Rental Car Questions

[korie99]

We are staying off-site this time around so it's a whole new ball game for me! It appears as if we will need a rental car (the resort charge $9 per person daily to ride - yikes!) How will this work once we arrive at the airport? I'm assuming there is a rental counter there and that's where we pick up the car? Also we have 2 six year olds that are still in boosters - should we bring boosters with us or do they provide them? (for an additional fee, I'm sure) Also if anyone has any tips or can tell me who they've rented from in the past I'd love some recommendations.

I miss the Magical Express already!!!

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[gmeh1]

We are staying off-site this time around so it's a whole new ball game for me! It appears as if we will need a rental car (the resort charge $9 per person daily to ride - yikes!) How will this work once we arrive at the airport? I'm assuming there is a rental counter there and that's where we pick up the car? Also we have 2 six year olds that are still in boosters - should we bring boosters with us or do they provide them? (for an additional fee, I'm sure) Also if anyone has any tips or can tell me who they've rented from in the past I'd love some recommendations.

I miss the Magical Express already!!!

Thanks in advance for your help!

The major rental agencies are on site. Do your searching for the best price. Make your reservation for the car, print it and when you arrive, go to level 2 and collect your baggage, then go down one level to the rental car agency you have selected. They will check you in and direct you as to where to pick up the cars. Most agencies will have assigned you a car, the exceptions to this are Alamo, National and Enterprise, you get to select your own car from the class you have selected. IE: Full size go to the full size row and select your car.
I have really only ever rented from Alamo and National. I am some what biased as I do work for Alamo/National. BUT, I rented from them before I worked for them. They have programs you can join (almost all agencies do) and it is best that you read about them on their sites. I have also rented from Avis and was very satisfied, however, the assign the car and I really like picking out my own.
I would bring my own boosters. You do pay a daily rent for them and times 2 can get expensive. Each agency has their own prices. It is disclosed as you do the rental on line.
Hope this helps.

 

[chamonix]

Are you absolutely sure that you won't have to pay the resort charge if you have a rental car? I've never stayed offsite at WDW, but I've never stayed at any hotel anywhere in the world that the "resort charge" was optional or could be declined. I would make absolutely sure you don't have to pay it before you get a rental car if it's a decision based on the charge. That being said, I always get a rental car even staying onsite, so would recommend you get one no matter what, lol, but you should definitely double check if it's an economic decision.

We always use Dollar. If you choose them, join Dollar Express. It's free, and you will bypass the line and get out of there faster!

 

[kimberlym322]

We are staying off-site this time around so it's a whole new ball game for me! It appears as if we will need a rental car (the resort charge $9 per person daily to ride - yikes!) How will this work once we arrive at the airport? I'm assuming there is a rental counter there and that's where we pick up the car? Also we have 2 six year olds that are still in boosters - should we bring boosters with us or do they provide them? (for an additional fee, I'm sure) Also if anyone has any tips or can tell me who they've rented from in the past I'd love some recommendations.

I miss the Magical Express already!!!

Thanks in advance for your help!

What hotel or "chain" are you staying with??? If I knew that I could better direct you on how to see about that resort charge per person daily ride thing.




PM me with the information. If it is the hotel/chain I am thinking of I know how to deal with it.

 

[korie99]

We're staying at the Sheraton Vistana Resort. I called them yesterday to check on the shuttle costs and they said if you are staying there as a rental customer, the shuttle service is complimentary. If you are staying in a timeshare (which we are - on an exchange from a relative) it is $9 per person. For us that will mean as a family of 4 it's $36 a day!

 

[gmeh1]

We're staying at the Sheraton Vistana Resort. I called them yesterday to check on the shuttle costs and they said if you are staying there as a rental customer, the shuttle service is complimentary. If you are staying in a timeshare (which we are - on an exchange from a relative) it is $9 per person. For us that will mean as a family of 4 it's $36 a day!

Lovely resort!!! Just curious here, did you ask if you would be charged even if you did not use the service?

 

[korie99]

I did not think to ask that - but I certainly hope you only pay if you actually use the shuttle service. The other thing I didn't ask is whether or not that $9 is a one way charge or round trip. I may need to call them back and clarify.

 

[tringer2000]

Car rental rates are high this year! The best deal I found was $116.98 (including taxes and fees) for a midsize car through Thrifty. I found this deal on their website; it's listed as a Hot Deal. This probably isn't our dream car that we'll be thrilled to drive, but the price is right! I'm going to keep watching and see if I can get a better car for the same price closer to our travel dates.

Does anyone have feedback on Thrifty at the airport (MCO)? I called customer service and they said we will be able to go to the lot and pick our own car. We prefer this over being assigned a car.

I'm going to keep watching and see if I can get a better car for the same price closer to our travel dates.

