September 2015 Car Rental Watch

[ashleyrm]

So, I booked a "standard" Alamo for my dates (9/17 - 9/23) using the visa code. Total cost is $121.95. From what was said on here that will get me a full size, correct? I'm going to hold on to my Dollar "lock, low and go", but I'm starting to think the $30 more for a guaranteed full size car is worth it.

 

[Dis5150]

Okay, I just made him his own Insider account and rebooked without the AP discount and it only went up $9, total. Much better than paying $10 a day extra. Thanks!

 

[12disneybee]

$638 for 17nights, 7 passenger Minivan for Free Dining September

 

[alc571]

Well... it cost me $5.00 to cancel, but I'm now saving $130... I downgraded from premium to standard (thanks to the tips above about getting a full-size). I can justify spending $20-30 more for a premium over a full, but not this much. I can't use the visa code because we use AMEX, but it saved me still. Paid $229.26 for 9 days, Sept 19 (12am) to Sept 27, including gas option.

 

[VikingInMouseEars]

So, I booked a "standard" Alamo for my dates (9/17 - 9/23) using the visa code. Total cost is $121.95. From what was said on here that will get me a full size, correct? I'm going to hold on to my Dollar "lock, low and go", but I'm starting to think the $30 more for a guaranteed full size car is worth it.

Yep you will get a full sized, might even get lucky, I have snagged a premium from the full size aisle in the past.

 

[pskelly]

Yep you will get a full sized, might even get lucky, I have snagged a premium from the full size aisle in the past.

Last year there were mini vans available with our standard rental, sometimes its all about timing.

 

[Dis5150]

I talked to DH last night about downgrading from the Premium to a standard, so we could get a full size, explaining to him what you all posted here. He is worried that we would be cramped in a standard. We are a party of 5 adults, DH is very tall and one of my DD's is Pooh sized (Disboard term). Does anyone have any experience with a similar situation? Honestly, we won't be in the car that much, just going back and forth to parks, never more than 20-30 minutes so I think it is ridiculous to pay extra for the premium (we would save $40 by downsizing), but I have to make him happy, lol! He is NOT a Disney freak like me and it was only the fact that we are trying out our Wyndham points by staying at Bonnet Creek that talked him into the trip. We aren't picking up the car till 7:30pm so I guess that would factor in, either most car choices already gone, or turned back in with lots available, lol! I have no idea as I have never rented a car either from Alamo or in MCO. TIA!

 

[emilymad]

I talked to DH last night about downgrading from the Premium to a standard, so we could get a full size, explaining to him what you all posted here. He is worried that we would be cramped in a standard. We are a party of 5 adults, DH is very tall and one of my DD's is Pooh sized (Disboard term). Does anyone have any experience with a similar situation? Honestly, we won't be in the car that much, just going back and forth to parks, never more than 20-30 minutes so I think it is ridiculous to pay extra for the premium (we would save $40 by downsizing), but I have to make him happy, lol! He is NOT a Disney freak like me and it was only the fact that we are trying out our Wyndham points by staying at Bonnet Creek that talked him into the trip. We aren't picking up the car till 7:30pm so I guess that would factor in, either most car choices already gone, or turned back in with lots available, lol! I have no idea as I have never rented a car either from Alamo or in MCO. TIA!

The good news with Alamo is that you can try the cars before choosing in case one works better of you. We sit in lots of cars before deciding which one to take. Is there an actual difference is size between the full size and premium or is the premium just a nicer car? How much is an SUV for your dates?

The last time I rented from Alamo, which was a few years ago, most cars in the full size aisle were Chevy Malibus I think.

 

[Dis5150]

The good news with Alamo is that you can try the cars before choosing in case one works better of you. We sit in lots of cars before deciding which one to take. Is there an actual difference is size between the full size and premium or is the premium just a nicer car? How much is an SUV for your dates?

The last time I rented from Alamo, which was a few years ago, most cars in the full size aisle were Chevy Malibus I think.

I have no idea what the difference is, lol. I think the problem is at home he drives a pickup and I drive a minivan so we really have no concept of how roomy an actual car is. An SUV & minivan both are way more than I want to pay. I would be happy with a Malibu. I was assigned a Chevy Impala for a work vehicle 5 years ago and I don't think the Malibu is that much smaller. I should probably just change the booking and let him know when we get the car, lol. Thanks for your input.

 

[andiraye]

Fyi, it you buy your park tickets through Undercover Tourist you get access to discount rentals. I just got a minivan rental for 8/31-9/6 for $309 including taxes and fees. That's the best rate I've seen by about $150. You need to prepay but it is fully refundable.

 

[alc571]

I talked to DH last night about downgrading from the Premium to a standard, so we could get a full size, explaining to him what you all posted here. He is worried that we would be cramped in a standard. We are a party of 5 adults, DH is very tall and one of my DD's is Pooh sized (Disboard term). Does anyone have any experience with a similar situation? Honestly, we won't be in the car that much, just going back and forth to parks, never more than 20-30 minutes so I think it is ridiculous to pay extra for the premium (we would save $40 by downsizing), but I have to make him happy, lol! He is NOT a Disney freak like me and it was only the fact that we are trying out our Wyndham points by staying at Bonnet Creek that talked him into the trip. We aren't picking up the car till 7:30pm so I guess that would factor in, either most car choices already gone, or turned back in with lots available, lol! I have no idea as I have never rented a car either from Alamo or in MCO. TIA!

