Family of 4 in a towncar + luggage and grocery

[DisFam95]

We're heading back to Disney and it's been a few years. We've always used a car service (different ones, love the grocery stop) and most times it was a van due to being in groups or having all the baby gear and strollers plus luggage.

I can't recall how the car fits. We're 4 people (not big) plus luggage. Probably 3 suitcase and everyone's carry on, back packs, camera bag etc. Are the trunks that big? I don't want to feel squished. What about room for grocery? Just a few bags and water. I'm a minivan mom so I just can't visualize us all in a car. I know they say 4+luggage but ...

I'm scared to get a van because one time we had a van (was a big party but last minute half our group changed their flight) through FL Tours for just the 4 of us. The owner actually called me at the hotel the next day and chewed me out for taking up a van when it was just 4 us . I was floored!!

Needless to say I won't be using them but i'm still apprehensive to request a van. Does anyone do Minivans?

I'd love to hear from other fam's of 4 fitting in a towncar and how it went.

Thanks.

 

[bumbershoot]

How heavy do you pack? We are a family of three and we have long trips that we pack well for, and we were told we couldn't do a towncar because I the luggage.

Fltours has SUVs though. I know you don't want to use them (you made sure they knew how inappropriate that call was right?) but they were the ones to at told us a town a wouldnt work. Party of three, we were told to use an SUV or limo. Limo's trunk was smaller than a towncar's we still had a carryon and our "personal items" in the vehicle with us. I'd go for a big SUV in the future.

Said said, we just do rental cars. Join National's Emerald Aisle, book a midsize to be picked up at MCO airport, choose from the Emerald Aisle. We almos always end up with a minivan or SUV, but even if it's just an Impala that's nearing towncar size but you don't have to leave room for the driver.

Make the rental so you drop it off at Car Care Center, there's a shuttle to take you wherever you need to go on wdw property, and when it's time to go home they'll pick you up.

It's worth thinking about.

 

[goofy4tink]

We've done 4 in a Towncar before. 3 in the backseat, 1 (usually Dad) in the front. The trunks are huge! You should be fine.

 

[DisFam95]

It's a 10 day trip so I'll have to think of that. we try not to pack too heavy and it;s summer clothes. BUT DH likes to bring tons of clothes in the summer. He likes to change into fresh clothing and we hate to stop and do laundry AND he hates to drive so lots of clothes and no driving is part of the joy of vacation for him.

I'll look out for rental rates but I know once we rented car and it sat in the parking lot for a week! Total waste of money for us. So you get your rental and drive yourself to the Car Care Center on Disney and they take you to your hotel? So it's just a 1 day rental (or whatever you need). We're doing Universal so we could schedule that first in the week. hmmm..more options.

I don;t see SUV's as part of the FL Tours fleet but Tiffany has them now and minivans. That seems like a better option for us.

Yeah that whole FL Tours phone call was weird. It was the owner and he called the hotel. I explained w had a big party but they switched at the last minute and I didn't think to switch the van. He was really irritated. Our driver was fine and we had no complaints w that aspect of the service.

 

[tjmw2727]

We are a party of 3 or 4 I often book the suv and IMHO if I am willing to pay the fee then it is nobody's business how many of us are traveling! That said we have also used a town car as well and its probably fine with 4 depending on the number and size of your bags and how much you pick up while shopping. Seating would be 1 in front with the driver and 3 in back - could be a bit tight esp if your using a booster/car seat. Trunk is pretty deep but if you aren't using the booster/car seat they will already be in the trunk.

Honestly if you prefer the van/suv and are willing to pay for it then go for it - you are paying for the service! IIRC you have to indicate the number of passengers/suitcases when making the reservations so if yhave a problem with that they could try and work with you in advance instead of chastising you after the fact!

We have had great service with Tiffany Towncar and so so service with Florida Tours.

 

[bear_mom]

We were a family of four who used a town car in December - and it was cold so we had a large variety of clothes (jeans, shorts, capris, long sleeve, short sleeve, etc). We did okay in a town car. I think we had two medium suitcases and two or three carry on suitcases plus a backpack/camera bag each. I think the groceries did have to be in the back seat with us though..... (it was a few years ago so my memory might be a little skewed, but we did get everything in).