Picking up Rental at MCO Vs. Car Care Center

[RweTHEREyet]

I have seen several posts where people indicate they are picking up their rental car at either the Dolphin or the Car Care Center rather than MCO. If you are using the car for your entire stay, why would this be beneficial? Is there a cost savings? It seems to me a lot of hassle to find other transportation to Disney and then it would take more time to go get the rental car. Unless the savings would be substantial, I wouldn't thing it would be worth the extra time taken away from vacation.

What am I missing???

 

[may06orbust]

But we're heading for the beach for 5 nights before we go home. We're picking up our car at the Dolphin, because we will be at MGM for Star Wars opening day. Here's hoping it won't be too crazy that day.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Anyone else care to comment?

 

[shoes99]

Saved a full days rental cost by using Disney's Magical Express from the airport to the hotel. Picked up the rental car the next day at the Dolphin and returned it to MCO at the end of my trip. I've done this twice and had no problems with National at the Dolphin.

 

[jetsetter90]

The reason why I do this is because I hate picking up my bags and then trudging through the terminal, finding the car and then loading them into the car. Yes they are unloaded for us at the resort. vs. getting off plane going straight to DME check in get on bus, get off bus check in and go to room bags show up later. I pick up my car the day we are at either Epcot or MGM and am set.

TTFN
Jetsetter90

 

[pumpkinboy]

I am with Jetsetter90: I love not having to schlep my big suitcases, and simply checking the heavy stuff thru to my BWV room; saving a day of car rental is icing on the cake there.

However, if we are keeping the car the whole time, I would consider picking up at the airport, leaving the rest of the family to ride DME, and simply taking the vehicle to go grocery shopping and meeting them at the resort. Then when dropoff time came, we have generally chosen to drop at the Dolphin and all take DME back together (unless flying a non-participating airline in which case we'd just use the car to get us and our stuff back to MCO). It is cheaper to pick up at MCO tho.

But with DME, I think we're going to be getting a car only if we're combining with a non-WDW destination (like VB). Since our November trip is going to be all WDW, we'll probably just do DME and get groceries delivered.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

I guess the control freak in me likes to know just where my luggage is and likes leaving the airport when I am ready. I don't mind using one of those smartcartes to get my luggage to the Emerald Aisle. I don't think saving one day's car rental would make it worth my time to deal with Magical Express and taking the time out of another day to go get the rental car at the Dolphin, but that is just me. Maybe if I was staying at the Dolphin, but I dunno. Never say never, but I think I will stick with getting my car at the airport.

 

[hemispheredancer]

RweTHEREyet....did you get you car ressie finalized? Did you get the Equinox?

 

[NancyIL]

I rent a car at the airport, drive to Cocoa to visit my mom for a day or two, then drive to WDW and drop off the car at the Dolphin. I don't need a car while I'm at WDW. I either rent a car (at the Dolphin) to drive back to the airport or take Mears - depending on how many are in my party (I often visit WDW solo).

 

[RweTHEREyet]

RweTHEREyet....did you get you car ressie finalized? Did you get the Equinox?

That I did, I plan on check back weekly to see what else might be offered. I thank you again for all your help. If nothing else comes up, I will be pleased with that rate on the Equinox

Our resort of choice is OKW, too. Have a great trip.

 

[Drake]

From my experience, rates are cheaper at MCO than at any of the disney car rental locations. I got a great rate using codes and coupons from the Mousavers site! Ended up using Alamo for a small SUV .... week rate of 115.00 before taxes.....and then another 15.00 off of that with an electronic coupon code! I started this reservation in January for rental the end of May. I don't know what the rates are now....but, Mousesavers has a Walmart customer rate noted, which is what I used. Oh, it also states that an extra driver is free!! Can't beat that!!

 

[rkmassa]

I have seen several posts where people indicate they are picking up their rental car at either the Dolphin or the Car Care Center rather than MCO. If you are using the car for your entire stay, why would this be beneficial? Is there a cost savings? It seems to me a lot of hassle to find other transportation to Disney and then it would take more time to go get the rental car. Unless the savings would be substantial, I wouldn't thing it would be worth the extra time taken away from vacation.

What am I missing???

My DH picked up our rental, while the rest of the family rode the ME. He beat us to the resort at POR. Picking a rental has always been a breeze for us. Very fast either on site at the airport or off site.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

I would think that unless your resort was the first one that ME made, that having your own transportation would definitely be faster.