The best time to book a car rental?

[CathrynRose]

Hi!

I'm looking for some help with a car rental.

We'll be spending 2 weeks down at WDW - but only renting a car for the 2nd week (to head to Uni and Islands, etc). I guess our best bet would be to pick up from the Swalphin?

I've been checking Mousesavers for codes - but it seems most of them expire before we are going (in September)

When do these codes come out, usually? Am I better off picking up and dropping off at the same location, or can I drive myself to MCO for about the same? Should I use Alamo or Nat'l?

I'm lost! Any help is super appreciated!

 

[kristinlynn]

If you want to pick up on Disney property, you have a few options: There is the Alamo and the National at the Swalphin, there is an Alamo (and maybe a National) and the Buena Vista Palace, there is a Dollar at the Regal Sun in DTD, an Avis at the DTD Hilton, Budget at the Double Tree in DTD, a Hertz at shades of green, and a National and Alamo at the WDW car care center. I believe the Budget and Dollar locations will pick you up at your resort and drive you to the car rental location, or you could take a bus from DTD and walk. Also, with the exception of Hertz I believe you can do a one-way rental at any of the locations listed above … however, it make cost you about $10 more.

As far as when to book: I’d start playing with group and coupon codes now and book the best rate. As the trip gets closer, start looking again. It’s always fun when you get closer to your trip and you can beat your price … or even if you can’t, you feel good about the fact that you’re rate is so much better than what is currently available.

I’ve seemed to notice that many of the coupon codes run from July – Dec and Jan – June … however, there are some out there. I just used an Alamo free upgrade code that’s good until Sept., and I think the Entertainment codes should work too. Also, the group codes don’t have dates so you should be able to use those now.

If you have an American express card, I’ve often found the best deals to be on their American express selects page: http://offers.amexnetwork.com/selec...egory/Travel&issuerName=us_amexnetworkdefault. I tried this the other day and it lowered a 1 day dolphin – MCO from $65 to $52. If you’re a costco member, that’s another great place to look. I don’t usually see either of these codes listed on mousesavers.

Good luck!

 

[drusba]

1. Understand that lower prices/discounts often apply to pick-ups at airport but not to pick-ups at Swan/Dolphin or the place near MK. Thus, when looking at discounts make sure you know whether they apply to where you are picking up the car. Also, discounts often apply only if pick-up and drop-off is at same place.

2. Discount codes like ones you find on Mousesaver have expiration dates and as you get closer to that date the companies will release new ones with later expiration date. When that will occur seems to have no set time so you just need to check occassionally although it is early now to see codes for September.

3. Best time to reserve a rental: as a frequent business and vacation traveler for years, I can tell you "Who the heck knows?" it varies a lot and there is little ryhme or reason to them even within the same company. Generally the prices will be higher many months out, but for major holidays the better ones may be the ones many months out. Prices can often get better between 3 and 1 month out particularly when it is not a huge busy time. There is also the last minute rentals (ordering a week to just days before going) that can sometimes be quite low and other times non-existent. Also, the variance in price among companies can be fairly large and one that was higher than another at one point out from your trip can be lower than the other at another point out from the trip. Also use of codes should not be blindly relied on. Sometimes the currently offered regular price is lower than the discounted price with codes (I have seen that happen with Dollar a number of times).

4. What company: we usually pick-up at airport so we limit ourselves to those companies that have their cars right at the airport, e.g., National/Alamo, Dollar, Avis, others. We are not wedded to any one company (see above for why)

So what should you do: the advantage of all rentals is that you can cancel them without penalty up to a certain time before arrival (generally 24 hours). We usually reserve about 4 months out (longer for Easter or Christmas time). Then, we periodically check the different companies and if a lower rate comes up, we cancel and switch to that one and then later if a lower rate comes up we do the same and sometimes we end up making three or four changes before going.

 

[CathrynRose]

Awesome - thanks you guys!

 

[debster812]

I've always had better luck with codes/discounts/etc when renting onsite at WDW if we pickup at the Car Care Center. Additionally, they have a shuttle that will come get you at your resort hotel, or at a park. We do this nearly every time we rent at WDW. Fly into MCO, take DME to resort. Pick up car the next day at the Car Care Center. Then depending on whether we are flying out of MCO or heading south to visit my parents, we either return at the CCC the day before we fly home, and take DME back to the airport, or we drive to Ft Myers, and return the car at RSW.

And the wiseguy in me would have to say the best time to book the rental car, is when you find a price you can live with.

 

[TIGGERmetoo]

Thanks for all the tips. We're considering car rental for our trip in Sept.

 

[CathrynRose]

Thanks for all the tips. We're considering car rental for our trip in Sept.

Heeeeey - we're both in Illinois, and both going in September.

I'm in Downers Grove.

 

[TIGGERmetoo]

CathrynRose - have you booked your call rental yet?