8 seater van ?????

[GarryK]

Just booked for 2008 and although it's our 5th trip we've an extended family cos my brother, SIL and laddies are coming this time.

8 in total and I'm driving (no problem there). Don't really fancy the van though - Alamo offer an 8-seater Toyota Sienna option that's more of people carrier than Dodge van.

Realise this would be uncomfortable to/from airport with all the cases (not for me of course !!!) but after that it's only for travelling. Family seem Ok with this - has anyone tried this before ??

Garry

 

[Goofyish]

My experience of large people carriers is there is very little room for any luggage when all the seats are occupied.

Also, having one vehicle between your two familes will restrict you. You may plan to go everywhere together at the moment, but after a while this may cause problems if the two families decide they want to go to different parks.

If your brother can drive it may be a good idea to have two cars instead of one large van or people carrier.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Often rent a 7 seater minivan, Tim is right they are good for carrying people but not necessarily people AND luggage.
There are just the 3 of us but if we had a couple more people on board it would be a struggle.

 

[Cinderella2006]

We had three 8 seater Toyota's between 17 of us in November.

2 adults and three children under 8 in one
3 adults and 3 children in another
In ours we had 4 adults, DS2 and DS8 and if we had no luggage it would be fine but obviously we did and as it was our wedding. We had 5 cases in total, a small pushchair and a holdall, needless to say it would not all fit! Luckily for us my dad only had 2a 3c in his so he had one suitcase and the holdall.

I also agree with Goofyish, having one car between you can limit what you do. We were staying at Disney so it did not make much difference to us as we could either use the buses or share with the others.

 

[GarryK]

Tim, Johnny, Cindy

Thanks for your replies. You've really just confirmed what I already thought but good to get some other views. In particular, I also think 2 cars would give us much more flexibility but my wee bro is not keen on driving - believe me, I've plied him with much guinness and beer to convince him otherwise but with no success.

TBH, I really enjoy driving in Orlando and there's a competitive brotherly thing here cos my girls think their uncle's cool (but not me) whereas my nephews think I'm cool (but not their dad). So if I'm in charge of the driving....double coolness to me !!

Thinking of 2 trips to MCO for me or getting a taxi for the luggage. Is that stupid ???

Garry

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Hi Garry,

If it's strictly going to and from the airport that's the problem and not generally driving around on the holiday itself then no it's not stupid.
May I suggest getting your 'wee bro' to pay for the taxi

 

[GarryK]

Thanks Johnny - excellent point !

Garry

 

[epcot1stfave]

Hi Garry you dont say where you are staying, if it is a Disney resort book the M E and split the luggage/family hope this helps.

 

[Dazed]

Years ago we rented (from Alamo) a 10 seater. Actually got something that looked like a small bus,with 12 seats. Plenty of room for luggage on spare seats and down aisle. So it is possible!
My ex thought it was no problem to drive and it fitted into a regular parking space at parks!

 

[disneydopey]

We went this summer and had an 8 seater van (Ford Ram?) from Dollar-It was same price as a Dodge Caravan but we fancied playing at being the A-Team. There are only 4 of us but loved the extra room with 3 cases and a wheelchair( we didn't even need to collapse the chair to get the luggage in!

Husband found it no different to the Dodge Caravan, infact it was great for driving as you were so much higher than other cars on the road.

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

We had a brand spanking new Toyota Sienna in San Fransisco/Lake Tahoe when skiing last year - for 7 of us (4 adults, 2x13 and 1x11 year olds). It was very tight with the luggage, especially coming back from the mountain to San Fransisco (I hadn't realised how much we take being able to put feet on the floor for the rest of the holiday was taken for granted ), but it was fine. We could even get 6 pairs of skis, one snowboard and all the poles and boots in the boot each day up the mountain

This year, there were 8 of us (friends son took his best friend) and, because it was a ski holiday, the hire company in Boston for skiing in Vermont would not hire out the car to match the number people "because of the winter equipment". So they gave us two very nice cars instead.

This worked our very well, although we did miss sharing the ride to the mountain each day.

Next year we will be travelling to Florida - the seven of us - and are thinking of getting a 7 seater plus another car. This will give us the flexibility of having two rides available (we've been loads of times, our friends only once, but their children not at all so if we want to do different things we can with two cars). However, the idea for keeping the 7 seater is so that if we do all want to go to the same place we don't then have to take 2 cars (two lots of gas, parking fees etc).

It's a more expensive way of doing things, but we feel this arrangement suits us all. Won't help you because your bro won't drive.

Perhaps the option of the 8 seater, getting you and three people plus the luggage to where you're staying, then the others in a cab (paid for by your bro, as suggested by Johnny), then like us you would have the flexibility of having something big enough to get you back and forwards to the parks together each day?