Car Rental @ MCO

[TracyD73]

Hi!

It is our first time travelling to Orlando and have rented a car using our Airmiles (Alamo). Since making these arrangements, I've been hearing that it can be a huge pain to pick up and return a car from this airport. Can anyone fill me in on the details? Any helpful suggestions on how to make things a little smoother?

I've heard tips on joining the loyalty program with the car company can be helpful, but because we are paying for the car on points, I think we are probably stuck in the long lineups. (If someone out there knows better about this, that's great too!)

Tracy

 

[rie'smom]

If you have a reservation number, I think you can just go to a kiosk and check in for your car. If not, then go into the rental car area which is across the street where the cars actually are kept, follow the signs to Alamo/ National. You can get your car there and usually there are no people in line. Just to be safe, join the Alamo program because at one time, this area was exclusivly for members. After you join, you will immediately get a membership number and that is all you need to give the agent.

 

[TracyD73]

Thanks for the info - I will sign up for the loyalty program just in case it can help me out in some way.

Any other tips as far as getting in or out of the rental car area? This is where I've heard it can be a quite confusing and time consuming...

Tracy

 

[rie'smom]

Go to Google maps, and you can get driving directions to your hotel. That will tell you which exits to take.

 

[jaysmom4285]

As others have noted, it's really quite easy to rent a car at MCO especially if you joint the rental agency's loyalty program. That usually allows you to bypass the regular rental counter and go directly to the kiosk in the parking garage and pick up your car. Just follow the signs in the terminal directing you to the rental cars/transportation level and go across the street to the garage and follow the signs to your car rental company's kiosk. That part is easy. Dropping off the rental car can be a little tricky, in the sense that you really have to pay close attention to the signage as you drive into the airport because there are so many choices and exits coming at you fast. As I recall, the car rental return exit is a fairly sharp left turn and it's on a curve to boot. Just watch for the signs for "rental car returns" very carefully, and be on the left hand side of the access road so you'll be ready for it.