Car rental questions

[ChrisinNJ]

We rarely rent a car as we have always driven down in our minivan. This year we are driving down in our new (to us) motorhome and staying at Ft Wilderness.

We want to rent a car for our stay. Price is important, but we are more concerned about ease of picking up and dropping off, so I am booking from Alamo, Disney Car Care center. I am not sure if I need the car Saturday through Saturday, or Saturday through Sunday.

I have heard people here check the rates everyday since they change, and that you actually sometime book multiple reservations then cancel the higher rates? So, should I book 2 reservations with 2 different return dates? or book the longer stay then drop the last day if I decide I don't need it?

Can you just cancel online? Do you need a credit card to book?

BTW we are going in November.

Thanks..... Clueless in NJ

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Since you can cancel car rental reservations without penalty, you may as well make 2 reservations. Just remember to cancel the one you don't need.

You don't need a credit card to reserve a car, but I would suggest using one to eventually pay for the rental.

Yes, you can reserve and cancel online.

 

[ChrisinNJ]

Thanks! I signed up for Alamo insider and used the visa coupon code posted on the November 2013 thread.

I got a full sized car. 7 nights $276.24, 8 nights $343.11.

Does the 7 night price sound decent? We will probably need just the 7 nights.

I will keep watching to see if the price drops between now and then.

 

[richmo]

There's no harm in booking more than one reservation if you're not sure of your dates. Just stay away from anything prepaid...

The rates you quoted may be competitive this far out, but I suspect you will do much, much better. The behavior of the rates at the Car Care Center may be different than an MCO rental, but generally the best rates are to be found 10-14 days prior to your trip. However, since I had a trip earlier this month, Alamo rates were best about 2 days before the trip. That being said, even though you're several months out, you should hold some reservations now. You can always cancel. All that is tied to your reservation is your name and email address; no credit card is necessary.

I should also point out that the Alamo website is pretty flaky at this point. It used to be when you found a better rate, you could just modify an existing reservation. Lately, I've found that to not be the case. Sometimes attempting to modify an existing reservation will not even show you any price drop. When you check, create a new reservation. You can always go back and cancel the old one.

 

[ChrisinNJ]

I should also point out that the Alamo website is pretty flaky at this point. It used to be when you found a better rate, you could just modify an existing reservation. Lately, I've found that to not be the case. Sometimes attempting to modify an existing reservation will not even show you any price drop. When you check, create a new reservation. You can always go back and cancel the old one.

I noticed this. I originally booked the 7 nights, then tried to change it to 8 and it flaked on me completely. It told me that a full size was not available that I had to choose a luxury full size (Infinity), which I didn't even see as an option originally... Then it would not let me click on the luxury full size option. My only way to do it was to book a new reservation.

Also when I first priced the reservation for the 8 nights, the estra night rate was $39.00 but when I actually booked it an hour later it came up at $60.00 for the extra night.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Hi ChrisinNJ - the price you quoted for a 7 day rental is high!

Keep checking the rates for your rental. As your trip gets closer the prices should drop quit a bit. We usually are able to get a mid size for a week and the cost is between $95 and $110 total with Alamo. That is the price range we have paid for our last 4 trips to WDW so keep checking and look on the Transportation board for rental discount and codes that other DIS folks have posted. The Visa coupon is the highest coupon I have seen lately. I usually find my best rate the week before we leave. Rental car companies release last minute specials every Tuesday so I look for those specials and couple it with coupon codes from the DIS boards.

 

[ChrisinNJ]

Hi ChrisinNJ - the price you quoted for a 7 day rental is high!

Keep checking the rates for your rental. As your trip gets closer the prices should drop quit a bit. We usually are able to get a mid size for a week and the cost is between $95 and $110 total with Alamo.

Thanks, I will definitely keep checking. I had no idea the prices changed so frequently. Do they offer discounts on the full size cars too? My DH is 6"5" so for his comfort, and the comfort of the kid stuck sitting behind him, I don't want to book a mid sized.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Thanks, I will definitely keep checking. I had no idea the prices changed so frequently. Do they offer discounts on the full size cars too? My DH is 6"5" so for his comfort, and the comfort of the kid stuck sitting behind him, I don't want to book a mid sized.

Yes they do.

 

[gmeh1]

We rarely rent a car as we have always driven down in our minivan. This year we are driving down in our new (to us) motorhome and staying at Ft Wilderness.

We want to rent a car for our stay. Price is important, but we are more concerned about ease of picking up and dropping off, so I am booking from Alamo, Disney Car Care center. I am not sure if I need the car Saturday through Saturday, or Saturday through Sunday.

I have heard people here check the rates everyday since they change, and that you actually sometime book multiple reservations then cancel the higher rates? So, should I book 2 reservations with 2 different return dates? or book the longer stay then drop the last day if I decide I don't need it?

Can you just cancel online? Do you need a credit card to book?

BTW we are going in November.

Thanks..... Clueless in NJ

If you are going around thanksgiving, your rates will be rather high.
No credit card needed to book the car.