March 2013 Car rentals

[DianaPrincessofWales]

Welcome to the Dis farmersescape!

I have one reservation for a discounted compact car through National, but......
I decided to use a free upgrade coupon and made another (9 day) reservation to a midsize so I could choose a vehicle on the Emerald Aisle.

I used:
contract code (KLM) 8572130
coupon code (National web site Emerald Club offer) NU3637ZDJ

My dates are March 8 - 17.

Total fee of $295.21 (I think the most I've ever paid for that length of rental)

My reservation says to proceed to Emerald Club area and my e-mail confirmation says my level of service is "counter". Any idea why? The coupon is from their site. I think I did this last time and I waited forever at the counter for nothing. Can anyone comment? Thank you!

 

[gmeh1]

Welcome to the Dis farmersescape!

I have one reservation for a discounted compact car through National, but......
I decided to use a free upgrade coupon and made another (9 day) reservation to a midsize so I could choose a vehicle on the Emerald Aisle.

I used:
contract code (KLM) 8572130
coupon code (National web site Emerald Club offer) NU3637ZDJ

My dates are March 8 - 17.

Total fee of $295.21 (I think the most I've ever paid for that length of rental)

My reservation says to proceed to Emerald Club area and my e-mail confirmation says my level of service is "counter". Any idea why? The coupon is from their site. I think I did this last time and I waited forever at the counter for nothing. Can anyone comment? Thank you!

Just go to the EC area. Do what your reservation says.

 

[MH1212]

Ugh. If anyone has any other ideas, I'd love to hear them. I'm traveling to Orlando from 3/21/2013 through 3/30/2013, and the cheapest rates I'm seeing now are up over $400 total! I know it's the week before Easter, but I'm still surprised. I've never seen those rates so high. That's pretty much double what I normally see for 10 days. I even rented a car in FL just last March and paid a lot less. I'm hoping that if I just reserve something, I can maybe Priceline something within a week or two of departure, but we'll see.

Thanks!

 

[Pembo]

Ugh. If anyone has any other ideas, I'd love to hear them. I'm traveling to Orlando from 3/21/2013 through 3/30/2013, and the cheapest rates I'm seeing now are up over $400 total! I know it's the week before Easter, but I'm still surprised. I've never seen those rates so high. That's pretty much double what I normally see for 10 days. I even rented a car in FL just last March and paid a lot less. I'm hoping that if I just reserve something, I can maybe Priceline something within a week or two of departure, but we'll see.

Thanks!

My dates are 3/21 - 3/29. I have a rate of $360 total from Budget using BCD
X474200, coupon MUPZ044.

I too am hoping for a better rate.

 

[tmonferdini]

We are going from 3/24 to 4/5 and I have a price of $556.81 through National for a mini-van. Budget was $586.75. I keep checking to see if either one will go down and Budget stays the same but National went WAY up.

 

[ottawafamilyof4]

I used Mousesavers and got a rate of $222 incl. tax for Mar 9-16 from Budget for W810011 (40%) and coupon Muwz003 ($20 off). Still on the lookout for cheaper.

 

[ottawafamilyof4]

The above is for intermediate car.

 

[webworm]

I used Mousesavers and got a rate of $222 incl. tax for Mar 9-16 from Budget for W810011 (40%) and coupon Muwz003 ($20 off). Still on the lookout for cheaper.

If you signup for FlyingBlue with KLM (free) using Contract ID 8572130 and Coupon ND9334SND for $30 off a midsize is $204 inc taxes and insurance. Sign up for the Emerald Club with National for free and as long as you book a midsize you can pick any vehicle from the Emerald Aisle.

 

[richmo]

Ugh. If anyone has any other ideas, I'd love to hear them. I'm traveling to Orlando from 3/21/2013 through 3/30/2013, and the cheapest rates I'm seeing now are up over $400 total! I know it's the week before Easter, but I'm still surprised. I've never seen those rates so high. That's pretty much double what I normally see for 10 days. I even rented a car in FL just last March and paid a lot less. I'm hoping that if I just reserve something, I can maybe Priceline something within a week or two of departure, but we'll see.

Thanks!

Yeah, the rates are slow to budge, although I'm seeing a slight declining trend for the first half of the month. I think (hope) that once President's Day weekend is behind us that there'll be some good promos. It has happened the last couple of years, and last year was supposed to be the worst for car rentals. Current promos (and they're not that great) seem to be going out only as far as Feb 28 at this point. We should see some for March coming up soon. As bad as it looks now, I'd still stay away from Priceline and other binding reservations...but, of course, do make some kind of non-binding reservation, especially if you're going after one of the non-standard car types.

 

[Lizard Valley]

I used Mousesavers and got a rate of $222 incl. tax for Mar 9-16 from Budget for W810011 (40%) and coupon Muwz003 ($20 off). Still on the lookout for cheaper.

