First Ever DISUnplugged Podcast Cruise Take Three

[jeanigor]

I am arriving on Thursday morning, early and leaving mid day on Sunday the 17th. I was thinking of starting a thread where we could put down our arrival and departure dates to see if there are those who want to do other things besides the DATW and Breakfast. And of course my Kitchen Sink meet on Saturday.

Kim

And the Dole Whip/Poly/Wishes meet, too, don't forget...

How could I forget that? Silly me.

Kim

Low and behold------doot doot doot dooo!--------The Event Roster!!!! So nobody forgets anything!!!!

 

[chirurgeon]

Todd, that is why I am going with the transfers provided by Disney. I am taking a towncar to the Dolphin. When I am on vacation, I don't want to worry about a car or driving. At least when I have a choice. The only time I have had a car when I was at WDW was because I was on a 2 week business trip to Tampa and came to Disney for the middle weekend. I needed a rental for getting around for business. When I was there, I just parked the car at the hotel and took the buses to get to the parks.

Kim

 

[scarlett873]

Todd...when are you arriving and departing Orlando?

 

[kimisabella]

I am renting a car w/alamo from 5/7 - 5/14, the cost of the rental car (with all fees and taxes) is $182.00 then figure another $60 for parking at the port. It's going to be about $240 - for us, it's worth it to just have the car for the whole week and be able to get off the boat and go straight to the car and then to the airport to go home since our flight home is at noon on 5/14.

 

[exwdwcm]

Brandie- you must post pics of your beachy home makeover!

Anna- beautiful pics- looks like you had a fabulous time!

I am checking Budget and Dollar today to switch from Hertz- thanks Mindy and others for the suggestions.

gotta get back to my meeting with 'Francesco' in from Italy!

 

[DVCsince02]

Like a 10am-ish arrival into Orlando???

Maybe we could figure something out and share a towncar to the hotels for the ride there! You'd just have to figure out getting back to the airport after the cruise...but i'll bet the towncar folks could help with that...Interested? If not...that's alright...just thought i'd offer to try and keep the costs down!

First SW flight from Philly arrives at 9:30am. Hmmmm, beer run, and transportation to the port? Hmmmm, sounds good to me!

 

[MrandMissVacation]

So I started making a spreadsheet to compare costs for renting a car. Splitting the rental in two sections, 5/9-5/10 along with 5/14-5/16 (keeping in mind to add the $30 in one-way fees for some companies) and keeping the car from arrival at MCO until departure (adding the $60 port parking charges). I did it for Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, and Thrifty. I did it without any special rates or promos. I also did it for multiple car sizes: sub-compact, compact, intermediate.

It wound up being a whole lot more money than I expected.

In order have something to compare to, I figured the rates for FL Tours to take me by Town Car.
Here are the totals I found (split rate/parked rate):
(remember this is without discounts, etc.)
Sub-Compact(Chevy Aveo, Hyundai Accent, similar)
A-$135.27/$334.22
B-$237.06/$253.27
D-$210.17/$474.91 (need to add taxes)
H-$297.92/$457.31
T-$182.24/$368.92 (need to add taxes)

Compact(Chevy Cobalt, Hyundai Elantra, similar)
A-$239.56/$346.50
B-$239.16/$253.27
D-$222.89/$488.39 (need to add taxes)
H-$309.79/$470.63
T-$184.24/$380.98 (need to add taxes)

Intermediate(Pontiac G6, similar)
A-$257.15/$357.42
B-$250.81/$267.96
D-$231.43/$503.00 (need to add taxes)
H-$335.56/$483.96
T-$192.24/$375.28 (need to add taxes)

FL Tours was:
$109 round trip MCO to the Dolphin.
$240 round trip Dolphin to Port.
$349 total

Confused yet?


I am.

COMPLETLY confused..now more so!!!

This is what is bugging me the most about this vacation (it's supposed to be a vacation right?)!! TRANSPORTATION

We arrive Friday (VERY EARLY) and need a rental car as we are going to visit KSC on Saturday.
I don't know if I should
1. keep the car for the entire week @ port and use it after
2. rent twice
3. rent only in the beginning and use a limo/towncar after the cruise to get to the Dolphin and MCO (eventually)

Last night I signed up on a few rental car sites to get advance notice of deals and I've been looking over at www.mousesavers.com for their tips

I feel a tad overwhelmed.

Michelle

 

[jeanigor]

Todd...when are you arriving and departing Orlando?

As of right now, the flight I am looking at is scheduled to arrive @ 9:52 am.
I am thinking of extending my vacation and leaving on Saturday evening.

 

[kab407]

Like most of you I am pondering the transportation issue. I am on the fence on whether to get a town car to take us from MCO to the Dolphin when we arrive on 5/8 or to rent a car and keep it to drive to the PC on the 10th. If I do the car, I'll do another one-way rental and have it till we leave on Sunday the 17th. Or, I'll do the transfers to/from the Dol and hire a car to take us back to MCO on Sunday. I need to figure this out. I get a good corporate rate with Avis and I like the control aspect of it. On the other hand, do I really want to be bothered driving?

