My Thrifty Experience

[MikeyNS]

Hi all.

After getting back on the 31st from SSR I thought I would post my experience with renting a van from Thrifty. I was a little nervous about going offsite, but here are my thoughts:

A> The bus was very quick to get there. The Thrifty site is HUGE about 2-3 miles down the road. The lineup was nonexistent on the Sunday noon time I arrived.

B> Signing up for Blue Chip for free was easily done and they never pestered me about insurance at all.

C> They tried to upsell me to a "Grand Caravan" for an extra few bucks a day (I got the $169/week deal off the Mousesavers site), but I delined. After looking around the lot I noticed all they had were Grand Caravans! Neat trick. Glad I didn't fall for it.

D> Vehicles were clean!

E> Don't forget to fill up AWAY from the Thrifty site. I thought it would be cheaper (stupid me), but ended up spending an extra 30 cents a gallon at the Mobil across the street, whereas the Hess sights had gas at less than $2.00/gallon. No biggie, but if I needed to fill the entire tank I'd be bitter.

Anyhoo it was a painless experience and I would recommend Thrifty again to anyone!

 

[goofyforlife]

We found a chevron station about a mile north of the thrifty on the left side of Semoran Blvd that was pretty cheap when we were there last month....

Never go to that station next to the Cracker Barrel....

 

[DisneyFreak43]

Thanks for the review, MikeyNS! We have a reservation with Thrifty for a van - we won't fall for the "upgrade"! Not sure if I want to sign up for the Blue Chip program- don't you need to add a credit card # to your reservation? We also have a reservation with Alamo for about $50 more, and I was thinking if the line isn't too long maybe we would go with them instead of Thrifty. However, I wouldn't want my credit card charged for a "no-show" with Thrifty. Anyone have any experience with this?

 

[MikeyNS]

I think the Blue Chip program does require a CC # but I don't really remember.. I had it so they wouldn't pester me about insurance and they have a dedicated line if it was busy (and it wasn't).. so it was kind of nice to have.

If the price difference was $20-30 I would have rented in the terminal, but everything else I had tried to get was $50+, so I think it was really worth it!

 

[seashoreCM]

Have had three good and no bad Thrifty experiences at Orlando so far (one a few years ago and two this past August). No insurance hassles, was in the Blue CHip program for the last two rentals.

Discovered a cigarette burn on the back seat just before return, don't smoke so it was there from the start, fortunately the return staff did not catch it. Good idea to inspect the entire car inside and out (any rental agency).

Got a one day free rental coupon from Thrifty that expires in March, via a recent frequent renter promotion, so I may have to go back to WDW soon.

I usually fill up either at the Disney on-site stations, or at the gas station a mile and a half west of Semoran (take Frontage Rd which is the first light from the airport north exit, becomes McCoy Rd). If you came back to the airport via the Beeline (528) you go right by the latter station when getting off at Exit 9 Tradeport and crossing under to reach McCoy then past Payless becomes Frontage to Semoran and finally left back to Thrifty.

If you fill up the night before (at Disney) then if your schedule suddenly gets tight at return time you won't have to pay for the whole tankful you didn't get around to filling up.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Kevenswife2]

Did you guys notice the economy cars at Thrifty? I've been told they don't have any and 'have' to upgrade you. Is that true?

I'm having a hard time deciding what to do. I have a mid-size reserved through Budget and an economy through Thrifty. Price difference is $34. Not a biggie to many of you, but it is to me. I have to decide before I leave as I belong to both FastBreak and Blue Chip and will possibly be charged a days rental if I do not cancel 24 hours before my scheduled pickup.

Also, if I go with Thrifty I'll earn a free rental day for a future rental. Any idea when those usually expire?

 

[MikeyNS]

...a dollar saved is a dollar earned. I'd go with Thrifty.

 

[robinb]

Originally posted by Kevenswife2
I'm having a hard time deciding what to do. I have a mid-size reserved through Budget and an economy through Thrifty. Price difference is $34. B]

Keep the mid-sized at Budget. A $34 savings isn't worth the possibility of getting a smaller car.

 

[riu girl]

Also interested in learning about what the "economy"cars are like (make, model etc.) at Thrifty MCO...

 

[leebee]

When you pick up your vehicle, do you go to a Thrifty desk inside the terminal at MCO, or do you take a shuttle to Thrifty's site and do the paperwork there? When you drop off your vehicle, do you do "check out" right where you drop it off, in the parking lot, or do you have to go inside a building and wait in line...or check out back at MCO, in the terminal? Just trying to figure out my timing!

 

[MikeyNS]

You go down to the "rental level" and wait outside for a Thrifty shuttle (there is one every few minutes.. you can't miss it).
This will take you to the Thrifty site where you walk in and pick up your vehicle.

When you drop it off you drive to the location and it is well laid out where you just drop it off, let them look at it, and then jump on the bus back to the terminal.

I thought I would get lost or it would be to confusing to find the shuttle, but it was soooo easy.

 

[riu girl]

For those who have rented an economy from Thrifty, what type of car were you given?????

Suzy V.

 

[LeftCoaster]

Originally posted by riu girl
For those who have rented an economy from Thrifty, what type of car were you given?????

Suzy V.

I had a Mitsubishi Lancer on my last trip.

 

[nuthut]

Originally posted by riu girl
For those who have rented an economy from Thrifty, what type of car were you given?????

Suzy V.

I was given a dodge Neon two weeks ago. I paid $79 a week and it was perfect for four adults. The shuttle worked super and I had no problems except that lousy gas station acroos the street charged me $2.36 a gallon....I have the same rate for NYE week.
Just say no to the crooks at Alamo!

 

[goofyforlife]

NUTHUT ---see my previous post......


(we fell victim to that gas station once too)