How Long On Arrival At Mco Waiting In Line To Pick Up Hire Car?

[FLORIDA DREAMING]

We're planning to follow Simon's tip and sort the hire car out before collecting our luggage for the 2nd time. Just wondering how long it usually takes. I'm just thinking that if most of the 400 people on board the plane pick up cars, we could be there for some time.

 

[jockey]

Which car hire company are you using? I always find the queues at Alamo really long and it can take up to 45 mins!!!

 

[allie5]

It can take awhile. There were only 4 people in front of us in December and it still took 40 minutes.

 

[FLORIDA DREAMING]

Hi there,

We're using Dollar, if that makes any difference and have pre-booked inclusive insurance, so it should cut the waiting time down a bit.

 

[Bexx]

if most of the 400 people on board the plane pick up cars, we could be there for some time.

Bear in mind that most of these people won't be following Simon's tip - they will wait to collect their luggage before going down to the car hire desks. So it shouldn't be too long a wait.

 

[kevin harrison]

Bear in mind that most of these people won't be following Simon's tip - they will wait to collect their luggage before going down to the car hire desks. So it shouldn't be too long a wait.

Where can I find Simon's advice???

 

[lagunn]

what we do is hubby goes to get the car while me and the kids collect the luggage. then we meet him downstairs..

 

[UKDEB]

We do exactly the same as lagunn and we never have to wait - as Bexx says, everyone else will be collecting their bags first. Who are you flying with and have you booked the car hire separately, or as part of a package? Once I have that information, I can tell you exactly where you need to go once you clear immigration and customs.

 

[FLORIDA DREAMING]

Hi Deb,

We're flying with Virgin and have booked their fully inclusive package which includes all handling fees, airport taxes etc. The only thing it doesn't include is petrol. So everything is booked through Virgin.

Thanks for any advice you can give us.


Catherine

 

[SammieG]

we have been in our hotel room within an hour of landing before, and sometimes it takes more than 3 hours..
it just depends on what flights come in at the same time, and how many times you have to be scanned..how long the queues are and how many people are booking hire cars.

 

[laudan14]

Will be taking your advice, looks like I'm going for the cases and Hubby for the car.

 

[Bexx]

Where can I find Simon's advice???

Simon V(eness) is the author of the Brits Guide to Orlando. When I read the thread originally, I was assuming that Florida Dreaming was talking about a tip Simon had mentioned on the boards. After I wrote that not many people would know about the tip, I realised that they would if they had their copy of the Brits Guide!! So for Florida Dreamings sake I hope that not many too many people on the flight have read the book, and for Simon's sake I hope they have!!!

 

[UKDEB]

Catherine,

After you disembark the plane, you will come down into the Immigration Hall. Take a moment to work out where the lines are forming and stay away from those areas - most people tend to form queues in the middle of the hall and those stations to the far right or left often have little or no queues. Make sure you have filled in your Immigration and Customs forms correctly - if you've made a mess of it, you will be sent to the back of the queue.

Once you have cleared Immigration you will need to collect your bags from the carousels just beyond the Immigration desks. You then clear Customs - usually just a walk through. As you exit this area, you have to give up your bags which will be transported to the main terminal. It's then up the escalator and you'll pass through a security area.

Upon exiting security, bear left towards the tram which will take you over to the main terminal to be reunited with your luggage. Walk to the far end of the waiting area - this way you will be first off at the other end. The trams come along every few minutes.

At the other end, bear left again and down the escalator to level B (baggage claim) and right at the bottom of the escalator towards the Virgin conveyors for second baggage reclaim. I normally wait here for the bags (I always beat them over), whilst dh takes the elevator directly behind down to level A and the car hire desks. You will then need to go to either the dedicated Virgin Dollar desk, or the regular Dollar desk, depending on whether or not you have booked a package with Virgin. You can't miss either. The times we have booked fly-drives with Virgin (and so have been using the dedicated desk) dh has been there so quickly, they have not been ready for him - you will almost certainly be the first there. If you are using the regular Dollar desk, then you will be in line with anyone else renting from Dollar (from any flight), but dh has never had more than a couple of people waiting ahead of him. Sometimes he has finished before I've turned up with the bags. On more than one occasion we have been away from the airport within half an hour of touching down. Usually it's 45 minutes to an hour.

 

[jfsdrv6]

National moves very quickly, about 5-7 mins is all I've ever waited, and you pick-up your car right across the street. You can transfer your luggage yourself to your car, especially if it has wheels or use a porter. Mousesavers.com has codes to use when renting, and I just booked a midsize for $95. incl. all taxes, for 1 week in May from National, who allow you to choose your own car from the category you've rented. On MouseSavers.com, click on TRANSPORTATION FOR YOUR DISNEY VACATION, then RENTAL CAR DISCOUNTS AND ADVICE. You will see a list of all the rental companies, click on whichever one you like for current discounts and codes.

 

[cheryl.UK]

Is there still a FV dollar desk?