Rent a car at the Airport or WDW?

[gigireese]

I don't want to deal with the busses a WDW and we also plan on spending a day at Universal. Should we rent a car at the Airport or wait and rent one at the WDW?

What car rental places are at WDW?

 

[iluveeyore]

Rent at WDW - I just checked online today at Alamo.com and it was $30 cheaper for the same vehicle if we pick it up at the Car Care Centre at Disney and take the Magical Express from the airport. I believe the Car Care Centre has Alamo and National. We have rented from there a few times using our DVC discount, our AP discount or our AAA discount. Just book online and 24 hours before you pick up your car, call the Car Care Centre and arrange a time for their shuttle to pick you up at your resort. They'll take you to get your car, and when you drop it off, they'll take you back to your resort (or whatever one you want - we went to a different one for lunch on the way back no problem). The Hess gas station is right beside the Car Care Centre, so you don't have to drive around looking for gas, and it's definitely full when you return it.
Have a great trip!

 

[manning]

Rent at WDW - I just checked online today at Alamo.com and it was $30 cheaper for the same vehicle if we pick it up at the Car Care Centre at Disney and take the Magical Express from the airport. I believe the Car Care Centre has Alamo and National. We have rented from there a few times using our DVC discount, our AP discount or our AAA discount. Just book online and 24 hours before you pick up your car, call the Car Care Centre and arrange a time for their shuttle to pick you up at your resort. They'll take you to get your car, and when you drop it off, they'll take you back to your resort (or whatever one you want - we went to a different one for lunch on the way back no problem). The Hess gas station is right beside the Car Care Centre, so you don't have to drive around looking for gas, and it's definitely full when you return it.
Have a great trip!

If this cost does not include taxes then you would have to add an additional airport tax if you pickup at the airport.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

We have been getting great rates at Dollars DTD hotel location.

 

[hddanis]

Not always cheaper. I just found a 9 day minivan rental thru alamo at the airport for $333..While reading this thread, I checked what it would do to pick it up at the car care center...It took it to $422!! And that was using the same discount codes!

Check both options..

BTW, If you don't have an entertainment book, I HIGHLY recommend them! That's where I've found the best rates with Alamo (and ultimately the lowest price so far)

 

[dis2cruise]

what are the areas where the cars are (codes)

cheryl

 

[pbberu]

This is my first time visiting WDW, i am glad to see this thread...

Are both Alamo and National have the shuttle service from car care center ? Is there any time restriction for picking up car and reserve for shuttle from our resort to Car Care Center ? Are they able to pick me up early in the morning, (e.g. 7 am) and return us to resort late at night ? Coz. i don't know what time should i book for car pick up and return when i try to make reservation online.

What's the number of shuttle arrangement ?

Many thanks.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

what are the areas where the cars are (codes)

cheryl

Dollar Airport >MCO
Grosvenors > MCOS01

National Dolphin > ORLR13

Alamo Airport > MCOT71
Dolphin > ORLR74
CCC > ORLR72

This is my first time visiting WDW, i am glad to see this thread...

Are both Alamo and National have the shuttle service from car care center ? Is there any time restriction for picking up car and reserve for shuttle from our resort to Car Care Center ? Are they able to pick me up early in the morning, (e.g. 7 am) and return us to resort late at night ? Coz. i don't know what time should i book for car pick up and return when i try to make reservation online.

What's the number of shuttle arrangement ?

Many thanks.

They have like regular 9-5 business hours But check . I think you can check them with dolphin Valet for drop off but call they will let you know.

I think the shuttle is just from the TC to the CCC you have to bus,boat or monorail to the TC.

 

[WillCAD]

It can SOMETIMES be a bit cheaper (sometimes, not always) to rent at WDW, but consider this:

WDW has only the few rental agencies - Alamo and National at the Dolphin and Care Care Center, and Dollar at the Grosvenor - while MCO has ALL of the agencies - 6 in terminal and the rest nearby. Even with the airport fees, it is usually cheaper to shop around the various agencies in or near the airport and rent from there.

It is also more convenient, IMHO. By renting at or near the airport, you save a lot of time, because travelling to WDW via DME can take up to an hour, it can take several hours to get your luggage, and you can't make a grocery stop along the way. By renting at the airport, you drive yourself - and your luggage - directly to WDW, which only takes 30 minutes, and you have the option to spot anywhere along the way to stock up on snacks, drinks, or sundries that you forgot to pack or didn't want to weigh your luggage down with.

Over the last few years, the best deals I've gotten have been with Thrifty, using the discount codes and coupons from Sams Club (Costco and BJs have similar coupons for several agencies). Thrifty is not in the airport terminal, but it is one of the closest off-site agencies at MCO, only a 5-minute shuttle bus ride away. I've gotten good service and nice cars each time I've rented from Thrifty.

The best tip I can give you is to join the frequent renters club of whatever agency you rent from. Thrifty has Blue Chip, Alamo has Quick silver, National has the Emerald Club, Dollar has Fastlane, etc. These clubs are free, and allow you to skip the regular lines; in fact, some of them allow you to simply go right to the garage or lot, pick a car, and drive off, with only a brief stop at the exit gate to show your ID and rental confirmation.

