Money-saving car rental tip

[tjkraz]

I picked this up when listening to an episode of the WDW Today podcast, and thought I would share it.

Those of you who fly into MCO yet still wish to rent a car may be able to save a little money by adding DME to the mix. According to Len Testa from the Unofficial Guide, renting a car from MCO results in 10-15% in taxes and tarrifs being added to your bill. However, if you rent a car off of airport property, those taxes are substantially lower.

Alamo and National have rental desks at the WDW Car Care Center and at the Dolphin Resort. I've been told that you can even arrange to be picked-up at your resort and taken to the Car Care Center at no charge.

As I understand it, Len recommended using DME to get to your resort and then secure your car from either of these two WDW rental locations. The base rental rates should be the same, but your final cost will be less due to the lower taxes and fees of an off-airport rental.

My personal variation on this is to just rent a car for a day or two of your trip unless you really need it for the duration. If you can consolidate your off-site running (grocery store, outlets, Universal, etc.) into just a day or two of your trip, it can save a lot of money compared to securing the vehicle for your entire stay.

[RweTHEREyet]

Tim, go to this thread and start reading at post no. 12.

http://www.mouseowners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1630&page=2

I was just coming to post what I heard Len say, myself, and yes, if I could save the extra charges, then I might consider doing that.

We always like having the car at our disposal, so I am not sure that the enticement of of $20.00 or so would do it for me. It just seems like too much time is wasted. If the $20.00 or so was a make it or break it difference, then maybe.

I am still on the fence about this.

[Stimpy]

Tim, go to this thread and start reading at post no. 12.

http://www.mouseowners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1630&page=2

I was just coming to post what I heard Len say, myself, and yes, if I could save the extra charges, then I might consider doing that.

We always like having the car at our disposal, so I am not sure that the enticement of of $20.00 or so would do it for me. It just seems like too much time is wasted. If the $20.00 or so was a make it or break it difference, then maybe.

I am still on the fence about this.

At this point in our lives, I tend to agree. Since we have the 2 young kids, all the luggage, strollers, car seat etc. it's much easier for us to just pay the extra $20 for the convenience of grabbing the car at the airport and going. The idea of waiting for DME, waiting for our luggage to show up, taking the time to go to another resort to get the car and then doing the whole thing in reverse at the end of our trip seems way too time consuming to save a few dollars. The darn car seat itself takes us 15 minutes to install LOL I consider the extra $20 or so a "convenience charge" :)

But I do also agree that this is a great option for an adult only trip and families with older children. And I personally don't rule it out in our own future plans. :)

[Colorado Belle]

I can certainly see your points re convenience.
I'd just like to add that you can drop off the car back at MCO, even if you pick it up at the World....I do it all the time and there isn't a drop charge. So it is only 'coming in' inconvenience.

But the savings for me re the taxes, were not as much as I expected becasue there is now a 'hotel concession' fee (charged for both the Dolphin and the Car Care Center) that isn't quite as high as the airporrt concession fee...but close.

[Pumpkinboy]

I think using DME and then picking up the car at the Dolphin is an Enormous convenience, so I am in Tim's camp on this one. I can definately do without schlepping all the luggage myself; I'd much rather simply have it delivered to the room and not have to bother with it at the airport. I see the convenience of picking up at the Dolphin (or Car Care Centre) as a way to get a car for just the time we are going to need it, and saving the cost of the other days. Of course, I can completely live without a car on most of our WDW trips, as it doesn't really save us any time (except for grocery shopping); the whole wheelchair thing with DS means that there is way too much loading and unloading when we use a car. Plus we always have to get a minivan or bigger, which gets pricy. Much better for us simply to use Disney transportation. But since we are apparently going to be heading to Vero after WDW on future visits (the longer ones at least), it looks like we'll be getting a car for at least part of the trip.

[DisFlan]

My problem with DME is that "3 hours before flight departure" part when you leave.

We've picked up a car on-site at the Car Care Center, and we honestly didn't think it was less of a hassle than getting one at the airport. For us, the lost "fun time" involved isn't worth the small savings. But it might work for other folks.


DisFlan

[ghost1000]

Another tip is don't just rent a car and leave it at that. Keep checking back to see if rates go down. I have a car rented for October, and when I checked yesterday it was $10 less for the week (using the same coupon and rate codes). I'm guessing it will continue to go down as October gets closer.

Unless you pre-pay, it doesn't hurt to keep checking back. By doing this, I actually got a small SUV through Alamo for a week in May, and my total charge is just under $100.

Keep checking back, book when you see a lower rate, and cancel the reservation(s) you won't be using.

[CRSNDSNY]

At this point in our lives, I tend to agree. Since we have the 2 young kids, all the luggage, strollers, car seat etc. it's much easier for us to just pay the extra $20 for the convenience of grabbing the car at the airport and going. The idea of waiting for DME, waiting for our luggage to show up, taking the time to go to another resort to get the car and then doing the whole thing in reverse at the end of our trip seems way too time consuming to save a few dollars. The darn car seat itself takes us 15 minutes to install LOL I consider the extra $20 or so a "convenience charge" :)

But I do also agree that this is a great option for an adult only trip and families with older children. And I personally don't rule it out in our own future plans. :)
I totally agree with you.
Our flight gets in around 7pm and I really just want to get out of the airport and back to our resort. I do not want to wait around for DME and then wait around again that late at night for our luggage to arrive.

