Need help with DME & rental

[Mom+4]

I'm SOOOOOOOOOOOO excited. Yesterday I found a flight a day early for 1/2 the price of my original flight on SW, so of course I switched and we are arriving a day early. This makes my rental car start the day AFTER we arrive. I tried to modify the reservation with Alamo, but it would be more than 3 times my original price. I also checked on renting for one day, then returning it and picking up the original car. Cost $115. (My original reservation for 8 days is only $225, so $115 for one day seems ridiculous. All of this is for the week before Christmas, so the likelihood of prices going down is ZERO. So my questions are:

1. Can I take DME from MCO to POP one day, then return on DME early the next morning to pick up my rental car even though we are staying at WDW for several more days?

2. Does the whole family have to return to MCO, or can I just go alone? I have a free extra driver (with Costco coupon), so does DH have to go too to pick up the car?

3. How early can I get DME? My reservation is for 8:00 a.m., so I need to be at MCO pretty early. Also, how long does it take to get from POP to MCO on DME?

Thanks for any responses.

 

[goofy4tink]

Yes, you can do that. Have DME added to your POP reservation. Then, when they need a return flight time, give them flight info for a flight that departs about 10am...DME will want to pick you up about 3 hrs before flight departure, so this will have them picking you up about 7ish....30+ mins to MCO, and you should be there in plenty of time for your 8am rental time.
As for your dh having to be there as well...I just don't know the answer to that one.

 

[Magical JenK]

Yes, you can do that. Have DME added to your POP reservation. Then, when they need a return flight time, give them flight info for a flight that departs about 10am...DME will want to pick you up about 3 hrs before flight departure, so this will have them picking you up about 7ish....30+ mins to MCO, and you should be there in plenty of time for your 8am rental time.
As for your dh having to be there as well...I just don't know the answer to that one.

Does this work only if your checking out of your hotel after that first night? Or would it work if you didn't check out & were staying several more days? Thanks

 

[goofy4tink]

Everyone gets to ride DME from the airport, to their resort, and then back to the airport again, as long as they have a reservation at a Disney resort. It really doesn't matter when you choose to use those rides...especially the one returning to the airport. But, you only get one ride, each way. Once you've used that ride, you've used it.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

Did you look in to changing the pick up location?

If you can keep your rate, it may be a bit more convenient to try to pick up at the Car Care Center (Alamo/National, free shuttle will pick you up at your hotel) or one of the hotels on Hotel Plaza Blvd (other major RAC's).