If you are renting a car in Orlando

[Weedy]

If you are renting a car you should sign up for the Preferred Costumer Service and pre pay for your rental. This way you skip the check in lines.
Download the app it will tell you what parking spot the car is in and you drive away
This is the line today at the Orlando airport at 1:00 in the afternoon

 

[OSUZorba]

I got AVIS Preferred years ago and won't even consider renting from anyone else now. Rental car lines are literally the worst lines in the world.

 

[KYMickey]

I got AVIS Preferred years ago and won't even consider renting from anyone else now. Rental car lines are literally the worst lines in the world.

National Car Rental also has a program very similar, with theirs you just go out and pick a car in the area set aside for these customers. You he will end up with a car one or two classes better than what you have reserved.

 

[OSUZorba]

National Car Rental also has a program very similar, with theirs you just go out and pick a car in the area set aside for these customers. You he will end up with a car one or two classes better than what you have reserved.

Yeah, Avis used to have that. Now you can pick between a few options in the app. As soon as you land you get a car assignment with the slot number, then you can switch it in the app. Anything to avoid the counter though.

 

[WDW Traveler]

Yikes! Thanks for the heads up. We have a reservation through Hertz for September, we will definitely have to sign up for their preferred customer status. We have always rented cars at MCO and never had issues like that, but I know the way things are now, we could definitely run into this. Thanks!

 

[leahgoogle]

Alamo does this through their Insiders program and skips the counter too. You just pick a car in your rental row and go. It’s so easy!

 

[xuxa777]

Preferred customer status at Orlando has been just as bad in some case, it just moved to a line outside in the parking garage. I am preferred and had to wait in long lines outside in the garage at MCO, because there were no cars at all to pick from. Ever since February when people started to begin to travel again rental car companies have been a mess. Many sold of a big part of their fleets and just don't have cars. Add in the the new car shortage it is a mess. Preferred will help but don't necessarily expect it to work great for a while.

 

[Wandering Oaken]

We ONLY rent cars that allow us to skip all lines and go directly to the parking area and get into a car. We "check out" at the exit of the garage.

 

[KathyTX]

Moving thread from “Disney Rumors and News” forum to “Transportation”

 

[cherylnj]

I work for an airport shuttle company that runs from MCO to The Villages. At least once a day we've been getting calls from people requesting a ride because the rental companies have run out of rentals. Make sure you have a backup plan.

 

[gharter]

We've used Alamo for several years and skip the line.
Would not even consider renting from a company where I had to check in at the counter now.

 

[ilikecarrentals]

If you are renting a car you should sign up for the Preferred Costumer Service and pre pay for your rental. This way you skip the check in lines.
Download the app it will tell you what parking spot the car is in and you drive away
This is the line today at the Orlando airport at 1:00 in the afternoon

Join the frequent renter clubs prior to booking as some agencies have trouble adding frequent renter numbers to existing reservations. All the major rental agencies have a way to skip the counter at MCO.

No need to prepay, does not help, may hinder if they have no cars. If you prepay with certain third parties and Dollar/Thrifty you may not be able to take advantage of frequent renter club benefits.

 

[EACarlson]

The only reason to ever prepay for a rental car if if is significantly cheaper and you have confidence that they are going to honor the contract. Right now, that would be nobody. I've got a booking with Fox rentals in October that I'm 90% sure I'm going to cancel and rebook with one of the majors. Had I prepaid I wouldn't be able to do that.

 

[OSUZorba]

Preferred customer status at Orlando has been just as bad in some case, it just moved to a line outside in the parking garage. I am preferred and had to wait in long lines outside in the garage at MCO, because there were no cars at all to pick from. Ever since February when people started to begin to travel again rental car companies have been a mess. Many sold of a big part of their fleets and just don't have cars. Add in the the new car shortage it is a mess. Preferred will help but don't necessarily expect it to work great for a while.

What company is that with? I never have to talk to anyone with Avis or Budget.

 

[MrKnight]

If your destination is WDW, I would recommend considering NOT renting a car, this is an extremely high demand period for car rentals so unless it is critical that you have a car, I would advise against it.. If you are staying at a WDW resort, use DME and WDW transportation to get around.. If you are staying off-site, ask your hotel about transportation options, use Mears, park shuttles, Uber/Lyft, etc..

 

[bastraker]

The last few times we rented a car at Disney, we used Enterprise. We arrive tomorrow and have another enterprise car reserved. In the past, we were able to skip the line and go right to the car. However, today I called Enterprise because I was not able to do "skip the line". They informed me that MCO is too busy for this right now - they are not doing "skip the line."

I guess I won't be renting a car tomorrow. I have no patience for long lines at the rental car counter. Uber for us!! Maybe Magical express if the line isn't too bad!!!!

 

[Wandering Oaken]

If your destination is WDW, I would recommend considering NOT renting a car, this is an extremely high demand period for car rentals so unless it is critical that you have a car, I would advise against it.. If you are staying at a WDW resort, use DME and WDW transportation to get around.. If you are staying off-site, ask your hotel about transportation options, use Mears, park shuttles, Uber/Lyft, etc..

Isn't DME going away? And I would rather shove a steak down my pants and jump into a pit filled with hungry badgers than to get back on a WDW bus.

 

[MrKnight]

Isn't DME going away? And I would rather shove a steak down my pants and jump into a pit filled with hungry badgers than to get back on a WDW bus.

DME service ends in January 2022, and even after DME service ends there will still be airport transportation options via the new Mears Connect service. Your statement regarding WDW buses is rather dramatic and frankly #firstworldproblems .. There are much worse things to deal with this world than a complimentary air conditioned bus taking you to a Disney theme park for fun..

 

[Lewisc]

The last few times we rented a car at Disney, we used Enterprise. We arrive tomorrow and have another enterprise car reserved. In the past, we were able to skip the line and go right to the car. However, today I called Enterprise because I was not able to do "skip the line". They informed me that MCO is too busy for this right now - they are not doing "skip the line."

I guess I won't be renting a car tomorrow. I have no patience for long lines at the rental car counter. Uber for us!! Maybe Magical express if the line isn't too bad!!!!

I think they're kind of lying to you. Busy means guests skipping the counter is good. I think the problem is a shortage of cars. Having customers walk up and down an empty aisle ready to "hijack" a car being driven from the return prep area to the aisle. Imagine several customers fighting over a car.

 

[Wandering Oaken]

DME service ends in January 2022, and even after DME service ends there will still be airport transportation options via the new Mears Connect service. Your statement regarding WDW buses is rather dramatic and frankly #firstworldproblems .. There are much worse things to deal with this world than a complimentary air conditioned bus taking you to a Disney theme park for fun..

First world problems? Yes, it was a bit of a reach but I will absolutely NOT take WDW busses anywhere if I can help it. The few times I have taken a bus somewhere on Disney property they have #1 Been involved in (minor) accidents. #2 Had the AC on full blast regardless of how uncomfortable everyone on the bus was. #3 They take too freaking long to get where they are going. #4 I have to sit in a metal box with screaming kids and up against another person who is just as sweaty as I am from the heat. I can rent a car and #1 not wreck because I am not driving a land barge. #2 I can control my own AC. #3 I can get from the park to my hotel in 10 minutes or less. #4 My family and I are the only sweaty people in the car and we are not shoulder to shoulder with each other. So yeah.... call it first world problems if you must but I will have to give a hard pass on WDW busses.