How are car rental waits recently?

[FredS]

Curious as to wait times for those who have rented cars lately and needed to be taken to the port after dropping off and/or picked up at the port the morning of debarkation. (NOT the wait times to get your car, but the wait to be transported to and from the port.)

Budget was HORRIBLE on both ends our last trip, and I am not sure that I want to run the risk of being burned by them again, but thought perhaps things have dramatically improved, or would like to hear the experiences of those who have used one of the other Cape Canaveral rental companies.

Thanks!!

 

[Billinaz]

I used Budget for our last 2 cruises and the wait was no more than 5 minutes.....

This was first thing in the morning when I returned the car...

 

[dthogue]

I was wondering the same thing. Although we are renting from Avis on our return, I was wondereing if my husband could get off the ship - take the shuttle to Avis, rent the car and drive back to pick up us. I would take my DD's (16,13 and 7) and get the luggage and meet him outside the terminal. Does this make sense? Thinking it would be easier than all 5 of us taking the shuttle and dragging the luggage? Any thoughts? How far is the Avis office from the port?

Thanks,

 

[FredS]

I was wondering the same thing. Although we are renting from Avis on our return, I was wondereing if my husband could get off the ship - take the shuttle to Avis, rent the car and drive back to pick up us. I would take my DD's (16,13 and 7) and get the luggage and meet him outside the terminal. Does this make sense? Thinking it would be easier than all 5 of us taking the shuttle and dragging the luggage? Any thoughts? How far is the Avis office from the port?

Thanks,

Yes, he can do this, and I think it is the best plan. Last time with Budget there were huge groups with lots of luggage and only one group could go at a time. I really did not understand why ONE person didn't go and rent the car and then come back to pick up the others. That is what we always do.

 

[DIS NURSE]

I am thankful for this info...is there a "place"...ie, bench, area, etc. just outside the DCL terminal that the we can wait for either myself or DH to go rent the car and the come back and pick up the rest of the troops? Is this condusive to do with 2 young children?

I would rather wait than all of us shlep all of our luggage on the Budget bus just to wait in another line at the rental office while the kids are chompin' at the bit!

Thanks for the info...

 

[aprilgail2]

I am brining my 76 year old mom and my 5 year old and I know that I don't want them sitting outside at the port waiting for me to come back with the rental car so I am renting one at the airport and lkeeping it, parking it at port and having it right there when we get off the ship. I got a rate of under 100.00 for a midsize car for the 8 days we needed it so it was worth it just to keep the thing and avoid the hassal of having to wait for shuttles etc.

 

[Aisling]

We're renting from Budget after disembarking, and we're planning on taking a taxi to the Budget rental place. We have an early flight to catch, and I want to get to Budget asap.

 

[The Brechun's]

Rented from Avis in March 2005 both coming and going.

Going to the port I dropped of DW, DD, and DSIL and all the luggage at the port (they were second in line before the check in was open) and drove the car to the Avis office. (about a 10 minute drive) and hopped back on the shuttle back to the port. They whole gang was still waiting outside. When I got there waited about ten minutes and then they let us in to the terminal.

After the cruise made the mistake of all getting on the Avis shuttle with luggage ( the reason was because I didn't know if the full size car I rented would hold all of the luggage we had). The shuttle driver puts all of your luggage on the shuttle bus and then takes it off when you get to the Avis office. Just a big hassle having to handle all the luggage three times.

Next time I'll just hop on the shuttle and return to the port with a car.

Avis was quick and efficient and upgraded me both times fron a full size car.

(Buick Le Sabre and then a Cadillac Seden de Ville.

 

[pcryan]

We just returned on the 9th, walked our luggage out to the curb and within 2 minutes Budget came by. He said he was on his way to the Glory but saw his "Disney friends" waiting and thought he better get them (he was a former CM). On outbound DH dropped us off with luggage and took the car back and then rode the shuttle over. We were checked in by the time he got back which wasn't all that long. We had our car and were on the road by 9:00 a.m.

 

[Anastasia]

Is Budget the closest rental office to the port? I thought I read somewhere that you could walk there? Is there any one rental office that is easier to get to than the others, or are they all equally efficient with the shuttles?

 

[inkkognito]

Budget is close (although they're all in the same general area), but definitely not walking distance close. We have used them several times and have never waited more than a few minutes. In my experience, Avis has generally been the one with the longest lines.
Barb