ME-How Long from Airport To Hotel

[Jalva22]

I will be arriving at WDW on September 7. I am staying at Pop. My plan is to use ME to get from the airport to Pop, then pick up a rental car for the first two days of my trip at the Car Care Center or Dolphin.

How early should I book my flight arrival time in order to get to the car rental place at WDW by 5:30pm?

 

[goofy4tink]

Well, the rental counter at the Dolphin closes at 4, the CCC closes later. It takes about 70 mins, from gate to resort, with DME. Then, you would be best served by getting a cab from POP to the Dolphin (if that's where you end up renting from)...it's pretty close and under $10 for a cab. Or take the bus to DHS and then either walk or boat from there to the Dolphin.
The CCC will pick you up but that has to be prearranged....maybe the night before. Otherwise, a cab may be your best bet.
So...long story short...I would say that you will need to be on the ground, at MCO, no later than noon if you want to rent from the Dolphin, perhaps a bit later if renting from CCC.

 

[Jalva22]

Thanks for the reply! Looking at times and prices, I think I will end up renting from Dollar at the Regal Sun. One option on flights has me landing at 1:50. Allowing 70 minutes for ME, I'm at Pop at 3:00? So I could check in and have plenty of time to bus to DTD and walk over to Regal Sun by 5:30?

How does it work on listing my rental pickup time? Should I tell them 3:30 and then it's ready any time after that? Or do I need to give them a time that I'm SURE I can make it to the counter by?

(I'm kind of a newbie to the car rental stuff, so I definitely appreciate the help!)

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

The rental companies are used to people coming on flights that have been delayed. As long as you get there before they close, it won't be a problem. But, if you are going to get there after your reservation time, just give them a call to tell them your flight was delayed, and it won't be a problem. So, long story short, give them your best guess when you'll be there (if you get there earlier than the time on your resevation, the car may not be ready).

We rented from Dollar at the Regal Sun last December. It's literally across the street from the bus stop at DTD, so that will work fine.

I never took the DTD bus from POP, so I don't know how long that will take, or how frequently the DTD busses come, but I imagine that it can't possibly take more than an hour. So, if you are at the POP bus stop by 3:30, you will make it easy. Leaving a full 90 min (just in case) from gate to resort, a flight arrival time before 2 should give you plenty of time.

PS if you're running late, you can check in at POP after you get the car. Just go right from the ME bus to the DTD bus stop.

 

[TamaraQT]

Are the prices that much cheaper to pick up a car offsite than to pick up onsite at the airport? Have I been overpaying by reserving and picking up at the airport?

I asked my husband and he thinks the convenience of picking up at airport is worth the few dollars saved than having to wait for ME and buses and taxis. Someone please fill me in, if it will save me at least $40 or $50 then I may consider picking up offsite.

 

[Jalva22]

I don't know about always. But for my dates I checked for 9/7 3pm to 9/10 3pm for a Compact and got quotes of:

National at Airport $181.05
National at Car Care Center or Dolphin $131.38

Dollar at Airport $149.47
Dollar at Regal Sun near DTD $103.49

My deal is that my company is paying for the car during a conference, but I'm staying longer for a vacation and don't want to pay for the car for the whole trip. If I pick it up at the airport and drop it off at a Disney site, it would be much more expensive.