Cars at MCO
Feb 9, 2018, 8:22 am
#811
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 880
Hi everyone, thanks for the collective wealth of information you've accumulated here, it's really great.
I'm a basic EA scrub and don't rent a ton, but am always up for upgrading to something interesting when I do. I don't mind paying something for an upgrade, but would hope to get a deal. Me my wife and two toddlers will be in MCO for a Thurs-Sun trip in mid March, probably arriving late evening.
Any advice for how to finagle a decent upgrade, either to ES or perhaps even something luxury/premium? I'd probably be shooting for a well-appointed sedan, fun coupe, pickup truck, or if nothing else is available a nice SUV or van. We have a Ford Flex at home and would just want something different than normal. Related questions I have:
- It would seem from reading here that you have a better shot to upgrade on the lot rather than consulting with the counter. Would you agree?
- I'm booking on a corporate contract rate, not sure if that matters.
- Is it effective to negotiate, say by offering to prepay for gas, to get help on an upgrade?
- What range of upgrade prices have you seen on window placards for the premium upgrades? Are they all $50 or $100 a day?
I'm a basic EA scrub and don't rent a ton, but am always up for upgrading to something interesting when I do. I don't mind paying something for an upgrade, but would hope to get a deal. Me my wife and two toddlers will be in MCO for a Thurs-Sun trip in mid March, probably arriving late evening.
Any advice for how to finagle a decent upgrade, either to ES or perhaps even something luxury/premium? I'd probably be shooting for a well-appointed sedan, fun coupe, pickup truck, or if nothing else is available a nice SUV or van. We have a Ford Flex at home and would just want something different than normal. Related questions I have:
- It would seem from reading here that you have a better shot to upgrade on the lot rather than consulting with the counter. Would you agree?
- I'm booking on a corporate contract rate, not sure if that matters.
- Is it effective to negotiate, say by offering to prepay for gas, to get help on an upgrade?
- What range of upgrade prices have you seen on window placards for the premium upgrades? Are they all $50 or $100 a day?
As far as upgrade tags goes its randor pretty much. I've seen $75 on a 740i, $100 on a 17, $505 on a A8, and then different prices on the same model.
Feb 23, 2018, 8:47 am
#812
Join Date: Nov 2013
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 43
Can anyone advise the upgrade cars that National offers at MCO? I rented a Corvette a few years ago and would like to again since my son loves cars. In this forum I found refrence to a corvette as late as November but just wanted to know if anyone has seen one or what other cars are on offer.
Feb 28, 2018, 1:24 pm
#813
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Usually LAX or SFO but sometimes MIA in the winter or LCY or PVK in the summer and every now and then SIN or SGN
Programs: in ASM, APL & C++ but never Java
Posts: 159
I'm usually at MCO a few times a month (tomorrow next), and my only gripe is when arriving early, as in 5-6AM on the overnights, selection in the exec isle can be pretty limited compared to arriving at a more "normal" time. A few weeks ago at Friday 6AM there were ~8 cars in the exec aisle (B side) and I actually took a Mini Van from the regular isle! Still, National is by far my favorite at MCO
Last edited by lotus918; Mar 1, 2018 at 8:01 pm
Feb 28, 2018, 4:10 pm
#814
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 3,703
I'm usually at MCO a few times a month (tomorrow next), and my only gripe is when arriving early, as in 5-6AM on the overnights, selection in the exec isle can be pretty limited compared to arriving at a more "normal" time. A few weeks ago at Friday 6AM there were ~8 cars in the exec isle (B side) and I actually took a Mini Van from the regular isle! Still, National is by far my favorite at MCO
Feb 28, 2018, 9:16 pm
#815
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Usually LAX or SFO but sometimes MIA in the winter or LCY or PVK in the summer and every now and then SIN or SGN
Programs: in ASM, APL & C++ but never Java
Posts: 159
I'm sure you will be fine. I typically arrive 5-6AM or 5-6PM and my observation has been the afternoon selection has been better than the early morning selection. I'm sure there's a correlation between the number of cars available at a specific time and the number of reservations (i.e. most normal peopled don't travel at ungodly hours!). I'm on my way to MCO from LAX tonight so I'll update tomorrow, but National are by far the best rental company at MCO. In the last year I've had multiple Jeep Cherokees, X3, QX60, Mustang etc.
