Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina
Life is short. Live it well.
- Joined
- Sep 12, 2008
I have to say
..the car rental game is a little boring this trip. 
We consider a rental vehicle a must for our vacations. To go a little further, Id strongly encourage anyone who is planning an offsite trip to secure themselves a rental vehicle, as being a slave to your resort or hotels limited shuttle service is just not fun. So the first thing I do after securing flights and accommodations is book our rental vehicle. Then begins the watch, rebook, cancel, watch, rebook, cancel procession as rates drop lower and lower as our travel dates approach.
Strangely, not this year.
While Id love to get away with a cheaper, smaller vehicle on vacation, the boys want something similar to what we drive at home in order to ensure their comfort and no worries about fitting our luggage in. Last year, we secured a standard SUV for a cheaper price than a midsize SUV, so Steve ended up with a beautiful 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee for our week in the sun (which he hasnt stopped raving about since, I might add .it was a little more pimped out than our Dodge Journey). The Cherokee wasnt entirely fuel efficient, but it was very comfy and fun to drive.
This year, I booked a midsize SUV (so we very well might get ourselves a Journey, which would be awesome) with National using their KLM Flying Blue discount. It was originally about $575 for the two weeks, including all taxes and the extra special insurances that come under that rate code, which we didnt think was too bad. More than the SUV from 2013 (which I think was $225 for 8 days) but still within a reasonable range, as we expect an increase to almost every trip expense (to some degree) from year to year. In April, the rate fell to $466 total for the two weeks, so I rebooked with a new reservation and new rate, cancelled the old, then kept looking (note we would also accept a different size SUV or a minivan if the price was preferable).
At that point, I could have gone to sleep.
Normally when we get around six to eight weeks out, prices start going up and down like ping pong balls. This year? Theyve gone up. Only up. In some cases/car companies, to more than $1000, with taxes and fees, for the two week period. I will confess were kind of picky when it comes to who we will rent from, preferring a company with whom you can select your vehicle from their available stock (after a bad, bad experience with Budget at Christmas 2012 ..we are hereby once bitten, twice shy when being assigned a car). But even looking at ALL the options, the prices are certifiably silly. I had a little moment of panic when I learned a couple of weeks ago that the wonderful KLM discount code with National was discontinued at MCO ..thinking OMG! What would happen if we had to spend $1000 on a rental? So I emailed them to see if they would continue to honour a confirmed reservation, and was relieved to receive their affirmative reply. Thank the Lord.
Im still watching, Im still monitoring, but Im not holding out hope for anything better at this stage. And honestly, I am more than content with $233 a week for an SUV. Well get to pick our vehicle with National, and I think we might get a free additional driver as Emerald Club members (I still have to check that out .not that its a big deal either way as I dont plan to drive it, but its nice having a second driver on in the event of an emergency. I wish Jake could be the 2nd driver but I dont think thats possible when he isnt 25). I will be interested to see how National stacks up against our regular go-to company, Alamo and hopefully they are much, much, MUCH better than Budget!
I have set aside $200 for fuel and parking, but am hoping that we wont require anywhere close to that. Parking at Discovery Cove, Typhoon Lagoon, Downtown Disney and the resort are all free. I have pre-purchased an unlimited parking pass for SeaWorld and Aquatica ($30 and valid for 14 days .a great deal!). So all thats really up in the air is parking at CityWalk (which I believe is only $5 or so after 6 pm) and Daytona Beach (which I have no idea about). Daytona is the only planned excursion outside Orlando/Kissimmee, so we wont be venturing too far afield unless the spirit moves us and we get creative.
Which is a definite possibility. Welcome to our vacation style ..we just never know where well end up next!
(On that note....has anyone ever been tubing in the natural spring at Kelly Park? I've been watching the videos on Youtube and it looks awesome!)
