Magical Express Odd Question

[carlbarry]

My next vacation is divided up into 3 reservations: December 30-January 4; January 4-8; January 8-15.
I always rent a car. But this time, due to the first leg being over New Years, the car rental will be $200 extra for those four days. If I don't have a car for those days, so far the cost would be under $200 for the other 11 days.
So I figure I cans save $200 by using ME to go to WDW upon my arrival. However, I still want to rent a car for the remainder of my stay.
My questions are these:
1. Can I take ME back to MCO (to get a shuttle to the car rental) the last day of my first leg, even though I will be staying?
2. Even better, can I take ME to MCO the day before the end of my first leg?
Being able to do either of the above would save me the cost of an Uber.
Thanks.

 

[sam_gordon]

My next vacation is divided up into 3 reservations: December 30-January 4; January 4-8; January 8-15.
I always rent a car. But this time, due to the first leg being over New Years, the car rental will be $200 extra for those four days. If I don't have a car for those days, so far the cost would be under $200 for the other 11 days.
So I figure I cans save $200 by using ME to go to WDW upon my arrival. However, I still want to rent a car for the remainder of my stay.
My questions are these:
1. Can I take ME back to MCO (to get a shuttle to the car rental) the last day of my first leg, even though I will be staying?
2. Even better, can I take ME to MCO the day before the end of my first leg?
Being able to do either of the above would save me the cost of an Uber.
Thanks.

You can take DME back at any point during your stay. BUT, a better idea would be to look at the various rental locations on/near Disney property (car care center & Dolphin immediately come to mind). Even if there is a slight up charge, it might be worth it to save the 90 minute round trip to MCO just to pick up a rental.

 

[carlbarry]

You can take DME back at any point during your stay. BUT, a better idea would be to look at the various rental locations on/near Disney property (car care center & Dolphin immediately come to mind). Even if there is a slight up charge, it might be worth it to save the 90 minute round trip to MCO just to pick up a rental.

Thanks!
I in the past I've found that the price for the rental on/near WDW is astronomically higher than the places north of MCO. I've rented frequently for around $4 a day (add tax, etc., and comes out to around $12), which is way lower than near WDW.

 

[lluv3971]

Thanks!
I in the past I've found that the price for the rental on/near WDW is astronomically higher than the places north of MCO. I've rented frequently for around $4 a day (add tax, etc., and comes out to around $12), which is way lower than near WDW.

Wow. When I looked up a rental from MCO, it came to almost $400. What's your secret to getting an affordable car rental in Orlando??

 

[carlbarry]

Wow. When I looked up a rental from MCO, it came to almost $400. What's your secret to getting an affordable car rental in Orlando??

Well, I just looked at Alamo and National in WDW. No rental on Sunday, Jan. 3. So Jan. 4-15, the cheapest was $580! Looking at Priceline, for example, January 3-15 (one more day) comes to $193. So a savings of $390!
I check sites like carrentals, lady bug, autorentals. I usually stay for 10-12 days in early December, and it always costs me well under $200. One time I got 7 days for I think it was $75. Cheaper than owning!

 

[lluv3971]

Well, I just looked at Alamo and National in WDW. No rental on Sunday, Jan. 3. So Jan. 4-15, the cheapest was $580! Looking at Priceline, for example, January 3-15 (one more day) comes to $193. So a savings of $390!
I check sites like carrentals, lady bug, autorentals. I usually stay for 10-12 days in early December, and it always costs me well under $200. One time I got 7 days for I think it was $75. Cheaper than owning!

Great tips! Thank you so much!

 

[nkereina]

Have you rented through the cheap rental car companies in Orlando before? I've read horror stories with companies like Fox and Greenmotion, which generally have the cheap $6 per day type fares.

As PP mentions, you can take DME to the airport the day before you check out of your first leg if you decide you want to rent from there. I believe Alamo, National and Enterprise are at the Car Care Center and I think there's an Avis at one of the Disney Springs hotels. I would still price compare if you go with one of the larger agencies.

