opinion needed for which option for car rental

[justplaingoofy]

I know you Dis'ers will understand my need for an opinion. If I ask a non Dis'er they will look at me like I have 2 heads.

December 13-17 I'm headed to Walt Disney World to bring my mom to celebrate her 70th Birthday. We are staying at Caribbean Beach. We have been MANY times to Disney, and its more about her getting away for a couple of days, seeing Christmas decorations, & getting to go out to eat. (She is the caretaker for my Dad who has MS so she needs a little get away)

I have 2 different car rentals on hold & wondering which one i should do. I'm all about saving money since this trip is costing me a bit of $, but I also want to make it easy for her.

Option 1:
Dollar Car rental: pick up up MCO 12/13 & drop off at MCO 12/17 economy car: cost $144

Option 2:
Alamo Car rental: pick up at MCO & drop off at Dolphin the morning of departure, midsize car: cost $104. Take magical express back to airport.

On our departure day our plan is Animal Kingdom. In the past we get there at park opening & leave by 2pm'ish but could spend some extra time there if needed....Figured:

Option #1 we could put our luggage in the car, check out of hotel, get boarding passes & go to Animal Kingdom. If we get done with Animal Kingdom early we will have a car to go wherever. Flight is 6:30pm so would need to leave Disney area around 4pm to head back to airport.

Option #2 Put our luggage in car & drive it over to customs house (Caribbean beach) and have them hold our luggage, check out, boarding pass, & drive over to Dolphin. Drop off car & jump on bus to Animal Kingdom. Spend the day there & take bus back to CBR to collect luggage & take Magical Express back to airport. (pick up probably 3:30p).

So the question...do I save the $40 & drop off the car at Dolphin the morning of departure, or keep the car & drop it off at the airport?

 

[DVC California]

Option #2.1 If your airline participates in RAC, drop off luggage at CBR RAC in morning and get boarding passes. Drive to Dolphin to drop off car. Take bus at Dolphin to AK.

 

[sam_gordon]

I would personally do Option 3... don't get a rental car, save $144 and utilize Disney transportation.

If that's not an option to you, I'd do Option 1. Your pickup time would be between 3:15 & 3:45. I would feel getting the car dropped off + the added time to get back to the resort, AND you're supposed to be there 15 minutes before your pickup time would be worth the $40.

ME would require leaving AK by 2pm (IMO because you don't know how long the wait for the bus would be), whereas if you had a car you could leave at 3:30 (if not a little later).

 

[firstwdw]

Nice part about using Dollar is they don't require a credit card etc until you show up to pick up the car so if you change your mind, you can cancel or if you find a better price book it then cancel the other. We just did Dollar in DC for 3 nights, 3 days and paid $112 for Full size. When I booked it, it was $180. I watched the prices and checked the "city specials" and price dropped!

 

[MKFan-PR]

For a $40 difference you would need to go to the Dolphin to return the car, then hop on a bus to AK, where you would need to be exiting the park by 2pm so that you can return to the resort to make your DME pickup time (3:15-3:30pm). This can easily cut 2 hours of park time, maybe a little more.

For only $40 more, you can still use RAC (don't have to use DME to use RAC) to take care of the luggage, then just hop on the car, head straight to AK, and as long as you are in the car and on your way to MCO by 4:00pm you should be fine.

 

[justplaingoofy]

THanks guys... I'm still on the fence.

We do want a car because the purpose of this trip is so that my mom can see Christmas decorations, & go out to eat...so it will make it easier & much less time consuming when driving to hotel to hotel to see decorations instead of dealing with busses. Also, we like to do some shopping at the outlet malls off 535 area & go to Joes Crab shack! yum!!! Crab nachos!

re: using RAC.....we only do carry on, and do not check a bag.

 

[Lewisc]

Option 3--Skip the rental car. Skip the offsite stuff. Use the $104 savings toward taxis.

Otherwise go with option 1. You'll be wasting too much time your last day. First going over to the Dolphin to drop off your car then having to get back to your resort early enough to catch DME. Maybe the PP is being too conservative. You could probably leave AK at 2:15.

Option 4--Go with the car rental and save money staying offsite.

Given your criteria getting the rental car for your entire trip makes the most sense. You want to go to the outlet malls. You want to maximize your last day.