How do we transfer from Marriott to Contemporary?

[kc&dmom]

We are in our final stages of planning for our very first trip to WDS and staying at CR Aug 25-29. We will be staying on the 12th floor Tower Club and the Concierge has been very helpful with our early planning (I highly recommend staying with them already). We have one small hitch. We are flying in on the 24th and staying at the Marriott Courtyard the night before taking advantage of great airfare on the absolutely fabulous Midwest Express and earning a whole extra day onsite -- YAHOO! Concierge has talked to bellhop at Marriott & CR and they will not arrange to pick up our bags. What is the best way to transfer our things over? Should we rent a car at the airport for the week? We are a family of 5 and will need transportation to & from the airport. Shuttles are at least $120 and I don't know if we would fit in a towncar (we will be bringing carseats). Suggestions Please!

 

[mkymouse4ever]

If your just concerned about getting to the cr from the marriot, it really is not far and a cab should be easily acessabile for that short trip! We are going poly to swan & will have to do the same thing! MKY

 

[PamOKW]

Since you know you'll need transportation to and from the airport and from the Marriott to the Contemporary.....I think I'd go ahead and rent the car. While a car isn't essential on a Disney trip, it can come in handy for getting around resort to resort. If the prices are too high, you can always go back to plan B of shuttles/towncar and taxi service.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Get the car. It won't be that much more than the cost of the shuttles to and from the airport and a cab from the CY to CR. Plus, you have the benefit of the car while you are at WDW. We never go without one. Sure, you don't need it. However, for us is is much better than the buses. Bus transportation from the CR to the main parks isn't bad. However, bus transportation between resorts, to water parks, to DTD - it can be bad. A car can save you a lot of time.

 

[karyn]

Do you have your heart set on the Marriott courtyard? Is it possible to just stay on property at any of the All Stars Resorts or the POR as they have a trundle bed since you have 5.
I know at that time of the year with or without the AP or Disney Card you should be able to get some great deals. I think your luggage will be easily transferred to the Contemporary. Check it out.

 

[Gillian]

Definetly check into the rates at the all stars. You said you have 5 people. are any of them under 3? It will save you a lot of trouble if you can stay there! There are room only discounts available through the 24th, which is perfect for you. $74 for all stars, $94 moderates.

Here are some of the codes
http://www.wdwinfo.com/content/code1.htm

The towncar companies will be able to accomodate you, but because you need transportation 3 times, I agree that renting a car is your best bet (if you don't stay onsite).

A weekly full size car rental shouldn't be that much $$. Do you have the disney club card?

 

[NancyIL]

You might also consider renting a car from National at the airport and driving yourself to the Courtyard the first day and to the Contemporary the next - then dropping off the car at the Car Care Center near the MK. When it's time to return to the airport, you could either rent a car for the one-way drive back or else get a one-way towncar transfer. Either will probably cost less than having a full-size rental car for the week. If the price difference isn't great, hang onto the rental car the entire time.

 

[kc&dmom]

Is the National Car Care Center on Disney Property? It sounded like a lot of hassle to return a car after a day and get a ride back to the CR. We will not be arriving until after 8pm on Saturday and the Marriott was only $59.00! Our youngest will be almost 4 when we travel and so we would have to stay at a moderate. I will check pricing it might just save us a lot of hassle with towncars/shuttles/rental cars --- the six day rate from National for a full size w/DC was $260. Maybe it would be worth the extra money.

 

[Gillian]

I get $209 from National, for the 24th through the 29th, using the disney club contract code & a disney club coupon. PM me if you need info on those!

Time & Distance 1 Week @ 256.98 256.98

Less Discounts:
Discount -51.40
Disney Connection -41.12

SubTotal 164.46

Add Surcharges & Taxes: (subject to change)
Concession Fee Recov Chrg 9.8 Pct 20.15
Fl Schrg/tire&bat Fee 2.05 Usd/dy 10.25
Fla License Fee .43 Usd/day 2.15
State Tax (6.0%) 11.82

Total Estimate 208.83

 

[kc&dmom]

I just tried using the codes posted at wdwinfo -- thanks for the suggestion. The best I could do was $128 at POR -- we need the room with the trundle. Has anyone rented a car and returned it at the car center?

 

[NancyIL]

Try pricing two one-day rentals from National, because $260 is a LOT of money for 5 days of car rental! Yes - the Car Care Center is on WDW property. They have a shuttle that will take the driver back to your hotel. There's also a National desk at the Dolphin.

