6 Adults & 6 luggage in a car, anyone know this joke?

[sweetpeajoey]

Ok I have to hire a car in Orlando for 6 adults with 6 large cases. I really don't want to pay for two cars as the budget is quite tight.

Does anyone know if the 7 seater cars (on Hertz it says a Kia sedan) would take us all and our 6 large luggage? I can't get a feel from the photos and wonder if anyone has experience with this situation or actually owns one of these vehicles? It does say it will take 7 adults but only 4 luggage and 3 small luggage, but since we are only 6 will a seat fold down for extra luggage space?

Other than that I guess it would be a minivan but I am not sure if they will fit the luggage because the seats don't fold down do they?

Would appreciate any help.

 

[Disneylush]

I am a youth minister who has to rent vans and carry lots of bags often. Your best choice would be a mini van there is a lot of room for luggage and you can put down just one seat in the back for more luggage. I am guessing you only need to fit all of this stuff to get to and from the airport to the hotel. It will be tight but you can do it.

 

[J3nn78]

I have a Kia Sedona which is what I assume they mean by sedan that seats 7. I think you would be hard pressed to get 6 large suitcases in there with the seats in the upright position. You will be able to fold down one small section of the back seat and still have 2 seats open-but I would not consider that open 2 seats to be large enough for 2 adults.
I suppose you can probably do it, but you will have to strategically place luggage, people, then more luggage. It won't all fit in the back.

 

[simonsmom]

go for a minivan and maybe pack a canvas roof top carrier

 

[RangerPooh]

We have rented a few minivans for past trips and they were much smaller than any that we have owned. They weren't made for 7, unless you had a small child squeezed in the back seat, in our case three 19 yos. And the luggage barely fit. Although we were 5 adults and 2 toddlers, which means 5 suitcases of various sizes, two umbrella strollers, purses, and diaper bags. It was a tight squeeze.

My recommendation is to pack light, that is if you can.

 

[MyDizneyBoyz]

A minivan is going to have the 2 front seats, 2 captain's chairs in the middle row (individual seats you can walk between to get to the back) and a rear bench seat which will split and fold down 60/40. You can leave up the larger side which will snugly (hope they don't mind being friendly! ) fit two adults and fold down the smaller third to pile extra bags. Their description of 4 large / 3 small bags is presuming you'll put the large ones in the back and pack the 3 small ones in between / around the seats.

Considering you're only going to have all the bags in the car for a very short time and only while making the run to and from the airport, and if you don't mind being a bit squished for that 30-40 minutes, a minivan will most likely be fine for you.

I would recommend against a rooftop carrier as there is no guarantee the minivan you get will have rooftop bars to attach it to (rental cars are bare minimum options and that is often an optional accessory they won't have) and most rental agencies (at least at MCO) are located in parking garages and I don't know if you'd fit the height restriction with a carrier on top.

Most likely, the minivan you get will either be a Kia Sedona, a Chrysler Town and Country, a Toyota Sienna or a Honda Odyssey. Honestly, they all have almost identical seating arrangements and storage space but you can always go to the manufacturer's websites and get an idea of interior layout and space available.

The other choice is to get a large SUV like an Expedition or a Suburban which will definitely fit everyone and all your stuff but will be more expensive and go through gas more quickly.

 

[brockash]

Ok I have to hire a car in Orlando for 6 adults with 6 large cases. I really don't want to pay for two cars as the budget is quite tight.

Does anyone know if the 7 seater cars (on Hertz it says a Kia sedan) would take us all and our 6 large luggage? I can't get a feel from the photos and wonder if anyone has experience with this situation or actually owns one of these vehicles? It does say it will take 7 adults but only 4 luggage and 3 small luggage, but since we are only 6 will a seat fold down for extra luggage space?

Other than that I guess it would be a minivan but I am not sure if they will fit the luggage because the seats don't fold down do they?

Would appreciate any help.

I think your best bet would be a minivan too, but try to make sure you get a stow & go...it has soooo much room. We got this when we went to the beach this past summer, and honestly, I don't think we would have made it any other way.

 

[Lisa in WV]

Unless the Expedition is an EL model, the luggage may not all fit if the third row is being used. I think something like a Suburban would be your best bet.

 

[debbiemomto4]

You definitely need a minivan but a Sienna or Town or Country. Not an Expedition there trunks are small. I drive a minivan so I know. The 4x4's are not comfortable for adults in t he back too.

 

[CC12005]

Sometimes two cars are less expensive to rent then a minivan. Especially if you will not be driving far & won't pay much extra in gas, tolls or parking costs. This would also allow you to split the parties so one group can go home earlier or to a different attraction if desired.

