Returning a car to MCO

[karmutt]

I'm going to be renting a car for the first time in ages and I'm trying to gauge how long the return process will take, as well as how much time I should give myself to get between Disney World (leaving from Animal Kingdom or Epcot, most likely) and MCO for a 5:30 flight on a Friday evening. I plan to do resort airline check-in, so I won't have to deal with that at the airport.

So, basically:

How long does it typically take to return a car? I'm renting from Alamo. Do they have a drop off and/or does someone assess the car with you? I'd prefer to assess the car to try to avoid any phantom charges, but if time gets tight it'd be nice to be able to know I could drop the car.

Approximately how long does it take to get to MCO from WDW? I plan on taking the south route/SR 417.

How much traffic can I expect in the late afternoon? Google Maps estimates a Friday between 3:00 and 4:00 to be green/fast the whole way. Anyone have first-hand knowledge of heading to the airport around the same time?

I'm expecting that it will take between 45min and an hour to drive to the airport and another 45min to an hour to deal with the check-in. Would these be reasonable estimates?

 

[ajschell]

We have rented with Alamo a few times now at MCO and it was extremely easy to drop off! Basically follow the "car rental drop off" signs and then "Alamo". You drive right up, get out of the car, and someone wil come right over and do a once-around the vehicle. They hand you a receipt that they print off on a hand-held computer and off you go! Basically it took us less than 5 minutes!

 

[disneyba]

All the on-site car rental companies, including Alamo, have drop-off areas in the parking buildings at MCO. Just watch for the signs that say Car Rental Return as you enter the airport.

I've done this several times, using AVIS/Budget/Alamo and with the whole family in tow, and it has always been a speedy process. As you pull in, there is an attendant with a hand-held electronic notepad device. He looks the car over, keys in some info, and hands you a receipt. We were usually inside the terminal within five or ten minutes (and we had our luggage to carry at the time too). But that puts you at the bottom level of the terminal. You have to go up two levels to get to the TSA security area.

If you are using RAC at your resort, and have already checked-in your luggage, you can go straight to the TSA area, through security, and to your departure gate. The TSA area is a bit unpredictable. Two trips ago, they were slammed. Took us 40 miuntes to get through security. Last trip we sailed through security in about five to ten minutes. Both times, we went through between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m.

The last two times we returned to MCO, we used I-4 and the B-Line, not SR 417. Once it was from POR and the second time it was from RPR. For both drives, we left the hotel around 3 p.m. We were at the airport in about 30 minutes each time. Epcot is close to POR, so the drive time should be very similar. AK is a bit down the road. It may take 5 minutes longer from there.

Hope this helps. have a good trip.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Can't help with the travel time as we are always returning our car on Saturday mornings. But we too use Alamo and as ajschell says,it's about a 5 minute process.
Would add that you should be careful getting to the Rental car drop off--I personally think the signs are a bit confusing and the entrance comes up on you rather fast.

 

[karmutt]

Thanks everybody. It's good to know that the return process is so easy and the drive will be less than I had estimated. It'll allow me to leave about an hour later than I was planning.

 

[Hopefully]

If it were me, for a 530 flight I would be AT the airport, returning the car about 3:30. I think you are cutting it too short leaving WDW that late.
Good Luck

 

[shoes99]

If it were me, for a 530 flight I would be AT the airport, returning the car about 3:30. I think you are cutting it too short leaving WDW that late.
Good Luck

I would get to the airport by 3:30PM, don't forget to figure in your stop for gas. I would leave for the gas station no later than 2:45PM on a Friday afternoon so you are on the 417 by 3:00PM.

 

[Dan Murphy]

For a 5:30 flight, I too would be at airport at 3:30. Security is very unpredictable. And as mentioned, check-in is quick, and as said also, the entrance comes up very quickly, watch your signs and go slow, or you may miss and have to do a 10 minute go around.

 

[karmutt]

Thanks guys.

I'm totally high strung about being on time everywhere, so I always give myself reasonable padding.

I'm arriving in Florida at 5:00am and I'm not going to be in any real hurry to get to my resort or the parks, so I will probably drive around the airport after I pick up the car so I can see where the return is, since a few of you have said that it's easy to miss. I'm already planning on stopping for gas on the way back to my resort the night before I leave so I don't have to stress about it the next day. I'm also going to be monitoring the traffic on my phone in case anything comes up. And it's just me, so I don't have anyone else to worry about making it to the plane... or making me late... for anything... which is one of the reasons why I so love to travel on my own.

