Thrifty Car Rental?

[f7prez]

I reserved a midsize car with Thrifty for two weeks in April 07. The rate is good ($316.34) but I have never rented from Thrifty, or from a rental company NOT located at the airport.

Anyone have input on Thrifty and/or how much of a hassle is it renting from an off airport rental agent.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Other than the bus ride, no difference. You might want to join their Blue Chip club and get your ressie linked to that. You will have your car waiting and a dedicated line.

 

[pocohontas2004]

We have a Pacifica on reserve with Thrifty in February. Just wondering if people are actually receiving the cars they reserve, specifically if you've reserved a Pacifica. I like the 3rd row seat for our 3rd child. Would take a minivan as 2nd choice, but it costs more.

 

[cruise-o-matic]

Ditto on the Blue Chip. Makes for a shorter line and it's free.

We used Thrifty last year. Got to the depature zone just as the shuttle was leaving. Missed that one but the rep told us one would come along in a minute. He took our name and called ahead to the office. And sure enough, the shuttle was there in less than 2 minutes.

One word of advice. Fill up on or near Disney property. The station across the street has a monopoly and it's $.30-40 more expensive per gallon.

 

[mommy*RN]

I don't have personal experience with Thrifty...but before Dollar moved into MCO we rented from them. It wasn't bad at all! We got a shuttle and got to the rental agency without any problems. It didn't seem to take longer than normal either. I would rent offsite again in a heartbeat!

 

[WillCAD]

I have rented from Thrifty a couple of times, and from Alamo several times back before they were on-site.

Alamo's old off-airport facility was hell and gone from the airport; the shuttle bus ride was about 15 minutes in the opposite direction from WDW! But Thrifty's facility is much closer, barely off the airport's property at all. The bus ride is only about 5 minutes, and the wait is seldom more than 10-15.

Definitely join Blue Chip. It lets you avoid the lines. If there is nobody at the Blue Chip counter when you enter the building, just wait for a moment, someone will be along quickly.

Pocohontas2004, remember - No rental car company reserves a specific make and model of car, they only reserve a particular class of car. Check your ressie again and I'm sure you will find it worded the same as every ressie I have ever made: "Premium (Chrysler Pacifica or similar)" You will get a similar vehicle - a car of similar size - but you are not guarnateed to get a Pacifica. If nothing of the class you reserved is available, you will get the next higher class of vehicle at no extra charge.

 

[jiminy14]

I always rent from Thrifty since they usually have the best prices. I reserve a full-size car which is described as a Dodge Magnum or similar. I have never received a Dodge Magnum. Most of the time they upgrade us to a better car. We have received a mini-van three times, a new Chrysler 300 once and a Pacifica once. Nice to get those premium cars for a full-size price.

 

[Lewisc]

I'm pretty sure Thrifty is in the old Alamo location. I remember Alamo being next to Hertz. I once waited more than an hour at the old offsite Alamo location.

Alamo's old off-airport facility was hell and gone from the airport; the shuttle bus ride was about 15 minutes in the opposite direction from WDW! But Thrifty's facility is much closer, barely off the airport's property at all. The bus ride is only about 5 minutes, and the wait is seldom more than 10-15.

Definitely join Blue Chip. It lets you avoid the lines. If there is nobody at the Blue Chip counter when you enter the building, just wait for a moment, someone will be along quickly.

Pocohontas2004, remember - No rental car company reserves a specific make and model of car, they only reserve a particular class of car. Check your ressie again and I'm sure you will find it worded the same as every ressie I have ever made: "Premium (Chrysler Pacifica or similar)" You will get a similar vehicle - a car of similar size - but you are not guarnateed to get a Pacifica. If nothing of the class you reserved is available, you will get the next higher class of vehicle at no extra charge.

 

[WillCAD]

I'm pretty sure Thrifty is in the old Alamo location. I remember Alamo being next to Hertz. I once waited more than an hour at the old offsite Alamo location.

I don't know if the current Thrifty location used to be an Alamo location, but the Alamo facility I rented from in the old days was a massive facility at the interchange of the Beeline Expwy and SR 15
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&om=0&z=15&ll=28.450845,-81.272907&spn=0.024262,0.036392

This lot is a mile east of the airport, making the shuttle bus ride pretty long. However, it had good points; it was a massive facility, with many lines at the counters, plenty of cars, and easy access to the Beeline. And at that point, the Beeline was not a very busy road, so getting on to drive to WDW was not difficult and there was never any traffic.

