Rental car newbie..please help!!

[jnncooke]

Ok, so I have never had to rent a car and literally have no clue how to do this. We are staying at Animal Kingdom next week and after doing research on these boards I am considering renting a car so I don't have to do disney transportation. I will have my 4yo and 20 month old so I think it would be easier to have a car then waiting on buses. However, I will need car seats and really don't want to have to bring them to airport. Can you rent a car with carseats already in them??? We will be flying into Orlando airport. Thanks!!!

 

[goofy4tink]

I know that Alamo shows infant seats as well as child seats available for a per day cost. It could add up to $20 a day to your overall cost. But, here's my question.....what are the kids using to get to the airport, then on the plane?? I'm one of those people that feel that if your child needs a car seat in a car, they need one on a plane...but, again, that's just me.
Have you been to WDW before??? I have seldom had issues with Disney transportation. Yes, there is a bit more waiting, but it has never been all that long. When driving, you have to figure out where you're going, then you have to park. Then you have to get to the park entrance...then reverse it when you leave the park. I just find using WDW transportation to be easy and efficient. But...again, that's my opinion. Others differ.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

The easiest thing would be to bring the car seats you already have with you. You can check them for free and it won't count against your baggage allowance. If you are buying a seat on the plane for your 20 month old, you can bring the car seat on the plane and use it for the flight. It must be FAA approved and usually has to be in a window seat (depending on the plane configuration).

 

[jnncooke]

thanks for input!! We will be taking our car to airport that has carseats in it. For plane I use the Care restraint for the 20 month old (made specifically for airplanes, doesn't work in car). I could bring the seats but just adds to more baggage to have to carry to airport and we will already have two strollers, suitcases, etc.
We have been to Disney multiple times in past. We have taken our now 4 yo when he was 2 1/2. This will be first time with 2 kids. We stayed at pop century last time and it just got old standing on buses while holding a child. I had read that a lot of people felt they saved a ton of time by having a car so I had thought that might work for us. Especially since we will be going back to villa each afternoon for nap.
what do you guys think?? does it really save that much time/hassle to make it worth money of renting car with carseats??

 

[jcarwash]

From every time I've priced out renting just one car seat the extra charges always seem outrageous. In my opinion, for me, there isn't any car seat pricing that I would pay to use a rental car over a Disney bus.

If you have AAA, their rates with Hertz include one child seat. So that may be one way to pay for only one seat instead of two. I took a quick look and the Hertz charge for one child seat on a one week rental at MCO is $72.