1st time car rental

[Perla]

For our upcoming trip to Disney/Universal we are going to rent a car for the first time. I got a good deal (I think) from dollar for 200.20 for an intermediate for 10 days. What a nightmare that procedure is to secure a good deal !!! My PROBLEM is... getting back to the airport. I'm not so worried about getting to Disney, I figure if I get lost, I have 9 days to find my way there. LOL BUT, heading back, can someone give me good directions. We will be leaving from the Hard Rock Hotel. I don't care if I have to pay tolls, I just want the easiest directions and a little help as I approach the airport. Thanks so much.

[LimeGreenCheri]

Hey Perla, Just get on I-4 and follow the signs to the Airport. I think that 528 is the road we took 2 weeks ago off of I-4. My biggest problem was returning the car. The signs once you get to the airport are horrible. But, just remember, you can always loop back around.

There was a huge line for National car returns, but they made a new line and I pulled to the front of that line. Just be sure to allow yourself pleanty of time to return your car.

Have a great trip!

[WillCAD]

Yeah, don't worry too much about directions; when you pick up your car you will get a map with all the major roads on it, and the people at the rental counters will generally be able to give you pretty clear directions on getting to WDW or Universal.

here are a few more tips I've learned:

1. Join Dollar's Fastlane club. It's free, and it will allow you to go onto the internet and fill out your rental contract ahead of time. It's meant for people who rent a lot, but it saves you the time you would spend filling out the forms at the counter, and also saves you from the hard-sell they always give you to get more insurance and extra options.

2. Don't opt for the 'bring it back empty and we'll fill up the gas tank' option. They'll charge you far above the market price for the gas. Just fill the tank on your way back to the airport.

3. When filling up the tank, don't get gas around the WDW/Universal area where the price is high, and don't wait till you get to the last exit before the airport, because gas is more expensive there, too. Instead, get off the BeeLine about half way between Uni and MCO; the gas is cheaper there.

4. Don't forget to make a grocery stop on the way to Hard Rock. There are Walgreens, 7-11, Target, and even a WalMart all on the way from MCO to Uni. Just ask on the boards for exact exit numbers; I always stop at a Walgreens near WDW for my snacks.

5. Take something with you to mark your rental car so you can spot it from a distance in the huge WDW and Uni parking lots. I often tie a string of surveyors tape to the antenna, but you can also use a brightly-colored sunshade in the windshield or something in the rear window.

6. Leave an empty plastic bag from your grocery stop in the car for the duration of your trip to act as a trash can.

7. Don't be intimidated by driving in a city you don't know. Take some time to puruse the map and get familiar with some of the major roads, which will helpo you in case you get lost and have to navigate by dead-reckoning.

8. When you get into the car and it's dangerously hot, crank up the A/C and OPEN THE WINDOWS! This will allow the hot air inside to escape as the cool air from the A/C comes out of the vents. The car will cool off much quicker then. You might also consider leaving the windows open 1" or so to prevent the buildup, especially when you park in the un-shaded WDW lots. A windshield sunshade will also help.

9. Keep some towels in the car to cover blisteringly hot seats so you can sit down in shorts without burning your legs.

[Perla]

Thanks Lime Green Cheri, SEE that's excactly what I meant about approaching the airport. I was worried about that. For you to simply suggest to just recircle around was very important for me to know. Because in the panic of the moment it probably wouldn't have even dawned on me to do that, so , I'd be freakin out about it . I've really struggled about renting VS. not renting and just booked a car this past week. But, I knew with a little help from the friends here, I could do it. Thanks so much WillCad I have printed out all your great suggestions and will take them with me. I did ask about the fast lane on the phone and she said it would take afew weeks for the stuff to get to me in the mail and I'll need it by Fri. Maybe I'll try to go to their site and see if I can do it right from there and get an email confirmation. I guess, counting on a little Mickey head on the antenna to mark my car would not be a good idea LOL I'll be sure to do something wild like I do on my luggage. My husband has me doing the driving so hope he buckles up ! He loves to go and leave the driving to Disney. But this time we're doing 4 nights at Coronado and 5 nights at the Hard Rock, so I thought a car would be good. Plus we wanted to drive over to the Gulf coast for just a daytrip, since we've never been over there. Thank you for all your help, I'll be thinking of you guys and your little tips when I'm using them next week. :D

[Ursulinda]

I think you can relax, Perla. It's not any different from driving at home except there are so many tourists and most of them don't think when the drive, so you have to watch out for them. I used to always take a towncar, but recently find I enjoy the freedom of having a car.