First time with a rental

[Pacesetters]

We have been to Disney several times and have always used the Disney buses. Even though we always have visited in mid July and had some long wait times for the busses we never really minded. Liked the convenience of not having to worry about directions. This time we are staying at the CBR and after reading about the potential long walk from the buses to our room we decided to rent a car this time. We are renting through Alamo at the airport and will pick up and drop off there. I am just looking for any suggestions or tips about renting a car and/or driving around Disney. Things such as has anyone ever had any problems parking. Like at other resorts. We have dining reservations at the grand Floridian and at old Key West. Are there any places that you would recommend not driving to and taking the bus Instead. Any tips or suggestions are appreciated

 

[kaytieeldr]

Always take the bus to the Magic Kingdom.

There is virtually always free self-parking at any resort for a few hours while you find or shop.

Don't drink and drive.

Don't let anyone not on the rental agreement drive the rental!!!

Signage is excellent, and if you miss a turn you can always get there via some other route.

But there are eight bus stops at CBR - so there really aren't any long walks http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/cbrmap.htm

 

[bumbershoot]

I even drive to MK. I just truly do not like the buses.

Know where you are and know where you're headed. Know the resort areas of places. So first you're heading to the MK area, then resorts, GF... Or Epcot area, then narrow it down. That's what the signs do.

Assign a navigator and assign a driver if you have more than one adult. If you have teens, have them navigate! The navigator navigates and the driver listens to the navigator.

 

[keishashadow]

take the bus to disney springs

smartphone app for GPS (even mapquest) can be helpful if ur not familar with area

re alamo, not sure if u are doing kiosk/counter pickup, unless you don't have proper insurance coverage, don't sign up for anything extra that will run up the cost. This includes prepaid gas.

don't forget to have cash on hand for the tolls if travelling the greenway

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Just make sure to put in your gps (whether it's on your phone or an actual gps) the address of the parking lots themselves to the parks not the park's address.

Also we've found it helpful no matter where we are on vacation that whoever is driving tell us how they want to be told directions. For example my husband would rather just listen to the gps tell him where to go and that is likely because we are so used to using them; every now and then he'll ask me how many stop lights ahead the turn is for example but usually he just lets the gps do the work. If the in-laws drive they prefer we tell them the directions and this is likely because they do not use gps that often and if we are with them we are always the ones to be using our phones and telling them where to go.

I cannot stress enough to only let authorized and listed drivers drive the rental car. Having worked for a large insurance company I can tell you from experience you do not want your insurance company to tell you "no we will not cover that accident" and that be because an unauthorized/not covered driver was driving; my husband rents a car every other weekend when he comes home (as he is in MD on business); he is on business expense when he is using the rental car and thus it is business usage according to the rental car companies. Normally as his spouse I could drive the car no problem without being an added driver (on most rental car companies-check alamo's agreement if you are married and have your spouse with you) but as he is on business and only business associates are covered without paying additional driver fee I am not going to take that risk so only he drives.

On that point make sure you carry your insurance ID card for your rental car with you either physically or on your phone. If you get stopped by the police or are involved in an accident and chose to waive the rental car coverage as your insurance already covers it you will need that proof of insurance as well as it saves time (again from experience where the police have to call the insurance company for coverage verification).

 

[tobikaye]

Take a picture of the rental car and license plate so you know which one is yours later on. I once picked up a rental car at about 11 pm after a delayed flight and the next morning I could not remember which one was my rental. It did not help that the cars on either side of my rental were similar styles in the same color.

If you drive to the parks, take a picture or send yourself a text of where you parked your car. Although you do have to take the monorail or ferry from TTC to MK, arriving at MK by waterway is my favorite so I do usually drive to TTC at least once and take the ferry to MK if not staying at FW.

Before going, spend some time on an online map that lets you look at the routes you are going to take. I usually use google maps so I can do a good street view, plus it gives me an idea of the road. Once on property, I usually forgo using GPS systems and just go by the signs. If you have time on the day you arrive, just spend some time driving around the property to get a feel for the signs and the areas.

