Opinions Please (ME/Rental Car)

[rlduvall]

I want the least stressful vacation I can come up with. Which means I stress myself out totally until the vacation on how to make it stressless (is that a word?).

I have 2 possible scenarios for my 9/19 to 9/26 vacation. I absolutely want a rental car because we plan on lots of resort to resort dining, water parks, etc. and I do not have the tolerance to wait for Disney transportation the entire trip. Flying SW, so not a participating airline for return to MCO. Which sounds the easiest?

1. Take ME to POP. Two days later (only parks up to that point) pick up rental car at CCC at about 5:30 p.m. then head over to CG for dinner that night. (already reserved for 7:20 p.m.) Drop off car at airport at end of trip. Full 5 day rental (compact) = $83.; or

2. Pick up Alamo rental at airport; using Quick Silver. Keep for full trip. 8 day rental (full size) = $108.

I like the thought of not going to baggage claim at airport; but hate having to wait for luggage. Concerned about shuttle to CCC and how long line might be there.

I like the thought of using Alamo Quick Silver at airport, but hate having to stop at counter in garage (National has me spoiled). Concerned may take awhile for luggage to make it to baggage claim.

You know what . . . I wear myself out. Too much analysis, right?

 

[MinnieGirl33]

Pick up at the airport.

We always rent a car.

While we have never used ME I would suspect that the time it would take to wait for a full (relatively speaking) bus & I assume make multiple stops would be less than if you drove your self.

Plus you won't have to set time aside on another day to go to the CCC.

JMO.

 

[goofy4tink]

Just to clarify for you....Southwest is only considered 'non-participating' as far as being able to check your luggage through to the airport at your resort, and then get your boarding passes at the same time. This allows you to bypass the whole luggage checkin counter at MCO. But, if you are flying home on SW, you can take the DME bus, with your luggage underneath, back to the airport at the end of your trip. I would hate to hassle with a rental at MCO. If you find you really do need a rental while at WDW then I would rent for the days you need one but use DME for getting to and from the airport.

 

[kaytieeldr]

JMO -
Pop Century is usually (but not always) the first stop on the bus transporting Pop Guests.
By the time the OP goes to baggage claim, waits for baggage, transports baggage to garage, picks car, loads car, and exits garage, chances are extremely good that the passengers on her flight who are using DME to get to Pop are already on 417 on their way to the resort. They didn't have to wait for and transport their own luggage; they didn't have to stop halfway down to the car rental level, they didn't have to lug their own bags, they don't have to be concerned about traffic, they don't have to pay any tolls...
Nope, I think if anything, the timing would be about the same - and the price is better. The OP is prepared to allow that extra time at the CCC before dinner; $83 is less than $108; by using DME from the airport, they won't have to wait in the room for their luggage if the room isn't ready when they check in...

 

[labdogs42]

If you check in online with Alamo, you go right to your car. I did it in May and I'm doing the same thing tomorrow! No lines, no hassles -- I'd get the car for the whole trip, seems less complicated to me.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yeah, I thought Alamo's "club" was the same - you don't have to stop at the counter. You DO still have to stop in the garage, select a car, load the car, and wait at the checkout booth (I'm pretty sure neither online checkin nor QS enables the renter to teleport the vehicle out of the garage without letting Alamo know )
I realize that's a lot faster than waiting in line inside to complete paperwork (btw, I don't think you can check in online if you're using a coupon, and there might be other restrictions) but there will likely still be other cars in front of you waiting to exit.

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

With Alamo though, I do believe if you are using a coupon, you CAN NOT use the express thing, you have to go to the counter. I ALWAYS have a coupon, so Alamo doesn't work for me.

 

[LoveMickey]

We usually pick up a car at the airport so we can do a quick stop at grocery store on our way into the resort.

We then only keep the car for a limited time - maybe a day or two.

The last time we did this, we dropped the car off at CCC and the line was very long. Glad we had the express return set up, so we could just drop the paperwork off. Oh BTW this was with Alamo.

We then use DME for return to the airport.

We too fly SWA and it is very easy to check in. We ask the resort (politely) to print our boarding passes out - 24 hrs in advance and then we use SWA express (the screen type) check in.

 

[rhiannon]

Here's one other quick suggestion. We are going end of Sept. and taking DME to hotel so as to avoid hassle of rental car at MCO. Day 2 is MK so just taking bus.
Our next day I have rented a car through Dollar and will pick up at the Grovesnor Hotel near DD. We are staying at CBR and this actually looks closer than CCC. Has anyone else done this?
I'm hoping that by renting here we will avoid long lines. Price is less than Alamo, too.
We then drop car off at airport. The charge is the same as if we were returning it to the hotel.

 

[seashoreCM]

Random musings:

The convenience of fetching the car (Downtown Disney to Grosvenor versus airport shuttle to rental lot)

How much are you going to use the car?

Is it cheaper to rent at the airport?

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm