One-way car rental from Mass.

[Figment&Piglet]

We are thinking of renting a mini van and driving to Disney World one way, stopping at Shenandoah Valley National Park and Hilton Head for three nights each, then dropping off the car at Orlando International Airport and taking Magical Express to our resort. We would of course fly home. Has anyone ever rented a car one way from New England and how long in advance of your trip did you find the best prices? And anything we should be aware of for the drive down? Thanks!

 

[Alesia]

If you're going in late fall or maybe early summer, you might get a decent price. Otherwise, be prepared for some major sticker shock. A round trip rental will probably be considerably cheaper.

 

[Figment&Piglet]

Going in mid- to late August. Seeing over $1000 incl taxes and fees! Hoping they’ll come down?

 

[OKW Lover]

You might also want to check out the cost to return it to a car rental office at WDW rather than the airport.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I came to the thread wondering why you would want to get to (Catholic) Mass, but not back to the resort.

Oops.

 

[Alesia]

Going in mid- to late August. Seeing over $1000 incl taxes and fees! Hoping they’ll come down?

I wouldn't count on prices coming down much. One way rentals are very expensive because they'll need to transport the car back. In late summer they need more cars in the north and less in the south.

 

[Figment&Piglet]

I came to the thread wondering why you would want to get to (Catholic) Mass, but not back to the resort.

Oops.

LOL!

 

[a742246]

This post got me wondering, and this is what I found out. I am flying down to Orlando from Albany NY for 8 days the end of January and I am renting a car for 3days while I am down there. The car rental price for those 3.5 days is $153.00. The airfare is $240.00 roundtrip. This is what I fine amazing, I could rent a car from Albany (midsize car) and return it to Orlando MCO airport 8 days later for a cost of $189.00!!!! Now I am not going to do this now but I am amazed by this.

 

[JimMIA]

Two things:

1. The key to any one-way rental is the dropoff fee. Be sure the price you are being quoted includes picking the car up in MA and dropping it off somewhere in Orlando. Dropoff fees vary greatly from company to company, and sometimes even between vehicle categories within the same company. You could face a BIG drop-off fee, or a zero drop-off fee. Whatever it is, be sure you understand the TOTAL you will be paying.
2. SHEN is gorgeous! Make sure to book your lodging as early as possible. The accommodations are kind of rustic, but fine. We stayed in Skyland and loved it. Big Meadows is also very nice (lots of deer!). Here's a link to the NPS website: www.nps.gov/shen From there, if you click on lodging, it will re-direct you to the concessionaire's website where you can book lodging.

I would also consider what a742246 mentioned -- doing a round-trip rental. Maybe stop at SHEN one way and Washington, DC going the other direction. Both are worth at least a day (DC, probably a week!).

 

[patsfan101]

We also drive from Mass (achusetts - LOL). We looked into doing something like this several years ago but found it cost prohibitive - ended up cheaper to fly to Disney round trip, but we were only going for a week and didn't have the excursions planned that you do. I am looking forward to hear how it goes for you - Best of luck, I hope those rental prices go down.

 

[Jimsig]

Also check different locations to rent from. For example if you rent from a Budget location in your hometown you could get wacked with a huge drop off fee, however if you rent from their Logan (or Worcester or BLD depending on where you are) location there might not be one. You will need to do more homework then a regular rental to make sure you are comparing apples to apples. Check from both your local rental location and the airport location to both MCO and to Disney itself for a return. Check out different classes etc at the different locations. You might find a minivan for $750 with a $250 drop off fee at one place but an SUV for $600 with no drop off, or that minivan for the same price but with no drop off fee at one of the locations.

Also once booked keep checking prices as if they go down you can always cancel and rebook as long as you don't do one of those prepaid non refundable rentals.

One thing to think about as well if you do return to MCO is to drop everyone and your stuff at your resort before you return the rental. Not everyone has to take the bus from MCO to the resort as it would not screw up your return. Might make it less hectic at the end of the road trip not to have to haul all your luggage through the airport to MDE.

As an FYI if you have an EZPass you can take it with you for the trip down, just be sure to add the rental to your EzPass account. Currently it does not work in FLA though but it will help in the Northeast states that have tools on your route.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I came to the thread wondering why you would want to get to (Catholic) Mass, but not back to the resort.

Oops.

Well, obviously you missed or misinterpreted the "." following Mass

Check from both your local rental location and the airport location to both MCO and to Disney itself for a return.

Also the Dolphin, and if there's a rental counter at one of the Disney Springs hotels.

 

[OKW Lover]

if there's a rental counter at one of the Disney Springs hotels.

Several car companies have rental counters at the Disney Springs hotels.
https://www.disboards.com/threads/car-rental-locations-for-wdw.2927109/

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Well, obviously you missed or misinterpreted the "." following Mass

Also the Dolphin, and if there's a rental counter at one of the Disney Springs hotels.

You mean the period at the end of the sentence?

 

[goofy4tink]

Okay. Play nicely kiddos. Mom is very cold, makes her cranky! The '.' could show an abbreviation, or the end of the sentence. You both have a valid point.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Okay. Play nicely kiddos. Mom is very cold, makes her cranky! The '.' could show an abbreviation, or the end of the sentence. You both have a valid point.

I added a smiley to fully express my reaction.

(Sorry to be vague. I figured it was all in fun.)

 

[jeff_h]

Be sure to check different companies, as I remember that for whatever reason, National Car Rental had very good one-way prices. I don't know why and don't care why, but I've had reasonably-priced rentals with them on several occasions. Earlier this year I one-way rented a full size car from Orlando airport and dropped at Richmond VA airport (2-day rental) and total rental cost was $34 (which included taxes).

 

[kaytieeldr]

Okay. Play nicely kiddos. Mom is very cold, makes her cranky! The '.' could show an abbreviation, or the end of the sentence. You both have a valid point.

We are playing nice. Go have some Southern Comfort & Amaretto.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You mean the period at the end of the sentence?

It's not a sentence. It doesn't contain a verb.

 

[JimMIA]

Okay. Play nicely kiddos. Mom is very cold, makes her cranky!

You're cold? Are you aware that Miami temps plunged into the 40's this week?!?!?!