 

[laughinplace199]

I would definitely be on the road by 2:30. We always take 536 to 417 to get to the airport. There's a Hess station on 536, right before the exit for 417, so it's a perfect place to fill up before returning the car. The ride to the airport is about 30 min and there never seems to be much traffic on 417. However, as others have mentioned, the car rental return exit kind of sneaks up on you, so you want to allow extra time in case you miss it and have to go around again. Also, the lines for security can be long, so you want to allow extra time for that. Last year, we left our hotel at 1:00 for our 3:30 flight. The ride to the airport was a breeze, as was returning the car, but the lines for security were crazy! We ended up getting to our gate as they were boarding (we usually preboard because we have a little one in a carseat), so it was very stressful trying to lug the carseat on and install it without holding up the other passengers. We'lll definitely give ourselves an extra 30 min next time.

 

[Pinkgurlshubby]

Just be very very careful where you fill up before bringing the car back, the most convenient place is Suncoast Energy and they also have the most complaints about them for price gouging. I just googled it and this hasn't changed. The only good thing is you have to pay before you pump so you can catch this before. Hess is good but in my experience of standing at the pump after I picked my jaw off the ground I noticed the 7-11 sign very close by I could almost see the price sign, that's where we went.

 

[Dan Murphy]

For over 25 trips I have always used one of the on Disney property (usually the one by the BW) Hess stations. Very convenient, generally lowest in price also.

 

[DebbieB]

For over 25 trips I have always used one of the on Disney property (usually the one by the BW) Hess stations. Very convenient, generally lowest in price also.

I agree, I always use the Hess stations.

Are you using RAC for your checked luggage or have no checked luggage? If so, I would be at MCO before 4:00. If you have to check luggage, I would be there by 3:30.

 

[karmutt]

When I researched the price of gas in Florida I was shocked... because it's so low. I'm from the Los Angeles area and we've been steady at around $2.95 - $3.25 a gallon for regular for about 2 years, so when I see $2.50ish my eyes bulge in cartoonish surprise. Anything under $3.00 will make me feel like I'm getting a deal.

I ended up "driving" the route from MCO to POFQ (where I'm staying) and around WDW last night on Google Earth to help me familiarize myself with the area and see where the toll booths are and how they're set up. I drove around the airport as well, but couldn't figure out where the return area might be. Can anyone give me an idea how to find it on a Google Maps image? Thanks.

 

[Dan Murphy]

http://www.bing.com/maps/explore/?org=aj&FORM=Z9LH9#/3y90wkxvjmwl1ydk

If you do not have the Bing enhanced, download that. Much better than Google.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Just be very very careful where you fill up before bringing the car back, the most convenient place is Suncoast Energy and they also have the most complaints about them for price gouging.

Last time I rented a car in Orlando, I just exited off 417 a couple/few exits before the airport and drove less than a half mile and filled the tank at a 'normal' station. I think that Suncoast station is adjacent to the offsite car rental locations?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Just be very very careful where you fill up before bringing the car back, the most convenient place is Suncoast Energy and they also have the most complaints about them for price gouging. I just googled it and this hasn't changed.

Last month when I was at WDW the Fox 35 Orlando news did a report on them how they don't even list their gas prices on the sign outside their station and something about a law suit making them do that, because as of right now they are not required to list their prices and only list them at the pumps.

 

[Pinkgurlshubby]

Ya Suncoast is the closest to the entrance to the airport so I was just saying if anyone looks around there are other places and we went to 7/11 because it's just down the street, walking distance really. If anyone looks around they'd likely find more places, even what Dan Murphy suggested on page 1. The OP just needs to make sure the tank is filled when bringing the car back.
Cheers

 

[karmutt]

http://www.bing.com/maps/explore/?org=aj&FORM=Z9LH9#/3y90wkxvjmwl1ydk

If you do not have the Bing enhanced, download that. Much better than Google.

Cool, thanks. Very useful.

 

[Dan Murphy]

This is the other side....

http://www.bing.com/maps/explore/?org=aj&FORM=Z9LH9#/3ptytdmxd29157gv

Not sure which is which, A or B, but you can see on both that the rental car drive comes up quite abruptly.