 

[Lewisc]

Re-read the OP. It's not a resort fee, which is charged per room/per night, and generally can't be waived. It's a transportation fee charged by the resort. $9/per guest (passenger).

You might was well rent a car. You're going to need transportation from the airport to your time share. You'll probably want a car to shop and do offsite stuff. Why tie yourself to scheduled transportation?

Are you absolutely sure that you won't have to pay the resort charge if you have a rental car? I've never stayed offsite at WDW, but I've never stayed at any hotel anywhere in the world that the "resort charge" was optional or could be declined. I would make absolutely sure you don't have to pay it before you get a rental car if it's a decision based on the charge. That being said, I always get a rental car even staying onsite, so would recommend you get one no matter what, lol, but you should definitely double check if it's an economic decision.

We always use Dollar. If you choose them, join Dollar Express. It's free, and you will bypass the line and get out of there faster!

 

[gmeh1]

I did not think to ask that - but I certainly hope you only pay if you actually use the shuttle service. The other thing I didn't ask is whether or not that $9 is a one way charge or round trip. I may need to call them back and clarify.

I would definitely call back and ask. As another poster suggested, often these charges are automatic because they have no way of knowing if you do or do not use the service.

 

[Lewisc]

I would definitely call back and ask. As another poster suggested, often these charges are automatic because they have no way of knowing if you do or do not use the service.

Charges per room for things like a resort fee are generally automatic. Charges per person for things like use of a health club, spa or transportation are generally not automatic.

You kind of have it backwards. The hotel doesn't need to know if you use the service. The bus company (Mears?) needs to get some kind of voucher from the passenger in order to get paid. The hotel doesn't care if a guest is able to "con" a driver and get free transportation. Even Disney pays Mears a fee per passenger who take a DME bus.

I suspect most timeshare guests have a car. Makes sense to charge those passengers who use a bus for that service.

 

[jcarwash]

If you are a AAA member, their rates with Hertz include one child seat, so you would be able to save money on one of the boosters you need.

 

[gmeh1]

Charges per room for things like a resort fee are generally automatic. Charges per person for things like use of a health club, spa or transportation are generally not automatic.

You kind of have it backwards. The hotel doesn't need to know if you use the service. The bus company (Mears?) needs to get some kind of voucher from the passenger in order to get paid. The hotel doesn't care if a guest is able to "con" a driver and get free transportation. Even Disney pays Mears a fee per passenger who take a DME bus.

I suspect most timeshare guests have a car. Makes sense to charge those passengers who use a bus for that service.

Yes, it makes sense, but, some of the charges resorts impose make no sense at all. I was actually going by what I have read in different places.
"sort of backwards" or not, it is a question that, IMHO, should be asked.

 

[Lewisc]

Yes, it makes sense, but, some of the charges resorts impose make no sense at all. I was actually going by what I have read in different places.
"sort of backwards" or not, it is a question that, IMHO, should be asked.

The website says:

To make getting to area attractions easier, we offer shuttle buses for a nominal fee to Walt Disney World® Resort, Magic Kingdom® Park, Epcot®, Disney-MGM Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park. Taxis can take you to Pleasure Island, Sea World® Orlando, Universal Studios Florida®, and Wet ’n’ Wild.

It never hurts to ask but there is absolutely no reason to assume people not riding the bus will be charged. Some resorts fold the cost of transportation into the resort fee.

Gaylord Palms:

Gaylord Hotels is committed to providing our guests with a robust array of amenities, to ensure the best possible hotel experience. A resort fee of $15 (plus tax) will be charged daily, and includes:

USA Today (weekdays) and Wall Street Journal (weekends) available every morning
Wireless Internet access available in your guest room and in public spaces throughout the hotel in the three main atriums (St. Augustine, Everglades, and Key West)
High-speed Internet access in your guest room
Dasani® water replenished daily in your guest room refrigerator
Complimentary local and toll free telephone calls (up to 20 minutes)
Use of the Relâche Spa Fitness Center
Complimentary scheduled shuttle service to Walt Disney World theme parks

You see the difference in wording.

 

[MHSweb79]

You definitely want to book your rental car before you get there. I made & cancelled about a dozen reservations with Alamo this past May because the rates kept dropping.

I joined Alamo Insiders (free) which got me emails with special offers, as well as a discount on my weekly rental. I watched Mousesavers.com for any new coupon codes available for the time I was travelling. I also joined a thread here on DISBoards with other folks renting for May, and that's where I scored the best discount codes.

 

[gmeh1]

The website says:


It never hurts to ask but there is absolutely no reason to assume people not riding the bus will be charged. Some resorts fold the cost of transportation into the resort fee.

Gaylord Palms:



You see the difference in wording.

Indeed I do see the difference in wording and I really was not assuming, I was suggesting the OP ask to make positively sure. Truly, it is a question I would ask regardless of what the web site said.