Car Rental Guide

Pickup — Friday Morning

At the counter — decline everything:

• Decline insurance/coverage — your personal auto insurance + credit card (Chase Sapphire, etc.) already cover rental cars. Alamo will push hard. Say no.
• Decline fuel prepay — they'll offer a "full tank at a discount." Only a deal if you return it empty, which you won't. Fill up yourself Sunday night.
• Decline PlatePass (toll transponder) — buy a SunPass Mini at Publix instead ($4.99 vs. $3.95/day). See Tolls section below.
• Decline GPS — you have phones.

Before you leave the lot:

• Confirm the booster seat is actually in the car. Sometimes they forget.
• Photograph the car — walk around and snap photos of every dent/scratch. Takes 60 seconds, saves you from being charged for pre-existing damage.
• Check the tire pressure light — if it's on, ask them to swap the car. Don't leave the lot with a problem.
• Note the fuel level — should be full. Take a photo of the gauge.

During the Rental

• Keep the rental agreement in the car — has the 24-hr roadside assistance number
• Florida child seat law — kids under 5 must be in a car seat or booster. All your kids are over 5, so just the booster for comfort.
• Parking: Disney Springs (free), SeaWorld (pre-paid ~$35), KSC ($15 at gate)
• Toll roads — FL-528 (to KSC), FL Turnpike, and 417 are all tolled. Your SunPass covers all of them.
• Avoid toll roads to SeaWorld — it's only ~25 min on regular roads from Kissimmee. Don't let GPS route you onto 417.

Tolls — SunPass vs. PlatePass

Option 1 (recommended): Buy a SunPass Mini

• $4.99 at Publix, Walgreens, CVS, or any gas station
• Load $10–15 online or at the register
• Peel and stick to the inside of the windshield
• Works immediately — tolls deducted automatically
• Total cost: ~$10 ($5 pass + $5 tolls round trip)

Option 2: Alamo's PlatePass (do nothing)

• Alamo automatically charges tolls via license plate + a $3.95/day convenience fee
• The daily fee applies every day of the rental, even days you don't use tolls
• Total cost: ~$21 ($16 in daily fees + $5 tolls)

What to do: When picking up the car Friday morning, ask to decline PlatePass. Buy a SunPass Mini at Publix during your grocery run. Saves ~$11.

Return — Monday Morning

• Gas up first — any gas station on the way to MCO. There's one right off the 417/528 interchange near the airport. Don't pay Alamo's $8–10/gal fill-up fee.
• Return at the MCO Alamo facility — follow airport signs for "Rental Car Return"
• Check under seats, trunk, seat pockets — with 3 kids this is critical
• Drop the keys and go — Alamo is usually fast at MCO. No paperwork needed, they scan the car and you're done.
• Shuttle or walk to Terminal C — confirm at drop-off which is faster