Getting Back to the Airport and dropping off a car before meeting DME

[angierae]

So, DD18 and I will be checking out of a hotel on I-Drive, returning to MCO to drop off a rental car with Alamo, and then catching DME to Pop Century.

What time should I tell Disney I want to catch DME? If we plan on checking out of the hotel at ten, how long should I give us to drive to MCO, drop of the rental, and make it to DME? An hour? Two?

(Also, this is on a Sunday.)

We don't have any plans until lunch at 2:15 at Kona, but I'd like to get to Disney as soon as possible.

 

[MouseMomx2]

So, DD18 and I will be checking out of a hotel on I-Drive, returning to MCO to drop off a rental car with Alamo, and then catching DME to Pop Century.

What time should I tell Disney I want to catch DME? If we plan on checking out of the hotel at ten, how long should I give us to drive to MCO, drop of the rental, and make it to DME? An hour? Two?

(Also, this is on a Sunday.)

We don't have any plans until lunch at 2:15 at Kona, but I'd like to get to Disney as soon as possible.

You do not tell Disney what time you want to get DME from the airport. They simply take down your flight information and you head to the desk when you arrive. To do what you are planning you will need to give DME an dummy flight number. Just find a flight that comes into the airport around the time you want to head to WDW. I would look for a flight that comes in around 10:00am. Then drop off your car around 9:00 and head to the desk.

 

[ShayBells]

Map quest the time to get there than give a half hour to return the car and don't stress ME runs about every 30 minutes. They just need an about time.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the Transportation board.

 

[Itinkso]

You can always check-in at your Disney resort, drop off your luggage and then return the Alamo car to the Dolphin Hotel. From there you can catch a bus to MK and then on to your ADR.

 

[ceasarbarb]

If I'm not mistaken, ALAMO has a car return at Disney World's "car care center". Instead of driving all the way back to the airport, see if you can contact ALAMO and change the drop off spot to the car care center.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

No need to go clear to the airport there are two Alamo location onsite a Disney. One at the Dolphin hotel the other is at the Car Care Center.

Simply change your reservation to either one of these locations. Both of the onsite Alamo location have a free shuttle to take you to a resort or a park after you drop off the car. So they could even drop you off at Kona's if the timing works out!

I first would take your luggage over to your resort and check in that way you can either put your luggage in your room if its ready or leave it will bell services and then return the car.

If you chose to take it back to the airport you will be wasting time. You will need to allow an hour to get to the airport. Haul you luggage down to the DME desk and check in. Then wait for a bus - not to mention waiting for the bus to fill up enough for the driver to decide to leave. Then there is the travel time to WDW. YOu could possibily have to make several resort stops before you get your resort. Then wait for the driver to unload your luggage. You could spend a good 2 hours by doing this.

 

[angierae]

You do not tell Disney what time you want to get DME from the airport. They simply take down your flight information and you head to the desk when you arrive. To do what you are planning you will need to give DME an dummy flight number. Just find a flight that comes into the airport around the time you want to head to WDW. I would look for a flight that comes in around 10:00am. Then drop off your car around 9:00 and head to the desk.

I was told in another thread that the "dummy" flight was not neccesary, and I could just tell Disney that I wasn't flying in that morning, and what time I would need to catch DME. (This is when I mentioned needing to find a "dummy" flight. I was told I didn't.)

If I'm not mistaken, ALAMO has a car return at Disney World's "car care center". Instead of driving all the way back to the airport, see if you can contact ALAMO and change the drop off spot to the car care center.

No need to go clear to the airport there are two Alamo location onsite a Disney. One at the Dolphin hotel the other is at the Car Care Center.

Simply change your reservation to either one of these locations. Both of the onsite Alamo location have a free shuttle to take you to a resort or a park after you drop off the car. So they could even drop you off at Kona's if the timing works out!

I first would take your luggage over to your resort and check in that way you can either put your luggage in your room if its ready or leave it will bell services and then return the car.

If you chose to take it back to the airport you will be wasting time. You will need to allow an hour to get to the airport. Haul you luggage down to the DME desk and check in. Then wait for a bus - not to mention waiting for the bus to fill up enough for the driver to decide to leave. Then there is the travel time to WDW. YOu could possibily have to make several resort stops before you get your resort. Then wait for the driver to unload your luggage. You could spend a good 2 hours by doing this.

Will Alamo let me pick up the car at the airport but drop it off at the Car Care Center? I will be flying in a few days earlier and will need to get the car from the airport.

 

[angierae]

Okay, thanks for your help! I called Alamo and they were able to change me over to the Dolphin, she couldn't seem to figure out where the Car Care Center location was. And it made my cost go DOWN $4, so even better.

Thank you everyone!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

That is great! Now you will save yourself a lot of time and get to start the Disney adventure quickly

Yes you can pick it up at the airport and drop it off at Disney. Which I think you have already figured out since you have already changed your reservation. But thought I would answer anyway in case someone else reads your post and was wondering the same thing. And there is no added cost to do this

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Okay, thanks for your help! I called Alamo and they were able to change me over to the Dolphin, she couldn't seem to figure out where the Car Care Center location was. And it made my cost go DOWN $4, so even better.

Thank you everyone!

I don't know why an Alamo agent would be unable to see the Car Care Center location. Decide which location works best for you. If the answer is the Car Care Center, then call back and talk to a different Alamo agent.

The Alamo location at the Car Care Center provides shuttle service. If you return your car there, a shuttle will take you back to your resort or to a park. Also, the CCC location has longer hours.

The Alamo location at the WDW Dolphin does NOT provide shuttle service and the Alamo hours are shorter. The WDW Dolphin is served by WDW transportation to the parks and DTD. That's fine if you've already checked in, left all your bags in your room (or with bell services), and you want to take a WDW bus to MK or DAK, or take a boat or walk to Epcot of DHS. But it's not so good if you have a trunk full of luggage or you just want to head back to your resort.

Walt Disney Dolphin
1500 Epcot Resorts Blvd
Orlando, FL 32830
Phone: (888)826-6893
Mon - Fri
8:00AM - 4:00PM
Sat
8:00AM - 4:00PM
Sun
8:00AM - 4:00PM

Orl Walt Disney Car Care
1000 Car Care Dr
Orlando, FL 32830
Phone: (888)826-6893
Mon - Fri
6:00AM - 8:00PM
Sat
6:00AM - 6:00PM
Sun
6:00AM - 6:00PM

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

In order to get the shuttle to pick you up at the Dolphin simply call the Alamo Car Care Center location and arrange a pick up time. Its best to call them 48 hours before hand and tell them what time you would need to be picked up at the Dolphin and where you would like them to drop you off at.

Here is direct number to the Car Care Center

Car Care Center is (407) 824-3470.


That's at least what I did two years ago and it was very easy. They took me to the GF from the Dolphin. yes I could have dropped the car at the car care center since I was staying at GF but the rate for the CCC was more than the Dolphin location.

 

[JimboCh]

Also check out Dollar rental car. Promo Code 5C11M

Pick up at MCO Drop off at WYNDHAM LAKE BUENA VISTA RESORT - ORLANDO which is located on Hotel Row.

They should be able to transport you back to Pop Century, or just let them take you to Down Town Disney which is just about right across the street and you can take a bus to your ADR