It's still there, but I don't know if it still belongs to Alamo.

 

[FayeW]

Thanks for the tip about BlueChip. I had a great rate for Thrifty through www.rentalcarmomma.com (Intermediate for $208.tax included for 9 days, 2 hours.) I joined BlueChip, and called and linked the reservation.

 

[mousy_in_canada]

We have a Pacifica on reserve with Thrifty in February. Just wondering if people are actually receiving the cars they reserve, specifically if you've reserved a Pacifica. I like the 3rd row seat for our 3rd child. Would take a minivan as 2nd choice, but it costs more.

I was looking at the Pacifica, and their web site (actual site) says it seats 6, 3 rows of 2 each. BUT Dollar and Thrifty and say it seats 5.. has anyone rented one? How many do they actually seat? We have 4 kids so we need 6 but this is cheaper to rent then a van.. any hints???
Thanks

 

[elan]

We are new to thrifty for our upcoming trip too. Do we take the shuttle to the rental counter or do we check in at a rental counter at the airport. I did sign up for blue chip.

Since we normally use alamo or national I've been a bit leery, anybody know for sure if getting to the offsite location is a real pain?

 

[djpositivek]

Keep your eye out for better rates, you might be able to get that mini van. I booked a Mini Van through Thrifty at $153/week before taxes & fees. Total for 10 days was around $290. We don't really need a mini van so I'm keeping my eye open for a great rate on a full size or premium. maybe even an SUV. I booked a few weeks ago and since then rates have gone up. I booked for Jan. 29th to Feb. 8th That rate was with no coupon, I ended using the magicard just to get the free additional driver. If not for that I could have used a 5% off coupon.

 

[Bird-Mom]

I was looking at the Pacifica, and their web site (actual site) says it seats 6, 3 rows of 2 each. BUT Dollar and Thrifty and say it seats 5.. has anyone rented one? How many do they actually seat? We have 4 kids so we need 6 but this is cheaper to rent then a van.. any hints???
Thanks

We had a Pacifica on our trip a few weeks ago. It was lovely. It sat 6 with the third row of seats, but you could do 5 with the third row split. However, if you have luggage, with the third row up, there is only room for a stroller and maybe a couple of duffle bags or one suitcase on top of the stroller. I really loved the Pacifica and would like to buy one (currently car shopping), but my dh vetoed it for a Japanese vehicle since we had bad luck with Chrysler products in the past.

 

[mousy_in_canada]

We had a Pacifica on our trip a few weeks ago. It was lovely. It sat 6 with the third row of seats, but you could do 5 with the third row split. However, if you have luggage, with the third row up, there is only room for a stroller and maybe a couple of duffle bags or one suitcase on top of the stroller. I really loved the Pacifica and would like to buy one (currently car shopping), but my dh vetoed it for a Japanese vehicle since we had bad luck with Chrysler products in the past.

Thank you so much for letting me know that, we may have too much luggage to fit, was there space to put some duffle bags in between the seats?
Thanks again!
Mousy

 

[pocohontas2004]

mousy in canada: My sister got a Pacifica with 3 kids. With their stroller, she said they were packed into the car. One child (10) sat in the 3rd row. They folded down the other 3rd row seat to make truck space bigger. I think I can do Pacifica with 3 kids as we have no stroller. Maybe you can find one at a dealer near your home before you go and see if you can fit 4 kids, 2 adults and all luggage?

 

[pocohontas2004]

DJ - you got a free drive with Thrifty with Magicard?

 

[djpositivek]

Yeah I didn't see it anywhere on my reservation but according to mousesavers I get free additional driver.

Receive special discounted rates, free unlimited mileage, free additional driver fees and no drop off fees in Florida when you rent from Thrifty. Use corporate code 004M001010. Offer comes from Orlando Magicard. Click here to download a FREE Orlando Magicard instantly online. Expires 2/28/07. Thanks to Ishy and Steve H for info.

 

[Bird-Mom]

Thank you so much for letting me know that, we may have too much luggage to fit, was there space to put some duffle bags in between the seats?
Thanks again!
Mousy

If you had 2 little ones in the 2nd row and a narrow duffle, maybe. You could put it where feet would usually go. There isn't any significant room down the center between the seats.