June 2013 Car Rental When Best Deals

[FiveofusNL]

Hi All! I was thrilled to discover this thread and to know I am not alone with this rental price hunt. We are going to Orlando June 17 to June 26th. It is our first time renting a vehicle rather than using ME. I need a minivan and want to get it on site at the airport. I was shocked at the prices! I am looking at National, Thrifty and Dollar as they are names I know. Before Christmas, I was seeing a cost of around $750 to $850. Friends told me that prices would go down so I should wait to book, but now it is $100 more!! Any advice/tips welcomed and greatly appreciated!

 

[mickey2minnie1]

I have never rented a car before. what is a good price for a week on a mid size or full size car? I have no idea what is high or low .

Help!

 

[mmmgood]

Hi All! I was thrilled to discover this thread and to know I am not alone with this rental price hunt. We are going to Orlando June 17 to June 26th. It is our first time renting a vehicle rather than using ME. I need a minivan and want to get it on site at the airport. I was shocked at the prices! I am looking at National, Thrifty and Dollar as they are names I know. Before Christmas, I was seeing a cost of around $750 to $850. Friends told me that prices would go down so I should wait to book, but now it is $100 more!! Any advice/tips welcomed and greatly appreciated!

Try here http://www.carrentalsavers.com/florida-car-rental.html there are a couple of options for $500 including taxes and fees for your dates.

 

[FiveofusNL]

Try here http://www.carrentalsavers.com/florida-car-rental.html there are a couple of options for $500 including taxes and fees for your dates.

Wow! Thanks so much for letting me know about this site. Big price difference.

 

[Kitkat6595]

Holy cow - thanks for posting that link! I just found a Intermediate car for the first week of June for $270! Trying to decide if I should book it, or wait. I've never used Dollar before. Any experiences with them?

 

[vinmar4]

Holy cow - thanks for posting that link! I just found a Intermediate car for the first week of June for $270! Trying to decide if I should book it, or wait. I've never used Dollar before. Any experiences with them?

I booked 11 days last year for a intermediate car for 300 thinking that it was good deal. I just happended to check the current rates one day before our trip and we ended up paying 179.00 total for the 11 days. We need a car because we are usually there for 2 Sundays and we have to go to Mass and just in those two trips is about 80.00 dollars plus tip. We also use the car to get some groceries and go to some restaurants.

 

[FiveofusNL]

I am thrilled to have a 9 day minivan rental from Dollar drop from the $870 range to $500, that is more along the lines of what I thought a regular rental rate would be. I reserved it right away. (Once again a big thank you for referring me to that website ) However, now that I am seeing some of the rates here, I am wondering if I can still do better as we get closer to June. I have no idea what is a good deal when it comes to a minivan rental in Orlando. Should I keep looking or is this already low for a van at that time? If I should keep an eye out...do the really low rates usually only occur about 2 to 3 weeks before a date, or if I keep looking could they randomly pop up? I am such a newbie.

 

[disneygal55]

I am thrilled to have a 9 day minivan rental from Dollar drop from the $870 range to $500, that is more along the lines of what I thought a regular rental rate would be. I reserved it right away. (Once again a big thank you for referring me to that website ) However, now that I am seeing some of the rates here, I am wondering if I can still do better as we get closer to June. I have no idea what is a good deal when it comes to a minivan rental in Orlando. Should I keep looking or is this already low for a van at that time? If I should keep an eye out...do the really low rates usually only occur about 2 to 3 weeks before a date, or if I keep looking could they randomly pop up? I am such a newbie.

I think that you can get an even better rate. In the past I have gotten an eight day rate for a minivan for less than $300. If you go to mousesavers and get into the car rental section you can access all the Dollar codes. The oi1054 is pretty good. There is a link for a magicard there but I have never had to show the card to the attendant...as long you put the code number into the corporate section when booking the dates it should be fine. What's usually even better as time gets closer is the city special rates. Just click on when looking at the car types and it usually makes the minivan rates drop. I check everyday until I get a rate I like and just cancel the old reservation if I find a much better rate. Good luck.

 

[FiveofusNL]

I think that you can get an even better rate. In the past I have gotten an eight day rate for a minivan for less than $300. If you go to mousesavers and get into the car rental section you can access all the Dollar codes. The oi1054 is pretty good. There is a link for a magicard there but I have never had to show the card to the attendant...as long you put the code number into the corporate section when booking the dates it should be fine. What's usually even better as time gets closer is the city special rates. Just click on when looking at the car types and it usually makes the minivan rates drop. I check everyday until I get a rate I like and just cancel the old reservation if I find a much better rate. Good luck.

Thank you for the tips. It is great to be able to get advice from others who have gone through this process before. I will definitely keep looking to see if I am able to get a better rate.

 

[disneygal55]

Thank you for the tips. It is great to be able to get advice from others who have gone through this process before. I will definitely keep looking to see if I am able to get a better rate.

You're welcome. Another tip which I find saves a lot of time is to sign up with Dollar Express. Once you sign up and are issued a number, you can skip the Dollar rental counter at the airport. You instead go straight to the garage where the cars are kept, go to the kiosk to check in and within minutes are given the keys to a car. Initially you may have to show them the credit card which you used to book your car...can't remember. We love it!

