October 2011 Car Rental Rates

[FigmentChick]

We're getting a car for only one day this trip to run some errands. With Insiders plus a double upgrade coupon I got the price down to $35 for a Standard and I was pretty happy with that. But then today I got an email from Alamo offering me a free one-day rental, good through Oct 31st! I was suspicious at first, thinking it might be a phishing email because it sounded too good to be true, and even if it was legit, I thought there would probably be a lot of restrictions.

I gave the code a try and was surprised to find I had my choice of Compact through Fullsize. DH will be driving and he prefers a smaller car so I booked the midsize. I still had to pay some fees and taxes but overall it came out to $5.06 including the $1.50 charge to get the Southwest points on the rental. Woo hoo!!

Nice!!!

 

[LisaS]

Last week we rented from Alamo at the Disney Car Care Center. We DID NOT get to choose our own vehicle and the service was AWFUL! See my post at "I will NEVER rent from Alamo again"

You mentioned in your thread that Alamo refused to honor the discount code you used when you made your reservation. It would be helpful to know what discount you used in case anyone else is using the same discount code. Thanks.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

message deleted.

 

[dvcfamily41801]

Sorry to hear the issues at Alamo at CCC.

I have always rented from MCO in the past, but this year I am trying National at the Dolphin. I am hoping for a good experience.

Has anyone rented from National at Dolphin? Would love your feedback!!!

We have! In fact we will be picking up on Sunday. That is unless I can get Priceline to accept a bid for our entire stay. Right now we have a Standard picking up at 9:30 am on 9th and return 9:30 am on 13th. We will just use ME. But it would be over 100 more for us to pick up at 8pm on 8th at MCO and drop off at 7pm on 13th at MCO.

We have always had great service there. I do not recall picking our own car though.

Have a great trip!

 

[leebee]

We leave tomorrow, so I guess I am at the end of my rental car search for this vacation. We are traveling on Columbus Day weekend, so many coupons were blacked out, and prices were high. However, by diligently watching the rates (on orbitz), I was able to make a reservation through Alamo for $97 for a midsize car from 11pm on 10/7 until 4pm on 10/11, using a BJ's code and coupon. This is an expensive vacation for us, as it's really only 3 days at Disney and my DH is going with us (usually it's just DD and me), so I've been trying to get the car for less. However, I just looked back at all my reservation cancellations. The car for this trip started out with a Dollar reservation for a midsized car for $238 and has ended up at Alamo for the midsize at $97, so I guess I can feel pretty good about this. Can't compare it to bygone days, when I could snag a minivan on the Emerald Aisle at National for $108 for the week, but I am OK with this!

(of course, I still have a fullsize ressie for $124... trying to convince myself the midsize will be adequate and save the $27 for F&W or appetizers at Cali Grill!).

 

[LSchrow]

Sorry to hear the issues at Alamo at CCC.

I have always rented from MCO in the past, but this year I am trying National at the Dolphin. I am hoping for a good experience.

Has anyone rented from National at Dolphin? Would love your feedback!!!

we rent from either alamo or national (same company, same desk) at the dolphin 2-3x a year. the service is excellent! they are very friendly, helpful, and not at all pushy. we have received a few unexpected, but totally appreciated, upgrades (compact to premium or SUV).
last oct, we found the battery on our rental dead in the BW parking lot. i called the dolphin alamo directly (they normally give us a card with their direct line and name). the counter representative personally drove a new (and upgraded) car over to us within minutes.
it does cost a little bit more to rent there than MCO, and probably from other companies, but we have been so pleased with their service, we'll only book there now (sorry if i sound like a commercial, but they really are that good - i've told them personally, as well as in letters to their corporate, that the people there help make the start of our WDW vacations incredibly pleasant and worryfree).
i've heard great things about alamo/national at the CCC also (where our favorite rep was tranferred to last year - she actually called my cel the day of our may arrival to give me her new number, in case we needed anything).
btw, you might want to read the PP's thread about her problem with alamo.

 

[budbeerlady]

Sweet, Thanks!

With 7014667 I am down to $204, saved me another $5. Do I still need to show my American Airlines member card for this one?

Hmmm. If I pick up at Car center and drop at the Dolphin I save another $18. I might just have to do that, either place was no issue with me.

 

[budbeerlady]

So what should I go with??? I am a rental newbie in every sense!!!1

I can get a Midsize for $134 for Oct 12-18. I have a Standard at $187, I can also get a fullsize for $187. Renting at Car center and dropping at the dolphin. We have 1 kid, 3 carry ons and 2 suitecases to get to the port and back. Will it fit in a midsize? Thanks!

 

[LisaS]

Just an FYI for those picking up/dropping off at the Dolphin, the Alamo desk there closes at 4pm. You can drop off after that time by leaving the car with the valet but you cannot pick up a car there after 4pm.

 

[goofy4tink]

Just an FYI for those picking up/dropping off at the Dolphin, the Alamo desk there closes at 4pm. You can drop off after that time by leaving the car with the valet but you cannot pick up a car there after 4pm.

You can, sort of. I have had a 'pickup' time of 3pm, before the counter closes down. But, I don't get my car then. I return to the Dolphin, at the end of my day, give the car keys to the valet, who then goes around and gets my car for me. So, if you don't need the car right then, you can do all the paperwork and get your keys earlier in the day, but return later and pick up the car.

