Ditch rental or keep it the whole trip?

[Mainebound]

Hi all,

We are renting a car for the first time in Orlando, because we are staying in a pool home the first week of our trip. We will be at WL the last three nights.
I have lots of questions:

Should we plan to return our rental car once on-site at WDW? Where do we bring it?

If so, should we take a taxi or limo service to the airport? It is somewhat cheaper to do this, even factoring in the cost of the limo. (we save about $100 on the rental, but the limo would cost about $55).

Or is it just easier to keep it?

I do worry about the logistics of returning the car (at National) at MCO. We have always stayed onsite and used a limo/car service.

Any advice?

thanks you!

 

[Carrieberry]

I would keep the car the whole time. We will be renting from National next week and it ended up being cheaper than the town car service. $113 (intermediate) for 8 days or $120 by the time I added in tip for the towncar. Besides, last tie we had a towncar service they made up call 3 times before someone came to get us, even though we confirmed with them the day before. I don't like my travel plans being dependant on someone elses competance. Besides, you will have to take time out of your vacation to return the car after you leave your offsite property anyway.

 

[DVC California]

...we save about $100 on the rental, but the limo would cost about $55...

So you will save $45 by turning car in early and taking the limo to the airport. But you will probably spend valuable vacation time to save that $45 dollars.

Let's say you check into the Wilderness Lodge and get your bags to your room. Instead of going straight to the parks or the pool, you now have to return in the car to National. The closest one to WL is at the Car Care Center near the Main Gate. Figure 15 minutes from WL, 15 minutes at the counter, and 30 minutes to wait for the shuttle back to the hotel.

There is also downtime on your departure day to wait for the limo driver and from getting to the airport a little earlier because of the limo. Figure another hour.

Returning a car at MCO is very easy. National is onsite at the airport, so there is no need for any shuttles. It is a 3-minute walk across the street from the parking garage to the terminal. You can make it even easier by dropping your lugagge off curbside with the skycaps, then returning the car to National. No muss, no fuss.

Keep the car.

My two cents, Steve

 

[Mainebound]

Ok, you guys have convinced me. The car stays with us the whole trip!

Thanks very much.