These clubs also allow you to fill a master Rental Agreement ahead of time, which the agency keeps on file; this means that you don't have to fill out a Rental Agreement each time you rent, saving time, and you won't have to sit through the "extra insurance" sales pitch!

 

[goofy4tink]

It can SOMETIMES be a bit cheaper (sometimes, not always) to rent at WDW, but consider this:

WDW has only the few rental agencies - Alamo and National at the Dolphin and Care Care Center, and Dollar at the Grosvenor - while MCO has ALL of the agencies - 6 in terminal and the rest nearby. Even with the airport fees, it is usually cheaper to shop around the various agencies in or near the airport and rent from there.

It is also more convenient, IMHO. By renting at or near the airport, you save a lot of time, because travelling to WDW via DME can take up to an hour, it can take several hours to get your luggage, and you can't make a grocery stop along the way. By renting at the airport, you drive yourself - and your luggage - directly to WDW, which only takes 30 minutes, and you have the option to spot anywhere along the way to stock up on snacks, drinks, or sundries that you forgot to pack or didn't want to weigh your luggage down with.

Over the last few years, the best deals I've gotten have been with Thrifty, using the discount codes and coupons from Sams Club (Costco and BJs have similar coupons for several agencies). Thrifty is not in the airport terminal, but it is one of the closest off-site agencies at MCO, only a 5-minute shuttle bus ride away. I've gotten good service and nice cars each time I've rented from Thrifty.

The best tip I can give you is to join the frequent renters club of whatever agency you rent from. Thrifty has Blue Chip, Alamo has Quick silver, National has the Emerald Club, Dollar has Fastlane, etc. These clubs are free, and allow you to skip the regular lines; in fact, some of them allow you to simply go right to the garage or lot, pick a car, and drive off, with only a brief stop at the exit gate to show your ID and rental confirmation.

These clubs also allow you to fill a master Rental Agreement ahead of time, which the agency keeps on file; this means that you don't have to fill out a Rental Agreement each time you rent, saving time, and you won't have to sit through the "extra insurance" sales pitch!

I'm beginning to feel like a DME rep here . Anyway.....yes it can take an hour or so to get to your resort using DME, but it's wrong to promote using a rental car and have it take 30 mins to get to WDW. That's nearly impossible. It's going to take close to 10 mins just to get from your arrival gate to baggage claim, then about 15 mins, give or take, to get your luggage. Then, down to the car rental counters, where you could feasibly wait for 30 mins, but more likely less time. Then, off to pick up rental, and then 25-30 mins to the resort. I've done it....it does not take just 30 mins. In fact, I was really unfortunate and had to wait 45 mins before renting my car!! So, basically, it is going to take an hour or so to get to WDW using a rental as well. The one and only time it has taken me less than an hour to get from my plane to my resort was the one time I used a towncar and had only carryon bags...took 50 mins.

I have paid less for a rental at MCO. In fact, in Jan I paid less by having our towncar service take up back to MCO (we were at the Swan) where we rented our car. Then, returned to the Swan to pick up our luggage before heading to Tampa. Since we had to get to MCO to pick up my 30 y/o, it was a good deal. It would have been $28 more if I had rented the same car from Alamo at the Dolphin.....towncar cost taken into account also.
So...try it both ways. You can never tell where it's going to be cheaper to rent from.

 

[WillCAD]

I'm beginning to feel like a DME rep here . Anyway.....yes it can take an hour or so to get to your resort using DME, but it's wrong to promote using a rental car and have it take 30 mins to get to WDW. That's nearly impossible. It's going to take close to 10 mins just to get from your arrival gate to baggage claim, then about 15 mins, give or take, to get your luggage. Then, down to the car rental counters, where you could feasibly wait for 30 mins, but more likely less time. Then, off to pick up rental, and then 25-30 mins to the resort. I've done it....it does not take just 30 mins. In fact, I was really unfortunate and had to wait 45 mins before renting my car!! So, basically, it is going to take an hour or so to get to WDW using a rental as well. The one and only time it has taken me less than an hour to get from my plane to my resort was the one time I used a towncar and had only carryon bags...took 50 mins.

I was refering to actual drive time, which by rental car is about 30 minutes, not counting grocery stop, but by DME can take up to an hour since DME stops at 2-3 resorts.

When renting a car it usually takes me about an hour from the time I step off the plane to the time I pull into my resort. The most it has ever taken me was 1hr-45mins, and that was the trip that I A) Stopped at the Disney store in the MCO terminal to buy an AP, then B) Had a 30-minute line at the Alamo counter (I have since joined Alamo Quick silver and don't have to wait in those lines any more).

 

[goofy4tink]

Yep, I knew exactly what you meant. I was just afraid that some of our newer folks might have made the mistake of thinking it was going to take just 30 mins if renting a car. Thanks for making it clear. I would hate for someone to come here, after their trip, and ask why it took them an hour when others it only took 30 mins!!