National at the Dolphin - yuk!

Letsbgoofy

DIS Veteran
Joined
Apr 27, 2000
Messages
3,347
We picked up a car 9/2 at the Dolphin through National. We have always used National at the airport (and in other cities) and it has been great. The car we got at the Dolphin was disgusting. It was dirty and smelly, I don't think it had been cleaned at all.

The problem picking up at the Dolphin is that a valet gets the car for you. By the time we realized what a gross car it was, we were already miles away. It wasn't worth the hassle of returning the car when we only had it for 3 days.

I called National when we got home. They returned 1/2 the rental price. That was nice of them, but all I really wanted was a complaint to be made at the Dolphin site.

Has anyone else who has rented there had a simliar problem? Or a good experience? With DME, I plan to pick up a car mid-vacation again if this is an isolated incident.
 
but I don't think it happens often. Since the Dolphin is largely a convention hotel, they rent ALOT of cars there, especially to business people who use them to get to various business destinations.

I think you were right to complain to National, but I also wouldn't have accepted the car, or in your case, brought it right back and demanded it be cleaned.

I use the Dolphin alot, but mostly to return a car I pick up at the airport. Melissa at the counter has always been great to deal with and helped me with a couple of "situations."

Good luck next time!!! :teeth:
 
I have also rented cars there...never a problem, but perhaps there was a mistake...you were just a little unlucky. Sorry
 
We have rented from the dolphin site many times and always had great service and great cars. Sorry you had a bad experience and I am glad National did something for you. I did notice in February that the car was delivered via valet, prior to that we had picked up our rental from a specific lot.

If your still leary there is another location inside WDW at the car care center and IIRC all the resorts will send a shuttle for you.

TJ
 

Thanks for your replies. I was thinking that maybe they didn't have the facilities at the Dolphin to clean to cars, but I guess I was just unlucky.

When I say "gross", keep in mind that my car is spotless and doesn't smell like mildew. It wasn't worth the effort and time (mostly time) to return the car and have to start the process over again. My son was hot and tired and we just wanted a shower and a break from the heat.
 





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