somewhat unique situation---?? on how to do this

[2xcited2slp]

This may not be such a unique situation to others, so sorry if this has been asked before.

Help---how does this work??

We are staying at BLT and plan to use ME from MCO to BLT, but on the way back, we need to rent a car, as we are driving down to Ft. Lauderdale, staying a couple of days there and flying home via Lauderdale airport. We will be using Disney transportation throughout our trip, so we really only need the car on our last day upon checkout. How do we go about renting a car on our last day?? Is there an in-hotel (BLT) place that we can do this?? Or, would we have to take a cab somewhere off-site to rent the car?? I'm confused!! Anyone with any knowledge of this, can you please shed some light?? Thanks so much!!

 

[mamapajama]

This may not be such a unique situation to others, so sorry if this has been asked before.

Help---how does this work??

We are staying at BLT and plan to use ME from MCO to BLT, but on the way back, we need to rent a car, as we are driving down to Ft. Lauderdale, staying a couple of days there and flying home via Lauderdale airport. We will be using Disney transportation throughout our trip, so we really only need the car on our last day upon checkout. How do we go about renting a car on our last day?? Is there an in-hotel (BLT) place that we can do this?? Or, would we have to take a cab somewhere off-site to rent the car?? I'm confused!! Anyone with any knowledge of this, can you please shed some light?? Thanks so much!!

You can rent a car from Alamo and possibly national at the Dolphin and at the Car Care Center at MK. We have dropped off a rental at the Dolphin but never picked one up. You'd just reserve it ahead of time like you would any other retnal and select whatever drop off location you need.

 

[seashoreCM]

Not sure whether Contemporary has a car rental desk but Swan/Dolphin does and there is a c ar rental agency on the way out of Magic Kingdom (courtesy shuttle during the day). There may be a few other locations too.

Only one or two brands are featured at each location.

 

[goofy4tink]

No car rental availability right at the CR (or BLT). You can head to the S/D (walk over to MK and take the bus to S/D from there) and get a car through Alamo/National at the Dolphin..be sure to rent ahead of time otherwise you may not be able to get a car.
Or, there is an Alamo/National office at the Car Care Center, just outside the entrance to MK. You can call them to arrange a ride to the CCC to pick up your car..but you have to call the day before to be sure there is availability of shuttle.
Or...you can head to DTD. There are a lot of different car rental companies based inside various resorts there. For instance, Budget is at the Doubletree, and will send a car to pick you up if need be, and get you to their office.

Check out various rental spots and see where the cheapest is..then go from there. Worst case scenario, you could take DME back to the airport and rent from a company at the airport, then drive back to WDW and pick everyone up and go on your merry way...I've done that before since it was about $50 cheaper for me to rent at MCO vs the Dolphin at that time.

 

[2xcited2slp]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of the insight!!!! This clears everything up and reassures me that it can be done. We will be spending the morning most likely at DTD before heading to Ft. Lauderdale, so the DTD hotel rental desk is a wonderful option, as well!!! Thanks again and thank you for such quick responses!!!

 

[skelooch]

Dollar is located at the Regal Sun Resort, very close to DTD.

 

[clkelley]

Let me clarify, there is not a "DTD Hotel Desk" per se'.

There are about 6 or 7 hotels very near the entrance to DTD that have rental car desks. You would have to cross 535 at a crossing light and walk a bit to any of these hotels, but it is doable.

Personally, I would go for the CCC with Alamo. Get the earliest rental time you can, then call the CCC the day before and get a shuttle. Then you can loop around back to BLT with the car, load your stuff, then off to DTD. If you rented from DTD, then after you spent way more time there than you intended, you would have to go back to BLT and load your stuff in the car. Plus, bus service to DTD doesn't start till 8:30 or so. The shops don't open till 9 or 9:30. You could have the rental car all taken care of by then, and be at DTD when the shops open.

 

[skelooch]

No, you don't have to cross 535. The only street you have to cross Buena Vista Drive, and there is a traffic signal and cross walk there, the hotels referenced are on Hotel Plaza Blvd. It is a very short walk to the Regal Sun Resort, as a reference it's approx 1/4 mi walk from the entrance to the Once Upon a Toy store or The Earl of Sandwich.

 

[clkelley]

No, you don't have to cross 535. The only street you have to cross Buena Vista Drive, and there is a traffic signal and cross walk there, the hotels referenced are on Hotel Plaza Blvd. It is a very short walk to the Regal Sun Resort, as a reference it's approx 1/4 mi walk from the entrance to the Once Upon a Toy store or The Earl of Sandwich.

My apologies, you are right!!! Yep, cross Buena Vista to get to Hotel Plaza Boulevard. I was thinking of the crossing to get to Goodings at the "other" end of Hotel Plaza Boulevard. (Yes, I've walked it before.)

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

There's no reason to take a cab, bus, or long walk to a car rental location.

The big car rental companies all have locations on or near WDW property, and they offer courtesy pickup at WDW reports from many of these car rental locations.

For example, the Hertz has this location (off-site near Disney's Animal Kingdom) with courtesy pick-up.

Hertz - Disney World Kissimmee
7471 West Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway
Kissimmee, Florida 34747-1723
Phone : 407 396-2800 Fax: 407 396-8612
​

A driver will pick you up at your resort and take you to the car rental location. You can then drive back to your resort, load your luggage, and drive off to your next destination. (When you check in at your resort, be sure to get a parking pass, and take it with you when you go to get your car.)

Another alternative is to use Disney's Magical Express (DME) to return to the airport (with your family and luggage), get your rental car at the airport, and take off from there to your destination. You can use DME to return to the airport even if you'e not flying (it's not cheating). However, unless you're able to get a much cheaper rate there, it's not worth the inconvenience and extra time.