Car Rental Question

[nedac]

We are considering flying in to Tampa because the rates are considerably less. To get from Tampa to WDW and back, I was thinking of renting a car for one day when we arrive and then renting one for the day that we leave. Does this make sense? I dont need a car all week. Any opinions on this?

 

[Donna M]

Sounds like something I would look into too. Check on how much more it costs to do two one way drops as compared to keeping it the full week.

 

[neuend1]

I have rented a car in Tampa and driven to WDW. Straight drive, lots of traffic but manageable.

I looked at rates for a one-day rental (Mid-size car) from Tampa airport (TPA) to the Car Care Center at WDW (ORLR72) using Alamo. The price was $64 I used a Dec 16 date. Your rates may vary depending upon date.

I then looked at going from the Car Care Center back to the Tampa airport using Dec 16. The rate was $96.61

So your total would be about $161. Round trip for a weeks rental from Tampa to Tampa would be $594.09. However all these rates can be reduced significantly using coupons.

I put in the Car Care Center with Alamo as you can get a ride from there to your Disney hotel (assuming you are staying at a WDW hotel)

 

[FlyingBelle]

I did this just last month!

Long story, but DH and DS ended up on a flight directly to MCO, while me and DD had to wait another 7 hours for a flight to TPA.

I went to Kayak.com to find out who had the cheapest rental car to MCO.

But I had a stroke of genius! I remembered that there was a rental car facility somewhere on Disney property but I couldn't remember where - I did a google search and found that the Dolphin hotel has a National and Alamo rental.

I rented from Alamo at TPA - it was roughly $25 for 10pm - noon. I drove to the ASSp (got in about 1am). The next morning, I drove over to the gas station (just around the corner from the Dolphin) and then to the Dolphin where I gave the car to the valet -he gave me a paper to give inside that validated I dropped off the car with a full tank. Went inside (had to ask when I got inside where the desk was!), dropped off the paper - and then headed to the boat and met my family at the entrance to DHS.

Worked out great! It took almost exactly an hour to get to ASSp, of course, it was midnight so there wasn't any traffic. It was an easy drive though.

 

[FlyingBelle]

I guess it wasn't exactly what you were asking... but I would use Kayak.com to see what the rates are - they look at all the car rental agencies and give you the prices - you can filter type of car, airport vs. city, etc.

That would be the easiest way to determine if it's cheaper to do 2 - one-ways verses a whole week roundtrip.

 

[nedac]

Thanks for all the replies. Would any of the companies pick up the car at POR?