We consider a rental vehicle a must for our vacations. To go a little further, Id strongly encourage anyone who is planning an offsite trip to secure themselves a rental vehicle, as being a slave to your resort or hotels limited shuttle service is just not fun. So the first thing I do after securing flights and accommodations is book our rental vehicle. Then begins the watch, rebook, cancel, watch, rebook, cancel procession as rates drop lower and lower as our travel dates approach.
Strangely, not this year.
While Id love to get away with a cheaper, smaller vehicle on vacation, the boys want something similar to what we drive at home in order to ensure their comfort and no worries about fitting our luggage in. Last year, we secured a standard SUV for a cheaper price than a midsize SUV, so Steve ended up with a beautiful 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee for our week in the sun (which he hasnt stopped raving about since, I might add .it was a little more pimped out than our Dodge Journey). The Cherokee wasnt entirely fuel efficient, but it was very comfy and fun to drive.
This year, I booked a midsize SUV (so we very well might get ourselves a Journey, which would be awesome) with National using their KLM Flying Blue discount. It was originally about $575 for the two weeks, including all taxes and the extra special insurances that come under that rate code, which we didnt think was too bad. More than the SUV from 2013 (which I think was $225 for 8 days) but still within a reasonable range, as we expect an increase to almost every trip expense (to some degree) from year to year. In April, the rate fell to $466 total for the two weeks, so I rebooked with a new reservation and new rate, cancelled the old, then kept looking (note we would also accept a different size SUV or a minivan if the price was preferable).
At that point, I could have gone to sleep.
Normally when we get around six to eight weeks out, prices start going up and down like ping pong balls. This year? Theyve gone up. Only up. In some cases/car companies, to more than $1000, with taxes and fees, for the two week period. I will confess were kind of picky when it comes to who we will rent from, preferring a company with whom you can select your vehicle from their available stock (after a bad, bad experience with Budget at Christmas 2012 ..we are hereby once bitten, twice shy when being assigned a car). But even looking at ALL the options, the prices are certifiably silly. I had a little moment of panic when I learned a couple of weeks ago that the wonderful KLM discount code with National was discontinued at MCO ..thinking OMG! What would happen if we had to spend $1000 on a rental? So I emailed them to see if they would continue to honour a confirmed reservation, and was relieved to receive their affirmative reply. Thank the Lord.
Im still watching, Im still monitoring, but Im not holding out hope for anything better at this stage. And honestly, I am more than content with $233 a week for an SUV. Well get to pick our vehicle with National, and I think we might get a free additional driver as Emerald Club members (I still have to check that out .not that its a big deal either way as I dont plan to drive it, but its nice having a second driver on in the event of an emergency. I wish Jake could be the 2nd driver but I dont think thats possible when he isnt 25). I will be interested to see how National stacks up against our regular go-to company, Alamo and hopefully they are much, much, MUCH better than Budget!
I have set aside $200 for fuel and parking, but am hoping that we wont require anywhere close to that. Parking at Discovery Cove, Typhoon Lagoon, Downtown Disney and the resort are all free. I have pre-purchased an unlimited parking pass for SeaWorld and Aquatica ($30 and valid for 14 days .a great deal!). So all thats really up in the air is parking at CityWalk (which I believe is only $5 or so after 6 pm) and Daytona Beach (which I have no idea about). Daytona is the only planned excursion outside Orlando/Kissimmee, so we wont be venturing too far afield unless the spirit moves us and we get creative.
Which is a definite possibility. Welcome to our vacation style ..we just never know where well end up next!
(On that note....has anyone ever been tubing in the natural spring at Kelly Park? I've been watching the videos on Youtube and it looks awesome!)
. I think it would be SO MUCH FUN! I agree totally, its nice to be able to enjoy something on vacation that's a little more upgraded from what you have a home 
(but she flatly refuses to wear the turtleneck I suggested 
) however if I had her body, I'd be buying a cute little bikini too 
). I am still catching up on all that you've written but wanted to chime in quickly. Dh gets awful motion sickness (planes/buses/and especially simulator rides) and he swears by Bonine. We get it every time we can and he will choose that over Gravol any day. It's worth a try. 