I can really see, though, how you can save money by combining the rental and DME. If it were just me and hubby, this is probably something I'd consider.

[Colorado Belle]

Hey ghost...can you tell me how I can get my car IN MAY from Alamo for under a 100 bucks? I have one for 150 and one for just a day for 35....but I'd be happy to keep it for a week for 100!!!

Do PM me please!

[magicalmcwho]

Hi to all,

Just wanted to post I got the following rates with Alamo for 8 days in May with pickup at MCO.

Midsize SUV = 124.56 total

Standard SUV = 142.81 total

Contract ID = 430710
Rate/Product Code = BYW3
Coupon Code = D24C (printable coupon link below)

http://www.alamo.com/index.do?source=generic&action=hotDealsTemplate.do&msg=entertainment_com_25off_coupon


Jim.

[tjkraz]

Thanks for the codes! Just saved me another $10 re-booking my 4-day rental. :)

[RweTHEREyet]

Tim, go to this thread and start reading at post no. 12.

http://www.mouseowners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1630&page=2

I was just coming to post what I heard Len say, myself, and yes, if I could save the extra charges, then I might consider doing that.

We always like having the car at our disposal, so I am not sure that the enticement of of $20.00 or so would do it for me. It just seems like too much time is wasted. If the $20.00 or so was a make it or break it difference, then maybe.

I am still on the fence about this.

I got off the fence. I know I can use a smartcarte. I know that my luggage has been claimed and is with me and will be at the Resort at the same time I am. I know I don't have to take time out of another day to go get the rental.

I am glad that there are options for those that find it works for them the other way, but I think I am going to stick with the tried and true that works for me.

[magicalmcwho]

Hi tjkraz,


Your welcome, glad I could help. I have been checking off and on since Jan for our May trip.

Jim.

[bavaria]

Wow, thanks Jim! I was able to get a standard SUV for $118 for 7 days using your codes/coupons. Now I hope that the trip pans out!

But hopefully someone else can get the same great rate too

[Colorado Belle]

I am bummed!
I can't get the rate without picking the car up from MCO and I am flying into Tampa and driving over with friends (and the Tampa rate isn't as good).
I was hoping that they would let me pick up at the car care center or Dolphin (alamo or national) or in Kiss-a-me or Lake Buena Vista for dollar or budget...

BUT....dang it all. It is just me so I don't need an SUV, but it's silly to pay more for an economy car. ARRGGGGGG.

[magicalmcwho]

Hi bavaria,

Glad you were able to get a good deal on the SUV. Hope your trip pans out.

Jim.

[Colorado Belle]

Just noticed this when I went to cancel my Alamo
ressie (p/u at Dolphin)

They had added nearly $20 for "HOTEL CONCESSION"
When I modified to car care center, the add-on was changed to "LANDLORD CONCESSION"

bringing my already too costly $150 to $170 for 6 days.

I finally got a compact from national, pick up at Dolphin and drop at Tampa
for $128 with a $10 Hotel fee but I had to keep it a Saturday night and I'll have to have a friend drop it off after I fly home. Jeez Louise

Anyway...re Lou Mongella's advice: I think the airport concession is slightly higher, but now that they are charging a concession fee for the Dolphin and car care center, it hardly makes it worth it to use ME instead of the airport p/u

[carolina_yankee]

That's definitely what I found out. I've tried every which way imaginable to get a decent rate on a car for a couple of days from Ft. Myers after visiting family to WDW. The easiest for me would be to pick up at Ft. Myers and return 2-3 days later at WDW. I couldn't do that for less than $200. Even a same day rental, Ft. Myers airport to WDW is over $100; and airfare is $39 per person. I'll be flying and taking Magical Express!

[Stimpy]

Just noticed this when I went to cancel my Alamo
ressie (p/u at Dolphin)

They had added nearly $20 for "HOTEL CONCESSION"
When I modified to car care center, the add-on was changed to "LANDLORD CONCESSION"

bringing my already too costly $150 to $170 for 6 days.

I finally got a compact from national, pick up at Dolphin and drop at Tampa
for $128 with a $10 Hotel fee but I had to keep it a Saturday night and I'll have to have a friend drop it off after I fly home. Jeez Louise

Anyway...re Lou Mongella's advice: I think the airport concession is slightly higher, but now that they are charging a concession fee for the Dolphin and car care center, it hardly makes it worth it to use ME instead of the airport p/u

Ouch! I envision alot of angry people at the counter who didn't notice that on their ressies! Hope everything works out for you!

[magicalmcwho]

Hi to all,

Update: following rates with Alamo for 8 days in May with pickup at MCO.

Midsize SUV = 114.74 total

Standard SUV = 155.40 total

Contract ID = 430710
Rate/Product Code = BYW3
Coupon Code = D24C (printable coupon link below)

http://www.alamo.com/index.do?source=generic&action=hotDealsTemplate.do&msg=entertainment_com_25off_coupon


Jim.

[ghost1000]

I dropped another $2 off my mid-size SUV rental for May using the codes from Costco (click on travel, then rental cars on the Costco website). so I'm now down to $94.56 for a week's rental.