 

[keishashadow]

Just make sure to put in your gps (whether it's on your phone or an actual gps) the address of the parking lots themselves to the parks not the park's address.

Also we've found it helpful no matter where we are on vacation that whoever is driving tell us how they want to be told directions. For example my husband would rather just listen to the gps tell him where to go and that is likely because we are so used to using them; every now and then he'll ask me how many stop lights ahead the turn is for example but usually he just lets the gps do the work. If the in-laws drive they prefer we tell them the directions and this is likely because they do not use gps that often and if we are with them we are always the ones to be using our phones and telling them where to go.

I cannot stress enough to only let authorized and listed drivers drive the rental car. Having worked for a large insurance company I can tell you from experience you do not want your insurance company to tell you "no we will not cover that accident" and that be because an unauthorized/not covered driver was driving; my husband rents a car every other weekend when he comes home (as he is in MD on business); he is on business expense when he is using the rental car and thus it is business usage according to the rental car companies. Normally as his spouse I could drive the car no problem without being an added driver (on most rental car companies-check alamo's agreement if you are married and have your spouse with you) but as he is on business and only business associates are covered without paying additional driver fee I am not going to take that risk so only he drives.

On that point make sure you carry your insurance ID card for your rental car with you either physically or on your phone. If you get stopped by the police or are involved in an accident and chose to waive the rental car coverage as your insurance already covers it you will need that proof of insurance as well as it saves time (again from experience where the police have to call the insurance company for coverage verification).

alamo changed things a few years back wherein the exra driver perk disappeared from insiders code and majority of corporate codes. A few still have the extra driver, but you need to make sure you can 'prove' you are eligible to use that code if questioned.

I have a photo of proof of insurance on my iPhone, one less piece of paper to carry.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

alamo changed things a few years back wherein the exra driver perk disappeared from insiders code and majority of corporate codes. A few still have the extra driver, but you need to make sure you can 'prove' you are eligible to use that code if questioned.

Forgive me here but I think I'm a bit confused by your comment. Would you mind re-explaining this please?

I have a photo of proof of insurance on my iPhone, one less piece of paper to carry.

Yeah that's why I said physically or on your phone. Personally I like physical; my husband however while he is in MD (from Jan 2016-Jul 2016) and while he was in TX (from July 2015-Dec 2015) like(s)(d) having it on his phone and his was via an e-mail attachment. I placed that comment in because it's an often forgotten thing to have access to (either physically or online/photo).

 

[keishashadow]

Forgive me here but I think I'm a bit confused by your comment. Would you mind re-explaining this please?

Yeah that's why I said physically or on your phone. Personally I like physical; my husband however while he is in MD (from Jan 2016-Jul 2016) and while he was in TX (from July 2015-Dec 2015) like(s)(d) having it on his phone and his was via an e-mail attachment. I placed that comment in because it's an often forgotten thing to have access to (either physically or online/photo).

Alamos insider's corporate code/signin used to automatically include extra driver (spouse) they dropped that perk several years ago

there are a few corporate codes that include extra spousal driver.

YMMV, but I wouldn't book using a corporate/rate code unless I could prove I was eligible as to concerns of accident/risk of being denied on the 2nd driver. God forbid the thought of accident, let alone gong thru subrogation process, but I do make sure all my ducks are in a row.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Alamos insider's corporate code/signin used to automatically include extra driver (spouse) they dropped that perk several years ago

there are a few corporate codes that include extra spousal driver.

YMMV, but I wouldn't book using a corporate/rate code unless I could prove I was eligible as to concerns of accident/risk of being denied on the 2nd driver. God forbid the thought of accident, let alone gong thru subrogation process, but I do make sure all my ducks are in a row.

~Apologize in advance for long post~

Ah I see. Well I wasn't speaking just about alamo and corporate codes maybe that's where the wires got crossed. I was speaking in general about checking to see who is automatically covered. We don't really use alamo. We prefer avis and national though enterprise used to be good (have had too many bad experiences though not related to discount codes or pricing at all). We also have used Budget and Hertz.

