to rent a car or not rent a car?? that is the question at hand....

[ultimatemickeyfreak]

We are staying at pop and I was wondering if I have to rent a car at the airport or if I can rent a car at the resort???? HELP!!!

 

[Nezgrrl]

I would rent a car. I'm impatient, I don't like standing on a bus, and I found the air conditioning inadequate when I was there last month. My personal opinion. There are no rental car locations at Pop itself, but Alamo and National have car rental locations at the Car Care Center near MK, and a shuttle runs to the center. I plan on renting at the airport for our next trip as I became very bored being at the airport for two hours with nothing to do.

But other people swear by riding the buses.

 

[ultimatemickeyfreak]

what do you mean by sitting at the airport for two Hours..... waiting to go to your hotel or going home???

 

[raven69david]

Rent at the airport so you can avoid standing in line at ME and the bus ride to the hotel. You'll accomplish alot more faster than having to wait to board ME and then bussing it to WDW. It's not exactly fast, but it's not snail slow either.

To avoid any potential , i'd say rent at MCO and be done with it. We always get a rental car because we like exploring the area. It's also alot easier for us to get to/from the parks at our convenience.

 

[werfamily]

what do you mean by sitting at the airport for two Hours..... waiting to go to your hotel or going home???

My guess is that this poster is referring to ME picking you up at your resort 3 hours before your flight home. Since it can only take 45 minutes (or less) to get to the airport, this could translate into a lengthy wait at the airport.

 

[Nezgrrl]

My guess is that this poster is referring to ME picking you up at your resort 3 hours before your flight home. Since it can only take 45 minutes (or less) to get to the airport, this could translate into a lengthy wait at the airport.

Exactly. And it's not fun with a bored four year old.

 

[ultimatemickeyfreak]

thanks I thought that's what she meant... I appreciate the information, if I decide that I want to rent a car will my luggage still be brought to the hotel my ME???

 

[raven69david]

t if I decide that I want to rent a car will my luggage still be brought to the hotel my ME???

Sorry, no.

 

[Mr Man]

We usually rent a car at MCO through National (love the Emerald Aisle-just pick a car and go). It saves us time and we love the convenience of having our own vehicle the duration of our time at WDW. Makes it easy with our young kids to get around WDW (especially for meals at other WDW resorts)

Car Car Center is an option for a rental if you only want a car for a few days. Also, you can pick up a rental car at the Swan/Dolphin (Alamo I think).

It is a bit of a pain having to schlepp our luggage around when flying to WDW (out of baggage claim, over to National etc) but once we arrive at our resort, CM's take over. Flying home, we check in our luggage/get boarding passes at our WDW resort and then drop off the rental car at the airport and proceed thru security with carry-on luggage only. This is very convenient and fast. The resort check-in serviceis available to WDW resort guests whether you are signed up with ME or not. I think there are only certain airlines that offer this service but it definitely simplifies our return flight.

Having said the above, it is not necessary to have a rental car at WDW. It is a luxury to us. We were at WDW last week for 7 days and there were at least 3 days where we never even used the rental car. I am very impressed by the transportation system for WDW. FWIW, I have never used ME. Not against it, but just haven't done it yet.

 

[sherry8253]

I would rent at MCO. I think you can get a better price at MCO. Check hotwire or priceline. Sometimes their prices are a little better than going through the company. Plus I like that it is prepaid before I get there.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

I've gone with a rental and without, and will always get a rental from now on.

• I like to take afternoon breaks. The busses run less frequently in the afternoon sometimes meaning a long wait to get back to my resort.
• I like to dine at other resorts. There are no resort-to-resort busses so the car comes in handy. A 15 minute drive vs. an hour including connections and wait time on the bus.
• Also no bus service directly between DTD and any parks anymore. Again, probably about an hour for that trip each way vs. a 15 minute or so drive.
• Sometimes I like to go off-site (gasp!) to pick up snacks/water at a grocery store or have breakfast at Perkins in the Crossroads Shopping Center. WDW busses won't get me there.

Even with a rental I don't always drive to the parks, but if I know I'm leaving in the afternoon or going from the park to DTD I drive -except for the MK where I always take a bus.

It's an added expense, but there are great discounts available sometimes. Check out the mousesavers website for rental car discount information (especially for National, my favorite due to Emerald Aisle).

 

[werfamily]

Will someone explain the Emerald Aisle to me? Do you just pay a fixed price, and pick a car from a variety of categories; or do you book a certain car class and then choose from just a few cars which are in that class? We usually rent a minivan, is this possible with the Emerald Aisle?

Thanks!

 

[Stinky_Pete]

Will someone explain the Emerald Aisle to me? Do you just pay a fixed price, and pick a car from a variety of categories; or do you book a certain car class and then choose from just a few cars which are in that class? We usually rent a minivan, is this possible with the Emerald Aisle?

Thanks!

Emerald Aisle is National Car Rental's "frequent rental program." You join the program and fill out a master rental agreement. It has your license and credit card information on file. Then, when you rent, you just pick your car from the aisle, drive to the exit kiosk, present your card and license, and off you go.

In order to get aisle service you must reserve at least an intermediate size car.

Emerald Aisle was so much better in the "old days." They only had the one aisle and there would be all kinds of cars there - intermedates, 4x4s, minivans, luxury, etc. A few years ago I always reserved an intermediate and almost always had a free upgrade to a 4x4.

Now they have "Emerald Reserve" which are additional aisles by car size - full size aisle, premium aisle, specialty aisle (minivans, etc.). If you reserve a full size you go to the emerald reserve full size aisle. They even now have an "executive aisle" with the premium cars on it. So now it's pretty rare to score a major upgrade on the regular aisle by reserving only an intermediate car. If you want a minivan you should reserve one because unlike in the past it isn't likely for one to be hanging out on the emerald aisle for you.

It's still great for speed and ease. Plus, National offers an automatic discount to emerald aisle members, and you can combine discounts. I have a killer deal for 10 days in December by combining my emerald aisle discount and the e-coupon on their website.

 

[WeLoveSpaceMountain]

This is my first trip with a car rental and I went through Alamo, got a great deal, $140 for 9 days (mid size). I have been shopping prices for the past two months and they were by far the lowest. I am picking up at the airport, just get the car and be done with it...the DD won't want to be spending time to get a car once we are already at the parks, and neither will I.

Question for all previous "drivers" to Disney...can you use the AAA Diamond parking pass with your resorts free parking privileges?

 

[crissichef]

Question for all previous "drivers" to Disney...can you use the AAA Diamond parking pass with your resorts free parking privileges?

Yes you can. We booked through AAA and stayed at POP a few years ago. The AAA Diamond Parking is right after the Handicapped parking. You just put both passes in the window.

Crissi

 

[disneymarie]

I found an excellant rate at the Grosvoner, Dollar.com (sorry spelling) Lake Buna Vista. Is there transportation to pick up the car there. I only want a day or two, although the rate is not bad for a week, I will save $150 just renting two days as opposed to the week though.

I think I may go just the two days?

Also, ME, I was told two hours before flight, and dang there almost didn;t make it even with early check in passes in hand.
THe other pickups, the traffic, dropping at various areas on the airport...then getting through security, we had about a half hour.
dianne