver situation?
Is only one person allowed to drive the car?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I bet it was for valet parking at AKL. For 7 bucks I can park my own car, but I think we'll get there and never use it again so perhaps I'll pull up and unload and have them park it. ??

Seven bucks — plus tips to have your luggage unloaded and brought to your room, plus more tips when you get assistance with your luggage at the end of your trip and when your car is retrieved.

However, unless you're traveling very light, it's so pleasant and convenient to get help from valet parking and bell services. The tips are worth it — and they're a drop in the bucket compared to the overall cost of your vacation.

 

[EEyorelover22]

I thought that at AKL they didn't like you to do that either...unload your own stuff that is.

I can't pull up and unload and go park in other words?

I have no clue. We've always done the town car and had someone unload them. I never know the right thing to do. It seems a waste to tip to unload and then another tip when they bring the bags to our room. I don't mind once to get in the place, but twice in less than 30 minutes gets me I guess. I also know that's how they make their living though too.

I don't want to cause trouble from the beginning. With 4 of us, we won't be traveling very light either.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I thought that at AKL they didn't like you to do that either...unload your own stuff that is.

I can't pull up and unload and go park in other words?

It's completely your choice whether you want to use valet parking and bellman services — or not. You won't "cause trouble from the beginning" if you prefer to unload you own bags, park your own car, and carry (or roll) your own bags to your room.

If I were traveling light and didn't feel like getting assistance with bags or getting valet parking, I would stop at the curb leading up to the porte-cochere, unload my bags and family, park the car, and then meet them where I dropped them.

My guess is that many — perhaps the majority — of guests use self-parking and handle their own bags. The self-parking lots at the deluxe Disney resorts are bigger than the valet lots. I would think that the staffing levels of bellmen and valet parking attendants reflect the actual usage, so you're not cheating anyone out of a tip if you don't use the service.

On the other hand, I've been going for "full service" at resorts (not just at Disney resorts) most of the time in recent years. It's a great way to begin and end a resort stay. And the tips are just a tiny part of the overall vacation cost.

 

[mommy*RN]

One additional question: What is the additional driver situation? Is only one person allowed to drive the car?

With rental companies you usually have to pay extra for an extra driver...with Alamo and the Walmart code you get an additional driver free. I'm not sure how much the additional driver cost would be, but I figure save where you can! Glad you got the rental taken care of! Good luck!

 

[manning]

Valet parking is $7.00 per day.

 

[EEyorelover22]

You all have been very helpful. I really appreciate it. I feel better about renting now. Our last end to our trip was a nightmare!

 

[EEyorelover22]

Valet parking is $7.00 per day.

So, does that mean that each day it's in valet parking, I pay $7?