For example:
Avis-
The following individuals, if 25 years of age or older and in possession of a valid driver's license, may drive the car with the renter's prior permission and are exempt from Additional Driver fees:

• Renter's employer (while on company business);
• Renter's fellow employee (while on company business)
• Renter's spouse or life partner.
• Disabled renters who have completed the non-licensed renter form

As my husband is on company business I do not drive the car when he is home (even though he is home he is paying with a company credit card it is considered business not personal leisure-if he was paying with his own credit card and being reimbursed by his company it would be personal leisure not business). I will say when I rented a car with Avis last July to drive with my mother-in-law to Katy,TX to visit my husband, I used his corporate code and they never questioned for proof (though we would have figured out what to do had they done that-it was something we were prepared to do). We also didn't have to pay the additional driver fee as I have a Costco membership (depending on the location they will apply that no problem or they will tell you you had to rent the car through Costco's website [as I do believe is the proper procedure]).

National with their Emerald Club (which is free to sign up) or a Corporate Contract Agreement-husband has both
No Second Driver Fees: Never pay extra when family members and business associates do the driving.
This info is from a blog on National's website from Dec 2015 so info may or may not be fully accurate:
Emerald Club Members in the United States and Canada are allowed to have the following Additional drivers without a fee:
· Emerald Club member's spouse, common law spouse, or domestic partner who has the same address on the driver's license as the Emerald Club member and meet normal renter requirements. We err on the side of caution and still don't have me drive when he is home due to business usage (see Avis explanation)
· Immediate family member, Mother/Father, Son/Daughter, or Brother/Sister who has the same address on the driver's license as the Emerald Club member and meets normal renter requirements.

Corporate Contracts / Business Benefits Member in the United States and Canada are allowed the following additional drivers at no charge:
· Commercial (corporate) rentals, the renter's business partner, employer or fellow associate, who has an assigned corporate contract with National and drives the car for business purposes and meet normal renter requirements.

All other additional authorized driver situations are subject to a daily charge.
Exception states that allow the spouse to be an "Automatic" Authorized Driver under all circumstances are;California, Illinois, Missouri, Nevada, Oregon, and Wisconsin. There is no additional fee for the spouse to drive the vehicle in these states {As this is a state law then all rental car companies in one of these states would operate this way though I don't know if you also have to be a resident of the state or not}

Enterprise-
There is no additional driver fee in the US or Canada for authorized drivers. Authorized drivers would be a spouse or domestic partner (either same or opposite sex), or for one surrogate driver for a mobility impaired renter who meets the locations rental requirements. Also lists the same state law rule as is listed for National and lists it as for all circumstances meaning they do not have to be "authorized" in those states.

I got tired of searching for the other rental car companies but always look/research/review rental agreement before assuming drivers are covered. I would never jeopardize being covered or not (hence my sharing of working for a large insurance company) so if I wasn't eligible to drive for free I would either not drive the rental car or if I knew I needed to I would pay the additional fee (though I would likely book with a company that didn't charge or gave me free additional driver with a Costco or AAA membership).

As far as Alamo goes this blog stated this (but I don't know if it is fully accurate): Alamo no longer waives the additional driver fee for Alamo Insiders Members who enrolled after May 11, 2014. But if you enrolled May 11, 2014 or earlier can still add another driver for free. [copied from blog so don't pay attention to the web hyperlink as it just takes you to the Alamo website].

BTW the bold is not from me it's from copying and pasting from the website. I appreciate your information though in case we do rent with Alamo it's great to know that

 

[cedricandsophie]

We often have a car because my husband likes to drive from Chicago. If stayng st DVC resort we often drive to other resorts like wilderness or grand Floridian and have dinner and leave car. We had dinner at artist point, parked at wilderness, after dinner Took boat to contemporary, watched fireworks from bay lake and took boat back. Same thng at grand Floridian. Had dinner at park fare, took monorail to contemporary and watched fireworks.