Rental Car for One Day ??

[DisSarahK]

Any inside tips on how to rent a car from Alamo for just one day using the Downtown Disney location? We want to go to Legoland for the day--but it looks like the Alamo location doesn't open until just after we want to leave and it closes before we would return for the day. I really don't want to be stuck with paying for a two day car rental unless there is no way around it.

Also, is the best way to go through the Alamo website or is there a cheaper way to rent a car (keeping in mind that I need to fit two carseats into the back)?

Less than a week to go!! Woohoo!!

Thanks!
Sarah

 

[FlameGirl]

If you keep the car and bring it back the same night, you will still pay what you would if you brought it back first thing the next AM.

You may be able to get a car the night before and see if they have a night drop and bring it back after they close the next night. It's worth a shot.

 

[Susie63]

We rented from the DTD Alamo for one day. We picked the car up in the morning and when we were done at the end of the day we parked it in the lot and dropped the keys in the drop slot in the door. We just filled it up before we returned it. Unless you can adjust your hours to leave later, you will most likely have to pay for 2 days. We booked our car through Travelocity. $28 for a mid size

 

[twopeasonepod]

If you have Costco, use that -- it is usually cheapest. You can do as the PP said, either rent the night before and drop off after Legoland or get first thing in the morning and still drop off that night to avoid paying for parking.

Mid-size/intermediate is fine for that trip and two car seats.

 

[fluffybunny88]

we just did this exact same thing. They told us 24 hours was the same as 12 hours basically. They do have a night drop for the keys if you are after closing dropping it off. Was very convenient. Make sure unless you are familiar with the area to have a GPS and have the address for the alamo location handy. We found trying to get back to that lot, first time driving in california, at night, to be very difficult. We had a GPS and if we didn't we would still be driving around, and we returned the car last night!

 

[DisSarahK]

Thanks for the tips, everyone!

So it looks like we need to delay our departure to Legoland until Alamo opens, right? Ugh, what a pain--so much for getting to LL when they open. Drat. Either that or we pick up the rental car the night before and then make sure we leave LL in time to return the keys before Alamo closes--which means leaving LL before IT closes. Either way we're missing out on time at LL.

 

[Susie63]

They do have the option to pay hourly over the 24 hour period. I would try to book for the night before you want to go to Legoland and see what the option for an extra 3 hrs. would be. You just have to plug the times in to the rental inquiry.

 

[DisSarahK]

They do have the option to pay hourly over the 24 hour period. I would try to book for the night before you want to go to Legoland and see what the option for an extra 3 hrs. would be. You just have to plug the times in to the rental inquiry.

Oooh, thanks for this tip--I had no idea. I can't even remember the last time I rented a car, so I'm quite the novice with car renting.

 

[twopeasonepod]

Also, on Costco I added on an extra day (to make four instead of three) during our May trip and the difference was literally less than three dollars. It just depends on the booking time, time of rental, etc. But you can make it work to get to LL!