Mar 1, 2018, 8:03 pm
#817
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Usually LAX or SFO but sometimes MIA in the winter or LCY or PVK in the summer and every now and then SIN or SGN
Programs: in ASM, APL & C++ but never Java
Posts: 159
Update on the MCO exec aisle at 5:30AM - 5 or 6 cars on the exec side and about the same on regular.
Mar 5, 2018, 6:50 am
#818
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 2
But while I was there the Exec aisle had a ton of cars (brand new Maxima) and a few Camaros. I was a little confused though because the Exec cars seemed like they should have been in the regular aisle- Camry, Altima? Maybe I'm wrong.
Mar 10, 2018, 10:07 am
#819
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Usually LAX or SFO but sometimes MIA in the winter or LCY or PVK in the summer and every now and then SIN or SGN
Programs: in ASM, APL & C++ but never Java
Posts: 159
And don't forget if you're really unhappy with the selection on one side of the terminal (as there's A & B) you can walk back across the terminal to the other side.
Mar 12, 2018, 8:27 pm
#820
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 20
Try B side first!
For those who just skip to the most recent post, go to the B side first to see what’s over there. A side was extremely busy (ie zero cars) so I had to wait about 4-5 minutes for the guy to go grab a car. He literally asked me “what vehicle do you want?” So I told him a convertible Mustang and voila! A few minutes later I hop into a 5.0 GT! As I was getting situated, a Challenger and an Inifity SUV (the big model) are pulling into the EA. Such a good experience at MCO! Can’t wait to go back! Thanks, National!
Mar 26, 2018, 12:23 pm
#821
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 1,685
I read in Post 76, from 2009, that MCO allows you to rent the 15 passenger vans on Free Days, but they apply the free days at the end of the rental...currently for four days it's quoting over $700.
Wondering if anyone has recent experience about renting the 12-15 passenger vans on Free Days at this location?
Wondering if anyone has recent experience about renting the 12-15 passenger vans on Free Days at this location?
Apr 21, 2018, 7:53 am
#823
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Mass
Programs: Independent
Posts: 4,829
I need to pick up a 6 passenger vehicle in MCO in a couple of weeks. What vehicles do they have there for minivans? Should I reserve one special, or are there likely to be available on the EA? Or should I book a large SUV instead?
Apr 21, 2018, 9:51 am
#824
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 880
Unless its different now you'll probably find a Dodge grand caravan or Pacifica. Don't think I've seen a sienna and they wouldn't have any Hondas let alone a odessy unless it's a dealer rental.
I would have a mini van res and a aisle res ? And maybe a full size.. I would see if they have a Durango which probably would be cheaper then a full size suv in terms of gas cost and rental. As somebody who's 6 foot tall I found the 3rd row seat in the Durango to be fine actually though I would not suggest a Ford explorer . The acidia has 3 rows but I think national orders them with capitan chairs in the second row
Apr 21, 2018, 3:51 pm
#825
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Mass
Programs: Independent
Posts: 4,829
Unless its different now you'll probably find a Dodge grand caravan or Pacifica. Don't think I've seen a sienna and they wouldn't have any Hondas let alone a odessy unless it's a dealer rental.
I would have a mini van res and a aisle res ? And maybe a full size.. I would see if they have a Durango which probably would be cheaper then a full size suv in terms of gas cost and rental. As somebody who's 6 foot tall I found the 3rd row seat in the Durango to be fine actually though I would not suggest a Ford explorer . The acidia has 3 rows but I think national orders them with capitan chairs in the second row
I would have a mini van res and a aisle res ? And maybe a full size.. I would see if they have a Durango which probably would be cheaper then a full size suv in terms of gas cost and rental. As somebody who's 6 foot tall I found the 3rd row seat in the Durango to be fine actually though I would not suggest a Ford explorer . The acidia has 3 rows but I think national orders them with capitan chairs in the second row