Quick! Last minute Rental Car Check-in Question

[kkayluvsdis]

Hi All,

My DH and I are attempting to surprise our kids in the morning with a "wake up and go to Disney" trip. It is now only a few hours before we have to be up and moving and we're still getting stuff packed! EEK! Anyway, so one thing we left until the last minute was doing the online check in for our rental car. We had hoped to do the "skip-the-counter" option with Alamo but didn't realize that the paperwork had to be printed out We don't have a functional printer at home. My husband saved the confirmation to a PDF on his phone. Would that be acceptable or are we going to be stuck checking in at the counter?!
This is our first time renting a car and staying off site as a family. Thanks so much for your help!

Going to try to catch a few zzzz's....

-Kelly

 

[sam_gordon]

Depending on what airport(s) you're flying through, one might offer a business center (with some desktops/printers) that will allow you to print off what you need.

NOTE: I'm saying this not knowing how strict Alamo is with you needing the paperwork, but assuming you have the correct information.

 

[maciec]

Call the Alamo counter at MCO and ask. I have never needed paperwork and have skipped the garage. It may be that all you have to do is sign up for Alamo Insider and make the phone call to the 800 number and see that it's all linked up.

 

[IamTHERebelSpy86]

Thanks for the info!!

 

[BigTigger]

Go to the kiosks near the rental desk and you can bring up your reservation and print anything you need. I don't think you'll actually need it as the check out people usually compare your license and credit card to the reservation data and then print you the takeaway contract (you still need to go through the booth is what I'm saying). Have fun and safe travels!!

 

[richmo]

Go to the kiosks near the rental desk and you can bring up your reservation and print anything you need. I don't think you'll actually need it as the check out people usually compare your license and credit card to the reservation data and then print you the takeaway contract (you still need to go through the booth is what I'm saying). Have fun and safe travels!!

That's probably what I would do. I've even done this while waiting for luggage to come out...I go down to the Alamo kiosk, check-in then take the elevator back up to baggage claim.

 

[sam_gordon]

Call the Alamo counter at MCO and ask. I have never needed paperwork and have skipped the garage. It may be that all you have to do is sign up for Alamo Insider and make the phone call to the 800 number and see that it's all linked up.

How'd you skip the GARAGE? Isn't that where the car is?

 

[kkayluvsdis]

Hi All!

Sitting in Japan while my youngest snoozes in the stroller. Just wanted to check in about the car situation. ..we ended up going to the counter. There was no line. Turns out all they need to see when you go to choose the vehicle is the Barcode from the Online check in so my husbands phone was fine! We picked a van then showed the alamo person that Barcode and gave my dhs license and credit card. It was super easy! One of the only things that went smoothly about our travel day. After getting up at 4am our flight was delayed more than 5 hours! We made it, though, and are having a blast! Finally rode the mine train. ..it was down for a while yesterday. We all loved it!!

One other problem we encountered this morning was the remote to unlock the rental van is not working! We were locked out of the van! Finally it worked. .I called alamo and they said the only option was for me to return the rental to MCO ! Argh! Any advice?! At this point we'll just not lock the darn thing. ...the alamo person also gave us the option to take the van to a dealer to have serviced-which we would have to pay for? ! So frustrating! Has this happened to anyone? ?

Thanks all!

-Kelly

 

[sam_gordon]

One other problem we encountered this morning was the remote to unlock the rental van is not working! We were locked out of the van! Finally it worked. .I called alamo and they said the only option was for me to return the rental to MCO ! Argh! Any advice?! At this point we'll just not lock the darn thing. ...the alamo person also gave us the option to take the van to a dealer to have serviced-which we would have to pay for? ! So frustrating! Has this happened to anyone? ?

Thanks all!

-Kelly

Does the van not have a key you can use to unlock the drivers' door (then use the power locks to unlock the rest)?

 

[kkayluvsdis]

Nope. No key. Keyless entry. It has one of those little "nubs", for lack of a better word, that you insert to start car instead of a key. Darn technology; )

 

[nacho113]

I think I'd take a run out to the airport and get a different van. I know that I would just lock the doors out of habit and then we would be locked out again.
We had an issue with our rental car last Feb. Had a noisy wheel bearing on our way from TPA to WDW. Called in and was told to take it to MCO and exchange it. I did this the next morning and they gave us an upgraded vehicle and a $50 bill credit for our trouble.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Call Alamo back. Tell them you want THEM to work with you. Then I would suggest that you ask if you can trade vehicles at the CarCare Center. Option two, just lock yourself out and let them pay the tow bill (LOL!) (There is a reason I hate Alamo!)

 

[dcfromva]

It's odd that they won't allow you to swap out a vehicle at the Car Care Center. (Unless they just don't have a comparable vehicle with which to switch).

 

[kkayluvsdis]

It's odd that they won't allow you to swap out a vehicle at the Car Care Center. (Unless they just don't have a comparable vehicle with which to switch).

I think this is exactly the issue. No vans available at the car care location. it worked this morning. We tested before locking it with me sitting in car and my dh using remote. At MK. Busy busy here! !

 

[richmo]

I'd stop by the Car Care Center to see if they could help you. Since the remote sometimes works, maybe its a remote battery issue...perhaps they have spares there. Since rental cars are fairly new, I would think the battery would be fine, but maybe some renter swapped out the battery in their personal remote for the newer one in the rental...stranger things have happened.