We booked a premium for a trip a few weeks ago - for a trip with just my husband and I. I will tell you - of the 6 available cars, 3 of them were 2-door cars. There was a Camero (which we took... loved it!) and two 2-door Dodge Chargers. These were great options for us - but I can't imagine adults squeezing into the back! I laughed when we took the Camero because I found a baby soother in the seat - like who is putting a baby in the back of a 2-door Camero! lol

 

[Dis5150]

We booked a premium for a trip a few weeks ago - for a trip with just my husband and I. I will tell you - of the 6 available cars, 3 of them were 2-door cars. There was a Camero (which we took... loved it!) and two 2-door Dodge Chargers. These were great options for us - but I can't imagine adults squeezing into the back! I laughed when we took the Camero because I found a baby soother in the seat - like who is putting a baby in the back of a 2-door Camero! lol

Wow, I hadn't even considered that! I figured premium would be 4 door! Hope there are more options available for us! Glad you enjoyed your Camero! That would be fun if it was just the 2 of us!

 

[Ranger111]

Wow, I hadn't even considered that! I figured premium would be 4 door! Hope there are more options available for us! Glad you enjoyed your Camero! That would be fun if it was just the 2 of us!

I was reluctant to post, since I have not rented from Alamo in years, but since someone else did....with at least the firms I rent from (National, mostly, then Enterprise), the premium are sometimes sports cars -- as mentioned by one of the posters above. Fine if you want a couples weekend in Vegas. Not so fine if you are expecting some "fancy boat of a car" to fit a few people and kids for a trip to Dizzyworld....

 

[richmo]

Well... it cost me $5.00 to cancel, but I'm now saving $130... I downgraded from premium to standard (thanks to the tips above about getting a full-size). I can justify spending $20-30 more for a premium over a full, but not this much. I can't use the visa code because we use AMEX, but it saved me still. Paid $229.26 for 9 days, Sept 19 (12am) to Sept 27, including gas option.

Why did it cost you $5 to cancel? I'm assuming you went for prepay. Especially this far out, the conventional wisdom is stay away from prepaying for a car rental. The nice rates we've been seeing the last week or two are quite probably going to go down EVEN MORE once we get to late August - early September. Those of us that have made reservations in the past week or two should continue to keep an eye on things. I think there's a better chance than not that we'll be able to better our reservations as the trip gets close...of course, its nice to have something good on hand now. Unless you get a great prepay just before the trip, just say no! Patience often pays off...

 

[Dis5150]

Well, I made a 2nd reservation for a Standard. That way I am covered either way. I will cancel one of them when it gets closer, lol.

 

[alc571]

Why did it cost you $5 to cancel? I'm assuming you went for prepay. Especially this far out, the conventional wisdom is stay away from prepaying for a car rental. The nice rates we've been seeing the last week or two are quite probably going to go down EVEN MORE once we get to late August - early September. Those of us that have made reservations in the past week or two should continue to keep an eye on things. I think there's a better chance than not that we'll be able to better our reservations as the trip gets close...of course, its nice to have something good on hand now. Unless you get a great prepay just before the trip, just say no! Patience often pays off...

Yes... the cost of Pre-Pay. Pre-pay saved me $13 over the rate of the "non" pre-pay - so even if I have to eat the $5, I'm still saving. I have no patience, and I've been stuck too many times paying higher rates for waiting. Generally, I find a rate I'm happy with and then never check again. The only reason I did this time, was because of the "book a standard, get a fullsize" talk here - which I was unaware of. I'm fine with losing $5 to save $120. I also like pre-pay because I know what the US/CDN dollar is now - I don't know what it will be in September. And, I don't want a rental car bill when I get back from vacation. I like paying for it all in advance.

 

[Gena001]

There is no standard aisle at MCO, its auto upgraded to Full Size when you go to the garage.

Does anyone know about FLL? We are doing a two segment trip: flying into FLL for a few days before driving to Dis & returning the car at MCO. Curious if FLL Alamo works like MCO Alamo....

Here's hoping!

 

[Gena001]

Hertz just dropped another $11 and something ... bringing my five-day full-size down to $88 (NOT including tax, license, etc, which, when added in, puts it around $120). Some reason, it always seems I get the best rates around 10 p.m. to midnight on Tuesday nights (Pacific Time).

Mystifying. All the other companies are staying very high. Next closest is $140-something, not including taxes, etal....

Do you have specific codes for Hertz that you can share?

 

[houseofduck]

Does anyone know about FLL? We are doing a two segment trip: flying into FLL for a few days before driving to Dis & returning the car at MCO. Curious if FLL Alamo works like MCO Alamo....

Here's hoping!

We have flown into FLL a few times. The one way car rental rates always seem high from FLL. Budget and Dollar have had the lowest rates for us from FLL.

 

[emilymad]

Does anyone know about FLL? We are doing a two segment trip: flying into FLL for a few days before driving to Dis & returning the car at MCO. Curious if FLL Alamo works like MCO Alamo....

Here's hoping!

I believe in FLL you are assigned a car.