How often do the Thrifty shuttles run?

[TinkOhio]

I will be flying into MCO during the week before Easter in the evening and can't help but be a little nervous. It will be just my DS, DD, and I. DH arrives two nights later. We were told that we need to catch a shuttle for our rental with Thrifty. Does anyone know how often they run? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[inkkognito]

We have used Thrifty many times, and usually a shuttle is either waiting there, or else one comes in no more than 10 minutes. They are very, very prompt.

 

[TinkOhio]

Thanks for that good news! How was your experience at the rental counter? And is it easy to find your way to WDW property from there?

 

[jobie61]

I've used thrifty 3 or 4 times at MCO. They were usually fast, however the last time (August 2006) we had to wait at least 45 minutes to an hour before we got picked up. We also left people waiting behind that couldn't fit on the bus.

Not this year, this time I'm planning on making two reservations. One with Thrifty and one with maybe Hertz. Whoever picks up up first will get the business. I seem to remember plenty of Hertz buses picking up, and no Thrifty.

I hate doing this, but I'm not going to wait an hour at the curb waiting for another Thrifty bus with 5 or 6 peices of luguage. Especially with Mickey waiting !!!

 

[Momtoemma]

Just back (March 22) from Disney and used Thrifty. They were great. I had only ever rented at airport counter at MCO before, but got a really great rate i could not beat. Shuttle was at the airport when we walked out and when we returned car we waited maybe 2 minutes for the shuttle to take off for the airport. I really liked that right across the road from thrifty is a gas station for filling up at the end.

Shuttle driver took care of the luggage both ways. It is maybe a 7 minute drive from airport to Thirfty.

Get Blue Chip (its free), and you will get your car even faster.

For the right rate, I would use Thrifty again in a heartbeat (but only for the right rate, since at airport is a little bit more convenient particualrly on the retrun since I had to allow an extra 30 minutes for retrun and our flight left at 7:30am!!).
Debbie

 

[WillCAD]

I've rented from Thrifty at MCO several times and my longest wait for the bus was about 20 minutes.

The Thrifty lot is just off airport property, only about a 5-minute drive from the terminal. They seem to run about 2-3 busses at a time, making stops on both sides of the terminal before going to the lot.

Blue Chip membership is a must; it lets you get into the much shorter Blue Chip line, skip filling out the forms (you fill out a master rental agreement when you join Blue Chip and they keep it on file), and most importantly, avoid the hard-sell sales pitch for additional insurance.

Getting from Thrifty to WDW property is simplicity itself; simply get on the Bee Line and head west to I-4, then get off at the appropriate WDW exit. Travel time about 30 minutes.

 

[TinkOhio]

Thanks so much for the help!

 

[inkkognito]

I second Blue Chip!

Our first counter experience was awful because of the pushy agent. When he started his spiel about insurance, I told him I was not interested and he got rude and insisted on going through it and really, really pushing it. I signed up for Blue Chip, and no more of that! They know your preferences beforehand and it is fast and painless. We've gotten a couple of nice free upgrades too.