Do you rent a car?

[FreeTime]

We have found a great deal on airfare and would like to fly. However, we will need a rental car because we will fly in 2 days prior and fly out 3 days after the cruise. Would you rent the car and park it for the 4 days or can you drop it off? I am thinking that it might be a hassle to drop off and repick up. Are there rental car agencies on site at the port? The car will be $135 for an economy (we have 2 small kids so will be okay) and I am thinking it might be cheaper than turning it in and rerenting. Advice please?

 

[Dis]

A one way rental will run you about $45. We have done that and it worked out well. We have also rented a car for the entire time $150 full size for 8 days, and liked that better. It saves time if after the cruise you are going to WDW. You can have breakfast, disembark, walk across to your car, and be on your way. You can be at WDW by 9:30AM.

 

[glindamood]

We rent most always (took the DCL but once to get back to the airport and had a towncar once). DH drops luggage and us off at the port, returns the car to Budget or Avis and takes their shuttle back to the terminal and we meet up there (I don't like all of us and our luggage taking up room in the shuttle so that is why we do it that way). I will say that the first time we cruised (pre 9/11) we dropped the luggage off and both returned the car so we could walk in together (only DH and myself that time) but since then he has returned alone. I would have problems paying to park plus paying for a rental that I was not using. We have never waited long for DH to get back and pick us up - we are also not usually in a hurry to get anywhere either.

Opinions may vary - but our method works well for us.

 

[Jhalkias]

I imagine it would be convenient to leave a rental at the port, but it would also drive me crazy to pay for something I am not using AND pay to park it!

We have done all the options of a limo (we thought the driver was going to fall asleep on the drive!), DCL bus (nice the first time) and renting a car . . .
Our preference is to rent from Budget that has a place at the port. Sign up for fast break, get your car at MCO, and off you go. The car also makes it VERY convenient while at WDW.

On the return you just take the shuttle with your luggage over to Budget, and pick up a car for return - it may take you an hour more of trouble than walking accross the street to the car, but we are never in THAT much of a hurry. DCL also finally has a nice and organized place to wait for the shuttles outside the terminal that is also under cover.

 

[hawaii5o]

We are doing disney before our cruise. We did not do the land/sea package because we already had disney passes and just wanted to stay at pop century. So I did book the transfers at first which was $177. But then I still needed to get to the pop century on my own from the airport and then get to the carribean beach resort to pick up the bus to the port. Then we have a late flight after the cruise and we would be sitting in the airport all day. So I cancelled the transfers, used my entertainment book coupons for a rental car discount and I will be paying less than if i did it the other way and I will have the convenience of having the car after the cruise. This also includes the $10 per day to leave the car at the port. I hope I made a good decision

 

[salbythec]

We are staying at WDW before and after our cruise and are also renting a car. We are using national emerald 99.18 for the week. See the transportation thread for more info. Feel free to PM me if you want.

 

[RichNKatHolly]

We did rent a car and it just sat in the parking lot, but it was cheaper than cab fare to and from the airport and boy was disembarkation EASY.

We left the ship, were greeted by a super friendly porter who grabbed our bags and took them directly to the car, even helped load up the trunk - $10 tip for him.

I was really sure it was the move for us, 1. I was sick in the hotel the night before and we were later than planning leaving for the ship 2. When we got in our car and drove away as scores of people with heaps of luggage were waiting for the bus to load ! Oh, and did I mention it was cheaper than a cab and more convenient???

HTH

 

[NickandLivvysmom]

I am a stay at home mom and I always say I have more time than money
We are cruising 4/14 but arrive 4/11 and fly back home 4/19. Anyway- I did a ton of reserch and we will save a ton by renting a car and during the cruise paying 10.oo a day to park at the port. Also, i like the freedom to stop at the store, arrive at the port when we want and not having to take all the luggage on the cruise( leave some suitcases in the rental)

 

[webray]

$135 is a good price..for the sake of convenience we would keep it for the whole time in a heartbeat, and pay the parking.

 

[goofyforlife]

If you have two small kids and going to the parks before or after....are you taking things like a stroller/diapers, etc...?

I don't think you could get two car seats, two adults, and much else in an economy car.......

Maybe one or two suitcases depending on what they offer....

Don't get suprised like I did last time when we got an interm. car and quickly realized there was no way our luggage would fit. Luckily National worked with us to get a larger car at a decent rate but I consider that luck and not the norm.

Look for coupons/codes to get a decent rate on mid or full size at the least...

Look for codes on Mousesavers.com or try the following site www.pcpages.com/rentalcodes


Don't be afraid of drop off/pick up from the rental places at the port. We did it last time and it went great. But price both ways because if your not just going on the cruise (3 or 4 days i'm assuming) you might get a cheaper weekly rate after pay for parking at the cruise terminal ($10 per day) than (2)2 or three day one way rentals.