Car Hire upgrades - VH?

[Pinklepurr361]

Booked a FD with VH for Easter 08.

There will be 4 of us, 2 adults and 2 kids and we've been allocated a C4 car (compact size) which apparently will be something like a dodge neon. Car apparently holds 1 large suitcase and 2 small.

We were planning on taking 3 suitcases and 3 sets of hand luggage but def want to so some serious clothes shopping when we are there, plus souveniers etc so I am concerned about fitting it all in on the way home as we may have to purchase an extra suitcase.

My question is, could you probably get 4 suitcases in a C4 or would that be impossible? Also, if we upgrade, is it possible to do so on arrival at Orlando and is it usally cheaper or more expensive to do so (bearing in mind VH charge £25 to make a change to the booking + any upgrade charges)?

Many thanks

PP

 

[CoralCayTownhome]

We booked our flydrive with VH last xmas but didn't pick-up the car on arrival. Instead we shopped around and were able to book a Full Size Dodge Magnum separately at dollar.co.uk with full platinum insurance. We ended up paying the same price as what VH would charge us for the insurance and upgrade.

The Dodge Magnum is probably about the size of a VW Passat Estate, maybe with a slightly smaller boot. There is no way we would have got our bags into anything smaller! (2 adults & 2 kids for 2 weeks and serious clothes shopping!)

Have a look round the web rental companies that use the big named hire companies like Dollar & Alamo. http://www.usrentacar.co.uk/ & http://www.uscarhire.co.uk/ spring to mind.

 

[CoralCayTownhome]

Forgot to mention. Our friends who were out with us upgraded from the Intermediate4 at the desk to the "Premium" and got a Chrysler Pacifica that had a lot more luggage space than ours. They probably paid through the nose for it though/ I was too scared to ask!

To be honest, we could have done with that as on our way home we had to reposition the boot floor tray thing (!) to give us a few extra inches of space to fit our two large, now expanded, suitcases, and two medium expanded suitcases.

The Pacifica is a similar size to a BMW X5 or VW Touareg

 

[Red-Snapper]

You will struggle to get all the luggage and the children into that car. Infact I think it will be impossible- certainly to get it all in the boot (unless they are v small suitcases)
We had a neon once and the 2nd suitcase (admittedly fairly large) had to g on the back seat.

Usually cheaper to upgrade before you go - if you dont want to cancel the VH insurance (if you opted for it) and go the Dollar.co.uk route (which I also recommend) then you will find it easy to upgrade.

They usually ask anyway and if you hesitate a bit or press them they often offer you a special - this is usually 2 or 3 grades up for the price of the next grade - however this will still cost quite a bit from memory - far more than the VH amendment charge.

 

[CoralCayTownhome]

The way we got round the insurance VH cancellation fee was to book the discounted disney passes and cancel the insurance at the same time. This had an overall effect of add a couple of quid to our FD price but VH don't charge the amendment fee if your total holiday price goes up. By doing this we also got 10% off the Disney Passes as we were FC members.

 

[cobird2]

Unless you're planning on driving around while you're there, Disney transportation can take you anywhere on property...nothing more convenient than letting someone else do the driving when you're exhausted from a long day at the park and it's a de-stresser/decompresser too. If you're at a DVC home, reserve a limo and have it stop at a grocery store for supplies before going to your resort or take advantage of the magical express...free from airport to resort.
Also recommend sending shopping finds home via post so you don't have to worry about overweight luggage which is becoming an issue now.

 

[Tony Bush]

I upgraded to a Chrysler Pacifica (as I did last time in 2004) Enough room for plenty of luggage - we had 4 large hold all type bags. The upgrade price on the desk was $25.00 per day but I said that I got it much cheaper in 2004 - expecting the usual 'prices go up you know!!!! - its called inflation!) but the lady looked it up on the system and said that in 2004 I paid $11.00 per day and that she would match that price for me.

Tony

 

[Red-Snapper]

Unless you're planning on driving around while you're there, Disney transportation can take you anywhere on property...nothing more convenient than letting someone else do the driving when you're exhausted from a long day at the park and it's a de-stresser/decompresser too. If you're at a DVC home, reserve a limo and have it stop at a grocery store for supplies before going to your resort or take advantage of the magical express...free from airport to resort.
Also recommend sending shopping finds home via post so you don't have to worry about overweight luggage which is becoming an issue now.

Dont shoot me & Of course its up to you & each to their own etc etc BUT there is sooo much more to Orlando and Florida than "just" Disney

Leaving the "property" opens up a whole new holiday world....and a car makes that much easier. It is very limiting to fly all that way and never leave WDW except to get to the airport. (IMHO disclaimer etc etc )