May/June 2021 rental rates

[staceyj2]

I got a similar fail when trying to connect my third party booking to my Avis Preferred account. My Plan B is to phone the MCO location directly and ask them to do it, which I understand has worked for some renters. Or I might just show up at the regular counter and wait.

I can never get through to the actual counter. It always connects me to corporate. Maybe I’ll try again.

 

[carlamouse]

So weird. It still doesn't work for me. I tried in 2 different web browsers and on the app. I can pull up my reservation but I have no options to do anything except modify. If I try to modify, I shows I would have to pay an additional $300 for my dates.

Maybe because mine was a prepaid reservation. My rate didn't change because I had already paid in advance for the rental, and I didn't modify the dates or pickup/drop-off times, or car type. I only added my flight time and FastBreak info. Perhaps the dates for your reservation are in higher demand than mine. I'm picking up at 6:00PM 5/28/21 and dropping off at the same time on 6/5/21.

 

[staceyj2]

Maybe because mine was a prepaid reservation. My rate didn't change because I had already paid in advance for the rental, and I didn't modify the dates or pickup/drop-off times, or car type. I only added my flight time and FastBreak info. Perhaps the dates for your reservation are in higher demand than mine. I'm picking up at 6:00PM 5/28/21 and dropping off at the same time on 6/5/21.

Mine was prepaid too (UT). Similar dates (5/30-6/8). No idea what the difference is. Oh well, I’ll just have to wait in the dreaded line.

 

[holyrita]

I bought a movie popcorn tix from UT and booked our rental car from 5/15~5/23. It's just two of us so we just need a car, don't mind a small one. I was able to book a midsize Budget for $217 and it's my first time pre-paying or booking Budget at MCO. I usually rent from Alamo or National but their rates were too high. I was able to link the Budget reservation number to the Budget Fastbreak program and it is showing on the Budget App. I hope this goes smoothly.

I hope your trip is off to a wonderful start! I wanted to ask how your experience was picking up your Budget rental car that you booked through UT and was able to link to your Fastbreak?

 

[mousegear]

I hope your trip is off to a wonderful start! I wanted to ask how your experience was picking up your Budget rental car that you booked through UT and was able to link to your Fastbreak?

thank you! We arrived early at MCO and had my son and parents went to get our luggage while I went to the Budget Fastbreak desk to get the car. The line had about six people which was a lot longer than I anticipated but the total wait was about 20 minutes. I was given a midsize SUV for my midsize reservation which I was happy about. By the time I got my car, my family came with the luggage and we were out of the airport in a total of 30 minutes.

 

[Leigh L]

thank you! We arrivals early at MCO and had my son and parents wait and pick up luggage while I went to Budget Fastbreak desk to get tHe car. The line had about six people which was a lot longer than I anticipated but total wait was about 20 minutes. I was given a small suv for my midsize reservation which I was happy about. By the time I got my car my family came with the luggage and we wer3 out of the airport in total of 30 minutes.

So you were able to bypass the counter with a UT reservation? That's awesome!
After reading your post, I linked to our Budget account and it did pop up! We just aren't FastBreak members yet, but I'll definitely sign up if this works.

 

[mousegear]

So you were able to bypass the counter with a UT reservation? That's awesome!
After reading your post, I linked to our Budget account and it did pop up! We just aren't FastBreak members yet, but I'll definitely sign up if this works.

I was definitely nervous after reading so many horrendous stories about many rental agencies and their lack of availability, especially over the spring break weeks. However, I couldn't pass up $400 savings so I bit the bullet and figured, since we arrive late (8:30 pm) and don't have any plans other than checking into our resort and sleeping for the night, I could spare time if it needs be.

The line wasn't so bad... I know it's not Alamo or National, go straight to the garage and choose a vehicle but that 30 minutes saved me $400 so I'm not complaining.

 

[Leigh L]

I was definitely nervous after reading so many horrendous stories about many rental agencies and their lack of availability, especially over the spring break weeks. However, I couldn't pass up $400 savings so I bit the bullet and figured, since we arrive late (8:30 pm) and don't have any plans other than checking into our resort and sleeping for the night, I could spare time if it needs be.

The line wasn't so bad... I know it's not Alamo or National, go straight to the garage and choose a vehicle but that 30 minutes saved me $400 so I'm not complaining.

This makes me so relieved! We go in about 4 weeks.
I was able to shave between $400 and $500 as well. We usually go Alamo through Costco wherever possible. Our last rental with Budget (through Costco also) was a hassle because the transponder didn't turn off and they charged us $19.99 a day which was a pain to resolve. But for this amount of savings, we'll give it a whirl again!
Thanks so much

 

[holyrita]

For those that have booked a rental through UT, I see their website says "free cancellations" even if you pre-pay for the discount. Can anyone confirm this? I'm looking to book a rental through them with Budget to use their discount and lock in a lower price, but I'm not positive the trip will happen yet.

