Please help, will this work??

[armomof3lvsdisney]

We are thinking about flying into Tampa, getting a rental car from one of the companies that are located in or close to Disney so we can drop it off when we get there. We don't need it for the week. We would be flying out of Orlando (MCO), can we use Magical Express one way, just for the flight home. Price and arrival times make it much more desirable to fly into Tampa, but the return flight is fine to take out of Orlando. TIA

 

[goofy4tink]

Yes, you can book DME just for your return trip to MCO. You can do that when you get to your resort. They need at least a day's notice...although some have reported being able to book it the night before they were going to checkout.

Alamo/National counters are located at the Dolphin and at the Car Care Center. Budget has a counter at the Doubletree Guest Suites in DTD. Others have locations close to WDW but I think those are the most convenient.

 

[sam_gordon]

Yes, you can book DME just for your return trip to MCO. You can do that when you get to your resort. They need at least a day's notice...although some have reported being able to book it the night before they were going to checkout.

Alamo/National counters are located at the Dolphin and at the Car Care Center. Budget has a counter at the Doubletree Guest Suites in DTD. Others have locations close to WDW but I think those are the most convenient.

Regarding the bolded... if you want, you can do it before your trip too. That's what we've done the last two trips. We usually spend a couple days off property, then go on and turn in the rental car.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Alamo and National counters at the WDW Dolphin and the WDW Car Care Center are popular options. I'm not sure why Budget at the Doubletree Guest Suites should be considered more convenient than various Hertz, Avis, and other car rental locations on or near WDW property. Use a company that gives you good one-way rates and that can drive you where you want to go after you return your car. Keep an eye on hours of operation.

For other WDW-area car rental return options, see "Car rental locations for WDW..." at http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2927109

DME is designed so that it can be used round-trip or just one-way (in either direction). So there's no problem using DME just back to MCO. However, there is no advantage in waiting until you get to WDW to make arrangemnts. Do it from home, and you won't have to deal with it at WDW.

 

[armomof3lvsdisney]

Thanks so much everyone!! This is one of the many reasons I love the Dis, no matter what the question it can be answered here!

 

[armomof3lvsdisney]

I finally have my flights booked and actually it worked different than I thought. We were able to book a nonstop flight into Orlando at a good price and we are flying out of Tampa. We extended our vacation by a day, so we will spend the day in Tampa at the beach or Busch Gardens and fly out the next morning. I plan on booking a rental car from Alamo for the trip to Tampa. Does anyone have any ideas on a good hotel close to the airport in Tampa. I'm so relieved to have our flights book, such a load of my mind.

 

[goofy4tink]

I finally have my flights booked and actually it worked different than I thought. We were able to book a nonstop flight into Orlando at a good price and we are flying out of Tampa. We extended our vacation by a day, so we will spend the day in Tampa at the beach or Busch Gardens and fly out the next morning. I plan on booking a rental car from Alamo for the trip to Tampa. Does anyone have any ideas on a good hotel close to the airport in Tampa. I'm so relieved to have our flights book, such a load of my mind.

I really enjoy the Doubletree on Rocky Point W...I think that's the area. It's a very short drive to TPA...a nice hotel, with great views and relatively easy to get to other places. That's where we stay when we want to be close to TPA while visiting my ds in Tampa. I believe they have a shuttle to the airport as well if you're thinking of returning the car earlier.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Alamo and National counters at the WDW Dolphin and the WDW Car Care Center are popular options. I'm not sure why Budget at the Doubletree Guest Suites should be considered more convenient than various Hertz, Avis, and other car rental locations on or near WDW property. Use a company that gives you good one-way rates and that can drive you where you want to go after you return your car. Keep an eye on hours of operation.

For other WDW-area car rental return options, see "Car rental locations for WDW..." at http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2927109

DME is designed so that it can be used round-trip or just one-way (in either direction). So there's no problem using DME just back to MCO. However, there is no advantage in waiting until you get to WDW to make arrangemnts. Do it from home, and you won't have to deal with it at WDW.

At least one of the Hertz locations does not generally accept one way drop offs.

 

[nhmommy]

I finally have my flights booked and actually it worked different than I thought. We were able to book a nonstop flight into Orlando at a good price and we are flying out of Tampa. We extended our vacation by a day, so we will spend the day in Tampa at the beach or Busch Gardens and fly out the next morning. I plan on booking a rental car from Alamo for the trip to Tampa. Does anyone have any ideas on a good hotel close to the airport in Tampa. I'm so relieved to have our flights book, such a load of my mind.

Keep checking your flights every day as long as your airline has no change fees the price may temporarily go down and you can switch if you want too. I have been watching my flights prices bounce all over the place lately.
If rental prices are cheeper at the airport I wonder if you can tale the ME back to MCO and rent a car there for the day in Tampa.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Keep checking your flights every day as long as your airline has no change fees the price may temporarily go down and you can switch if you want too. I have been watching my flights prices bounce all over the place lately.
If rental prices are cheeper at the airport I wonder if you can tale the ME back to MCO and rent a car there for the day in Tampa.

I know that "price" is king, but really? Let's spend an hour on a bus to go to the airport to pick up a car and then drive BACK past WDW to get to Tampa?

Sometimes it seems we let the "chase" get ahead of common sense!

 

[nhmommy]

I know that "price" is king, but really? Let's spend an hour on a bus to go to the airport to pick up a car and then drive BACK past WDW to get to Tampa?

Sometimes it seems we let the "chase" get ahead of common sense!

For me it always depends on how much money it will save I always weigh time v price sometimes it's worth it sometimes not.