Originally posted by vhoffman
When are you going? We're going the last week of Jan. and got a great deal with Dollar. The charge for a mid-size car, such as a dodge stratus, is $95 for six days. With taxes, fees, etc., it comes to total $114.28. That's printed right on our email confirmation, so we have proof if there's a dispute. Plus we have the added convenience of drop off/pick up at our hotel, Courtyard by Marriott DTD (for which we are also getting a great rate). We prefer not to get our car at the airport, because of the hassle involved there. We find it much easier to get the car at the hotel, even if that means incurring an additional limo fee.
However, it sounds like you got charged so much extra because you were "double-talked" into signing up for services you didn't want and weren't aware of, such as insurance, extra driver, gas, upgrade, etc. I've dealt with Dollar before, but not at Orlando. They've never pulled things like that on me before, but just about any car rental may pull stuff like that. Its not the company, its the particular office and who you deal with. The guy behind the counter gets a commission on every "add-on" you're charged for, so there's a real incentive to add on. Even if you don't agree or sign for the extras, they have been known to just add them on anyways, hoping you won't notice. Best advice, go over your contract with a fine tooth comb before leaving the rental desk, (I don't care how many people are waiting behind you, you waited your turn, so can they). Then, keep your copy and compare very carefully to the final bill. Don't leave blank spaces, if there's an option of accept/decline, make sure decline is checked off and preferably circled. If there's no "no" box, circle the option, write "decline" then your initials, then insist that the clerk also initial. Your might irk some clerk, but better than being over-charged.
Also, do make sure you have something in writing that the car had no damage when returned. I saw something on TV (20/20 or some such show), where people got a bill for damages a month or more after returning the car. Investigation showed several renters were being charged for the same damage. And do inspect the car before accepting it and make the clerk initial any damage before you leave. Sounds like a lot of hassle just to pick up/drop off a car, and it is, but worth it. That's just one of the reasons we don't like doing that at the airport. Just too much hassle when you have a plane to catch.
We wished we would have used the points toward a hotel instead. Thanks for any info!
What I would do is join the fastlane, get the member number and then call and see if they can connect it to your reservatioin. BUT....I have yet to see Dollar busy anytime I go to MCO. The only one that ever has a line ,of note, is 
