Help! 2 questions…

[MinnieMO]

1.) We never rent a car when we go, it’s either ME or we drove. I can get a rental car off airport about $115 cheaper than at MCO. I’m research everyone keeps saying it isn’t worth it and they wouldn’t do that. I’m curious as to why? It’s a solo trip so I’m not concerned with luggage transport or anything along those lines and have plenty of time on arrival and departure day, is there something else I’m missing
2.) I have a couple different options booked right now. Offsite hotel and rental car (off airport) and a room only at POP. I’m trying to stay on a budget. I can do the off site option for about $230 less than onsite. I understand that I would have to pay for parking at the parks but I’m only doing 2 days (MK & HS) and 2 days BB and gas for the car but I just don’t see that being total more $75. Which would you do? On-site or off

Any help is greatly appreciated! TIA

 

[sponica]

It's been a while since I've picked up the rental from an offsite location (a long while) but my memory is that it was ETERNAL. We got on the shuttle with all our luggage to the offsite location, where the line was at least an hour long. My aunt who picked up her rental at the airport was able to just get her car and go.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

We did an offsite rental car once (with 3 kids) and it was a disaster. Shuttle to the rental car place, they were SUPER busy, waited in line for almost an hour, and then they did the HARD SELL on all of the extras (which happens sometimes with on airport rentals too). We decided then and there that it would be onsite only from then on and we sign up for the frequent renter programs for all of our rentals to try to shorten our wait as much as possible.

But if we are staying on Disney property, we take ME and then take the buses to the parks.

 

[sghokie]

Back a few years ago, I was able to get a much better rate renting from enterprise from The Dolphin.
I just took an uber from the airport to the hotel. I picked up the rental the next day.
Was no problem.
Beware though, these days rental cars are in short supply.
You might be better off getting it from the airport.

 

[EACarlson]

I'm assuming you mean a neighborhood rental place and not just one of the airport rental places that requires a shuttle. Time is the biggest factor, once you figure in travel time, cab or Uber cost and then however far out of the way you have to go to get the car, for most it's not worth the aggravation. I had friends that did it in 2017, took an uber from MCO to the rental place, cost $40, took an hour and they saved a total of $50.

I wouldn't stay onsite right now unless the cost was close. The convenience of being on property alone isn't worth it, with no RAC, luggage handling, fast passes or EMH... I would much rather have the flexibility of having a rental and being able to go off property for things like fast food and drinks.

 

[MinnieMO]

Thank you everyone!
The car rental company is one that is right off MCO with shuttle (ACE). I guess I should have added that it is the end of next month that I will be traveling. I also don’t plan on having a checked bag, it will just be a carry on.
Totals: (including hotel, transportation and park tickets.)
On site - $1,113
Off site - $890

 

[Meglen]

Thank you everyone!
The car rental company is one that is right off MCO with shuttle (ACE). I guess I should have added that it is the end of next month that I will be traveling. I also don’t plan on having a checked bag, it will just be a carry on.
Totals: (including hotel, transportation and park tickets.)
On site - $1,113
Off site - $890

At that price you could Uber/Lyft all day and still come out ahead. Also check the rental car discount thread might be some discounts.

 

[sghokie]

If it was me and you have the option of the on airport car vs shuttle, I would take the on airport one.
I am leary of the smaller rental car companies and just stick to the larger ones on site like avis, enterprise, budget, etc.

 

[EACarlson]

Thank you everyone!
The car rental company is one that is right off MCO with shuttle (ACE). I guess I should have added that it is the end of next month that I will be traveling.

That changes the calculus for me quite a bit. $50 is my threshold for renting off airport vs on, and $150 is my threshold for renting major name vs discount brand. What company is your $115 more option on airport with? If it's Hertz (not using a Mousesavers code), Enterprise, Alamo, National, Budget I would probably do that. One of the others is a harder decision. I've rented at enough airports that don't offer rental cars at the airport that the shuttle doesn't bother me all that much other than the time.

I have a reservation for October with Fox, right now it's $200 more to rent at the airport. I just can't justify it myself. If rates drop a little more or if the people I'm splitting with are ok with it I will switch it.

At that price you could Uber/Lyft all day and still come out ahead. Also check the rental car discount thread might be some discounts.

Those prices are inclusive of not just the rental car, but the hotel and park tickets as well. If you think you can Uber around Orlando for four days for $230, I'm highly skeptical of that. $130 of that is going to be just to and from MCO.

 

[MinnieMO]

That changes the calculus for me quite a bit. $50 is my threshold for renting off airport vs on, and $150 is my threshold for renting major name vs discount brand. What company is your $115 more option on airport with? If it's Hertz (not using a Mousesavers code), Enterprise, Alamo, National, Budget I would probably do that. One of the others is a harder decision. I've rented at enough airports that don't offer rental cars at the airport that the shuttle doesn't bother me all that much other than the time.

I have a reservation for October with Fox, right now it's $200 more to rent at the airport. I just can't justify it myself. If rates drop a little more or if the people I'm splitting with are ok with it I will switch it.

Those prices are inclusive of not just the rental car, but the hotel and park tickets as well. If you think you can Uber around Orlando for four days for $230, I'm highly skeptical of that. $130 of that is going to be just to and from MCO.

The rental car I currently have is with Hertz on a corporate discount. If I did the off site hotel I would only rent a car, traveling solo I personal don’t feel comfortable to Uber/Lyft. (I know it’s safe and there are things you can do, it’s just not for me.) That being said I would be adding $50 in parking and probably close to $40-$50 in gas if not more with either rental. At this point ACE rental would be the only thing keeping me from just staying on Disney property for the “bundle” convenience.
If I stay with the MCO rental I’d been looking at $996 as a total (including hotel, transportation and park tickets.) add in the $100 +/- for parking and gas $17 is worth bundling to stay with Disney.
Thanks for everyone’s help it’s greatly appreciated.

 

[Meglen]

That changes the calculus for me quite a bit. $50 is my threshold for renting off airport vs on, and $150 is my threshold for renting major name vs discount brand. What company is your $115 more option on airport with? If it's Hertz (not using a Mousesavers code), Enterprise, Alamo, National, Budget I would probably do that. One of the others is a harder decision. I've rented at enough airports that don't offer rental cars at the airport that the shuttle doesn't bother me all that much other than the time.

I have a reservation for October with Fox, right now it's $200 more to rent at the airport. I just can't justify it myself. If rates drop a little more or if the people I'm splitting with are ok with it I will switch it.

Those prices are inclusive of not just the rental car, but the hotel and park tickets as well. If you think you can Uber around Orlando for four days for $230, I'm highly skeptical of that. $130 of that is going to be just to and from MCO.

I didn't realize it was a bundle my bad.