Rental car costing $$$$$

[meta]

We are going from 2/17 till 2/25 and staying at Cypress Pointe. I've been checking rentals car companies for that time and they all are over $400 for a Toyota Corolla or something similar. This is with AAA or AARP. Any suggestions. We'd like to pick up the vehicle at the airport and return it at the same location.

 

[bamor]

Check out mousesavers.com but I've found code OCVB through dollar to be the best so far. I found a Chrysler Sebring in April for a week for $147.96 with tax.

 

[isla bonita]

We are down from Feb. 10-Feb. 25 and I have never gotten thr prices that I have for this time period. Have not found real good bargains either.

 

[5mins2disney]

I keep using priceline.com and have gotten great deals using the name your own price feature, I've offered some ridicerously low (to quote Tigger) prices and got them each time!

 

[siobhan1997]

Got a good rate from Thrifty using the Orlando Magic card discount rate.

 

[lovindonald]

A couple other options are if you are a member of a wholesale club like BJs, I have gotten good rates or from the entertainment book. One coupon for a rental car there more than pays for the price of the book usually. Also, you may want to sign up for their online specials that they email to you. Just yesterday I got one from National and one from Budget. Mousesavers like previously mentioned usually has great ideas for saving money on cars too.

 

[deelam]

I also used Dollar and got a Dodge Charger for $155 per week. Use the code mentioned above.

 

[meta]

Thanks, I just tried and now the rate is even higher than first quoted. I guess I'll just have to keep on checking. The killer is the charge for pickup and dropoff at MCO.

 

[garris3404]

Looks like you're getting slammed with President's Day pricing? Try Alamo. They have an online coupon for $20 off weekly rental. You can also save 10-15% additional if you prepay. They are very convenient at MCO (right outside baggage claim). Good luck.

 

[spiceycat]

try this

http://www.bnm.com/

but also go ask on the transportation board - they gave me hints and codes to bring the price down almost $75 - I ended up paying less $115 than I had in years.

but going during spring break is definitely a big problem.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I keep using priceline.com and have gotten great deals using the name your own price feature, I've offered some ridicerously low (to quote Tigger) prices and got them each time!

Which car companies have they given you? I would love to try this but we really like to rent in-terminal. With 2 young kids, the last thing we feel like doing is schlepping them and all of our luggage onto a shuttle.
TIA!

 

[WDWFRV]

We are going from 2/17 till 2/25 and staying at Cypress Pointe. I've been checking rentals car companies for that time and they all are over $400 for a Toyota Corolla or something similar. This is with AAA or AARP. Any suggestions. We'd like to pick up the vehicle at the airport and return it at the same location.

Hi there,

I do not know where you are staying, but we used the magical express to get to our resort and then rented our van from the Car Care Center right outside of Magic Kindgom, excellent service, they come and get you at your resort. And we took the magical express to get back at the airport and saved about 400.00.

 

[WDWFRV]

Hi there,

I do not know where you are staying, but we used the magical express to get to our resort and then rented our van from the Car Care Center right outside of Magic Kindgom, excellent service, they come and get you at your resort. And we took the magical express to get back at the airport and saved about 400.00.

Oups, sorry just saw where you are staying.

 

[meta]

Thanks so much. I'll try all of the suggestions. We have a tentative reservation with National, but it's expensive. We don't leave till the 17th of Feb., so I'll keep checking. You never know, last minute I may find something good.

 

[5mins2disney]

Which car companies have they given you? I would love to try this but we really like to rent in-terminal. With 2 young kids, the last thing we feel like doing is schlepping them and all of our luggage onto a shuttle.
TIA!

Priceline gives you the option to pick interminal or not...so far we've had Budget, Hertz, Avis, and Dollar, all were in terminal pickup locations, I wouldn't want to go offsite with little kids either.

Although, the airport lines at MCO always seem long ...there's a local Orlando rental car company (I Cant recall the name) but they NEVER seem to have long lines at their desk.

Here's a great tip...usually you leave the plane...go get your luggage..THEN go get the car...right? Well what happens...is everyone from your flight ends up in the rental car line ahead of you. Next trip...split up...send DW to get the luggage with a cart and the kids or something...while DH goes and gets the car paperwork all started and done. Then, by the time your luggage arrives, your car will be set to go out to!

We finally figured this out...saves 20-40 mins sometimes of waiting in the long lines for cars at MCO?

And why is it...that...the busiest of all of the companies always seems to have only 1 person manning the desk whenever we get there? LOL

 

[diseyore]

Used the codes and discounts from mousesavers.com and have gotten cars from National for as low as $95 for 5 days. I love Nation the cars are always clean and not a stripper model. We rented a mid-size. You can go onto the web site and continue to check prices. If it comes lower you just select your modification. They have a way to join Emerald Club free. It gives a good amount of a discount too.

 

[jas_mom1]

Try going to dollar.com and clicking on the "specials" tab. In the promo box, type KISS2. I just did that for our rental from 2/20-2/28 and got excellent rates compared to everyone else. Dollar also has a desk at the airport with pick-up just outside of the terminal. We've used them for the past two years, renting a minivan each time. Never had any issues and they are always less than everyone else.

Dianne

 

[tomshortridge]

ditto on mousesavers

i had a reservation booked for a mini van

i went back with a walmart code given on mousesavers and took like $75 right off my total for the week.

 

[f7prez]

I would check the transportation board. I would also check Mousesavers like so many have suggested. Take the time to try every discount code that is available.

I would also keep checking the discount sites (Expedia, Travelocity, Hotwire, etc) as often as possible. The rates can jump up and down regularly. Also check the individual car companies for their "Hot Deals". The closer you get to the week the more likely they will find that they have extra inventory.

DO NOT PREPAY for your rental car. Once you see a better deal, BOOK IT, but don't pay for it. You may find a better deal later. Book IT and cancell the other.

The week you are going is a big week for winter vacation. Many schools are out and there are few bargains.

 

[meta]

I did make a reservation with National, but did not have to pay. It's just a reservation and I have an e-mail from them confirming the rate. It was over $400 for 8 days, but I am still checking constantly for lower prices. I think the biggest problem is it's school vacation week and there just aren't deals out there for this period. Even the airlines charge crazy prices. But, you never know. Who knows, the week before I may find something for less.