Renting from car care center...any tips??

[jadyson]

I am trying to book a car from the car care center for two days only the day after we arrive at WDW (October 15-17, 2006). We need a car to get us to the grocery store and two days to Universal. Does anyone have any tips, discounts, coupon id's, etc.? It will be for myself, husband and four year old son. I can bring along my own booster seat for my son to save money. I have no preference on a car size--we can get by in anything for two days.
Or...are we better off using Mears for Universal and taking a cab to get groceries?
This will be our first year traveling with our son without a rental car. We did it for years when we were kid-free. Now the responsibilites have changed and a week long trip requires milk, juice, overall good nutrition for our son and a grocery store trip is a requirement.
Thanks for any feedback.

 

[grimley1968]

I don't know much about the CCC, except that it sounds like a hassle to get there.

I found the Alamo/National desk at the Dolphin resort to be extremely quick, friendly and easy to get to. When you drop off the car, you just leave it in the valet area and go to EPCOT or MGM from there if you like.

If you're staying in an EPCOT area resort, the Dolphin is by far the easiest way to rent. If you're not staying at an EPCOT area resort, you can take a bus to MGM, then get on the boat from MGM to the Dolphin.

 

[jadyson]

grimley1968--

Thanks for your reply. I guess it makes no difference where we rent from seeing that we will be staying at Pop Century. My understanding was that the front desk of your resort handles the transfer to get there. What did you rent, for how long, and what was your cost if I can be so nosy?! I am really trying to determine if it is worth it to do this, just use Mears or rent from the airport for the whole trip? I would love to save some money on transportation and put it towards a couple nice sit-down dinners.
Thanks.

 

[4shinystars]

I'd like to know also, as we will be going offsite for 1-2 days in August, and can't see renting a car all week. Then again I have heard renting at WDW/vincinity is much more expensive, so maybe a week from MCO is better? We're looking to get as inexpensive as possible.

 

[grimley1968]

I can't remember the exact cost, but it was inline with whatever the rates were on Alamo's website at the time. It was in 2004 when I did this. We got a medium-sized car like a Taurus or something. It was probably about $40/day for what I did.

When we flew in to MCO airport, I rented from Alamo there. We drove to the Beach Club (next door to Swan/Dolphin - well, a 5-minute walk). We went to the grocery store that night after unpacking, etc. The following morning, I dropped the car off at the Dolphin. The valet guy just told me to drop it off right where you'd normally park temporarily while bell services would help you with luggage. He told me I didn't even need to go to the Alamo desk in the lobby. He just gave me a copy of the paperwork I had in the car. I then walked to the back of the Dolphin and walked via the walkway into EPCOT and met my family there for a Princess Breakfast in Norway. This was all made easier because I stayed in BC, of course, but the entire process, including the walk back into EPCOT and across the entire World Showcase to Norway, took maybe 30 minutes. 60% of this time was probably spent walking. Not bad at all.

Now, this is only half the story. On our last 2 days there, Hurricane Frances hit. The parks, the airport, etc. all shut down for a couple of days. We of course missed our flight. When our flight was pushed back a third day, I finally decided we couldn't afford paying BC rates for just sitting in the room, while I was missing work. I walked back over to the Dolphin and rented a Dodge Durango. I had to go to the desk for this inside the Dolphin. This was about a 45-minute process because there were scads of people just trying to get out of central Florida by that time, so there was a line. But I still got the Durango, and it was waiting out at the valet area for me when I walked out front. This cost me about $80 or so, since I had to drop the Durango off at the Louisville, KY airport where our car was. It would have been much less $$$ if I didn't have to drop it off in such a far away location.

In both experiences, the first one typical and the latter one pretty much an emergency, the Alamo/National desk in the Dolphin really served us well.

 

[mdhkitten]

Have you considered using a grocery delivery service such as www.gardengrocer.com, or if it's just for your child there is a site called www.jetsetbabies.com, and you can order most things through them. I'm traveling with my baby, too, and have to get some groceries and finally decided to use www.transportation2disney.com to take us to our hotel and back to the airport. They offer a free grocery stop, and the owners have been very helpful to me and have given me a great deal. I know that they take people to other parks, too, and offer free car and booster seats!

