National to WDW

[markey]

Has anyone rented a car for the trip from the airport and returned to National on WDW property and then done the reverse on return home? I am trying to find the most inexpensive way to travel from MCO to resort and then back. Inbetween vacation for me, going with daughter and children and tring to be economical. There would be 2 adults and 3 children, 2,8 and 9. Thanks.

 

[drusba]

Have not done that but likelihood is that it is less expensive to get towncar or taxi and more convenient to do so. You would need to pay a full day car rental to go to WDW and then another coming back and highly unlikely to get any discount rate doing that. Moreover, the car has to be returned (and then picked up when leaving) at the service area outside of MK and thus you need to make that trip to and from your hotel in a cab or courtesy car that they might provide without charge.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

This can work, and cost is sometimes comparable to towncar service, but it might be difficult to do it for much less. I got a rate of $42 including all taxes and fees for each of the two rentals (MCO to WDW on arrival and WDW to MCO on departure), using DC discount (which did apply, even for a one-day rental, although the free weekend day obviously did not). With Emerald Club, this was quite convenient, since we used the rental car to go to DTD and grocery shopping (we are DVC members and stay at the BoardWalk Villas). In our case the drop off and pick up of the rental car was very convenient, since the Dolphin has a National service desk and the time of day worked out well. Hours for that desk have changed during the last year, so it may not be as convenient now. Also, rental rates fluctuate so much it's hard to speculate about what one might find for particular days. Always worth a try.

 

[Darian]

We did just that on our visit WDW... arrived from the airport via Mears Shuttle, burned the return Mears tickets and rented a car from National at WDW.

Not only did we avoid the horrors of the Mears Shuttle, but were able to visit some friends in Florida before driving back to the airport. The flexibility was nice.

Darian