What would you do? I need a car rental strategy!

[MARY-IN-OH]

OK - it starts out easy enough - -

Use DME from MCO to WDW (12/10)
Use online grocery service

Then, 2nd week, (this is where it gets a little tricky for me!)

We'll need car rental for a couple days of to & from for US/IOA - not sure where we are staying yet, maybe pop.

Then we'll also need the rental to visit family in Ft Myers for a few days. And...not sure if we'll fly home to Cleveland (12/24) outta Ft Myers or Orlando (flight cost will determine that!)

Sooooo... The question is - do I rent a car from say, Dolphin while at WDW and turn it in at airport in Ft Myers? Or, if I need to drive back to Orlando for a better flight - should I turn in Dolphin ? Or, MCO?? Help!

Or - maybe I should go with an easy plan - and not worry about saving some $$ and rent a car from arrival to departure and turn in at the airport(s) even though I really only need it for week #2 ?

thanks everyone!
mary

 

[karrit2000]

The rates tend to fluctuate especially for renting a car on property. You can rent on property from either the Car Care Center or The Dolphin for Alamo &/or National. There is a complimentary shuttle for the Car Care Center but you have to get yourself to the Dolphin. If you are leaving from Orlando I would just return the car to the airport. They don't charge you more as long as you reserve it that way. You would have to check about Ft. Myers but usually in Florida they don't charge extra for picking up at one place & returning to another. Alamo also offers weekend deals so if you catch one of those you can get a good rate for a 3 day rental. You can go to their website & play around with dates & locations to get a better idea of what works out the best. If you rent at the airport there are more taxes but sometimes they have a better weekly deal that could offset the cost of renting on property.

 

[Disneyjosh229]

If it were me, I would pick up a car from the CCC (either Alamo or National), drive it for the week to Universal and Ft Myers and return it in either Orlando or Ft Myers. Both airports are simple as far as rental car access, so i would go with whatever is cheper...

 

[MARY-IN-OH]

Thanks - In looking around on the boards, looks like CCC can cost (way) more to rent at then MCO? Does anyone know if that is the case? (am trying to learn the discount code game!)

And - wow! A shuttle, huh? what are the details of how the shuttle service works for CCC? That sounds great!

mary

 

[ncbyrne]

We rented from CCC and returned to MCO last November. I got a good rate using the AMEX code. I could have gotten a better rate at MCO, but then I would have had the car longer - hence more $ anyway.
The shuttle to the CCC is free. Just ask at the front desk of your resort and they will make the arrangements for you. It's best to ask the day before you need it. They'll pick you up right at your hotel and drop you off at the CCC.

 

[karrit2000]

Go through the rental process to get to the total including the taxes & then see what the difference is. Also once you have booked keep checking. I have cancelled many reservations because I got a better rate. Try whatever codes you can find. If you have an AP there is a code for that. If you have a BJ's membership they have a code.
The weekend rentals can be a good deal at times if you are flexible on the days you want the car. I think they just require you have the car over saturday night so you could get the car on thursday-sunday, friday-monday, saturday-tuesday. It's usually about $75 + taxes. Also verify the hours of operation for CCC & the desk at the Dolphin. I did a saturday-tuesday for the Dolphin & returned the car to MCO I scheduled my pickup for noon on saturday knowing I needed to be at MCO by noon tuesday. The 3 days is 3 consecutive 24 hour periods so you need to keep in mind what time you need to return the car by when choosing your pick up day & time.

 

[MARY-IN-OH]

Thank you! I know my family thinks I am planning nuts, but I think they will be amazed how smooth everything will be - and even I am surprised how much money can be saved on a disney vacation, sure learned a lot for this trip, thanks to all of you!!
- mary

 

[Lewisc]

Either wait until you have your airline reservations or price and possibly reserve different scenarios.

You'll normally get a better rate with a weekly rate so renting 4 or 5 days probably won't save you any money. I'd probably return it at the airport.

 

[lmhoffman]

I did something similar in November, although just for one day: picked up the car at the Dolphin (Alamo) and returned it in Ft. Myers. It really didn't cost any more than renting and returning locally. Also, it's often cheaper to rent off-property than it is at the airport, because you avoid the pesky airport concession fee (or whatever it's called).