 

[RangerPooh]

Sometimes two cars are less expensive to rent then a minivan. Especially if you will not be driving far & won't pay much extra in gas, tolls or parking costs. This would also allow you to split the parties so one group can go home earlier or to a different attraction if desired.

I agree. Our family is traveling for the holidays and instead of renting a minivan it's MUCH cheaper for us to rent two midsized cars for our party of 6. DH and I will both be driving and this gives us enough room for everyone, luggage, and the stroller.

Plus if you do an online search for discount codes you can use those to lower the rental cost.

 

[horseshowmom]

I am a youth minister who has to rent vans and carry lots of bags often. Your best choice would be a mini van there is a lot of room for luggage and you can put down just one seat in the back for more luggage. I am guessing you only need to fit all of this stuff to get to and from the airport to the hotel. It will be tight but you can do it.

I agree completely. I've carried teachers to Orlando several times for conferences (for some reason everybody wants to volunteer to go to those ). The last time was six adult women who apparently thought they might never make it home again (I'm a woman so no sexist intent here). I've never seen so much luggage (I usually take one bag and a carry-on at the most). I selected a Chevy Uplander, and we did quite well. It had LOADS of room.

BTW, I got a great rate. If you spend some time looking, MCO can have some very good deals!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Not sure on larger vehicles, but I can tell you in a Nissan Altima or a Honda Accord you can fit 4 large suitcases, 3 carry-ons, 3 duffles, and 3 adults.

I think we have done 5 large suitcases (plus all that other stuff) at least once, but it was TIGHT. There was luggage stacked on the backseat and on the floor of the front passenger side.

 

[sweetpeajoey]

Thanks so much for all your replies folks, you are all very helpful.

Hmmmm.... it seems like a split between "there will be loads of room" and "you'll never fit all that in there" lol. Sooo I am now leaning toward getting a 7 seater minivan and a compact car. We have to travel to Ft Lauderdale from Orlando for the second part of our vacation so will be crammed in for a 4 hour drive.... I am thinking that even if we do just fit it will be very cramped and uncomfortable by the sounds of it. Will have to think about this some more.

 

[Redwitch]

Sooo I am now leaning toward getting a 7 seater minivan and a compact car.

If it is of any help... I usually go with economy cars. I can fit two big suitcases, a duffel bag, a carrier on size suitcase, a messenger bag and a back pack in the trunk of every car I've rented at MCO.

 

[fab5friend99]

If you're going to one of the Disney hotels why not have some of your group take the magical express and let them take some or all of the luggage with them. Then the rest take the rental car.

 

[sweetpeajoey]

If you're going to one of the Disney hotels why not have some of your group take the magical express and let them take some or all of the luggage with them. Then the rest take the rental car.

That's a good idea for the Orlando part and I have thought of many ways to get round this situation there but it's the long trip to Ft Lauderdale which I am having the problem with cars really.

 

[DVCBELLE]

If your parties are going to be split up anyway - you really should just rent two compact cars. There will be plenty of roon! Last year my family cruised out of Miami - I got cars from Miami into MCO for very cheap - around $60 for four days. With the two smaller cars - you will have room for 3 people in each car - the trunk and then some of the back seat if necessary would be available for luggage. Minivans are significantly more expensive to rent!

We used Alamo and there are a ton of coupons.

 

[Reagan&Co.]

I would go through Priceline (WAY cheaper for the same company and car). You still get to choose the vehicle, but it's about half the price. This way, you can get what you really need. I was hesitant about using it, but have been very pleased.

Other than that, pack light! We fly and just take one carry one each for the week! It will feel SO much better not to be burdened by all that STUFF!

 

[LIFERBABE]

Our October cruise we had 25 people to deliver to PC. We rented 4 vehicles from Budget at DTD. Our cars ran $45 each for 1 way to PC. The agent recommended we take the F150 Crew cab as 1 of the vehicles. (no x charge) It worked out great! We were able to seat 4 Adults and 90% of the luggage for 25 people!!

A 15 pax van would have cost $200 and we would have needed at least 2 with all the bags.

You could always take ME (if staying at a WDW resort) to WDW and then pick up your vehicles onsite at either the car care center or 1 of the resorts, for your 2nd leg. No need in paying for days you dont really need and you can cut your rental budget and not worry about baggage handling the 1st leg.

I had everyone use ME to AKV (stayed night before the cruise) and used the vehicles to get us from AKV to the port.