Car Rentals About This Page:

[Fortissimo]

So you've made the decision to rent a car while at Walt Disney World. Or perhaps you are considering renting a car but don't know where to begin. Hopefully this thread will be of some help for those who wish to have a set of wheels while in the House of the Mouse.

What size car should I get?
There are many types and sizes of cars to rent. When choosing a car class you should keep in mind how many people are in your party and how many pieces of luggage you will have. Here are some car classes plus an estimate of how many people the car will seat and luggage storage:

Economy: Chevrolet Metro, Kia Rio, Hyundai Accent, or similar 4 passangers 2 pieces of luggage.

Compact: Chevrolet Cavalier, Dodge Neon, Ford Escort, or similar 4 passangers plus 1 large bag, 2 small bags.

Mid-size/Intermdiate: Pontiac Grand Am, Mazda 6, Dodge Stratus, or similar. 2-4 adults, or 2 adults and 3 children plus 1 or 2 large bags and 2 small bags.

Full size Buick Century, Ford Taurus, Dodge Intrepid, or similar. 4 adults and one small child, plus 2 large bags and 3 small bags.

Premium: Buick LeSabre, Mercury Grand Marquis, Cryslar Concorde. 5 adults and one small child, plus 3 large bags and 2 small bags.

Luxury: Buick Park Avenue, Lincoln Town Car, or similar. 6 adults, plus 4 large bags and 2 small bags.

SUV When reserving and SUV ask for the passanger capacity. Some SUVs seat 5 while others seat 8. The luggage capacity will also depend on the size of the SUV. My Brother-In-Law and his family rented an 8-passanger SUV and while it held the passangers the luggage didn't fit.

MiniVans Like the SUVs, the make and model of the MiniVan will determine how many passangers and pieces of luggage the minivan will hold.

Convertables Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang, Sebring, or similar. 4 passangers 2 pieces of luggage.

Two things to keep in mind when deciding what size vehicle to rent: Will the passangers fit safely; and is the luggage stored safely so that it doesn't block views or will not hit anyone if the breaks are slammed.

Different rental companies offer different makes and models. This is a great chance to test drive a car if you are in the market for purchasing a new vehicle.

[Fortissimo]

This section will allow you to find a rental company located at MCO, Sanford International Airport, The WDW Car Care Center, the Swan and Dolphin Resorts, and the Downtown Disney Resorts.

This is a list of the rental car companies and their websites which are located at MCO:

On-Site MCO Companies:

Alamo

Avis

Budget

Dollar

L and M

National

Off-MCO Property Rental Companies (Please note these have a shuttle to take you to the rental company):

Enterprise

Hertz

Payless

Thrifty

A complete list of car rental companies can be found on the Orlando International Airport (MCO) Rental Car page.



The Orlando Sanford International Aiport offers the following rental companies:

On Sanford Airport Property:

Avis

Alamo

Dollar

Hertz

Off-site Sanford Airport via shuttle:

Budget

Enterprise



Many people only need a car for a few days for those off-Disney property excursions. There are many places located on or near Walt Disney World in which to rent from. The following is a list of what company is located where. Also included, if available, the rental location code Please note that while I did get these Codes off of the rental car websites, I would double check them when reserving the car!

Walt Disney World Car Care Center: Alamo code ORLR72 National code ORLR02

Swan and Dolphin
National code ORLR13 and Alamo code ORLR74. Note the rental desks are located in the Dolphin Resort.

Shades of Green
Hertz. The location of the Hertz at SoG is:
1950 Magnolia Palm
Lake Buena Vista, Florida, United States
Hours of Operation: 0800-1700 7 Days

Downtown Disney Resort on Hotel Plaza:

Grovsvenor , Doubletree Guest Suites, and Hotel Royal Plaza : Budget Rental Car - Code MO3 (I think this is the code for all three resorts. Check to see what resort you would pick the car up at.)

The Hilton has an Avis desk. It's code is LB3

Holiday Inn in the Disney World Resort has Dollar on-site. Code MCOS01

Downtown Disney Hotels, Lake Buena Vista Resorts Near Walt Disney World - Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa houses another Alamo site code ORLR73 and National code is ORLR03

These sites can be easily reached by: 1. A short cab ride from your resort; 2. Free shuttle from your resort to the Car Care Center; 3. a Disney Transportation bus to Downtown Disney and a short walk or even another shuttle from Downtown Disney to the Downtown Resort Hotel that houses the rental company.

