HI everyone, I have a couple questions about rental cars. I know I have seen it talked about here before but don't remember what I had previously read. We will be at WDW from June 8th-20th, staying at POR. We plan on using ME to get from MCO to POR and the buses/boats for all transportation within the world, but are looking to get a rental car for one day (Saturday, June 14th). On that day, we have scheduled a day off from the parks, lounge around the resort in the day, go to church in Orlando, followed by dinner at the Polynesian. We are not set on which park we will be going to first thing the next morning. SO my question comes into where will be the most convienent location to get a rental car and which company(companies) service this location. I'm the type that likes to have things booked in advance to make sure everything is set. We really don't need the car that long (for sure by 4:00 pm on the 14th, until after dinner-it's an 8:00 ADR) but think we'd probably pay for one full day anyway. IS it better to try to return it that night, or in the morning before we hit a park? Any and all suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!

There is a rental location at the car care center (by the TTC) and at the Swan/Dolphin. There are also some at some of hte Downtown Disney hotels.

I can never remember the info, so I just look at www.Mousesavers.com, since Mary lists them - as well as discount codes.

I believe you can get transportation to/from the Car Care Center - but it would probably be easier to deal with the Swan/Dolphin... Pick it up on Sat afternoon after spending time in Epcot or the Studios, do your stuff, then drop it off either after dinner or the next morning. They probably have the option for dropping off when they're closed, but I would only do that if Epcot or the Studios were still open (it would probably have to be EMHs), so you can easily 'get home'. You'd need park admission to walk through Epcot, but you wouldn't to take the boat to the Studios and catch the POR bus outside.

Avis is at the Hilton at Downtown Disney. :)

The car care center is for Alamo and National. If you rent from them and have a reservation they will pick you up at your resort, and when you return the car they will return you to the Resort or Park of your choice.

I am also interested in this(and also staying at POR:D). What would be the best way to get from POR to the Hilton in Downtown Disney on a Thursday morning and about how long would it take? I am a WDW newbie:geek:. Thanks!

Thanks to you all for the info - looking into our plans further I realized we will be ending Friday night at the MK with the EMH and since they have them again on Sunday night I probably don't want to start Sunday morning back there again, but knowing they will drop us at the park of our choice is an added bonus! I will compare prices for National and Alamo - using the Mousesavers codes - and make my reservation. Thanks again!

Has anyone used the Alamo/National at the TTC? We have only used Disney transportation in the past, but are thinking about renting a car this year. We park hop a lot and visit several other resorts, and the busses just take up a lot of time.

We are considering two options:
1. Rent a car at MCO, keep it for the whole trip
2. Use DME, rent a car onsite for only part of the trip (maybe 5 or 6 out of 9 days).

Any recommendations from those who have done either? What is the time/convenience factor of the onsite rental? Beacuse we have discounts through Costco, Entertainment, etc., we are more concerned about saving time than money.

TIA for any advice!

I know you're more concerned about time than money (obviously within reason), but something to look into is the costs for the different lengths of rentals you're considering. Sometimes, a short rental, if it's (for example) 4 weekdays, is more expensive than if you include a weekend in there, especially on a per-day basis. I'm not sure if Orlando is like that, since so many of the visitors are on vacation and not business rentals, though.

I'd put your dates into their website (with your codes) and see what you get.

I think it'd be easier/quicker just to deal with it at the airport, but I've never rented onsite, so I don't know if it's that much more of a hassle. Also, you have to consider if you're going to LOVE having a car, and hate the idea of returning it at the end of the time you've rented it!

Once again I agree with Cathy. Renting at Orlando airport is really easy, with the counters right below baggage claim and the cars right across the street. And rates are about the lowest in the country. I can usually get a 6 to 7 day rental for between $150 and $200 for a midsize. And I don't have to worry about busses or other airport transfer. I really enjoy the short ride on the Greenway (2 toll stops of $1 each). And during my stay I have the option of driving or hopping onto Disney transportation. There might be days where I don't touch my car, but I always enjoy that it's there waiting for me.

Does anyone know if Dollar at the Holiday Inn will pick you up at WDW properties like Alamo/National?

Once again I agree with Cathy. Renting at Orlando airport is really easy, with the counters right below baggage claim and the cars right across the street. And rates are about the lowest in the country. I can usually get a 6 to 7 day rental for between $150 and $200 for a midsize. And I don't have to worry about busses or other airport transfer. I really enjoy the short ride on the Greenway (2 toll stops of $1 each). And during my stay I have the option of driving or hopping onto Disney transportation. There might be days where I don't touch my car, but I always enjoy that it's there waiting for me.

I have to concur with Dan here. We got a car rental once at the TTC and it was about $70 for 2 days after all the taxes and fees for the smallest thing they could get us just so we could do some stuff offsite. Last year, we got a midsize rental car from MCO for 8 days for ~$175 total (thru my work but there are always good deals available) so for about an extra $100 bucks we had the convenience of having a car the whole time which we did take advantage of several times. We used Disney transportation mostly but had some stuff to go to that would have taken a long time using Disney Transportation but with a car it took minutes. Some examples were a late morning breakfast at Boma for my wife and I when the kids were on a treasure hunt (we were at POR); getting to DDT in the morning when buses/boats did not start going there yet; going to the grocery store; getting to WL for an early dinner; getting to Chef Mickey’s for a late breakfast and of course going offsite. You get the idea.