Car Rental Return Logistics

[Shannon G]

Looking for opinions on the easiest plan to return a rental car at either the Dolphin or CCC in the following scenario:

Arriving at MCO on a Thursday, staying offsite for one night. Friday morning we need to drop our bags at CSR, and return the rental car. We are also planning on breakfast at either Kona or Trail's End, then heading to AK for early afternoon.

Trying to determine the most efficient way of getting place to place & returning the car. Clearly, our first stop will be CSR to drop our bags. But from there I'm not sure if it makes the most sense to
(1) drive to breakfast at Kona, return the car to the Dolphin, and take a bus to AK.
(2) drive to breakfast at Kona, return car to CCC, then get a shuttle to AK
(3) return car to CCC, get a shuttle to the Poly for breakfast at Kona, then take a bus to AK.

I have never used the CCC, so I have no idea how long it typically takes to get the shuttle from there.

 

[Lewisc]

Price a return to Shades of Green. Short walk from POLY

 

[Shannon G]

Price a return to Shades of Green. Short walk from POLY

Can anyone return a car there, even if non-military? Just a bit concerned, as I've read that only people who are military (or their family & guests) are allowed to enter the grounds at SoG.

 

[Lilsia]

Are you just renting the car for the 1 day to get to your resorts? Would it be easier just to Uber or take a cab?

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

You can have breakfast then return the car. Alamo has a free shuttle van and they will take you where ever you want to go on property. You do have to call 24-48 in advance to reserve the free shuttle. Just call the CCC. Since you are calling and making a reservation for the shuttle van to take you to AK your wait will be minimal for the shuttle. They have several vans in opporation.

 

[Lewisc]

Are you just renting the car for the 1 day to get to your resorts? Would it be easier just to Uber or take a cab?

A few weeks ago I mentioned SoG and said I wasn't sure if non military could use the rental location. A poster said yes. Maybe call the location to confirm, if the rates and hours works.

I'd think any restrictions would be displayed upon making a reservation.

Locations works great for op

 

[Shannon G]

Are you just renting the car for the 1 day to get to your resorts? Would it be easier just to Uber or take a cab?

We are staying offsite the first night, and will be using the car to drive from MCO to the hotel, go to the grocery store to pick up a few items for in the room, and then drive to WDW the next morning. Since I have a free rental day available with National, that's much cheaper than using a series of Uber rides.

You can have breakfast then return the car. Alamo has a free shuttle van and they will take you where ever you want to go on property. You do have to call 24-48 in advance to reserve the free shuttle. Just call the CCC. Since you are calling and making a reservation for the shuttle van to take you to AK your wait will be minimal for the shuttle. They have several vans in opporation.

Do I need to make a reservation for the shuttle when returning the car? I thought that I had read that a reservation was need for the shuttle to pick you up to go get the car, but that upon return you could just tell them where you needed to go & the shuttle would bring you.

A few weeks ago I mentioned SoG and said I wasn't sure if non military could use the rental location. A poster said yes. Maybe call the location to confirm, if the rates and hours works.

I'd think any restrictions would be displayed upon making a reservation.

Locations works great for op

I contacted Shades of Green and was told that a valid military ID is needed to enter the grounds, so that location is not an option, unfortunately.

 

[Lilsia]

We are staying offsite the first night, and will be using the car to drive from MCO to the hotel, go to the grocery store to pick up a few items for in the room, and then drive to WDW the next morning. Since I have a free rental day available with National, that's much cheaper than using a series of Uber rides.

You can all return to the airport and return the car and then take magical express. It might not be worth the hassle, but it is an option.

 

[georgina]

You can all return to the airport and return the car and then take magical express. It might not be worth the hassle, but it is an option.

It does sound a bit out of the way, but they would not ALL have to go back to the airport to do this, just the driver. The rest could just go to AK after breakfast!

 

[writerguyfl]

The answer to "what's fastest" will change based on conditions outside your control. You may get lucky and have the shuttle or Disney bus waiting for you. Or, you may end up waiting a long time simply because the Alamo/National shuttles are in use or because the Disney bus is taking forever to arrive.

The only option I'd eliminate is #3. In that scenario, you could get stuck waiting for both the car rental shuttle and the Disney bus. The other two options have you waiting for just one shuttle/bus.

It does sound a bit out of the way, but they would not ALL have to go back to the airport to do this, just the driver. The rest could just go to AK after breakfast!

Driving 35 minutes on toll roads just to turn around and take a bus back (and probably making multiple stops at various Disney Resorts) is more than "hassle."

 

[Ralph&Pam]

I would do Option 2: Kona breakfast, drive to CCC to return car, shuttle to AK. The CCC is a short drive from the Poly and the drive from the CCC to AK is reasonably direct.

Car returns are generally pretty quick at either CCC or the Dolphin, so Option 1 would also be a reasonable choice, although a longer drive from the Poly. When returning a rental at the Dolphin, you hand the keys to the valet and get back a receipt with the time, mileage, and fuel level noted. A receipt will be emailed once the rental desk attendant has processed the return. These have always been exactly as I expected without ever having gone to the rental desk. The bus stop for the WDW buses is a short walk from where you would drop off the car at the Dolphin.