We are going to WDW in a few weeks with my parents. Our flight arrives at about 2:40 pm. We are all scheduled to use ME to go to Pop Century. I was wondering if you rent a car at the airport after your arrival, leave and then come back a few hours later can you still use the ME to get to your resort? Or do you have to use the ME as soon as your flight gets in? I was wondering because my dad's sister lives between Orlando and Tampa and is very sick in an extended care nursing home. He would like to see her and I am thinking that if this is an option he should try to visit her while we are there.
Yes, as other have noted in this thread, you can do that. Most arriving passengers want to be on DME to their resorts as quickly as possible, but some hang around the airport to eat, shop, or wait for friends on on later flights. DME does not schedule you for a specific inbound motorcoach departure. You could arrive at MCO in the morning and not take DME to your resort until the evening is that's your preference.
However, as others have also noted, you may find it more convenient NOT to use DME after your car rental.
I would look into a one-way car rental, picking up at MCO and returning on or near WDW property.
You DON'T have to limit yourself to National and
Alamo. I like using National, but there are other good options that are just as convenient (and might cost less depending on what rates you qualify for).
See the thread "Car rental locations for WDW..." at
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2927109
I would recommend that you rent at MCO, check in at Pop Century, continue to your dad's sister, spend time with her, and return the car at one of the many places on or near WDW property that will shuttle you back to Pop Century. Just be aware that non-airport car rental locations tend to have limited hours. For example, the National and Alamo counter at the WDW Dolphin closes at 4:00 p.m. You can return after hours, but than the issue becomes how to get back to Pop Century. The easy answer is to wait until the next day to return the car. (Rental car rates are based on 24-gour days, not on calendar days.)
Under the circumstances, I would forget about DME on arrival and only use it on your check-out day to return to MCO.
(Another option is to take DME to Pop Century on your arrival day, and then rent and return at the same WDW-area location. Chances are, however, that this will take far more time. The differences in taxes and fees between the airport and WDW-area locations is not significant for a one-day rental.)