[CRCrazy]

Hi Robin - just a quick addition to your list -

Sanford Airport does have National on site!

I used them last November - but Sanford hasn't updated it's site yet! Still lists just Alamo.

I don't remember the location code - but if you enter in Orlando as the City - it does come up as a location. They share space with Alamo - but separate counters - just like at MCO.

[Fortissimo]

Thanks Marie!!

[Colexis Mom]

Thanks for posting Robin Great info to have

[cyfyguy]

Hi Robin- The family and I are going to visit Mom and Dad for three days in Ocala before visiting the World for two weeks. So I found this info handy:

National has a counter at both MCO and the Auto Center in WDW. Soooo, we can drive straight from M&D to Disney and drop off the car there instead of driving it back to the airport.

Also, this way, we only need a one-way limo ride instead of round-trip when we depart.

-Cy

[arielrocks]

AAA told us the only closest car rental place was Hertz. They told us that there was no car rental place inside Disney nor in Downtown Disney. AAA has office space inside Tomorrowland. I told them what I was told and they told me Hertz was the only one who was closest to us that could get us a car by the time we are requesting. The only draw back is this folks. If you need car seats for your children? Expect to pay at least $10 each a day for it. We are bringing ours. I refuse to pay for something that will end up costing us the same amount as if we bought it. Check your sources and then rent. Hertz has turned out to be better for our luck. They told us we can keep the car until Monday morning by x time and we won't be charged xtra.
Good luck.

[cyfyguy]

Hmmmm. Could it be that they were referring to the closest 'AAA Program Member' or some such other affiliation? Below is a 'cut and paste' from my reservation. You can go online to http://www.nationalcar.com then choose 'Locations' and enter 'Orlando' as the city. You will see six locations and the Car Care Center is the fourth one...
*********
If you need to make adjustments to this reservation,
please use your reservation number as a reference.

Rental Information

Rental Location: ORLANDO INTL ARPT
ORLANDO
ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Rental Time: 4-FEBRUARY-2005 3:30 PM

Return Location: ORLANDO- WALT DISNEY CAR CARE CNTR.
1000 CAR CARE DRIVE


Return Time: 7-FEBRUARY-2005 11:30 AM

[Fortissimo]

[ QUOTE ]
AAA told us the only closest car rental place was Hertz. They told us that there was no car rental place inside Disney nor in Downtown Disney. AAA has office space inside Tomorrowland. I told them what I was told and they told me Hertz was the only one who was closest to us that could get us a car by the time we are requesting. The only draw back is this folks. If you need car seats for your children? Expect to pay at least $10 each a day for it. We are bringing ours. I refuse to pay for something that will end up costing us the same amount as if we bought it. Check your sources and then rent. Hertz has turned out to be better for our luck. They told us we can keep the car until Monday morning by x time and we won't be charged xtra.
Good luck.

[/ QUOTE ]

Arielrocks, there are car rental agencies in several Downtown Disney Hotels as well as The Swan/Dolphin Resort and the Car Care Center. The Car Care Center has both Alamo and National.

Hertz may not have a rental desk on-property but Alamo, National, Dollar, Avis, and Budget do.

[arielrocks]

I may give AAA another call on Monday. But I did tell them that there was. I'm now interested to know why they wouldn't know this. Everyone takes AAA. Don't they? Thanks for the heads up. I think the cancellation though may kill us in the long run.

[Stmpmaniac]

We booked through AAA and are getting an Alamo rental at the airport and returning it to the Car Care Center. My question is: Is there Disney transportation running from there back to our resort or to a park? Thanks!

Deanna

[debe]

Hi Stmpmaniac! WELCOME to the PassPorter Boards!

We will be doing the same come October. We rent a car at the airport, do our Orlando Outlet hopping spree and then drop off luggage and goodies at our resort, then head on over to the Car Care Center to drop off the rental car.

The Car Care Center does have a shuttle that will deliver you back to your resort. It's really a nice service for those who don't plan on keeping a rental car their entire WDW vacation.

[Stmpmaniac]

Thanks for the info! I love these boards!

Deanna

[alohamouse]

Would anyone know what the hours are for the shuttle service at the Car Care Center? We'll be flying in at 6:00 pm and probably won't get to POR until 7:00 at least. Found out that National closes at 8:00, so I'll be cutting it close to say the least.

[Fortissimo]

I personally would keep the car and return it the next morning. If your flight is delayed at all you will not make the closing time of the Car Care Center.

I would assume the shuttle stops running around closing time for the Car Care Center.