National at the Dolphin - Questions

[cjsmom5]

Has anyone ever rented from the counter at the Dolphin? I was able to get a great rate there but am curious if they keep the cars there or do they transport you someplace else? We are trying to decide whether to bring the "gang" with us there to get the car or get the car and go back to the hotel to get the "gang." National said they would pick us all up at the hotel, with our luggage, to take us to the Dolphin (we are at the POFQ). We typically rent from National at the Car Care Center so this is a new experience.

 

[keishashadow]

You walk out the front door & the valet brings the vehicle to you.

Why not have just one of you catch a bus there from a theme park, then pick the others up...worked fine for us (of course we could've walked over from the BCV too )

BTW, it's a one-woman operation & she departs promptly @ closing time (4:00p.m)

 

[mysparky]

We recently rented from National at the Dolphin and I vowed to NEVER do it again.

First, as previous poster indicated, there's just one person to manage the counter. I don't know what other tasks they are responsible for, but in my case, I waited 25 mins until someone showed up at the counter. This was on the Friday following Thanksgiving. You would have thought that at such a busy time, they would have focused on the counter. I was just thankful that I was the 2nd person in line. There were about 4 others after me and I'm sure they were there for quite some time.

From the point where I walked up, filled out all of the paperwork again (their system was down and fortunately for me, I had a copy of my electronic reservation), brought my ticket out to valet, and finally got in the car, it was 75 minutes. They are just slow, slow, slow.

Add to that, was the fact that he car was relatively dirty when we got into it. Was it filthy? No. But the cup holders were sticky and there was an empty water rolling around on the floor.

Bottom line, what should have been a very easy transaction (I'm an Emerald member and had completed everything online) was very frustrating (did I mention that they didn't have the size car that I had reserved??).

I should have never strayed from Hertz and although not as convenient from the Boardwalk, I'll figure out how to work through them next time.

 

[CarolA]

We recently rented from National at the Dolphin and I vowed to NEVER do it again.

First, as previous poster indicated, there's just one person to manage the counter. I don't know what other tasks they are responsible for, but in my case, I waited 25 mins until someone showed up at the counter. This was on the Friday following Thanksgiving. You would have thought that at such a busy time, they would have focused on the counter. I was just thankful that I was the 2nd person in line. There were about 4 others after me and I'm sure they were there for quite some time.

From the point where I walked up, filled out all of the paperwork again (their system was down and fortunately for me, I had a copy of my electronic reservation), brought my ticket out to valet, and finally got in the car, it was 75 minutes. They are just slow, slow, slow.

Add to that, was the fact that he car was relatively dirty when we got into it. Was it filthy? No. But the cup holders were sticky and there was an empty water rolling around on the floor.

Bottom line, what should have been a very easy transaction (I'm an Emerald member and had completed everything online) was very frustrating (did I mention that they didn't have the size car that I had reserved??).

I should have never strayed from Hertz and although not as convenient from the Boardwalk, I'll figure out how to work through them next time.

How often could that system be down? It was down when I tried to deal with them in August! LOL! I found it to be a VERY frustrating experience. The guy behind the counter worked for "Alamo" as he told me and was CLUELESS about my National contract. (He was just generally clueless....) After half an hour I just walked out and kept the defective piece of junk National had rented me at MCO.

IMHO, National is beginning to strongly resemble Alamo. And my ONE expreience with Alamo ranks as the ALL time worst rental ever. At this point if I cannot use EA I won't use National due to the high risk of Alamo like customer treatment (I won't call it service!)

 

[cjsmom5]

The rate I got from national was oustanding. I quickly printed it out as we are needing two cars. We are going to be there right when it opens ... but in light of comments we will make sure to leave the kids at the hotel and then drive and get them. That way if it takes a bit more time it isn't a big deal.

For March 8-11th we got a premium car for only $178 with the taxes, etc. When I first made the ressies for the Car Care Center the cost was $356.

Our issue is that we want to be able to pick the car up on Disney property (I know Dolphin isn't but close enough). In the past, when we have gone through the Car Care Center it has been excellent. Guess we will see what happens this time.

Anyone ever have any good experiences here?

 

[snowy76]

The rate I got from national was oustanding. I quickly printed it out as we are needing two cars. We are going to be there right when it opens ... but in light of comments we will make sure to leave the kids at the hotel and then drive and get them. That way if it takes a bit more time it isn't a big deal.

For March 8-11th we got a premium car for only $178 with the taxes, etc. When I first made the ressies for the Car Care Center the cost was $356.

Our issue is that we want to be able to pick the car up on Disney property (I know Dolphin isn't but close enough). In the past, when we have gone through the Car Care Center it has been excellent. Guess we will see what happens this time.

Anyone ever have any good experiences here?

Just so you're aware, the Dolphin is on property -- it's walking distance to MGM and Epcot -- although it's not Disney-owned. I think ME and DDP are the only onsite perks that S/D guests don't have (we stayed there before either one existed).

I had a very positive experience at the Dolphin rental counter -- and I went through Alamo. We were staying at BWV and you can't beat the convenience. Like anything, you'll find customers who rave and customers who will never be back.

 

[goofy4tink]

THe last time we rented from Alamo at the Dolphin, we made that day our Epcot day. At the reserved time, we walked over to the Dolphin, did the paperwork, got our keys, then returned to Epcot for dinner/IllumiNations, and at park closing walked back to the Dolphin, gave our keys to the valet, who in turn drove the car around for us, and back to POP we went.
The whole experience was fine, and very quick. Perhaps I just got lucky but I got great service as well as a good rate.