Renting a car AT WDW

[Simba's Mom]

How do you rent a car at WDW? Where's the best place to get it? DS can join us for a few days, but at the end of the trip, he has to go to Fort Lauderdale for work. Is there a place right on site to get a rental car? Or can he take DME to the airport and pick one up there? Also, DH is telling him to fly to Fort Lauderdale, rent a car there, drive up to WDW, then drive back, because he says that one way rentals are extremely expensive. Are they? Because we've vacationed at WDW both with and without a car, and we really don't care about having the car during vacation.

 

[Bullseye]

DH is correct, one way rentals are extremely expensive, not even worth doing. So flying into Ft Lauderdale and driving to and from WDW seems like best bet.

 

[La2kw]

Alamo and National have a number of offices on site. Car Care Center, Dolphin Hotel, and the Buena Vista Palace. If you rent from the CCC, they will send a shuttle to your resort. They will not pick up or drop off at theme parks. You can also take a Downtown Disney bus and walk across the street to the BVP. If you are at an Epcot resort, the Dolphin is the easiest location to get to. Either that, or pick it up after a day at Epcot or the Studios and take the boat back to the Dolphin.

Avis is located at the Hilton. Again, take a DD bus and walk across the street.

Dollar is at the Regal Sun Resort (formerly the Grosvenor). It is also located across the street from DD.

Budget is at the Doubletree Guest Suites, which is a further walk from DD bus stops, but evidently they will pick you up if you arrange in advance.

Enterprise is located at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress and they will pick you up.

Hertz is at the Marriott Village (on the other side of I-4) and they will pick you up.

We have rented at FLL airport and they charge high fees if you pick up from the airport. Definitely compare prices with picking up at WDW. We have never been charged a drop fee and we have rented at MCO and dropped off at WDW, or rented at WDW and dropped off at FLL, etc. There usually isn't a drop fee in Florida, but read the fine print!

We have found the best rates through Costco.

 

[La2kw]

DH is correct, one way rentals are extremely expensive, not even worth doing. So flying into Ft Lauderdale and driving to and from WDW seems like best bet.

We have done many one-way rentals in Florida and have never been charged a higher fee for that. As long as it is picked up and dropped off within the state, there are usually not any extra fees.

 

[Bullseye]

We have done many one-way rentals in Florida and have never been charged a higher fee for that. As long as it is picked up and dropped off within the state, there are usually not any extra fees.

No kidding? The first time I rented from Alamo (I think) at the car care center it was going to be $85 more if I dropped off the car in Clearwater where I was visiting relatives at the end of our trip. Consequently we ended up driving back to Orlando to drop car to avoid additional fee. That was a real drag because I4 was under big time construction.

 

[La2kw]

No kidding? The first time I rented from Alamo (I think) at the car care center it was going to be $85 more if I dropped off the car in Clearwater where I was visiting relatives at the end of our trip. Consequently we ended up driving back to Orlando to drop car to avoid additional fee. That was a real drag because I4 was under big time construction.

It can depend on the rate you used. There are some rates that may be restricted. I'm not brand loyal. I will go wherever I get the best rate and the best deal.

 

[La2kw]

I have no idea what your dates are, but here's an example:

1 week rental from National of a full size car, picking up at the BVP on 7/7/09 and returning at FLL on 7/14/09 runs $211.

The same car, picking up and returning from FLL on the same dates runs $502 for the week. This is with my Costco discount and includes 1 additional driver for no charge.

It definitely pays to shop around and try out all possibilities.

 

[mmmgood]

Definitely shop around and try different codes. In Florida, the majority of one way rentals do not charge extra fees. Try looking at some discount sites such as:
http://www.mousesavers.com
and
http://www.carrentalsavers.com
for some good codes and rental tips.