 

[jadyson]

At gardengrocer is there a minimum purchase? I'm interested in doing exactly that because the car rental is coming up over $100 for two days. I think we will have to explore all the options in great detail. Thanks.

 

[mdhkitten]

I think that garden grocer has a minimum $50 purchase with a $10 delivery charge. There was another that I saw that didn't mention a minimum puchase. I can try to find out the name if you'd like. I originally was going to use garden grocer since we still use diapers, and since I'm having to rent a fridge for Pop, I thought that I could get some food for us to eat in the room to save some money. We're only going to be there 3 nights and there was concern with the timing of Magical Express getting back to the airport b/c we have a breakfast at Chef Mickey's the morning we leave and our flight is at 2:55. It was just going to be too tight time wise, so that's why I ended up going to the town car service. Let me know if you need any help!

 

[Hugpug]

I rented a car from the CCC and it was not a problem at all. Just call them the day before and they will send their shuddle to pick you up. When you return the car they will take you back to your hotel no problem. I did a check for my upcoming trip for a Friday to Sunday using the American Express Code and I was quoted 45.00 the 2 days. That does not include the coupon I hope to acquire when it become avaiable for my time frame. That will reduce it by another 15.00 This was from the National site. You can get all the codes from Mousesavers.com

 

[mdhkitten]

At gardengrocer is there a minimum purchase? I'm interested in doing exactly that because the car rental is coming up over $100 for two days. I think we will have to explore all the options in great detail. Thanks.

This is the reply that I got back from Garden Grocer concerning a minimum purchase. Hope it helps!! :


Yes, but we don't stick to it too strictly. We have delivered orders of $35 or more.

Thanks for shopping with GardenGrocer.com

 

[kycat]

I hate to intrude on your thread Jadyson...

But I was wondering if anyone knew if the shuttle ran to the Dolphin as well as the CCC? We're staying at OKW...and I know that would be closer...

Thanks

 

[justplaingoofy]

In the past we have rented from Car Care Center and the Dolphin through Alamo. I have a BJ's membership which for us has the best discounts. We're going in Sept. and noticed for me to rent a car fom the Dolphin/Car care center for a couple of days it was $220, but if I rent through MCO airport for 8 days it was $150.
That is using the same discount codes.... Bjs, sams, etc has discount codes.

example: Alamo
$20 off plus member discount id 7011902 coupon code D54C (midsize-sport utility) 5 day minimum
Free upgrade plus discount id 7011902 coupon code U46C (compact-midsize) 5 day minimum
Free day plus discount id 7011902 coupon code F55B (midsize-full size) 5 day minimum
They will tell you when the coupon can/can't be applied.. (specific type of
car)

*you have to show your bjs card, etc at the counter and you need the coupon which can be picked up at any bj's, sams, etc.

 

[grimley1968]

I hate to intrude on your thread Jadyson...

But I was wondering if anyone knew if the shuttle ran to the Dolphin as well as the CCC? We're staying at OKW...and I know that would be closer...

Thanks

I don't think so. But why would it be needed? If you're already on Disney property, just take Disney transportation to the Dolphin. This is exactly why I chose Dolphin - so I wouldn't have to sit around and wait for a shuttle. I could work my Dolphin visit in with a trip to EPCOT or MGM.

 

[juju]

I've been checking out rental rates for upcoming trip and renting from Alamo at Dolphin was cheaper than at MCO because less taxes. Also if I decided to take ME and rent from Dolphin later in week, it was cheaper to return to MCO than back to Dolphin.

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm renting a car from Alamo at the CCC in May. I was paying $94 for an Uplander on a Sat morning, returning it to Tampa Intnl the following day at 5 pm. Then, I found a 3 day rental special...rent on Thursday afternoon, return on Sunday afternoon, for $127. Took that. I did look into the Dolphin but they aren't open that late in the day and that's when I needed it.

 

[justplaingoofy]

juju, was there a specific code you were using? We are going in Sept. and when I was pricing it out Bj's code, or prepay code it was more than double the price, plus less days to rent from Dolphin than from MCO.

We were most interested in renting from Dolphin!!!

 

[justplaingoofy]

okay, just spent the last 40 min. on Alamo's site using different codes... Maybe because its so many months away we are going (Sept).. but finding the least expensive code was:
MCO $157
Dolphin- $186, $245, $259(different prices for different codes)

Any suggestions???????????