 

[staceyj2]

In

For those that have booked a rental through UT, I see their website says "free cancellations" even if you pre-pay for the discount. Can anyone confirm this? I'm looking to book a rental through them with Budget to use their discount and lock in a lower price, but I'm not positive the trip will happen yet.

I originally booked for the wrong date. I cancelled online and I got a refund to my card the next day.

 

[holyrita]

Welp, count me in the same group as @staceyj2

Purchased a rental through UT with Budget, received the Budget confirmation number, but when I look up the reservation with Budget there's no where to enter my Fastbreak number. If I attempt to modify the reservation (only available to me via the app) I am immediately prompted that I'll be charged $200 for zero changes (and I should mention I can't add my fastbreak number on this screen either)

Now I have to decide if I want to risk waiting in line at the Budget counter, or pay significantly more and go with another rental company where I can skip the line..

 

[staceyj2]

Welp, count me in the same group as @staceyj2

Purchased a rental through UT with Budget, received the Budget confirmation number, but when I look up the reservation with Budget there's no where to enter my Fastbreak number. If I attempt to modify the reservation (only available to me via the app) I am immediately prompted that I'll be charged $200 for zero changes (and I should mention I can't add my fastbreak number on this screen either)

Now I have to decide if I want to risk waiting in line at the Budget counter, or pay significantly more and go with another rental company where I can skip the line..

Yep. That’s my experience too. My UT rate is about $275 cheaper than I can get anywhere else so I will probably risk it but I’m sure I will regret it if the line is super long.

 

[MrsM]

I also went the UT rate for our upcoming June trip since it was about $400 less than anything else I can find (there are 7 of us so the vehicle options are limited). I have a Fastbreak account and couldn't find anywhere to link it to the UT reservation, I did the online chat with Budget and they said I wouldn't be able to add it to a "partner reservation" but they'd be happy to book a new reservation at a higher rate so I'll also just hope for the best at the line. For those who have already picked up a car with the UT reservation, were there really no additional charges at the counter? I'm a little nervous that with such a low rate compared to booking directly through Budget we're going to be hit with some surprise charge along the way.

 

[holyrita]

I also went the UT rate for our upcoming June trip since it was about $400 less than anything else I can find (there are 7 of us so the vehicle options are limited). I have a Fastbreak account and couldn't find anywhere to link it to the UT reservation, I did the online chat with Budget and they said I wouldn't be able to add it to a "partner reservation" but they'd be happy to book a new reservation at a higher rate so I'll also just hope for the best at the line. For those who have already picked up a car with the UT reservation, were there really no additional charges at the counter? I'm a little nervous that with such a low rate compared to booking directly through Budget we're going to be hit with some surprise charge along the way.

Oh no, I didn't think about this as a possibility but now you have me nervous too

 

[emmabelle]

I can't believe I'm considering spending $480 to have a car for six nights plus $200 to park it. Midsize with Alamo for 6/5 to 6/11

 

[Leigh L]

I can't believe I'm considering spending $480 to have a car for six nights plus $200 to park it. Midsize with Alamo for 6/5 to 6/11

I can relate! Crazy, isn't it?
We're paying $600+parking (although lower since it's Shades of Green) for a minivan and that's only because we're trying the UT route as everything else is $1200 or more!!

We're used to paying $150-$250 for a smaller car for 8 days! (This is our first time with a mini-van but need the seating this time).

 

[emmabelle]

Our trip starts with two nights at the Dolphin so we need a way to get there. Then I want to go and buy food and supplies for our 4 nights at Poly villas. Ughhhhh... I mean I guess we could do Ubers.

 

[Leigh L]

Our trip starts with two nights at the Dolphin so we need a way to get there. Then I want to go and buy food and supplies for our 4 nights at Poly villas. Ughhhhh... I mean I guess we could do Ubers.

I hear ya!!! When doing the math and factoring in logistics, we came to the conclusion it's just easier for us to get the car, lol. We are staying at a vacation house for the first half of our trip and doing one day at Universal, so we definitely decided we wanted the car.

Did you check into renting from MCO and dropping it off at car care after you get to Poly? (That didn't work for us but might be cheaper depending on your dates?).

 

[emmabelle]

I had an awesome rate at first to do that but then we decided to add two days on to the front of the trip so that wouldn’t work anymore Alamo says they don’t have inventory to pick up Sat night at the airport and return to CCC on Monday. They would let me return it on Tuesday but the rate goes so high that it doesn’t make sense

 

[emmabelle]

My rate with Alamo went down today to $418 for an economy, 6/5 to 6/11. I can't believe it's still that expensive, but at least a little better.