What have you seen on the EA? (running thread)

[BCVNovember]

There will be 5 of us arriving at MCO on 11/15 at 3pm in the afternoon. I will be bringing 2 booster seats and a car seat for my 3 daughters. I joined the Emerald Club yesterday (thanks to Mousesavers.com). I really like the idea of just strolling out to the lot and picking a vehicle.

I tried out a reservation for an SUV on nationalcar.com yesterday and it said EA wasn't available, but Emerald Reserve was. Am I understanding correctly that if I go with Emerald Reserve, they guarantee me an SUV? With the 3 girls, my dad, our luggage and a single and double stroller we really need the SUV and/or minivan. I'm probably going with the SUV as it's lot less $$ than the minivan.

I assumed since it said Emerald Reserve only for SUVs, that they weren't available in EA, but it seems otherwise from the notes I've read on this thread.

Please educate me!

 

[DebbieB]

Anything other than intermediate is now Emerald Reserve. You can only reserve Emerald Aisle with an intermediate. With Emerald Reserve, you are guaranteed the size you reserve. With Emerald Aisle, you are guaranteed an intermediate but there maybe others available. Emerald Reserve works just like Emerald Aisle, you just go to whatever size row you reserved, you don't have to go to the counter.

 

[BCVNovember]

I have reserved a standard-size SUV for November. What SUV's are available right now? PT Cruisers are not classified as SUV's are they?

 

[mkymouse4ever]

PT cruiser's are not in the SUV family. I believe national's SUV's are usually blazers etc...

MKY

 

[CRCrazy]

I picked up a generic Mitsubishi Galant off the Aisle on 6/25 at noon - A terminal side. The aisle was well stocked with lots of intermediate sized cars - but only 1 mini SUV - a Geo Tracker that had been through the mill. I was really hoping to luck out with one of those PT Cruisers - but the Galant was nice, clean, and plenty roomy! It was freshly washed and smelled clean inside and out!

When I returned on July 2nd (around 4:45 pm), there were fewer cars on the aisle, but they did have a few of the mini SUV's. Still no PT's. Also had a few Buick Regals on the return - I always thought they were a full size?

Gotta love EA - I was picking out my car and on the road in less than five minutes! No lines, and the price was right - gotta love the old DC discount and coupon. I'll miss that next year!

 

[BCVNovember]

mkymouse4ever - Thanks for the info re the PT Cruiser. The Cruiser is too small for us and I wanted to make sure I wouldn't walk out to the SUV row and find it full of those.

Now, one more question re EA/ER. When you have your family with you, do they all have to troop out with you to the garage to get the car? Would it be possible for me to have my family wait inside while I get the car and then I could load them up from the terminal, or is that impractical? I will have my dad and my 3 daughters with me (7, 5 and 2) and it would be easier for me if they waited inside.

Thanks!

 

[ncligs]

We arrived Monday July 7th, no PT Cruisers were available on EA/ER. Ther were a lot of Grand Ams,Camry's, and Gallants. We took the only Grand prix we seen.

We were also off the plane(carrry on only) and on 528 east to Vero Beach, with in 10 minutes after landing.You can't beat National"s Emarald Aisle!! That is the only car rental I will use at Orlando.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by BCVNovember
mkymouse4ever - Thanks for the info re the PT Cruiser. The Cruiser is too small for us and I wanted to make sure I wouldn't walk out to the SUV row and find it full of those.

Now, one more question re EA/ER. When you have your family with you, do they all have to troop out with you to the garage to get the car? Would it be possible for me to have my family wait inside while I get the car and then I could load them up from the terminal, or is that impractical? I will have my dad and my 3 daughters with me (7, 5 and 2) and it would be easier for me if they waited inside.

Thanks!

The family can wait for you and you can pick up the car, assuming it is reserved in your name. You will have to pick them up at the arriving flights area which is up one level from the garage. Should be easy to do, there are signs everywhere.

 

[linny172]

Yeah!!!!!I finally got a PT Cruiser. Arrived about 1:00 Sunday July 6th the EA was full of intermediates, I did see a few intrepids, but than I saw it, a PT sitting there just waiting for me, so I jumped in and didn't even continue looking, it seemed to be new as it only had 987 miles on it, and was a lot of fun to drive, this is the third time I have gotten a almost brand new car, in Feb I had a new Monte Carlo with only 400 miles on it and last Oct. I had a camry that only had 7 miles on it the one guy said it had just came off the truck, I am going back in oct, hoping for another PT or something else fun to drive.
Linda

 

[~Sparkly~Zoe]

I hope that in dec I have a lot to choose from!

 

[AvonWuzzer]

Just looking for some current info on what people have seen on EA. I will be picking up a car on Saturday July 26 around 11 am. My wife insisted on separate flights so I will be arriving about 1 1/2 hours before her. I definately have a little bit of time to wait or check both A & B sides for something interesting. It will just be the two of us this time so I don't have to worry about car seats, but I will be loaded down with luggage so I probably won't be able to run for it if the last convertible or a PT Cruiser shows up.

Are both A & B locations about the same size? Any reason to try one over the other first?

Anyway if you do see a convertible on EA and you hear squeeking luggage wheels and a guy breathing heavy gaining on you... I recommend getting out of the way and taking the nearest Malibu.

 

[pbhunt]

Separate flights???????

 

[Robinette]

Originally posted by AvonWuzzer
It will just be the two of us this time so I don't have to worry about car seats,

Maybe because the kids are staying home, Mom feels safer if her & Dad aren't on the same plane, incase something happens. Am I right or way off?

 

[AvonWuzzer]

I know, I asked if we should take separate rental cars and seperate WDW buses. Any monorail crashes I need to worry about?

We are leaving our DD(5) and DS (4) at Grandma's and we will have 5 glorious days at BWV so I am not about to raise a fuss. Besides it it the first time we have gone away for more than 1 night since my daughter was born.

Anyway...about the EA.

 

[pbhunt]

Sorry, that makes sense, I guess. I couldn't imagine not being on the same plane with DH. Since you have time then you could lug the luggage to both the A & B Emerald Aisles, if there is nothing you like on the first one. There were no convertibles last time we were there, but we did get a Mitsubishi intrepid, which was rather sporty

 

[lawgs]

avon....

we usually find that Terminal B seems to have "more" cars to choose from.....even if you fly into Terminal A you can get a car on B side and return it to A side on the way back...

 

[Chuck-PA]

We arrived on Sat July 5th at 2:00 pm

In EA, there were about 25 cars available
Mostly Galants, Camrys and one Outlander and one Rav 4 (which we took).

did not see any pt cruisers or convertibles that weekend (holiday)

 

[DVC Daisy]

lawgs,

Interesting observation. I have often wondered if the "other" terminal has better cars

Anyway, if I were in say, Terminal A and was not impressed with the selection, how would I get to (walk to) Terminal B? Or vise versa? Is it a short walk back through the airport?

(I am directinally challenged BTW)

Thanks so much!

 

[DebbieB]

If you want to go from A to B (or vice versa) you would have to go up to level 3, which is the check-in and transit level and walk across to the other side. If you have alot of luggage, I would leave it with one person and have the other person walk over.

 

[lawgs]

DVC Daisy

as debbie mentions you have a lil hike to make.....it helps if you are travelling in a group .....you can leave them waiting in one of the waiting areas near the rental counters until you check out the "offerings"