Don't know if you're aware, but the latest news is that Canadians need to get an International Driving Permit to drive in Florida. This only applies to Florida, and is new as of Jan 1st 2013. It's all over the boards. Just thought I'd share...

 

[conniehar90]

My dates are 3/21 - 3/30 also. I booked a midsize with National using the KLM code back in December for $260. I have looked recently and everything is over $400. Wish I could be of some help! I guess, keep looking!

 

[MH1212]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. It's a good thought that hopefully once the holiday next week is behind us (and that's also school vacation week up here in New England) the deals might come out a little more. I'm certainly keeping my eyes peeled!

 

[leebee]

I just booked with National using KLM code and one free day (through emerald club). Dates are 3/11/13-3/15/13 (mon-fri) and as it's a midweek rental I think I am pretty much stuck; 4 days, no Saturday night, is not a great way to rent. Anyhow, I got a midsize on EA for $180. I can live with this... I guess.

Interesting point, though... it's about $42 a day for the vehicle, but I only get $18 credit for my "1 free day." Not sure why it's not $42. I'm going to keep trying...

 

[richmo]

This is depressing, but maybe somewhat hopeful. I was just looking at a spreadsheet I had for last year's trip. Between 1/23/12 and 3/12/12, I modified an Alamo reservation 11 times for a rental from March 17 to March 21. The car was a compact (turned out to be a Ford Focus) and, using a Costco discount and a free day coupon, the base for the 5 days was only $42.79, total was $77.83. Four of my rebookings were in the period from 2/22 to 2/26, which was right after Presidents Day weekend and the last two were less than a week before the rental.

Will history repeat itself? I doubt it, at least not to that extent. My dates are a little earlier this year (3/8 thru 3/13). But, I will be checking...and hoping!

 

[puffkin]

It is a bit more challenging as well to compare March/April rates from year to year because of when Easter falls as well. My same week (3/23-3/30) last year would have been theoretically cheaper due to the timing of Easter.

 

[richmo]

OK, I think we're finally starting to see some early March rates coming down.

Don't get me wrong, they still stink...

What I have seen is a 5 day rental for a compact/intermediate drop from about $450 to around $300 in the past couple of days. Frankly, I'd like to see it a lot closer to $100. That may still happen; at least I hope so. Baby steps I guess.

Anyway, the big rock might be starting to budge. Lets hope so.

And, as I mentioned in a previous post, things might start to happen once we get thru this holiday weekend. I'd pay close attention to rates this week for March once we go back to work on Tuesday. I have no scientific basis for this; just a hopeful hunch.

 

[miamimama]

I've been looking at March 5-9 for quite a while and getting close to $400! I finally just booked for a pick up at the Car Care Center and drop off at MCO and was able to get $170. But I will keep looking - the rates have almost always come down as it gets closer to the trip.

 

[richmo]

Miami Mama brings up an important point. Especially for those of you staying onsite, *at the moment* I'm also seeing better rates (Alamo) picking up at the Car Care Center and returning to MCO. That's somewhat unusual, but not unheard of...its often more expensive doing that. Especially if you're staying at a Disney resort, its worth checking out and possibly making a contingency reservation.

In case you're curious how you pick up a car at the CCC: You give the Alamo/National CCC a call (local number, not Alamo reservations) the day before you want the car and tell them what resort you'd like them to pick you up at and what time. They'll send a van to any Disney resort and pick you up. Its relatively painless, but it does kill part of your day. No Disney transportation serves the Car Care Center.

There's also a pickup/dropoff for Alamo at the Dolphin. The rates are usually, but not always, the same as CCC.

 

[MH1212]

Hmm, thanks for the info about the Car Care Center. With the Magical Express, it's certainly easy enough to get from the airport to WDW, if you can then get the car on property. Worth looking into, if only as a placeholder until prices come down.

Here's another question I was wondering. Somewhere (Travelocity, maybe?) I saw a cheaper rate where I picked up the car at Shades of Green. Is that even possible? I always feel like SOG is so hidden away and exclusive to military people. The Terms and Conditions didn't say anything about needing to be military to book that car, but I was too wary to do it. Would I have been able to? I know getting into any of the other resorts it's easy to just say, "I'm picking someone up" or "I'm dining here" or whatever and they let you in, no problem. But I've never tried that at SOG. Again, it seems to clandestine, I've never tried going in there at all.

Just curious....

 

[gone2disney]

Budget seems to be the best deal right now..... oddly the minivans and standard SUVs are 1/2 price of the mid-SUVs.

I will make this one for now, and keep watching. $299 6 days, standard SUV. ($225 plus tax) Same price for minivans.

BCD X474200
coupon code MUWZ003

I used these-THANK YOU!! Got an great rate for my trip in March to Tampa and July to Orlando. Does anyone know where these are from-don't want to get to the counter and have to show some documentation.