Rental Car pickup at airport question

[stlsports4ever]

Is it hard to pick up a rental car at the airport? We are just going to be staying a few days at a Disney resort before we stay at our timeshare (which the other family members are coming in with their cars). Should we even bother with getting a car? Any of your help would mean a lot. Thanks.

Mike

 

[Donald is #1]

If you have a car reserved, picking up a rental car at the airport is usually fairly easy. Unless you have Hertz #1 Gold or National Emerald Aisle service, you just go to the counter of the rental company that you reserved with (even Hertz & National if you don't have one of the memberships that I mentioned above) , show your credit card and drivers license and they will give you the keys to your car and location on the car in the parking lot/garage. By the way, I think that most rental car companies want you to be 25 to rent.

Now for the question on whether you need the car, that really depends on you. If your relatives can pick you up at your resort & drive you to the timeshare, then you could use Magical Express to get from the airport to the resort. It really becomes a vacation style decision. For my May trip, I use Magical Express and didn't have a car. I really never missed not having the car. For my upcoming trip, I will have a rental car since I plan to do some things off site and I will be eating dinner at atleast 1 other resort.

 

[stlsports4ever]

Well, after Sunday, we are going to get a few rental cars for the 12 of us. I will be staying on a Disney site until then. I think I will sign up for the Disney Magical Express to get there but take a cab to the resort on the way back!

Mike

 

[justplaingoofy]

Another option is to take Magical Express to Disney, and set up a rental with Alamo/National for pick up which ever day you want at the Dolphin location. (around back entrance to Epcot, across from MGM).. Its very convenient. We've done it a bunch of times.

If you are using the Dolphin location they do have odd hours, but they are posted on their site. Alamo/national also has another location in Disney at the Car Care Center. You can reserve your car ahead of time online using id codes & coupons too.

 

[stlsports4ever]

Funny you say that, I found out the it doesnt cost anything to take the Magical Express plus since we only need it coming in, we can set it up that way!

Mike

 

[Uncleromulus]

Picking the car up is quite easy. We just rented Alamo and preregistered online, so now we don't even have to stop at the rental counter.
And we always have a car at WDW-wouldn't be w/o one.

 

[goofy4tink]

Funny you say that, I found out the it doesnt cost anything to take the Magical Express plus since we only need it coming in, we can set it up that way!

Mike

If you aren't going to need a car while at Disney, then taking DME is probably going to be a good bet for you. Be sure to sign up for it in advance. They will send you luggage tags for your checked luggage. It should take 'about' 70 minutes to get from the plane to your resort, your bags will get to your room a few (3-4) hrs later.
You can book a car, through Alamo or National, for pickup at the Dolphin. It is really easy to get there..just exit Epcot's World Showcase through the International Gateway, in the back between Great Britain and France, and just walk to the S/D...about 10 mins. The one thing to keep in mind is that their counter closes around 4 pm. I like to get there, do the paperwork, and then return later to pick up the car through valet people.

 

[justplaingoofy]

Picking the car up is quite easy. We just rented Alamo and preregistered online, so now we don't even have to stop at the rental counter.
And we always have a car at WDW-wouldn't be w/o one.

I was hoping to do this, but we are using an e-coupon and noticed under conditions that you couldn't use it with a coupon or ecoupon...