**I just priced two one-day rentals with National. Picking up at MCO on Aug. 24 and dropping off at the Car Care Center on Aug. 25 would be $62.21 (including all taxes) for a full-size with DC discount. Picking up at the Car Care Center on Aug. 28 and dropping off at the airport on Aug. 29 would cost $56.89, for a total of $119.10.

 

[Gillian]

$55.05 for 1 day, aug 24-25, pick up a the airport, drop off at the car care center.

both the $55 & the $210 I got from national were logging in with my emeral club ID, changing the contract code to disney club & adding a DC coupon (weekly only). When I didn't do the emerald club log in, the rates were higher, even with the disney club contract code.

 

[NancyIL]

That makes sense, Gillian - as the Emerald Club price for a full-size is the same as for an intermediate. I didn't use my EC number because I didn't know if kc&dmom was a member. If you are an Emerald Club member the rates would be $54.81 going to the hotel and $56.09 returning to the airport - for a total of $110.90.

 

[kc&dmom]

Thank You, Thank You for the advice. I will definitely use the National suggestions.

 

[NancyIL]

Just in case you aren't an Emerald Club member - you can join for free as a Disney Club member:

Membership fee waived in the Emerald Club

If you are a frequent traveler, National Car Rental has a program designed just for you! As a Disney Club member, you are eligible to join National's frequent renter club, fee-waived! Emerald Club offers simply A higher level of service if you're looking for a way to escape the headaches and delays of renting a car the usual way, National Car Rental suggests you try a better way. Emerald Club, National's premier level of service, gives members exclusive benefits and privileges to make renting faster, easier and traveling more enjoyable. It's easy to join, and when you do, you'll discover a whole world of choice, priority service and convenience each and every time you rent a car with National.


Offer Limitations:
Available now through December 31, 2002.
Standard age, driver, and credit rental qualifications apply. Offer valid only at U.S. locations. Minimum rental age at most U.S. locations is 25. National may elect not to rent to any person who does not meet National's safe driver criteria, or who has incurred one or more insurance losses with National. Unless contrary to law, any liability insurance available to the renter or authorized driver will apply to all rentals under this Program. Discounted rates do not include taxes, governmental or airport fees, or optional charges such as refueling service charges, Loss Damage Waiver, Personal Accident Insurance/Personal Effects Coverage, Supplemental Liability Insurance, or any other optional items or services.

How to Redeem:
Call 1-877-603-0486 for your fee-waived membership application.

 

[kc&dmom]

I am beginning to understand why people just jump on board with a Disney Package. At first I really enjoyed searching out offers and the best deals --- but somewhere it all became so complicated.

I needed a rental car for one night to move from the airport to the Marriott to the CR. National required DC membership, joining the Emerald Club (faxing or mailing special forms), and still being aware of DC coupons, and whatever else. After seeking out all the codes and the hassle -- full size car $55.05. You can not return your car at Swan/Dolphin you have to go to the drop off center in Lake Buena Vista and await a ride back.

I showed my DH the postings and he said just try Budget. Signed up for "Fastbreak" very similar to "Emerald Club" in all respects plus you can earn airline miles. No fee, no code --full size car $51.58. And I can drop it off at the Double Tree on Hotel Plaza Blvd walk over to Downtown Disney and catch a shuttle to CR.

When did this stop being fun?

 

[NancyIL]

It sounds like you got a good deal with Budget. You'll probably want to take the bus from the Doubletree to Downtown Disney because it is quite a hike if you want to walk. I'm assuming this is after someone drops off the family and the luggage at the Contemporary and then drives back to the Doubletree? If you've never taken a bus from DD to a WDW hotel - you're in for a LONG ride!

FYI - National's Car Care Center is on WDW property - in the vicinity of the Magic Kingdom. You can also earn airline miles with National. Since you aren't going for 3-1/2 months, it really isn't that big of a hassle to fill out the Emerald Club application. It seems like a small hassle compared to dropping off and picking up rental cars at Downtown Disney hotels.

 

[NancyIL]

I wanted to say once more how LONG you will wait for and ride a bus from Downtown Disney to the Contemporary if you go with Budget! WDW is HUGE, and the drive from the Contemporary to the Doubletree will take at least 15-20 minutes one way. Then there's the walk or bus ride from the Doubletree to Downtown Disney. The bus ride from DD back to the Contemporary will take at least 30 minutes, not including wait time. The shuttle ride from National's Car Care Center to the Contemporary will be nothing compared to the time it will take you to drop off a car from Budget! Please, reconsider your plans!!

 

[kc&dmom]

I called to receive my "Emerald Club" application and I will make my reservation with National. I will not take the LONG bus ride to return a car, I will make the most of my DC membership -- and I thank you for the advice.

 

[NancyIL]

Whew - crisis averted!