upgrading car in florida

[arcamalpha2003]

Can someone answer me a question?
In work the other day we were discussing car hire.
Somebody said it can be cheaper to upgrade the car size when you arrive in florida, where as I have always believed it cheaper over here.
Cheers gang.

Bill.

[babybelle]

We got a deal through Virgin/Dollar when we arrived. It was a two for one offer (upgrade 2 levels for the price of one level) which worked out cheaper than doing it here.

I always wait till I get there and haggle over the cost/vehicle I get for the UG.

[jmac]

We got a deal through Virgin/Dollar when we arrived. It was a two for one offer (upgrade 2 levels for the price of one level) which worked out cheaper than doing it here.

I always wait till I get there and haggle over the cost/vehicle I get for the UG.

Its good advice but have the costs worked out beforehand its easy to spend far more than you want :eek:

[Midnight Storm]

Last couple of visits we have upgraded with Dollar from the C4 the package gives us to a Large 4 x 4 (Durango) for about $220 inc taxes for the 2 week stay. If you can wriggle out of the car from your operator, booking from dollar.co.uk would be cheaper overall ie free car + insurance package + upgrade actually costs £100 more than just booking the bigger car.

Colin

[neil@disney]

We usually just book the car here. We are always concious of this as my parents were ripped off a few years back with an upgrade (to do with the insurances I memory serves) so we just stick with what we've paid for.

As long as it has four wheels and an engine, we're happy :lol:

[Mermaid]

We've never been offered the upgrade, however we charged for fuel around double what we paid when we refueld ourselves later during our visit.

[JuniorMickey]

it'll always be cheaper to take the "return full" option even at just off airport gas stations prices.

[Paul A]

We have always been offered an upgrade everytime we have been to Florida. They are trained to get extra value out of the customer. Some offers are good value but be careful the picture of the shiny cabriolet or 4 x 4 can be tempting. Also when you go to the lines of rental cars at your pick up if there are none of your particular grade left you can move up to the next grade at no extra cost.

[ukwdwnut]

if you book thru alamo, you pick what car you want, if none are suitable they will give you a free upgrade

[jarretth]

if you book thru alamo, you pick what car you want, if none are suitable they will give you a free upgrade

That confused us first time - especially as the cars in the lot were different (better) than those available when we booked. We spent a good few minutes looking at the cars before finding one we liked and jumping in.

[Mermaid]

Really on our last visit we picked ours off from the Alamo Disney Center, they just gave us the keys and told us where to find the keys...maybe it was because they were so busy...we waited nearly an hour in the queue.

[ukwdwnut]

also you can avoid Q's with alamo by using direct road :)

[jarretth]

Really on our last visit we picked ours off from the Alamo Disney Center, they just gave us the keys and told us where to find the keys...maybe it was because they were so busy...we waited nearly an hour in the queue.

Don't know about the Disney Centre but at the airport they tell you to go to a specific row of cars in the car park and pick your own - the keys are in the ignition.

Useful to know about Disney Centre though as next year we will use Magical Express to get from the airport and pick the car up the following afternoon from somewhere on Disney property to save on a day of hire and insurance. Makes a small but useful saving that all goes on spending money.

[Groovee]

The first time we went, we were last off and last in to the car hire. We'd fully paid upfront so we expected they would keep our car for us. But they'd run out so I started howling saying they'd ruined my honeymoon and we got a free convertible.

The last time with Alamo, we insisted on having the car we'd paid for as there was hardly anyone there. We're going to see what happens next time when we go next year as I know they have to give you some sort of car if you have already paid.

[genduba]

We're renting with Alamo - whats direct road?