10 days/9nights FT package - 2 adults, 2 kids and a baby - DO WE NEED A CAR?

[iwannago!!]

Hi!
We arrive on Sunday and stay at the Dolphin for 2 nights, then we check into the BC for 7 nights on the FT package. It is going to be me and my DH, our DD (8) DF (8) and our baby (6 mo).

My thoughts are:
1 - rent the car, $260 full size at Dollar for the whole 10 days
2 - rent a minivan for 2 days from Alamo and return it to the Dolphin. This will give us transportation for the first 2 days before our package starts - where we can go to the water park, downtown disney, grocery store, off site dinner, shopping etc.
3 - take a limo/car from airport with a grocery stop and hope that we don't need anything the rest of the time we are there. Should I worry about running out of baby items?
4. Rent a car for a 5 day rental and return it to the CCC (National)or Dolphin (Alamo) - and take a car back to the airport on our return. ..mobility to go off site for half our trip - back to groc store and to the water parks

Help!
What would you do?

 

[Lewisc]

I don't think a full size car will give you enough room for 5 plus luggage.

 

[Gillian]

I think you'll be okay with the full size, but you may have luggage on your laps & at your feet for the airport travel. Once the bags are at the hotel you'll be fine. We've fit 2 adults & a car seat in the back of our Honda Accord or my parents Toyota Camry many, many times. With 2 8 year olds it will be fine.

I'd have to see the prices to tell you what I would do. When changing resorts it's easier to have your own car, even if you send most of the stuff via Disney.

We looked into a bunch of options for one of our trips & found it most convenient to rent a car for the entire time. It was slightly more expensive, but we liked knowing we had easy transportation for things like Cirque and baby stuff. We ended up taking an unplanned trip to the pharmacy also.

 

[BCV23]

I would do the full size length of stay. Makes life much easier to have a car. As Gillian said you might be tight driving from the airport but after that you'll be glad to have a car. We sometimes pack bungee cords.

 

[iwannago!!]

Thanks everyone.. here is my research! LOL!

Rental Car - Dollar pickup July 20, return July 29 - $260. This is for a full size. I can't find a decent rate on minivan or suv for my dates. All the specials seem to go though June and that is it.

If I rent by the day, it is running $25 - $30/Day + taxes etc. So 2-3 days in a full size would be about $100 - $130. Then we would still have to spend the $65 to return to the airport at the end of the trip.

Cartier wants $165 rt in a stretch limo... with the way dh tips, that is a $200 round trip. They want less for a 'lux van' - but DH doesn't feel 'cool' in a lux van for less $ (don't go here.. )

Mears isn't an option - too much stuff, too many people, don't want to wait, be cramped, make stops etc.

Towncars won't hold all 5 of us, not an option ;-(

Suitcases... augh... DD and baby will share a large (not huge, but large size). I will use large size and pack all the 'extra's' with my things (shampoo, first aid, baby stuff, fold up cooler etc. the 'friend' is going to pack a small suitcase..
so we will have 2 large, 1 small suitcases and a stroller - backpack etc. We can live 'smushed' in the car ride.. do you think that we can get it all into an intrepid trunk?

can't we just 'beam' ourselves to WDW?... can you just IMAGINE that!!! LOL!

 

[jel0511]

THe trunk in an Intrepid is VERY big. DH and I were actually suprised how big it was. Now, you might have to stuff some of the backpacks and maybe the smaller bag into the car, not in the trunk but I think it would work. I'd recommend a car for the only reason. What if one of the kids gets sick? I know it's not something you want to think about, but it does happen. It happened to us on our last trip, the one where we ALMOST didn't rent the car. DS 2 developed bronchitis!!! We had to take him to CentraCare and it was GREAT to be able to have our own car to get to/from there. For the extra $$$ (and it's not that much IMO) get the car.

 

[Gillian]

Here's a packing tip (or two):

- make sure your suitcases don't weigh more than 50 pounds, or you will be charged a fee (?$50 each leg of trip? depends on airline?)
-consider 3 smaller suitcases instead of 2 large, because it gives your more flexibility

Even better than a suitcase is a rolling duffle bag, because it can be squished a bit to fit in the trunk. We use one for diapers, shoes & stuff that can move around without harm (bathing suits, sunscreen in ziploc bags, etc).

I think you'll be fine with luggage anyway (does DH get a suitcase?), but do consider the duffle. It's really a great system with a baby.

Have you priced out National? I know Mousesavers.com has info on ways to save with all the car companies. What's good about them is you can choose your own car from the full size aisle, and hopefully find one that fits your stuff.

 

[hercamore]

I agree with a previous poster abou the Dodge INtrepid trunk being huge!


We rented an Intrepid from National. That car has one mama trunk. We had a bottle of pop roll in the back of the trunk and my adult son had to stretch out fully while crawling in the trunk to get it out.

herc.

 

[iwannago!!]

I guess that we should let DH get a suitcase too ;-) - maybe just a small one...

Alright, I am convinced.. I will rent the car. Thanks everyone! If the Intrepid is going to be big enough, then I will rent... I want to go offsite and to the water parks occasionally... this will be better - I hope!

 

[Gillian]

I don't think you'll regret it!

And be sure to let DH know how lucky he is to get a suitcase at all!