 

[sam_gordon]

Well, I just looked at Alamo and National in WDW. No rental on Sunday, Jan. 3. So Jan. 4-15, the cheapest was $580! Looking at Priceline, for example, January 3-15 (one more day) comes to $193. So a savings of $390!
I check sites like carrentals, lady bug, autorentals. I usually stay for 10-12 days in early December, and it always costs me well under $200. One time I got 7 days for I think it was $75. Cheaper than owning!

I'm guessing early December would be cheaper rates than beginning of January. That doesn't really surprise me.

 

[Ross Kratter]

Take a look at the rental places at Disney Springs hotels. There’s a Budget at the Doubletree, for example.

 

[carlbarry]

Have you rented through the cheap rental car companies in Orlando before? I've read horror stories with companies like Fox and Greenmotion, which generally have the cheap $6 per day type fares.

In my In my 14 years of going and always renting, I've mostly rented from the cheapo car rentals. I've had bad experiences with "name brand" rentals. Recently, not in Orlando, one pressed to upsell me to a bigger car. I turned them down, and lo and behold, when I got to the garage instead of the compact I reserved, I was given an SUV with GPS.
As far as the cheapos, what I've found is you have to follow their rules. So I always bring my insurance documents. I rented from Ace last year (September 15-20, $73) and there was a customer loudly complaining "You HAVE to take the documents I have." Nope. I brought my insurance documents, slapped them down, and had no problems, not even an upsell.
I rented twice from Value last year (Jan. 23-Feb 1, $122 Toyota Corolla and Dec. 1-13 $142.65 Kia Forte). The only problem I had both times was that each time I was charged, with no opportunity to decline, "RSA" of maybe $7 per day. That's "road side assistance." I wrote to corporate and got a refund.
By the way, above were rented through web sites that search for lowest fares--easyrentcars.com and Hotwire.
But yes, the reviews of Fox and Greenmotion are horrendous. But if you read reviews of the majors, they're not much better.

 

[pmiranda]

Car rental companies have prices that fluctuate more often than the weather. They also have ridiculously high rates when far out, like 2 months or more. I always redo my car reservation at least several times before my trip, sometimes even a few days before leaving and get MUCH lower prices.

I’ve even done prepay with Budget, then redid the reservation closer and gotten a refund of the difference after returning the car. You could always make a car reservation at one of the onsite agencies as well as the airport one. Then within a few days, check prices again, and cancel the one you won’t keep.

 

[carlbarry]

Take a look at the rental places at Disney Springs hotels. There’s a Budget at the Doubletree, for example.

Cheaper than the other WDW locations, but still $473 for Jan. 3-15.

 

[Ross Kratter]

Cheaper than the other WDW locations, but still $473 for Jan. 3-15.

You're looking to book much too far out. Wait until a few weeks before. The prices will come down.

 

[carlbarry]

Car rental companies have prices that fluctuate more often than the weather. They also have ridiculously high rates when far out, like 2 months or more. I always redo my car reservation at least several times before my trip, sometimes even a few days before leaving and get MUCH lower prices.

I’ve even done prepay with Budget, then redid the reservation closer and gotten a refund of the difference after returning the car. You could always make a car reservation at one of the onsite agencies as well as the airport one. Then within a few days, check prices again, and cancel the one you won’t keep.

Yes, it seems they constantly adjust their prices as their inventory fluctuates.
I used to find the lowest prices at 6 weeks out. But now, the prices often drop two days out.
The no-fee cancellation reservation is the only way to go.

 

[carlbarry]

You're looking to book much too far out. Wait until a few weeks before. The prices will come down.

Yes, I know. I got a little out of hand. It occurred to me that New Years rental might be a premium, and I checked, and there sure was. I'm just looking at options. Who knows what the price will be in December, especially with what's going on now. There might be nobody going to Florida, so they could be offering rock bottom prices.
Who knows.