Excellent Emerald Aisle experience at MCO

[OTRGal]

Our vacation started yesterday! The Emerald Aisle on side A at MCO yesterday had only a selection of sedans. We were really hoping for a minivan for our family of 5. I figured I'd ask someone about my chances of getting something bigger on B side. The worker asked what I was looking for and said we could just go ahead and take a minivan! National didn't have any vans, so we were directed to Alamo. We ended up driving away with a new Sienna for our $107 one week reservation! Every National/Alamo worker we encountered was exceptionally nice and helpful. What a great start to our trip! Today we will drive in comfort to Epcot.

 

[sympatico]

 

[n2mm]

You were very lucky. You should've played the lottery afterwards. We've been Emerald Aisle members for 10 years now (5 years as Executive Aisle members). This is not the norm. We've been in your shoes (last spring) and as we looked in the A aisle and then over to the B aisle a rep asked us what we were looking for and we told him a crossover or minivan as we were expecting family later in the week. The rep said, that's too bad. We ended up with a full size and had to get the family their own car for their arrival. While it's great that this happened to you, I wouldn't want others reading this to think that this always happens as it is rare. Congrats.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Do NOT count on this folks. OP got lucky. If it had been a busy time they would have looked at OP and said "Sure, that will only cost you several hundred dollars more" You should NEVER reserve less car then you can live with! I recently had to upgrade due to business (we wound up with a huge display case that was not fitting in a car ) and we did have to pay the several hundred dollars. Rental went from around $180 to $350! (Luckily I wasn't paying!)

 

[OTRGal]

Yes, we were exceptionally fortunate. I guess all I'm saying is that it doesn't hurt to ask, especially is you are traveling during a relatively slow time of year. We weren't expecting this and were prepared to drive away with a midsize. Im just so glad i asked first!

 

[PatMcDuck]

It sure can't hurt to ask! We rented a intermediate SUV 2 weeks ago in NC (raleigh-durham), from Alamo. It was actually a Priceline.com rental, as I could not get a good price on an SUV straight from the rental companies. I asked if we could pick the vehicle, and the employee said, sure, I will show you what to pick from. Then he ended up offering a All Wheel Drive 2011 Kia Sorrento, which I think was an upgrade. In any case, nice to get that all wheel drive, there was snow down there and it came in handy. We were driving all over the state to look at colleges.

 

[Propro]

I'll add to how lucky you were. 2 years ago, I rented a midsize, Emerald Aisle at MCO and there were nothing but midsize and full size there. I asked if any suvs or crossovers were going to be driving to the aisle and the worker said "you can go take one". Walked over, took a crossover, spent the time to put in a carseat and drove to the exit booth. The worker there looked at my reservation in the computer, made a call, then told me I couldn't take that crossover without paying for a crossover. I explained that I was told I could take it and he said his manager told him no. I had to turn around and go fight it out with the manager. Still no. Bad start to a vacation having to reinstall the seat into a full size car.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

When they say "you can take it" you should ALWAYS follow-up with " will there be a charge"

You can probably take just about anything IF you are willing to pay!