Driving family of 11, How to???

[rosencra38]

We are looking to go to Disney as an entire family for the first time, me and my family of five, my brother and his family of four and our parents make 11 total. There is no way we are going to fly down from Michigan. With baggage costs we would be looking at around $1500 to fly my family of five down. We don't mind driving but would like to see about renting something big enough for all of us to ride together, save gas costs & split up the driving duties. We thought about a 15 passenger van but am unsure about luggage space for 11. We are also going to look into possibly renting a big motorhome. I am wanting to look into renting a small bus but cannot find anything online except for charter services. Does anybody have any ideas what may help us? What did you do with your large family??? TIA

 

[Alesia]

I'm not sure if you can even fit 11 people plus luggage in a 15 passenger van, but I wouldn't try it. Since the center of gravity is so high, they really can't be driven faster than about 50 mph, which will make for a very long trip. Depending of where in Michigan you're starting from, you're looking at anywhere from 24 to 36 hours of driving, not including any stops for food or bathroom. Realistically, it will take you 36 to 48 hours to get there even if you drive straight through, which I wouldn't recommend. 2 days straight in a cramped van is not a great way to start a vacation.

Another thing to consider is that a fully loaded 15 passenger van is going to get terrible gas mileage.

 

[lizziepooh]

I don't know where you are from, but for our September trip we got airfare from Grand Rapids to Orlando for $189 round trip. Airtran has larger carryon luggage size allowance so you might not need to check bags if you packed carefully. By the time you figure gas, wear and tear on your car, hotels and meals down and back, you might be close to the cost of flying even with 5 people in your family.

I don't know anything about renting or driving a large vehicle, but I would be concerned about too much "togetherness" in close quarters for that long of a drive down and back.

 

[formill]

Family of 6 in a Chevy Astro van ( we owned it so no rental fees) a few years ago- cost us $1200 return trip for gas, 2 hotel rooms on the road each way and food,etc.........plus way too long in a vehicle for me even staying the 2 nights on the road. So far we have been able to get flights for around $200 return each. It does cost us more to fly as we have to rent a vehicle when we get there but not a whole lot and it is so worth it! We don't have unlimited time off so I pick spending my vacation in Florida and not in a van for 24 hours and we usually travel when it can be bad weather/roads for the first many hours. As kids we always drove and usually straight through on the way down-we have no drivers here willing to attempt that anymore. When the day comes it is just the two of us and we have a small cheap on gas car and can take our time we may go back to driving but not likely it will be so amazing to only have to buy 2 tickets as compared to 6!

 

[NotUrsula]

You probably won't find anything that big to rent, unless you actually charter a bus that comes with a driver. Most rental companies only rent vehicles that size on a local basis; they restrict taking them out of state.

Besides that, on a vehicle that big your insurance normally will not cover it, so you have to pay the daily rental insurance rates, which are a killer because of the high rollover risk. Also, they are horrendously uncomfortable for long drives; you bounce with every little bump in the road.

RV's cost a FORTUNE, both in rental fees and in gas; don't waste your time.

Your best bet is putting two adults in each private vehicle and taking your time on the drive with overnight stops. It will cost less and you won't all be in pain when you arrive.

 

[dzorn]

Multiple cars. A 15 passenger van does not have the most comfortable seats and no way would I drive one all the way to FL.

An RV that would hold 15 people would cost a fortune in gas.

Even for my family of 4 we fly if at all possible. We are in metro Detroit and my Thanksgiving air fair is less than $200 per person.

Denise in MI

 

[kidd_freeper]

We are looking to go to Disney as an entire family for the first time, me and my family of five, my brother and his family of four and our parents make 11 total. There is no way we are going to fly down from Michigan. With baggage costs we would be looking at around $1500 to fly my family of five down. We don't mind driving but would like to see about renting something big enough for all of us to ride together, save gas costs & split up the driving duties. We thought about a 15 passenger van but am unsure about luggage space for 11. We are also going to look into possibly renting a big motorhome. I am wanting to look into renting a small bus but cannot find anything online except for charter services. Does anybody have any ideas what may help us? What did you do with your large family??? TIA

Use multiple vans. Use rooftop luggage carriers. Buy one or two sets of walkie talkies for car-car communication.

With 11 on this long of a trip, chances are good that someone will get sick. If you have the option of giving the sick person some space, no one else will get sick. If you are all forced to breathe the same air, then multiple people may get sick.

When you make stops, people can change cars to mix it up a bit. Have fun with it.