 

[LisaS]

You can, sort of. I have had a 'pickup' time of 3pm, before the counter closes down. But, I don't get my car then. I return to the Dolphin, at the end of my day, give the car keys to the valet, who then goes around and gets my car for me. So, if you don't need the car right then, you can do all the paperwork and get your keys earlier in the day, but return later and pick up the car.

Good to know.

In our case, we didn't know they closed at 4pm. We got there around 4:45 and were surprised there was no one at the Alamo desk. We got several bits of misinformation from staff at the Dolphin until someone finally told us that they closed at 4pm. They gave us the number for Alamo at the CCC. We called and called but no one ever answered. (Turns out it was the wrong number!) By the time we finally got the correct number and got through to the CCC, it was too late for them to send the shuttle for us so we hopped in a cab and got there 10 minutes before they closed and finally got our car! Lesson learned the hard way.

 

[shoes99]

Just an FYI for those picking up/dropping off at the Dolphin, the Alamo desk there closes at 4pm. You can drop off after that time by leaving the car with the valet but you cannot pick up a car there after 4pm.

Good to know.

In our case, we didn't know they closed at 4pm. We got there around 4:45 and were surprised there was no one at the Alamo desk. We got several bits of misinformation from staff at the Dolphin until someone finally told us that they closed at 4pm. They gave us the number for Alamo at the CCC. We called and called but no one ever answered. (Turns out it was the wrong number!) By the time we finally got the correct number and got through to the CCC, it was too late for them to send the shuttle for us so we hopped in a cab and got there 10 minutes before they closed and finally got our car! Lesson learned the hard way.

They really leave promptly at 4PM, and they won't take you even if you are in line after 3:45PM. They are great service people, but don't be late.
Dropping off after 4PM is no problem, the valet will give you a receipt for the drop off , and you can go online to verify your charges.

 

[budbeerlady]

I am good with Dolphin drop off at 10am on my last day. I was just very surprised to see a rate change when you return one place vs the other. Dolphin to dolphin was $280 before codes and Car center to Car Center was $280 before codes on the standard /full size. I was just playing around...

 

[n2mm]

I am good with Dolphin drop off at 10am on my last day. I was just very surprised to see a rate change when you return one place vs the other. Dolphin to dolphin was $280 before codes and Car center to Car Center was $280 before codes on the standard /full size. I was just playing around...

I got a much lower rate if I picked up at CCC or Dolphin and returned back at the airport (MCO). It was a $200 difference for us. It would mean you would have to take DME to the resort, but could drive yourself back to the airport. Try those codes and see how you do. Though I was crunching the National numbers vs Alamo, but both are high right now.

 

[kimgeorg]

Leaving tomorrow for Orlando. I have a car reserved with Budget and I enrolled in Fastbreak and have the card. So I can bypass the lines at the airport right? Do I just go right to the parking garage and check in there? Is there a counter or a booth there? I'm a little confused and don't want to drag 3 kids and tons of luggage to the wrong place. . . . . .

Thanks in advance!

 

[n2mm]

Yeah, just saw the updated deals and it seems like I'm still a week away if any deals are available for Orlando. Like you said it still includes the Columbus week so hopefully it drops for me next Tuesday. 2 more to go before I have to stick with what I got.

OK, the next round is days away and feeling anxious here. You are lucky that you have 2 weeks, and there has been reports that November is seeing some really low great prices already. We seem to be in the October black hole in terms of good rates being available. I have one week now (from today) to hope that I see some decent drops in price. I'm still sitting on $500 for National (2 week rental-Executive aisle) ($377 before taxes and fees). I would love to see it drop. Right now the same rental is $666.66, and that is just a scarey number in many ways!! So I sure hope the pixie fairy drops a load of dust on us. I just went back into my history for National and this would be the highest I've ever paid, by $200 for the same timeframe. I'm hoping to start seeing some downward movement by Sunday or Monday! But I have to admit, I'm feeling pretty defeated. I guess all of the money I've saved in the past will help me accept this high price this time! It's all good! I'm heading to the BWV for 2 weeks - this time next week!

 

[1tufgt]

OK, the next round is days away and feeling anxious here. You are lucky that you have 2 weeks, and there has been reports that November is seeing some really low great prices already. We seem to be in the October black hole in terms of good rates being available. I have one week now (from today) to hope that I see some decent drops in price. I'm still sitting on $500 for National (2 week rental-Executive aisle) ($377 before taxes and fees). I would love to see it drop. Right now the same rental is $666.66, and that is just a scarey number in many ways!! So I sure hope the pixie fairy drops a load of dust on us. I just went back into my history for National and this would be the highest I've ever paid, by $200 for the same timeframe. I'm hoping to start seeing some downward movement by Sunday or Monday! But I have to admit, I'm feeling pretty defeated. I guess all of the money I've saved in the past will help me accept this high price this time! It's all good! I'm heading to the BWV for 2 weeks - this time next week!

Yeah 2 more Tuesday's to get a better deal.

 

[treehugnmama]

does anyone know if almo and budget are close to each other in mco?

 

[jedijill]

Just my 2 cents. Just picked up my $15/weekend reservation ($20 total) at the MK Care Car Center with Alamo. Checked in at the kiosk and there was an agent standing there and she got my keys and upgraded my compact to a convertible. Too bad it is pouring rain today!


Jill in CO

 

[1tufgt]

Just my 2 cents. Just picked up my $15/weekend reservation ($20 total) at the MK Care Car Center with Alamo. Checked in at the kiosk and there was an agent standing there and she got my keys and upgraded my compact to a convertible. Too bad it is pouring rain today!


Jill in CO

Must be nice to get a free upgrade. LOL