Okay is this crazy?

[bookgirl]

I usually rent a car for the entire trip. MCO to MCO and inbetween we usually use it for one days shopping offsite plus a walmart run or a day at IoA. And then I've used it for maybe one or two adr's or airport runs because of people arriving and leaving on different days. Usually more then enough reasons to have a car handy the whole trip.

The two trips I have coming up (OCT and JAN) I don't think I'll need it except the first and last days. Nothing inbetween that would require a car unless we just wanted it too.

So would it be crazy to just use DME Saturday afternoon, check in, hop first available bus to wherever then a bus to Dolphin and pick up a one day rental. Do any shopping sat night then return the car Sun morning then head to our first park from Dolphin? Use DME Wed morn to return to MCO.

It's going to be two laid back kind of trips with just a few ADR's that will be managable with the bus system.

As of prices right now it would save in rental fees around $120 in OCT (not sure how much it would save in Jan as those prices are still high but probably about the same).

I don't mind the shuffling to save the money and my mom is onboard for lower prices as well. But I've never done Orlando without a car. (I've done other vacations without cars and relied on taxi/buses and survived)

I'm a little leary as I like the freedom of a car but with two trips within 3 months of each other I'm intrested making my budget go a little further.

 

[wdwrich]

So would it be crazy to just use DME Saturday afternoon, check in, hop first available bus to wherever then a bus to Dolphin and pick up a one day rental. Do any shopping sat night then return the car Sun morning then head to our first park from Dolphin? Use DME Wed morn to return to MCO.

Seems like a bunch of traveling around the way you propose. I think I would just get the rental at MCO upon arrival and do my shopping on the way to WDW, then return the vehicle after checking in to the WDW resort. Another option would be to use a town car service from MCO to WDW (one that includes a grocery stop).

 

[bookgirl]

Seems like a bunch of traveling around the way you propose. I think I would just get the rental at MCO upon arrival and do my shopping on the way to WDW, then return the vehicle after checking in to the WDW resort. Another option would be to use a town car service from MCO to WDW (one that includes a grocery stop).

If it were JUST groceries I'd probably just use DME and grab some milk and fruit at the resort.

We do outlet shopping (not just a grocery run) so the town car and or/taxi would be as expensive as renting because of amount of time and multiple stops. Public buses are in no way convienent as they go way out of the way, it's like an hour from WDW to the Outlets on Vineland.

I did read though that National will shuttle you to and from your hotel to the pickup/dropoff location. So that actually would eliminate the bus shuffle.

 

[wdwrich]

I think picking up a rental at MCO upon arrival is still the most efficient method. Do all your shopping on arrival day, then return the car on Sunday morning on WDW property. Yes, National/Alamo at the WDW Car Care Center will shuttle back to your resort or park or to any destination on property.

 

[bookgirl]

I think picking up a rental at MCO upon arrival is still the most efficient method. Do all your shopping on arrival day, then return the car on Sunday morning on WDW property. Yes, National/Alamo at the WDW Car Care Center will shuttle back to your resort or park or to any destination on property.

Well, national actually had no fee for droping off at a different location from pick up, maybe cause its' in town?

Oh well I've changed my reservation to pick up at MCO and then drop off at Dolphin the next day. Think this will be the easiest and cheapest way to go.

Now I'll just have to arrange to have DME on our return trip only.....I"m pretty sure that's possible.

My Jan trip has the same schedule (arrive sat leave wed no park planned on Sat and will shop probably so if this works well I'll do the same thing again.

Thanks for you input.

 

[richmo]

I'd be inclined to cover all your bases.

First, I'd go ahead and set DME up.

Then, I'd start looking at rental cars for both October and January. They're both relatively quiet periods (unless you're talking about the first few days of January), which should translate into some really inexpensive rentals...problem is, you likely won't be able to snag the cheap rentals until much closer to your trip (1-3 weeks out, perhaps less). I'd be inclined to just do an MCO-MCO rental and be done with it; you're likely to get the best rates that way (although it may not appear that way now). If you get something good, just take it and cancel DME.

 

[bookgirl]

I'd be inclined to cover all your bases.

First, I'd go ahead and set DME up.

Then, I'd start looking at rental cars for both October and January. They're both relatively quiet periods (unless you're talking about the first few days of January), which should translate into some really inexpensive rentals...problem is, you likely won't be able to snag the cheap rentals until much closer to your trip (1-3 weeks out, perhaps less). I'd be inclined to just do an MCO-MCO rental and be done with it; you're likely to get the best rates that way (although it may not appear that way now). If you get something good, just take it and cancel DME.

I made my RO reservation a few month ago so have been watching prices closely, I actually currently have a week rental with thrifty, a one day rental with National and on the 29th when I attempt to get FD I'll put MDE on that reservation. Then I'll go back and start cancelling the various incantations of this trip.

Yep I'll all about covering the bases.

 

[bumbershoot]

I don't think any of it is crazy. Whatever isn't too much hassle and costs the least is best, IMO.

We're avowed car-rental people, but our upcoming October trip is throwing us for a loop. Absolutely no need for a car on the first day, and we're actually getting into town early enough that we could finally, for the first time, take advantage of baggage delivery to the room. When I land (we're flying separately) I'll be going straight from the resort to the 10-miler expo, and they have buses for that. DH and DS are going to take it easy, no stress and no rush, so if they choose to leave the resort I'm sure just about any bus would be fine. Anyway, etc etc, for the first day it just makes little sense to have it, and last I looked on my fave rental car site, it's cheaper to do it that way (pickup at CCC or Dolphin) than the extra day from MCO.

Right there with you, at least at the beginning of the trip.

 

[bookgirl]

I don't think any of it is crazy. Whatever isn't too much hassle and costs the least is best, IMO.

We're avowed car-rental people, but our upcoming October trip is throwing us for a loop. Absolutely no need for a car on the first day, and we're actually getting into town early enough that we could finally, for the first time, take advantage of baggage delivery to the room. When I land (we're flying separately) I'll be going straight from the resort to the 10-miler expo, and they have buses for that. DH and DS are going to take it easy, no stress and no rush, so if they choose to leave the resort I'm sure just about any bus would be fine. Anyway, etc etc, for the first day it just makes little sense to have it, and last I looked on my fave rental car site, it's cheaper to do it that way (pickup at CCC or Dolphin) than the extra day from MCO.

Right there with you, at least at the beginning of the trip.

I'm actually checking in the 11th so the Sat night of the first Marathon weekend.

I've thought about doing one of the 5K's but dates did not work out. Hope you and the boy have a good time running.