Warning - Car Shortage!

[inkkognito]

Just picked up our car from Avis, and we had to wait half an hour! There was no one at the desk, but the wait came out in the garage. Normally they just upgrade you if they don't have something in your class, but they are apparently short on cars and we had to wait for a compact that had been brought in to be serviced and washed. This is the first time we've ever experienced anything like that, especially late at night. And the damage to the airport ceiling was unbelievable!
Barb

 

[ducklite]

Barb,

It's my understanding that the shortage is being caused by various factors, all related to Charley...

People brining in cars with no gas in the tank, and they can't send them back out that way.

People who's cars have been damaged, who are currently renting one.

People who rented a car to drive away from the area who haven't returned them.

On top of that, many are still without power or homes and not able to get to work, so staffing is still very low at the various services.

Anne

 

[inkkognito]

That's what we figured because this was a very non-typical experience. I called the Circle K where we usually buy gas on Boggy Creek the day before we left, and they had literally just gotten their power on an hour earlier. They had no water, so they certainly won't be open this weekend. I think we will have to be gouged by the stations over near Hertz. We'll be coming out to Orlando for the next couple weekends, so I'm figuring we might be in for a wait each time (we have Avis next time, too, and then Budget).
Barb

 

[lsyorke]

We're just back from WDW and on arriving on 8/15 the line for Dollar was 2 hours long at the airport!! Even with that they weren't guaranteeing that you would get a car. Thrifty had no power and they were running all those customers through the Dollar desk. Fastlane was not available. We ended up taking a cab and got a car through National at the Swan the next day!!Paid a bit more(no internet to do a code), but it was well worth the price with no line or aggravation!From what we were told by National alot of people just drive the cars home, since they couldn't get flights out , so there is a car shortage.

 

[magsmom]

Anne,
LOVE YOUR HOME! Have been watching for many months. I am jealous, is it available for rental?

 

[PlutoPony]

Availability may vary by rental company right now....we flew in the 15th also and had NO wait at Hertz - and they seemed to have plenty of cars. Same thing when we returned it today - lot was pretty full of cars. The Hertz people said they had minimal car damage, so maybe their off-site location helped them? Saw very minimal damage at their site when we arrived, although stoplights weren't working in that area (they are now) and the motel just down from them (Crowne Royal??) lost some parts of the outside facade and most of the glass ceiling in the atrium looked to be broken (that's wasn't fixed as of today)..... BTW, the HESS stations at WDW were very busy everytime we drove past them this past week. Don't know what their normal business is like, but wonder if people that couldn't get gas elsewhere were coming over. Smart move if that's the case....

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by magsmom
Anne,
LOVE YOUR HOME! Have been watching for many months. I am jealous, is it available for rental?

Thanks! No, sorry, we won't be renting it.

Anne

 

[DVC-Don]

Our neighbors flew down (We were already there) on Wed 8/18 and had a full sized reserved with Budget. They got in about 6 PM or so, but Budget had no cars - any size. Damaged cars, not returned cars was the reasons. They called Thrifty and they had a mid size and they caught the Thrifty shuttle.

 

[inkkognito]

Hmmmm.....I wonder what they would do with Priceline, since it is a pre-paid booking rather than a reservation. We are returning to Orlando this weekend, and it's Avis again.
Barb

 

[seashoreCM]

Just after the 9/11/01 incident, some rental companies at Orlando Airport allowed customers with cars to drive home with no drop charges or surcharges.

Nowadays, some companies refigure your entire rental at a higher rate if you don[t return the car on time.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

If your Priceline or Hotwire reservation is dishonored, I expect you can get your money back. Taking money and not giving anything in return is fraud, and then the rule of 60 days from billing or 100 miles from home would not apply when it comes to disputing the matter with your credit card company.

 

[inkkognito]

Thankfully the situation was greatly improved last weekend. The Avis counter person told us that cars are slowly but surely being brought back in. This time around, we didn't have to wait for one at all. Next weekend is Budget so hopefully they're in good shape too.
Barb