Using Hotwire for car rental

[VS85]

I get Hotwire emails and I recently saw a fantastic rate for a car rental from MCO. We have been looking for a one day car rental, but it is not necessary. I will by flying into MCO and my BF will be at Port Canaveral on our resort check-in day. Since my flight gets in early, I could get the car, pick him up at PC and drive us to our WDW resort, instead of waiting for him to get to MCO from the Port (using the DCL transfer) and then taking the ME to our resort. We could also use the car to make a quick grocery stop (originally we were just going to take a cab and pick up stuff quickly at the nearby ABC/Publix), and then we'd return the car at the Disney Car Care Center the next day. I'm concerned that the DCCC only has Alamo and National; with Hotwire you don't know which company you're going to get. Has anyone Hotwired and gotten a different car rental company? Are there nearby rental agencies to return the car, other than Alamo/National? With Hotwire, are you able to return the car to a different location from the pick up spot? The regular rates through Alamo and National are way more than I would want to spend on a 1-day rental. I suppose I could always book the car through Hotwire and if there is no nearby company for the return, I can cut my losses for the $10 deal, but thought I would see if I can get some advice from people here. Any thoughts?

 

[Starshine]

With Hotwire, in order to drop off at a different location, you need to choose "One Way Rental" instead of "Round Trip" but you can't guarantee that you will return it at the Disney Car Care Center. The closest you can do is use Lake Buena Vista as the drop off, so it could be any of the locations in that area, and since you won't know what company it is until you buy there's no guarantee that they would have a shuttle service for you. I find that I can usually come very close to Hotwire's prices if I check carrentalsavers.com.

 

[Lynne G]

I got Hertz when I used Hotwire for Orlando. When I used it for LA, I got Alamo. I don't like that I have to lock in and pay the entire cost of the car. If it's a great price, I'd probably do it. For the last 2 years, I found both National and Alamo website's with codes, was cheaper than Hotwire, and I get credit on my free accounts with both of those companies, and didn't have to lock in a price or pay until returning the car. In fact, I rebooked more than a few times last year, to get the best rate.

Agree, you can't specify the care care center. With the car websites, or other car rental dealers, you can be more specific as to where you are picking up and dropping off.

Good luck with your choice. I hate the how much is the rental car. I will say, since last year, the rates I am getting this year are significantly higher than in the past.

 

[VS85]

Thanks! I would prefer to be safe so I know we can return the car to a company on the Disney property. I'll look around for good rates (thanks for the link Starshine!), and if it doesn't work out we'll just revert to our original plan of having him meet me at the airport to take ME to the resort and then getting a cab or uber to the ABC/Publix nearby for a quick stop.