Rental car before baggage?

[cherylsmike]

Arriving at MCO on Saturday 1/29 at 5:20

I read on another board that a frequent traveler to MCO always goes straight to the EA to secure his rental then goes back to collect his bags. This sounds like a good idea, but I can't figure out how it would work. The post was a few months old so I thought I would get a quicker answer here. He said he secured his car. That sounds like he drove through the booth to complete the rental. But how? Do you just take the tag and walk to the booth? Then take the keys with you back to baggage claim. Just back up and park the car again? This is our first time arriving on a Saturday and renting a car. I would love to get there ahead of everybody else. I would also like to squeeze in some Chick-fil-A. I don't mind hoping levels but I don't know in which order to go. Do I have time to get the rental (assuming I can figure out how), got to Chick-fil-A, and then head back down to baggage claim to get the bags. We are flying SWA.

Yeah, I am unfortunately aware of how OCD I sound. I just can't help it.

 

[LoveKermit]

We have started to divide and conquer.... We tend to arrive VERY late at night.

One guy takes kid/stroller to baggage (usually me) and waits at baggage. DH goes to rental area and gets that ready. Last time we rented from Dollar and pretty much everything happens in the garage, so no time saved. But at Alamo, you do everything inside and then go choose a car. Each place is a little different.

By the time he gets back, our suitcase is coming and off we go to the garage. It does make some back and forth and up and down which would be easier without a stroller, but it's not too bad.

As for the Chick-Fil-A, I assume you mean in the airport food court, in which case I'd go as soon as you deplane, but I get it "to go" if you're trying to be time efficient. Is there no free standing restaurant nearby (I have no idea)?

 

[cherylsmike]

As for the Chick-Fil-A, I assume you mean in the airport food court, in which case I'd go as soon as you deplane, but I get it "to go" if you're trying to be time efficient. Is there no free standing restaurant nearby (I have no idea)?

Me either? I know there is one not to far off Disney property down 192, but DH loves Chick-fil-A and we don't have one in our city. I think only an act of God would get me off the highway once I am actually in the car and out of the garage. Tunnel vision from MCO to WDW gates.

 

[OKW Lover]

We've done this "get the rental car first" routine a couple of times. Typically, I leave my wife to collect the bags and drag them to the curb (sometimes with the assistance of a skycap) while I go directly to the garage (Avis Preferred service) to get the car. I then drive around the loop to the arriving passenger area and pick her up along with the bags. Saves having to drag the bags over to the garage.

I wouldn't call this a very significant time saver in the overall scheme of things. Perhaps saving 10-15 minutes for your trip, but it does save some muscle.

This works similarly on the return trip where you drop one party off at curbside with the bags while the other drives around to turn in the car.

 

[cherylsmike]

We've done this "get the rental car first" routine a couple of times. Typically, I leave my wife to collect the bags and drag them to the curb (sometimes with the assistance of a skycap) while I go directly to the garage (Avis Preferred service) to get the car. I then drive around the loop to the arriving passenger area and pick her up along with the bags. Saves having to drag the bags over to the garage.

I wouldn't call this a very significant time saver in the overall scheme of things. Perhaps saving 10-15 minutes for your trip, but it does save some muscle.

This works similarly on the return trip where you drop one party off at curbside with the bags while the other drives around to turn in the car.

Hmmm, not a bad plan. I could stop for Chick-fil-A then head down to the garage leaving DH to get the luggage. But I am not entirely sure I would be able to find my way back. I have never tried to pick anybody up at MCO before. Reservation is in my name so I have to get the car. I don't mind dragging the luggage since it is just DH and I this trip. Maybe I should just stake out the car while DH gets luggage. Oui, so many options.

 

[DebbieB]

Arriving at MCO on Saturday 1/29 at 5:20

I read on another board that a frequent traveler to MCO always goes straight to the EA to secure his rental then goes back to collect his bags. This sounds like a good idea, but I can't figure out how it would work. The post was a few months old so I thought I would get a quicker answer here. He said he secured his car. That sounds like he drove through the booth to complete the rental. But how? Do you just take the tag and walk to the booth? Then take the keys with you back to baggage claim. Just back up and park the car again? This is our first time arriving on a Saturday and renting a car. I would love to get there ahead of everybody else. I would also like to squeeze in some Chick-fil-A. I don't mind hoping levels but I don't know in which order to go. Do I have time to get the rental (assuming I can figure out how), got to Chick-fil-A, and then head back down to baggage claim to get the bags. We are flying SWA.

Yeah, I am unfortunately aware of how OCD I sound. I just can't help it.

When you use National EA, you pick a car, then drive it to the exit booth where they complete the paperwork. They may have chosen a car, took the keys and locked it, leaving it parked on the EA. I would be afraid to do that without an attendent's permission, if someone else wants that car they may go to the booth and ask where the keys are. You can't repark it there after going through the exit booth.

If you are not familiar with the airport setup, I would just stick together. You really will not gain that much time by splitting up. I would not go to Chick-fil-A and then stop and eat, just take it with you. Your luggage will be going around, I'm always afraid someone will pick it up.

 

[uva185]

I would love to get there ahead of everybody else.

If your only objective is to beat "everyone else" to the Emerald Aisle then this is a stupid plan! There is almost a constant stream of arriving and departing passengers at MCO. Just because you beat everyone from your flight doesn't mean there won't be other passengers ahead of you.

They are constantly adding new cars to the aisle, being "first" is not always best. Just look around for a nice car and you might luck out and catch them driving a new car onto the aisle as you're looking.

If you want to save the hassle of lugging your luggage to the rental facility then your plan has some merit. In that case just exit the rental facility and follow the airport signs for "Arrivals".

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

We've actually done this with National ... my hubby waited for the luggage while I headed to the garage to get our car. I picked a car, but didn't take the keys and leave the car - rather I just waited by the car for my husband. It really doesn't save any time. And as uva185 said, there is always a steady stream of cars being replaced on the EA, so you may have a chance at a better rental if you wait.

If by chance when you get to the EA there were no cars available (which is rare), you would need to check with the attendant, who would direct you to where you could choose a comparable car.

 

[cherylsmike]

Good points, thanks.

 

[clkelley]

The only thing I would think would save time is if you divide and conquer. One goes to the baggage claim, the other goes to car rental, then the one with the car rental drives up to level 2 pickup and picks up everyone and the baggage.

When the boys were younger we did divide and conquer quite a bit, not so much to save time, but to separate them while we were waiting in boring lines.

For example I would wait in the resort checkin line with one son while DH would go to the food court with the other son. By the time I had us all checked in, DH would have our food at a table and we would all eat.

We never rented a car, but especially on the return home, I would wait at baggage claim with one son, while DH would take the shuttle to the parking lot to pick up our car.

 

[KarBear]

When we rented a car thru Alamo it seemed that everyone raced out and literally ran to the cars, by the time we got there there were only two cars left as my husband was complaining on how our choices were pretty bad and we were digusted with our choices. Then they came driving around with another car and then another and another and within three minutes all the cars were replenished again and we had a whole row to choose from. My point is that when you wait it out sometimes it works in your favor. And they NEVER run out of cars at MCO.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

And they NEVER run out of cars at MCO.

It does happen...rare, but it does happen.