[iluvwdw]

I just have to tell you guys to STAY AWAY from renting from Alamo at MCO, unless you join QUICK SILVER before hand! Alamo has the longest lines out of any other rental counter...BAR NONE!! L&M had the least wait, and I heard they are really good. Even someone who works at the airport says that L&M is a great company, they just don;t advertise much. But that Alamo line is a KILLER and I felt bad walking right to the front of the line, giving my credit card and going to pick out my own car...in 5 minutes! It was GREAT!!!!!!:D

[garada3]

We are renting with Alamo and I have quicksilver.

Other people have reported having to go to another building, over where you pick up the cars, to checkin for Quicksilver. Which line did you use - other building or main terminal? How did you know to go to the front of the line - was there a sign telling Quicksilver members where to check-in?

This part of the journey has me worried!

Thanks!

[graybill]

I am a little nervous about the Alamo situation as well. I joined Quicksilver in hopes of cutting down the wait time since we will have my 3 grandchildren, 2, 3 and 4, for their first trip.
I have reserved a mini van with 3 car seats, so I won't be able to just go out and pick a car. Hopefully it will be ready and waiting for us.

graybill

[iluvwdw]

You guys have ABSOLUTELY nothing to worry about if you joined Quick Silver. When you go into the rental area, you will see a HUGE line for Alamo...this is NOT where you will have to wait. Instead, you walk across the street to where the cars are located. That's the place you usually have to go AFTER you stand in the regular line, to pick up your keys. Well, you walk DIRECTLY to that building, give your confirmation number, credit card you signed on with, your drivers license (I think...:whistle: ) and that's it. They pull up your contract, they ask you to sign a piece of paper for the Quick Silver file, they hand you a set of keys and tell you to choose any car in a specific row. And the car seats are ALL located directly in front of this building. Believe me, you will NOT be disappointed. You will save about an hour of your time!!! The line in the terminal was THAT LONG!!! :dazed

[graybill]

Thanks Kim!

I feel much better about the setup now. I have used Alamo before and know where to go in the other building to pick up the car.
I am trying to do everything I can to make this trip go as smoothly as possible for my daughters and my grandchildren.

graybill

[ArielBelle]

We rented from Dollar and my husband said the line was about an hour wait. We applied for a Fastlane Card (which is like QuickSilver) and what a relief! I got the luggage and my DH went for the van. He said the line was HUGE, but he was the only person in the FastLane line. Got his car in seconds. He brought the confirmation slip, his drivers license and proof of auto insurance. it was great!

Here's a tip...the van he chose had two car seats built in the bench seat in the middle. It was a 2003 model. You can save $$$ by not rented the seats and getting a newer van. Of course, that make be a risk, if the van you get doesn't have them. Maybe there is a way around it. Check the van first and then rent the seats????

[garada3]

Originally posted by graybill
I have used Alamo before and know where to go in the other building to pick up the car.

This other building across the street, where you actually get the car, is it an Alamo only building or will there be signs directing me to the right place?

I also want to have this part go smoothly and start the vacation off right!

Thanks!

[graybill]

I believe the building is for the cars from all the on site rental companies. Definately not just Alamo.

It was about a year ago that we used Alamo, but I remember just being told to go right across the street from the main rental desk to the entrance to the building and up to the second floor. At that point, it was well marked and we went right to the small desk without a problem.

I'm sure that someone with a better memory can give you more specific directions.

graybill

[iluvwdw]

Originally posted by graybill
I believe the building is for the cars from all the on site rental companies. Definately not just Alamo.

It was about a year ago that we used Alamo, but I remember just being told to go right across the street from the main rental desk to the entrance to the building and up to the second floor. At that point, it was well marked and we went right to the small desk without a problem.

I'm sure that someone with a better memory can give you more specific directions.

graybill

Everything is VERY clearly marked. You will not miss it. The Alamo area is the same as National...they now work together (you even return both companies cars at the same exact location). When you walk out of the rental area to go across the street to get your car, there are signs that mark exactly where you have to go.

And ArielBelle, that is great about the built in car seats! But for my 22 month old, I wouldn't feel safe without a regular car seat. Maybe when he is older and all he needs is a booster, this would be just fine. And I hate spending the extra money on renting a car seat...I think it is such a waste! I bring my car seat along...we have this GREAT Eddie Bauer car seat travel bag we got at Babies R Us and it is just wonderful. I highly recommend it to anyone!

[iluvwdw]

Oh, and if I am not mistaken, it is now on the first floor! (I don't remember walking up any stairs or taking an elevator, but I could be wrong!?!?!? :dazed )

[disneymom]

Wow, thanks for the heads up. We are renting from Dollar on our next trip and I just joined FastLane. Thanks!:) :) :) :) :) :)

[cindy1970]

I would recommend L & M because the rates are good and they are usually not that busy. This year I booked Avis for 112.00 per week which is usually about what I have been getting lately.

[iluvwdw]

Originally posted by cindy1970
I would recommend L & M because the rates are good and they are usually not that busy. This year I booked Avis for 112.00 per week which is usually about what I have been getting lately.

Cindy, you are definitely right about them not being busy! While there were about 100 people waiting on line for Alamo, there was NO ONE at the L&M counter! I have to admit, that I never considered using them because I never heard of them and I didn't know they were right at the airport! If you ever do a search for rental cars with Orbitz, L&M always comes up as the most affordable! Oh, and the guy who helped us with the luggage at the airport at the Alamo counter told us we are better off going with L&M next time...he said they are a really great company, no one ever has problems and they are not busy! PLUS I have heard nothing but great things about them here on DC. I would have used them if I didn't get such an amazing deal with Alamo...$179 for a minivan for the week! :dazed

[MouseGoddess]

I only used Alamo once, and they had lost our reservation when we got there and had to re-do everything, then when we turned the car in, the counter guy was SO rude! I swore never to go there again, and I haven't! Free would be the only price they could give me to get me in there!

[dlashe4977]

Sorry to hear abt all your bad experiences with Alamo. I've rented from Alamo abt 10 times in the past 15 years and NEVER had a problem.

Two yrs ago I strayed and went to Dollar and I'll NEVER use Dollar again. I waited for 2 hrs at the dollar office for a vehicle.

With Alamo now with a site at the Orlando airport, I expect my experience to be even better. It does help if you have a Quicksilver membership! :D :D