[garada3]

Our family of five needs to get from MCO to the Poly. I had originally thought I wanted a rental car, you know the whole freedom to do our own thing, thing. I have found a $235 rate at Budget. On the other hand, The van will cost about $100.

I thought that a rental car would save time for us when we wanted to go to AK, MGM, TL, BB, BW and DD. Would it really? We would have to park with the masses and walk into each area. How long are the walks form parking areas to front gates?

Do the resort busses drop off passengers at front gates?

Are the rental car lots (for in airport agencies) within walking distance or do you have to do the shuttle thing no matter which agency you rent from?

Is it quicker getting out of MCO with a town car/van? Do they park near the baggage claim or are the vehicles also in outer lots?

Thanks!

[dab]

I personally like to have a car while I'm there even when we used the monorail for MK & Epcot. It is nice to have the option. The bus to Downtown Disney can take a while and I love to shop there! I think the rate you listed for the rental car is a bit high. You might consider researching some lower rates. Check out the links for rental car on mousesavers.com. I found a great rate using Mary Warning's suggestions. We rented from National and got a free Emerald Club membership using dicount codes. National and many others are just a short walk across the street from the airport terminal... on the property. Once we picked up our luggage at baggage claim we were out of the airport and on the road in under 20 min. We rented from Dollar another time and had to take a shuttle and then stood in line for over an hour! Great rate but big hassle. If you can get the free Emerald Club with National, it is a great hassle free way to go. We rented a full size in Jan for 5 days for under $100.

[iluvwdw]

I agree, I love the freedom of having a rental car. The busses can sometimes take so long! If you have a rental car, parking is free if you stay at the resorts. The rental terminals are located in MCO...most of them! They are actually downstairs from baggage claim. It is a whole floor of rental companies. Then you pick up your car across the street in the lot. I got a great deal for a mini-van for a week in August for $180!

[DisneyAnne]

I can't remember if it was on this board or an email group list I am on, but someone saved a ton by turning their car in at the resort rather than the resort. They then called for a towncar to get everyone to the airport and still saved about $80 or so...I think it may have been Hertz...let me see if I can find the details cause I think it was that email group.

[DisneyAnne]

If that van is really $100, I'd take it and run. We rented a van for a week through Alamo for their $199 deal.

Anyway, here is the posting from that email group:
I booked my car rental through National using the NHOL code, the Disney PRC and the entertainment coupon. For 8 days, it was $243 for a full sized car.

Recently I decided to see what the cost would be if I changed drop off locations. I dropped my reservation to $133 for 8 days by dropping my car off at the WDW car care center! We're taking Tiffany back for $50 and we're still saving $60!!

[dlashe4977]

I always rent, I like the flexibility and freedom of having a minivan.
Alamo is $189. per week.:D

[garada3]

If we rent a car do we pay at the toll plazas that are on my WDW map? Or do we show our room key or something? What about on our arrival to the resort, will we have to pay at the tolls that first trip through?

Its all in the details...
Thanks!

[alextina]

We always rent as well, I think it is much faster driving ourselves from our resort to the parks or when we are park hopping than having to wait for a bus.

All of the parks have trams from the parking lot to the main gate and they come one right after another so there is usually no waiting.

Most of the rental car angencies are located right at the airport so there is no shuttling back and forth to get your rental. When you return to the airport the rental car drop off is right there in the parking structure for dollar rentals anyway.

P.S. Here's a little tip it has worked for us for the last 3 years. We always rent from dollar. I always book a mid-sized car and every year when we check in to get our car they ask us if we would like to upgrade, we always decline and low and behold our car is never ready and they always claim that they do have a minivan ready at no extra charge if we wouldn't mind taking that. This happens every year!! Sounds like with your family of 5 you could probably use a minivan.;)

[dlashe4977]

Who cares abt a few dollars in tolls when you're spending $4000 on the whole trip.:D