Picking up a rental car at MCO

[jtowntoflorida]

We're going to do a Disney/Universal split stay in June and so will forgo DME and get a rental car instead. Delta changed its flight schedule and eliminated the flight we usually take to MCO, so now I have to determine Plan B as far as flights go. One puts us into MCO at midnight. The last time I rented a car at MCO was in 1999 (LOL) and I seem to remember the process being very convoluted and it taking a long time, and I'm not sure I want to be going through that process with two kids at midnight. Can someone give me a Cliffs Notes version of where to go and how long it generally takes to pick up a car at MCO?

 

[houseofduck]

Renting a car at MCO is not that difficult now. You pass the rental counters and kiosks when you walk to the Magical Express buses. The parking garage (where the rental cars are located) is a short walk from there. We usually use Alamo which is located on the first floor of the parking garage, but others are located there too. For us, the longest part of the process is choosing the car. And, it could easily take us an hour, but I think most "normal" people wouldn't take anywhere near that much time to get a car!

If you join whatever club (like Insiders for Alamo or Executive Club for National) and check-in ahead of time, you will take even less time once you arrive.

 

[row]

Depends on which company you're renting from. I suggest picking one that has an option to bypass the counter. I prefer Alamo as you can go straight to the garage and pick out the car you want (in the class you reserved). Budget also has a bypass counter service called Fastbreak, but I read on here or flyertalk that the Fastbreak counter is not 24 hours.

 

[bumbershoot]

I would join National's Emerald Club, then book the Emerald Aisle option (assuming your family can fit into a midsize IF all the other cars aren't there). Once that's done, you just go on out to the Emerald Aisle and pick what you want. I've never been limited to just a midsize; there's always at least a fullsize car there, and we almost always end up with an SUV from the Emerald Aisle.

Further, from the correct aisle for what you booked, you just pick the car, load it up, and go to the exit kiosks. Show them ID, get it squared away, and off you go.

Unless you're going to take surface streets only, have a roll of quarters and some dollar bills for the tolls. Have those in your carryon for the flight, and up in the console area for the drive.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Enterprise is usually who I rent through since we get a great corporate rate that we're allowed to use for personal travel. I've always completely ignored the car rental counters by DME, apparently. This actually sounds fairly simple and may even be faster than DME, especially that time of night.

Thanks for the tips!

 

[rwdavis2]

We rented from National last time. Walked to their part of the garage, checked the car for damage (photographed a few dings), got in and drove off. The most time consuming thing was checking the car. As was sign sign up for various companies' clubs that allow you to bypass the counters. Almost all have one now.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

If you rent with Alamo you can use the self check in kiosk machine and skip the line all together. The kiosk machine is located right by the Alamo check in area. Simply swipe your drivers license and credit card answer a few questions and you are done. Takes less than 10 minutes to do.

But if it were me and I was arriving that late at night and had not rented a car and drove over to WDW since 1999, I would take DME to the resort and get a rental car onsite at Disney the next day. Alamo has two location, one at the Disney Car Care Center the other at the Dolphin hotel. Alamo will pick you up from your resort for free and take you to the rental office. You just need to call the rental location the day before to arrange for a shuttle pick up. Because you are arriving so late you will have to claim your luggage and take it on the DME with you. DME luggage service stops at 10 p.m.

Last week I arrived just after midnight and opted for DME and from the bus I could see there was a construction company doing night work on the new interchange and the road was down to one lane.