Rent a car or Mears

[KJMAX1]

We are NOT going to use a limo, so please no suggestions for that. I want the cheapest way to get to WDW as possible. There are 2 adults, and a 2 yr old.

Would it be cheaper to take a rental car from the airport to WDW, or would it be cheaper to just take Mears? The rental car I would return or something at WDW, and then use one the night before we leave and return at the airport.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Are you talking about doing two one-way car rentals? One from MCO to WDW and then another from WDW to MCO?

I would go with Mears or a town car. Rental cars come in handy if you'll be going off property a lot or if you just like the freedom of having a car. With the two one-way rentals, you have to deal with paperwork and the hassle of getting the car twice. With Mears or a town car, you don't have to worry about that.

 

[Kermit]

I agree that the car rental would be more expensive and too much of a hassle.

Compare the prices for Mears to other alternatives. I thought I had figured out once that if you had more than 2 people, it was cheaper to use a towncar. But maybe a 2 year old is cheaper than an adult. One thing to keep in mind is that if you use a towncar (or even a cab), you can use your carseat. I've never used Mears, but I'm guessing they don't have seatbelts.

 

[KJMAX1]

One thing about the limos, or towncars, dont you have to pay each way like 80.00? We have a coupon for Mears which would make it like 24.00 round trip for each of us, and the child is free.

 

[tinagirl]

You are right, since the child is free on Mears that is the best option. We will be going with 15/17/22/22 year olds (cousins) when we go in December, but we would all be charged the adult rate on mears, bumping us to almost $100, so we will save money by taking a towncar for $75 round trip. That is why most folks even with 3 people choose a towncar. It is private, and only a few dollars more than Mears even with a discount.

You're making the right monetary choice with mears.
~Tina

 

[Lainy67]

Originally posted by KJMAX1
One thing about the limos, or towncars, dont you have to pay each way like 80.00? We have a coupon for Mears which would make it like 24.00 round trip for each of us, and the child is free.

The towncar is usually listed as 80$ ROUND TRIP, and many have coupons on the web that you can download for $5 off. We have a coupon for Tiffany in our Passporter book for $8 off. So, round trip for us is $72 + any tips. However, with the internet coupon it will be $75. So for you that will be $27 more than if you use Mears.

The other consideration is that you cannot use the car seat with Mears. That is an important consideration for some. For us, it is a moot point because the price was $4 more with Mears than with the towncar. You will also get a grocery stop with a towncar as well, if you want one, and you will be taken directly to the resort, instead of potentially going to several different resorts first.

The car rental will be the most expensive one. Probably $50 - $60 each way.

Based on the prices, we would probably think about using the towncar even in your situation. Just nicer. Help with bags (and we have a TON) and grocery stop, not having to wait forever for a bus, etc... With the grocery stop and buying bottled water at the store instead of the parks would probably more than make up for the price. (bottled water is 2.50 a bottle, compared to getting about 6 bottles for 2.50). If you drink 4 bottles a day (2 each) for 7 days that is $12.50 vs. $70. Doesn't even take into account what your daughter will drink.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Okay, I did a quick rate quote on National, since they have rental locations on WDW property. I didn't know the date you're travelling, so I looked at July 26th. A one-day one-way rental for an economy car (the smallest and cheapest they have) is $60.79 including taxes.

FL Tours (one of the sponsors of the DIS) has town car for $85.00 round trip between MCO and WDW. Click here for more information.

 

[KJMAX1]

Thanks for all the help. We will be using Mears again. When we used them we were very satisfied. This time we fly in late at night and I dont think we will be too concerned with going to too many resorts. In fact we have never seen any resorts besides our own. We come from Seattle so we are also three hours behind, so the time wont bother us about arriving late.

The reason I want the cheapest is because I want to go again in a year and a half for Christmas. So every dollar saved is one more for next time. We ship our bottled water instead of going to a store on our trip, and in our bags we have snacks.

Thanks for all the hints and tips.

Kelly

 

[whozit]

I just got back and was pleased with my choice of transportation to the resort. It was just myself and my 9 year old niece...you would have even more flexibility with 2 adults in your party. I booked two one way rentals with Dollar (using the entertain code, I got an economy car for $30.23 (including everything) -- there is no one-way drop off fee on these rentals). I wasn't a "Fastlane" member, so I signed up for that online and then booked the reservation the next day when I was notified of my member number. At the airport, I stopped and picked up the baggage, then I walked right up to the counter (less than a 5 minute wait at the MCO counter, and there was a long line for non-Fastlane members--the counter help were calling for extra help from the other terminal), then, we walked right across to the Dollar lot (no waiting for a shuttle) and we were on the road (in a Dodge Neon) to WDW less than 15 minutes after I picked up the luggage. Stopped at the grocery store on the way to the resort (didn't have to worry about only 15 or 30 minutes in the store). Drove to Port Orleans Riverside, checked in, drove to the parking space near our room and unloaded everything. Drove to the outlet malls that afternoon, then drove to Dollar's location at the Courtyard by Marriot near Downtown Disney. Dropped the paperwork in the drop box (the counter is only staffed from 8:30am - 4:30pm). Walked about 4 blocks to Downtown Disney, spent some time there and then caught the boat back to Port Orleans (could also have taken the bus). Since I couldn't leave a 9 year old alone, she came along, but with 2 adults, if everyone wasn't up for going to Downtown Disney one adult could stay with the kids back at the pool or in the room for a nap while the other one dropped off the car. Then this morning (8/15/02, our last day), we went to Blizzard Beach for a few hours, then caught a bus to Downtown Disney, walked to the Marriot and picked up the car (again, paperwork was done in 5 minutes), drove back to POR, loaded luggage in car, spent a few more hours at the resort pool, then off to the airport (at a time chosen by me, not Mears). Stopped for curbside baggage check-in, then dropped the car off (took about 2 minutes). So for two of us, towncar would have been a minimum of $75 + (?$10-$20?)tip, I think Mears would have been $44 ($25 adult+$19 child) plus tip, plus waiting for shuttle (and no opportunity for grocery stop). I know it cost me less than a towncar, and slightly more than Mears, but with added flexibilty I was happy with the choice. Also, factoring in the grocery stop, the few dollars extra I paid over Mears was recouped in money saved by buying juice boxes, cereal, snacks, etc at the store instead of the resort. You have four people, so you might want a larger car, but the Neon was decent sized, and even if you got a bigger car, if you found a $44/day rate you'd be sitting pretty (and no Mears tip). I would do this again, I was pleased with how well it worked.