 

[FiveofusNL]

You're welcome. Another tip which I find saves a lot of time is to sign up with Dollar Express. Once you sign up and are issued a number, you can skip the Dollar rental counter at the airport. You instead go straight to the garage where the cars are kept, go to the kiosk to check in and within minutes are given the keys to a car. Initially you may have to show them the credit card which you used to book your car...can't remember. We love it!

Excellent. I will definitely take advantage of that. Anything to get us out of the airport quicker Do they give you instructions on how to get to the kiosks by any chance??? We have only been to Orlando once before and were picked up by Disney ME. I envision running around in circles with 3 tired kids and a grumpy hubby in tow!!

 

[medic5399]

Budget BCD x474200 6/7/13 @ MCO to 6/13/13 @ Cape Canveral
Compact: $264
Intermediate: $275
Full Size:$293
Premium:$300
Mini-Van:$300!!!!
Standard SUV:$300!!!!!

 

[disneygal55]

Excellent. I will definitely take advantage of that. Anything to get us out of the airport quicker Do they give you instructions on how to get to the kiosks by any chance??? We have only been to Orlando once before and were picked up by Disney ME. I envision running around in circles with 3 tired kids and a grumpy hubby in tow!!

I posted an answer last evening but for some reason it's not here. Must have been the 30 inches of snow we got from Friday through this morning! The signs for the car rental pickup should be behind you when you get your luggage. Take the escalator down and leave the building. Look for signs for the car rental pickup garage. You walk a bit along the sidewalk and then you cross the road towards the garage. All of the car rentals are in one area...just follow signs towards Dollar or whichever one you choose. Good luck!

 

[FiveofusNL]

The signs for the car rental pickup should be behind you when you get your luggage. Take the escalator down and leave the building. Look for signs for the car rental pickup garage. You walk a bit along the sidewalk and then you cross the road towards the garage. All of the car rentals are in one area...just follow signs towards Dollar or whichever one you choose. Good luck!

Perfect. That should be no trouble to find. Thanks again! Good luck digging out from the snow...we got hit on Saturday with two colliding systems. 25 cm of snow in 8 hours followed by ice pellets and then freezing rain. We have had a lot of that this winter. Soooo looking forward to my Florida vacation.

 

[wdw&sonny]

To all newbies:

Disneygal55 has great advice. Reread her posts.

1. In general, prices get better closer to the departure date.

2. No harm in making multiple reservations, just cancel when you find better rate. Keep checking until the day before.

3. Some of the rental car companies are located at the airport and others are offsite (you take a shuttle), costing you valuable Disney time.

4. It is not uncommon to be upgraded to a larger car (usually a minivan). Don't plan on it, but if you can do with a mid-size, you may end up w/ minivan. (Has happened to us 3 out of 4 times w/ Dollar).

4. Also, just want to reiterate the idea of joining Dollar Express (or maybe other rental car companies have similar programs). It's free...do it from your computer while at home when you have the time.

5. While some of your party gets luggage, others go get the car (if on site).

In 2005; our first WDW trip, like newbies, we all went and waited for luggage, then we all went downstairs to the Dollar counter where I anxiously waited with many others for 30-45 precious minutes to get the car. I watched as a few people sped through the Dollar Express line, wondering what made them so special.

After seeing a tip on these boards about Dollar Express, for our 2007 trip, I joined Dollar Express: fill out an on-line form and get a card in the mail. Since then, while the others in my party wait for the bags, I go to Dollar Express get the car. I am usually done before they have the bags. Saves 45 minutes.

 

[ryalluvdiz]

Budget BCD x474200 6/7/13 @ MCO to 6/13/13 @ Cape Canveral
Compact: $264
Intermediate: $275
Full Size:$293
Premium:$300
Mini-Van:$300!!!!
Standard SUV:$300!!!!!

I just read all the reviews for Budget at MCO... Scary.... Bad customer service and secret upgrades being charged... Worried... I have a reservation through Avis for 300 more... I might keep that to avoid the mess....anyone else have a bad experience with Budget?

 

[FiveofusNL]

Thanks for the tips wdw&sonny! This grateful newbie welcomes any and all advice

 

[travelcoupons]

To all newbies:

Disneygal55 has great advice. Reread her posts.


2. No harm in making multiple reservations, just cancel when you find better rate. Keep checking until the day before.

The only thing potential bad about this is it has the potential to keep rates high if EVERYONE does it. Supply & Demand. Lots of outstanding reservations=lots of demand which drives rates up. I have seen people comment that they have multiple reservations & will keep the best one. Whatever you do, DONT do that. It just creates artificial demand.
Book one ressie and keep checking if you find something better, then rebook & cancel the first ressie. Help keep rates down for everyone.

 

[travelcoupons]

I just read all the reviews for Budget at MCO... Scary.... Bad customer service and secret upgrades being charged... Worried... I have a reservation through Avis for 300 more... I might keep that to avoid the mess....anyone else have a bad experience with Budget?

I've rented from both Budget and Avis at MCO & other places with no problems or hard sell. I've actually had the most problems with Alamo at MCO. LIke anything, ymmv.

 

[ryalluvdiz]

I've rented from both Budget and Avis at MCO & other places with no problems or hard sell. I've actually had the most problems with Alamo at MCO. LIke anything, ymmv.

I have a reservation with avis for two weeks in june for a minivan for $1046. I just made one with budget for the same exact dates for $589. Big difference. Im just wondering why. They both say a dodge caravan.