Has anyone tried the National Car at Orlando Disney Car Care Center?
Sep 27, 2016, 10:29 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 14
Has anyone tried the National Car at Orlando Disney Car Care Center?
I'm looking to book a vehicle while staying at the Disney Resort and plan to rent a car from the Disney Car Care Center. I know they don't have the Emerald Aisle so I can't pick any car but I don't want to wait in line at the counter. On the National site, it shows this location has Self-Serve kiosk and Online check-in. Does this mean I can bypass the line and go to my vehicle if I use the online check in and self serve kiosk?
Any insight to this location or the Dolphin location would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Any insight to this location or the Dolphin location would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Sep 28, 2016, 4:41 am
#2
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Rochester, NY
Programs: AirTran A+ Elite, Marriott Rewards Plat, Rapid Rewards A List, National Exec, USAir Div Mil
Posts: 323
Yes, I've rented from there a couple of times. It can be a real clusterfck because it shares a counter with Alamo. If you're Emerald or Executive they'll take you in a side office to process your paperwork, allowing you to skip the 15 families in line.
You won't be able to skip the line or go straight to your car. They may offer you a choice of car while you're in the office. I rented a full-size and was given three choices: pickup, pickup, convertible. If I had a family and a bunch of luggage I would have been pissed but it was just me so the convertible worked great.
You won't be able to skip the line or go straight to your car. They may offer you a choice of car while you're in the office. I rented a full-size and was given three choices: pickup, pickup, convertible. If I had a family and a bunch of luggage I would have been pissed but it was just me so the convertible worked great.
Sep 28, 2016, 8:30 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: DL Silver, AS MVP, UA Silver, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Plat, SPG Plat, National Exec Elite
Posts: 3,883
I've done swaps at Disney CCC (usually to use more than 3 free days or mix free and 1-2-F days) and I've always had to wait at least 5-10 min in the office, plus processing time. That said, I don't know that any non-aisle location is going to be much faster. On the one occaision where I was originating a new rental there (and not swapping or otherwise extending) they had no availability of my reserved class (PCAR), no LCAR, no FCAR, but I ended up in a PFAR.
Sep 28, 2016, 9:28 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 14
Thanks everyone for the feedback, I really appreciate it. I was looking to rent a Minivan. Our plan is to spend a week in Disney and then a week off site driving around Florida for another week before heading back to MCO.
If I wanted greater choice, would it be silly for me to book the Magical Express to MCO and then pickup the car at MCO instead?
If I wanted greater choice, would it be silly for me to book the Magical Express to MCO and then pickup the car at MCO instead?
Sep 28, 2016, 8:07 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: District of Columbia
Programs: AA ExecPl, AT Gold, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Diamond, Hilton Diamond, National
Posts: 2,440
Thanks everyone for the feedback, I really appreciate it. I was looking to rent a Minivan. Our plan is to spend a week in Disney and then a week off site driving around Florida for another week before heading back to MCO.
If I wanted greater choice, would it be silly for me to book the Magical Express to MCO and then pickup the car at MCO instead?
If I wanted greater choice, would it be silly for me to book the Magical Express to MCO and then pickup the car at MCO instead?
But if you'd be taking the ME to MCO, then driving back to Disney, that's 90 minutes-2 hours of wasted time, so it's up to you whether that's a good value.
Sep 29, 2016, 8:18 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 14
If the plan would be Magical Express to MCO then immediately head out driving around Florida, it wouldn't be a terrible idea. Maybe an hour or so of extra time.
But if you'd be taking the ME to MCO, then driving back to Disney, that's 90 minutes-2 hours of wasted time, so it's up to you whether that's a good value.
But if you'd be taking the ME to MCO, then driving back to Disney, that's 90 minutes-2 hours of wasted time, so it's up to you whether that's a good value.
Oct 12, 2016, 6:37 pm
#11
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: District of Columbia
Programs: AA ExecPl, AT Gold, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Diamond, Hilton Diamond, National
Posts: 2,440
Mar 3, 2024, 12:25 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2014
Location: YYZ/YOW/YVR/SEA
Programs: AC 75K/Marriott Platinum Elite
Posts: 16
I'm spending two days at Disney with my family next weekend, before driving down to Naples. To save a few hundred, rather than rent at MCO and pay for a rental + parking for 2 days that I won't use the car, I was thinking I would Uber from MCO to Disney and then rent from the National Desk at the Disney Car Care Center starting on the day we leave the park.
I'm Executive Elite and in the past when renting at MCO have always just booked full size but been able to get a minivan. I'm worried that I don't have that choice (or any choice) when I pick up a car in Disney. If I rent at Disney Car Care, has anyone been sucessful with calling in advance to request a specific vehicle type (ex. a minivan) as an EE upgrade?
(yes, I am looking to avoid paying the extra cost of booking a minivan)
I'm Executive Elite and in the past when renting at MCO have always just booked full size but been able to get a minivan. I'm worried that I don't have that choice (or any choice) when I pick up a car in Disney. If I rent at Disney Car Care, has anyone been sucessful with calling in advance to request a specific vehicle type (ex. a minivan) as an EE upgrade?
(yes, I am looking to avoid paying the extra cost of booking a minivan)
Mar 3, 2024, 10:07 pm
#13
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 335
I'm spending two days at Disney with my family next weekend, before driving down to Naples. To save a few hundred, rather than rent at MCO and pay for a rental + parking for 2 days that I won't use the car, I was thinking I would Uber from MCO to Disney and then rent from the National Desk at the Disney Car Care Center starting on the day we leave the park.
I'm Executive Elite and in the past when renting at MCO have always just booked full size but been able to get a minivan. I'm worried that I don't have that choice (or any choice) when I pick up a car in Disney. If I rent at Disney Car Care, has anyone been sucessful with calling in advance to request a specific vehicle type (ex. a minivan) as an EE upgrade?
(yes, I am looking to avoid paying the extra cost of booking a minivan)
I'm Executive Elite and in the past when renting at MCO have always just booked full size but been able to get a minivan. I'm worried that I don't have that choice (or any choice) when I pick up a car in Disney. If I rent at Disney Car Care, has anyone been sucessful with calling in advance to request a specific vehicle type (ex. a minivan) as an EE upgrade?
(yes, I am looking to avoid paying the extra cost of booking a minivan)
Last time they offered an Audi A3 as upgrade from FCAR and they didn't even have any SUVs available when I got there.
And the minivan rate will be cheaper if you book with Alamo or Enterprise.
Mar 7, 2024, 8:00 am
#14
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: OSH
Programs: SWRR, HH, SM, TSA Pre
Posts: 757
I'm spending two days at Disney with my family next weekend, before driving down to Naples. To save a few hundred, rather than rent at MCO and pay for a rental + parking for 2 days that I won't use the car, I was thinking I would Uber from MCO to Disney and then rent from the National Desk at the Disney Car Care Center starting on the day we leave the park.
I'm Executive Elite and in the past when renting at MCO have always just booked full size but been able to get a minivan. I'm worried that I don't have that choice (or any choice) when I pick up a car in Disney. If I rent at Disney Car Care, has anyone been sucessful with calling in advance to request a specific vehicle type (ex. a minivan) as an EE upgrade?
(yes, I am looking to avoid paying the extra cost of booking a minivan)
I'm Executive Elite and in the past when renting at MCO have always just booked full size but been able to get a minivan. I'm worried that I don't have that choice (or any choice) when I pick up a car in Disney. If I rent at Disney Car Care, has anyone been sucessful with calling in advance to request a specific vehicle type (ex. a minivan) as an EE upgrade?
(yes, I am looking to avoid paying the extra cost of booking a minivan)