Rental Car or Happy Limo ?????

[barbnbrian]

I currently have a reservation for a roundtrip with Happy Limo for our trip at the end of June, total cost with tip was quoted $104.00

Now I'm starting to question whether or not I should just get a cheaper rental car. We're getting in late on a Thurs. and staying at the Holiday Inn Select at MCO and then going over to POFQ for 3 nights. We need to be back at MCO by noon on Monday. So we would be renting a car from Friday a.m. until around 11:30ish on Mon.

For all you experts out there, is it worth the aggravation of picking up a rental car and how hard would it be for us to drive from the airport area over to POFQ. I've never rented a car and done this before, always used a town car service. The savings would be about $25. I'm not usually a nervous driver, but this is a first for me. We won't be taking the car to the parks since I don't mind the Disney transportation system. We might be more apt to go off site to eat more.

What do you think? Stick with Happy Limo or go for the rental car? Opinions please. Thanks.

 

[Teris]

I love Happy Limo, I strayed and tried another one for a trip last year, and they didn't show up at the airport,, serves me right for not sticking with Happy.

The only concern would be the first day, since you are going to have to get from the Holiday Inn, rather than straight to your Disney Hotel.

If you think you want to drive around Orlando away from Disney, it is a good idea,, but for the time you are there,, if you don't plan to leave Disney, and use juse their transport to get from place to place,, then I would think about doing Happy. It makes no sense to have a rental car just sit there.


Ok, my suggestion, rent a car from the airport, drive it to the POFQ from the Holiday Inn to check in. Then return it to the Disney car rental center(would have to be alamo or national tho.) They have a van that will return you to your hotel. Then at the end of the trip, have Happy return you to the airport.

 

[barbnbrian]

Thanks for the idea. That is a thought, just rent the car for one day, run my errands - grocery stop, and premium outlets and then return to the car care center. It would still be a little cheaper than happy limo, but it would be kind of a waste of precious time doing all the pick up and returning of the car. I really don't plan to use the car while at Disney all that much once we arrive at POFQ.

I'm going to still think about this one. Any one have any other suggestions or thoughts on whether or not we should bother to rent a car?

 

[sgtdisney]

I am a strong advocate of renting. It is really not difficult at all to rent a car, especially at Orlando Airport where a number of rental companies have the cars located right at the airport and you really only have to walk across the street to get the car. Getting to Disney World is pretty easy from the airport as well.

For me, I prefer the freedom and ability to come and go as I please. If it saves you money and works out better for you I would seriously consider getting a car. It allows you the ability to resort hop easier and also go off property for shopping and dining or whatever.

 

[barbnbrian]

Well, I bit the bullet and made a ressie with National. I think I got a pretty good price - $82.56 with taxes and surcharges. This is picking the car up Thurs. at 9:00 p.m. and returning it on Mon. at 12:00 noon. I used the Contract ID I found on Mousesavers, and product code WE3DY, and also a coupon from my Entertainment Book for one free weekend day rental. I figured I'd just pick up the car when my flight arrives on Thurs. night rather than having to try and get back up to the airport Fri. morning. We're staying at the Holiday Inn Select at MCO Thurs. night and they have free parking.

Now I'll have the freedom to go whereever we want to eat and shop. We're only going into the parks on Friday and Sunday, so we'll have all day Sat. if we want to go out with the car. Do resort guests get free parking at the parks? Do the resorts charge for parking?

We're staying at POFQ - is it quicker to drive to any of the parks than take the buses? We're only going to the MK and MGM during our stay.

Thanks for all your suggestions.

 

[sgtdisney]

Originally posted by barbnbrian
We're staying at POFQ - is it quicker to drive to any of the parks than take the buses? We're only going to the MK and MGM during our stay.

Thanks for all your suggestions.

Glad to hear you were able to come to a decision that works best for you and your family. I don't think you will regret getting the car, it does have it's plusses and the price you got sounds pretty good. We usually drive to all the parks, it just seems easier to me as I am impatient when waiting for busses. However this year we may try takign the bus to MK since a number of people have commented on how much easier it is to be dropped off at the gate and not have to take a tram and monorail or boat. We always drive to MGM/Epcot and AK which I am sure we will continue. Have fun.

 

[mom_rules]

Teris-I've PM'd you.

 

[Teris]

Got it, and just sent you a long one back,,LOL