 

[UrsulasShadow]

So I started making a spreadsheet to compare costs for renting a car. Splitting the rental in two sections, 5/9-5/10 along with 5/14-5/16 (keeping in mind to add the $30 in one-way fees for some companies) and keeping the car from arrival at MCO until departure (adding the $60 port parking charges). I did it for Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, and Thrifty. I did it without any special rates or promos. I also did it for multiple car sizes: sub-compact, compact, intermediate.

It wound up being a whole lot more money than I expected.

In order have something to compare to, I figured the rates for FL Tours to take me by Town Car.
Here are the totals I found (split rate/parked rate):
(remember this is without discounts, etc.)
Sub-Compact(Chevy Aveo, Hyundai Accent, similar)
A-$135.27/$334.22
B-$237.06/$253.27
D-$210.17/$474.91 (need to add taxes)
H-$297.92/$457.31
T-$182.24/$368.92 (need to add taxes)

Compact(Chevy Cobalt, Hyundai Elantra, similar)
A-$239.56/$346.50
B-$239.16/$253.27
D-$222.89/$488.39 (need to add taxes)
H-$309.79/$470.63
T-$184.24/$380.98 (need to add taxes)

Intermediate(Pontiac G6, similar)
A-$257.15/$357.42
B-$250.81/$267.96
D-$231.43/$503.00 (need to add taxes)
H-$335.56/$483.96
T-$192.24/$375.28 (need to add taxes)

FL Tours was:
$109 round trip MCO to the Dolphin.
$240 round trip Dolphin to Port.
$349 total

Confused yet?


I am.

Okay, so I got a car from Budget, compact, 5/8-5/10, and just the day on 5/14, for a total of $124. This DID include codes. You wouldn't want to rent any car without codes, IMO. Or at least checking out their online specials.
There is no fee for dropoff at a different point with Budget.

I like the car idea, because you have transportation not just to and from, but for any incidental side trips you may want to make. I don't think it's worth the extra cost to rent for the week and park it at port, though. It does sound convenient, but storing stuff in the car for 4 days in the FL sun? I think it may be an issue. Just offering that up there, in case it hadn't been considered.

 

[shellyminnie]

Jen - I'm taking Jaime to the airport on Thursday after we get off the cruise - if you and Chris need a ride, you're more than welcome to ride with us!!!

 

[jeanigor]

Okay, so I got a car from Budget, compact, 5/8-5/10, and just the day on 5/14, for a total of $124. This DID include codes. You wouldn't want to rent any car without codes, IMO. Or at least checking out their online specials.
There is no fee for dropoff at a different point with Budget.

I like the car idea, because you have transportation not just to and from, but for any incidental side trips you may want to make. I don't think it's worth the extra cost to rent for the week and park it at port, though. It does sound convenient, but storing stuff in the car for 4 days in the FL sun? I think it may be an issue. Just offering that up there, in case it hadn't been considered.

Is it a parking deck or a flat lot? The heat alone shouldn't be too large of an issue in May, so a parking deck/garage might be alright. A lot, though, would bake everything you stored in it.

 

[dpuck1998]

Is it a parking deck or a flat lot? The heat alone shouldn't be too large of an issue in May, so a parking deck/garage might be alright. A lot, though, would bake everything you stored in it.

Just an open lot

 

[DVCsince02]

Jen - I'm taking Jaime to the airport on Thursday after we get off the cruise - if you and Chris need a ride, you're more than welcome to ride with us!!!

That would be awesome Shelly! Thanks!

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Is it a parking deck or a flat lot? The heat alone shouldn't be too large of an issue in May, so a parking deck/garage might be alright. A lot, though, would bake everything you stored in it.

Ah, I don't know. You're right, of course...a garage on anything but the upper level wouldn't have that issue as much.

 

[shellyminnie]

That would be awesome Shelly! Thanks!

Cool!!! No Problem!!!


It is just the 2 of you right?

 

[YodaMouse]

So I just saw another thread where the DIS said it's -19°F this morning. Its a whopping 1°F in metro Detroit (-15°F with windchill). The news says -10°F by the end of the week.

If it makes you feel any better it's supposed to be in the 30s here in Florida!!

It's a balmy 19 in New Brunswick. Factor in wind chill and it's 5!

It is cold here in San Antonio too, was 42 at 9 this morning and only going up to 63 today! Whatever shall we do?!?!

 

[YodaMouse]

It is cold here in San Antonio too, was 42 at 9 this morning and only going up to 63 today! Whatever shall we do?!?!

Oh, did I mention the beautiful blue skies?

 

[DVCsince02]

Cool!!! No Problem!!!

It is just the 2 of you right?

Yep, just me and Chris.

 

[tmli]

We stored everything in the car during our August cruise 2 years ago and heat wasn't an issue. We didn't store any foods, dirty laundry or make up/ creams etc. Mostly just clothes and souvenirs etc.

Keep in mind when looking at current rental prices they will get cheaper as cruise gets closer. As someone who plays the Florida car rental game at least 4 times a year I can say usually the best prices are available as the date gets closer.

Everyone has a different interpretation of value and "costs". For me not all costs are monetary...we like having our own car for convenience and rent one for every stay. We like getting off the ship and going right to the car. A 4 day cruise is our maximum however....on our 7 day cruises we do use the one way rental/shuttle option. I just really dislike it!!! Last time used Budget and it was a race to get to the shuttle and then to the counter as they are notorius for running out of cars at that location on ship arrival days.

We were lucky and got a car fairly quickly, many others were not.