Which to choose? Budget or National?

[Toadi]

Going to the World, Dec 6-13. Have a luxury car reserved at Budget for $346 & a Premium at National for $275. We've used National many times, but never Budget. Any opinions or insight on which will be easier for pickup and dropoff? thanks!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Toadi
Going to the World, Dec 6-13. Have a luxury car reserved at Budget for $346 & a Premium at National for $275. We've used National many times, but never Budget. Any opinions or insight on which will be easier for pickup and dropoff? thanks!

It is almost 6 of one half a dozen of another. The only differnce is with Budget you don't get to pick out your car.

 

[n2mm]

I've never used Budget, so can't comment, but have used National and Dollar. I have used National for my last 6 trips and have always had excellent service with them. Like Gail said, with National you do get to choose your car (not Dollar either), so we take a while trying different ones on before we select.

 

[Alex and Megans Dad]

I just booked a premium car with budget for $189 for the week before tax, 240 or so after. I got the code off of www.mousesavers.com

Hope this helps

 

[mcnuss]

For that kind of price difference, go with National. It's just a rental car after all, you're only driving it for a week! Save your money.

All things being equal, though, I like Budget. IMHO, the cars are nicer.

At MCO, all but Hertz, I think, is in the parking garage, so there is no obvious advantage of location. I stopped using Hertz there bc I got tired of the bus ride and having to schlep over there. It's too bad bc for my work, I use them all the time and usually get upgraded, but it's not really worth it.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

We always use National. Can't beat the convenience of on-site and Emarald Aisle.

 

[ncbyrne]

I thought that booking only Intermediate size cars allowed you the priviledge of picking your own car from the Emerald Aisle. Hmmm, was I misinformed?

 

[CarolA]

Actually at all LARGE Natinal locations you pick your car from the aisle you reserve. So if you reserve a mini van you will pick out your mini van from the mini van aisle. EA allows you to pick from whatever they put on the EA aisle which can include full sizes etc....

 

[NancyIL]

I like National because I can pick-up at the airport and drop-off at the Dolphin.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by ncbyrne
I thought that booking only Intermediate size cars allowed you the priviledge of picking your own car from the Emerald Aisle. Hmmm, was I misinformed?

Not really misinformed, it is confusing.

Perhaps between Carol's answer and this information, it will help with the confusion.

Emerald Club members now have two options when reserving a car: Emerald Aisle Service and Emerald Reserve Service.

With Emerald Aisle Service, you reserve an Intermediate (similar to midsize) car and when you arrive, you go straight out and choose any available car from the "Emerald Aisle." All of the Emerald Aisle cars will be at least Intermediate size -- you may also find full size and specialty cars, which you can take at no extra charge. The Emerald Aisle option is only available to Emerald Club members who reserve an Intermediate car.
Emerald Reserve Service works a little like Emerald Aisle, except that you can choose any car type when reserving, and you get the exact car type you reserved. For instance, if you reserve a minivan, you just go straight out to the minivan aisle and choose the minivan you want.
Emerald Aisle/Emerald Reserve service is available at all of the major airports serving Walt Disney World and Disneyland, except Long Beach.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I really like the Aisle whenever I travel. We just had to go to Vegas, had an intermediate booked on the Aisle, from real late on Thurs to about noon on Sun for $42, total, incl taxes. Long story short, no intermediates, no full size, they did not want to give me a Park Avenue and they had a lot of Grand Caravans, so got one of those for $42 for 3 days. The high point of my Vegas trip, well next to leaving for home, LOL.