Rental Car dilemma

[mickeyluv]

Not sure what to do!! We need to get from MCO to the port and then back again after our cruise. We were going to rent a minivan but I'm so confused now!! We do not have credit cards, only a debit card and I don't think you can pay for a rental car with a debit card at some rental places or if you do they put like a hold on it with some "out of this world" amount!! Should we just use a car service you think? We will be at the Crown Plaza at MCO the night before our cruise and then staying one night after our cruise at The Royal Plaza in Orlando which I think has bus service to like DTD but I'm not sure how we will get back to MCO on Sunday for our flight home. Any suggestions?? Please help......I'm really getting frustrated trying to figure this out.

 

[Brian Noble]

It is possible to rent a car with a debit card, but it can be tricky. I would compare the cost of Disney transfers to/from MCO to the cost of a car service for your party.

As for the Royal Plaza---you'll need to either have a rental car or a car service there. You might be better off seeing if you can get a room-only night in one of the Disney resorts; then you can take a car service to the airport, or you might even be able to use the Disney transfer directly to the resort, and Magical Express back. Even at a Moderate, it might work out to be less expensive that way.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I agree with Brian Noble about checking the onsite prices, since, as stated, this will enable you to use Magical Express at no cost for your return to the airport.

Some rental agencies DO allow the use of debit cards to rent a car. Alamo and National are especially friendly in this aspect, as all they require is proof of round trip transportation from and back to a different location. Plane ticket is fine. Other companies that allow debit cards for rentals may put a hold on a substantial amount of money and/or run a credit check. See various agencies' policies for specifics.

 

[newbydisney]

I would post on your cruise meet thread ( and post here) another disser might be happy to give you a lift for a contribution toward their rental car fee, gas and/or parking fees. We have done this before. It's economical, easy and gives you another baggage wrangler as well!

When is your cruise?

 

[newbydisney]

I forgot to mention one time we hopped in a large families limo...we contributed I think 40 bucks and arrived in style!.We even stopped at Publix on the way. It is a fun way to meet some fellow cruisers.

 

[dioxide45]

Remember, there is a $15 per night parking charge at Port Canaveral. So that can add siginificantly to the cost of renting a car. Port shuttle may be your best option.

 

[mickeyluv]

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. We are cruising the Magic on the 10/24 Eastern. We are not going to park the rental at the Port, our plans are to return it to an agency in Cape Canaveral and take their shuttle to the port. Right now I have a minivan rented but the reservationist told me by using a debit card that there would be a $200 hold on the car until it is returned. I don't have a problem with that but I've heard stories of the hold staying on for like two weeks or more, and I really don't want that because another $200 hold will be initiated by the agency when we rent from Cape Canaveral and go back to Orlando once we get off the cruise! does anyone have any experience with this???