Help from car rental pros

[LovinRafiki]

I don't know if this is the correct forum to post this question, but here goes anyway. My DBF and I are traveling to WDW for the second time in 6 months. We went for the first time for my birthday in April and had so much fun we felt we needed a second trip to do more and spend more time there to enjoy it more! Last time we did the magical express and the buses with in the park. This time we want to venture out of Disney and with our dining plan we would like to do some resort dining. So we really want to rent a car. I have been looking on different websites and the prices seem to be + $300. This seems extreme to me, but I am not a big car rental person (only rented once in my life). We have no kids, just us and I was wondering if anyone has good tips or tricks for us. It will be an 8 day rental. Any help would be really appreciated!!!

 

[eeyoregon]

Do you "belong" to anything that gives you discount codes? I am a Costco member and am booking my ressie with their discount and coupon codes thru National. 7 night rental for $169.

We are going to take the DME to Disney World and then the next day take the National shuttle to the Dolphin and pick up the car. We are staying off property our last 2 nights and will return the car to MCO.

Tips: Only reserve on the hour, no 1/2 hour time slots as rates are higher.
Currently it costs more to rent MCO to MCO which is why we are going to pick it up at the Dolphin instead.

There is a transportation board here in the DIS that may be more helpful.

Lastly, keep checking! I always lock in a reservation so that I have something on the books but as my trip gets closer I check daily to see if the rates have dropped and will cancel/rebook as they drop.

Good luck!

 

[shandee1407]

Be sure to try sites like hotwire and expedia. We got a 9 day rental for ~$200.

 

[jog58]

check out mousesavers.com, they have a great car rental page with tips and rental codes you can use. We saved a good $100 on our rental last month. Good luck.

 

[Goofy4]

I've tried to wait patiently for this trip (3 days from now) and it paid off.

National and Budget both have "last minute" deals at about half the normal rate, and both email codes if you sign up for them.

The rates seem to start coming down at about 3 weeks out. Budget is a daily roller coaster -- very frustrating. I got a van with National for 8 days (actually I think they count it as 9). With taxes and fees it was in the low $300s. Small cars were much lower. I guess I need to check the Costco rate now as well.

The costco rate was in the upper $600s and the new "last minute" rate is $364, or about $100 higher than it was a few days ago. Crazy.

 

[Talock]

If you schedule correctly, you can reduce the length of your rental and hence your cost.

How's your schedule? Are you gonna stay 8 days altogether or 8 days at Disney? When we honeymooned there, we stayed the first 5 days within the property on a package, where you don't really need a car. Afterwards, we picked-up a compact at the Car Care Center (Alamo), and moved to the Country Inn & Suites in Orlando in order to go to the Universal Parks.