My flight leaves before rental car place opens

[JeninTN]

I have a 7:30 am flight out of the Sanford airport, but the Enterprise there does not open until 8am. Best I recall from being at that airport a couple years ago, it is not a place you can just drop the car off since all the cars are in a big fence. What should I do?

 

[Lewisc]

I'd call Enterprise, not the 800 number but the office near the airport. You may need to rent with a different agency or may even need to return your rental car in the WDW area and use a car service to transport you to Sanford.

Passengers need to balance the higher ground transfer expense against any fare savings.

 

[JeninTN]

I'd call Enterprise, not the 800 number but the office near the airport. You may need to rent with a different agency or may even need to return your rental car in the WDW area and use a car service to transport you to Sanford.

Passengers need to balance the higher ground transfer expense against any fare savings.

I did balance it - I paid $90 for my fare versus $400+ to MCO

 

[n2mm]

This was my exact reason why I passed on a cheap flight on Alleigant Air. into Sanford. The flight get in just as the rental car companies are closing, so this worried me if my flight was late. OP, please post back how this turns out.

 

[Lewisc]

I did balance it - I paid $90 for my fare versus $400+ to MCO

You can get a car service for less then the $310 you're saving with airfare but you didn't really balance the cost. You don't have a price for ground transfers. A rental car with an agency that's closed when you need to return the car may not do you any good. I don't know if any of the agencies open before 8a. I don't know if they have a drop box. Your savings are dramatic but other people really need to research the costs for ground transfers before booking airfare.

 

[Sandi]

Definitely call Enterprise at Sanford and see if they'll accommodate you. I had a similar issue with another agency for our inbound flight (flight landed after the agency closed). They stayed open later that night because there was a demand for cars from our flight.

 

[JeninTN]

I found something. Sounds like it is going to be pretty easy. This is from Enterprises web site.

Here is how you can return your vehicle After Hours:

PARK ON THE GROUND LEVEL OF THE PARKING GARAGE LOCATED OFF OF RED CLEVELAND BLVD IN THE SPACES MARKED "ENTERPRISE". GO TO THE ENTERPRISE COUNTER LOCATED IN TERMINAL B AND PLACE KEYS IN THE DROP BOX.

 

[angelat]

Yay! I'm glad this will work out for you after all.

It's such a downer when people belittle you for asking for some simple advice

Enjoy your vacation!!

 

[helenk]

I found something. Sounds like it is going to be pretty easy. This is from Enterprises web site.

Here is how you can return your vehicle After Hours:

PARK ON THE GROUND LEVEL OF THE PARKING GARAGE LOCATED OFF OF RED CLEVELAND BLVD IN THE SPACES MARKED "ENTERPRISE". GO TO THE ENTERPRISE COUNTER LOCATED IN TERMINAL B AND PLACE KEYS IN THE DROP BOX.

I would take pictures of the car from all angles with a camera that has a date stamp. This way, if the car is damaged after you drop it off you will have proof that you returned the car in good condition.

 

[JeninTN]

You can get a car service for less then the $310 you're saving with airfare but you didn't really balance the cost. You don't have a price for ground transfers. A rental car with an agency that's closed when you need to return the car may not do you any good. I don't know if any of the agencies open before 8a. I don't know if they have a drop box. Your savings are dramatic but other people really need to research the costs for ground transfers before booking airfare.

I agree there should be reseach involved. This is just a quick last minute trip that we have throw together for next week. I have flown in and out of that airport before and I have also rented a car from there, so I am a little familiar with the situation. I have to fly out of the Knoxville airport, which is generally is VERY expensive to fly out of, so this is a good option for this situation, especially now that I know returning the rental is not going to be a problem.

 

[JeninTN]

Thanks for all the responses. This turned out to be super simple and I totally recommend Enterprise at the Sanford airport. I checked in and had the car in less than 5 minutes. On return I parked the car, dropped the key off, and was walked less than a minute to the Alligiant ticket counter. It all went perfect.

 

[Lewisc]

I would take pictures of the car from all angles with a camera that has a date stamp. This way, if the car is damaged after you drop it off you will have proof that you returned the car in good condition.

I suspect you're liable for any damage until the car is checked in, in other words if I think the renter would be responsible if the car was hit in the parking lot before the agency checked the car in. It's trivial to change the date in your camera, I don't think the date stamp will prove much.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yay! I'm glad this will work out for you after all.

It's such a downer when people belittle you for asking for some simple advice

Enjoy your vacation!!

It is regrettable that blunt, plainspoke responses are taken as 'belittling; they're not, and they're not intended to be. Nor was anything in this thread critical. It was merely advice.

 

[seashoreCM]

Want to check out of Disney the previous day? Then drive back to Sanford, return the car, and stay at a hotel near the airport for that last evening?

Less early morning rush-rush.

I suggest an airport hotel before an early morning Orlando flight home too.

Disney hints: http://www.cockam.com/disney.htm