"For 2,000+ Mile Round-Trip Drivers Only!" (IV)

[Goofygirl17]

6 days!

Maybe I should start packing and finish cleaning out the car?

 

[Rock71]

I am driving down to Disneyworld at the end of the month from the northeastern Pennsylvania region with my wife and two kids- son 8 and daughter 6. I am looking to purchase a mini van new or used in the $20-25K price range. Anyone have any good luck with or would suggest any particular make and model that you made the trip with?

 

[vicki_c]

I am driving down to Disneyworld at the end of the month from the northeastern Pennsylvania region with my wife and two kids- son 8 and daughter 6. I am looking to purchase a mini van new or used in the $20-25K price range. Anyone have any good luck with or would suggest any particular make and model that you made the trip with?

My Honda Odyssey (2005) has made more trips back and forth between FL and MD and FL and WNY than I could count. It has been a fantastic vehicle overall and excellent for road trips. We also have a very nice and newer Subaru Outback but my kids pick the van when we have to go anywhere. They really enjoy the extra room (they are 14 and 12 now).

 

[oneprincessjo]

I am driving down to Disneyworld at the end of the month from the northeastern Pennsylvania region with my wife and two kids- son 8 and daughter 6. I am looking to purchase a mini van new or used in the $20-25K price range. Anyone have any good luck with or would suggest any particular make and model that you made the trip with?

I just purchased the 2013 Nissan Quest for 2 reasons, our growing family AND our yearly trips to Disney World. It was $30k, but I'm sure you can find one that's a year or 2 older for cheaper. Or you can get more of a basic model for less (also holiday and year end sales can knock a few off the price). We are from southeast PA and we haven't driven it to Disney yet but I am very excited for our upcoming drive in January. There is soooo much room in this van, I love it and have no regrets. There is also a deep hideaway storage well in the trunk area that we can easily store all of our luggage and no one can see. I love the well because our stuff isn't taking up actual car space. It's going to be nice not have our rear view obstructed with luggage and bags and just fitting human bodies in with everything. LOL.

 

[Rock71]

My Honda Odyssey (2005) has made more trips back and forth between FL and MD and FL and WNY than I could count. It has been a fantastic vehicle overall and excellent for road trips. We also have a very nice and newer Subaru Outback but my kids pick the van when we have to go anywhere. They really enjoy the extra room (they are 14 and 12 now).

thanks for the info!

 

[Rock71]

I just purchased the 2013 Nissan Quest for 2 reasons, our growing family AND our yearly trips to Disney World. It was $30k, but I'm sure you can find one that's a year or 2 older for cheaper. Or you can get more of a basic model for less (also holiday and year end sales can knock a few off the price). We are from southeast PA and we haven't driven it to Disney yet but I am very excited for our upcoming drive in January. There is soooo much room in this van, I love it and have no regrets. There is also a deep hideaway storage well in the trunk area that we can easily store all of our luggage and no one can see. I love the well because our stuff isn't taking up actual car space. It's going to be nice not have our rear view obstructed with luggage and bags and just fitting human bodies in with everything. LOL.

thanks!

 

[oneprincessjo]

Hi!! I'm joining in! I live about 40 minutes give or take in the suburbs outside of Philly. We have been making the drive to Disney about once a year for the past 5 years. Ever since my dd was born we usually head out around 7pm (as close to her bedtime as possible) and drive straight through the night before we stop at Georgia's exit 3 Hampton (the last exit before Florida). We usually grab breakfast at the Cracker Barrel and then around 9am or so we beg the receptionist at the Hampton to let us check in early, so far they always let us (knock on wood). We end up taking a nap for a few hours, grab an early dinner then its to bed by 7pm. The following morning my husband and I are usually up around 4:30 so we shower, grab some coffee and wait for the breakfast station to open up around 6 or 6:30 (if it were just me and my husband we would leave the second we woke up, but now that we have a toddler we need to make sure her belly is good and full before we finish up the drive). By the time we get in the car we cross the Florida border within a couple of minutes and we arrive at that magical welcome arch before noon, maybe right before 11 if we are making excellent timing. I am super excited for our upcoming trip in January. We just got a new minivan and DVD player for the van. Can't wait to sit in the back with my then 2 and a half year old and watch Disney movies while my husband chauffeurs us. Haha. Already made my list of movies and snacks to bring as well as toddler activity bag (new toys that she won't see ahead of time for those meltdown moments). So excited!!!

 

[dvczerfs]

6 days!

Maybe I should start packing and finish cleaning out the car?

6 DAYS AND ITS NOT DONE YET??

we are down to 67 days and ill start this week getting the car ready.
just got the other car back from its annual Saturday from our trip two weeks ago. oil change yaddi,yaddi, yaddi.

we did wash and repacked what we didn't keep in the locker.we are all packed already. we have to bring brianas "winter" stuff with us on this trip because after the September trip we wont be going back till December.

she was on the bus last night coming from the magic kingdom around 2am. the bus got pulled over. the cop came on the bus and said to the driver his lic. plate was hanging by one screw and he could site him for that.the cop wanted to know why everyone was dressed the way they where? the kids said we work for Disney. the cop told the driver if the kids get out of the bus, run around the bus twice and yell we work for a mouse, he would let the driver off with a warning!

the 12 or so kids on the bus did it!!!! im waiting to see the tape!!! the driver and the kids taped it!!!

just an fyi, they got pulled over in there development, not on a busy street.

 

[Goofygirl17]

dvczerfs- I would love to see that!

I'm going to AAA to get my triptik printed tomorrow and then I'll start on the car. I also need to catch up on laundry. The kids are asking if we can leave Friday morning instead of Saturday and stop at the beach. I was thinking of going to the beach for a couple days after our vacation so maybe we'll go one day before we get there too!

 

[Yellowstonetim]

I am driving down to Disneyworld at the end of the month from the northeastern Pennsylvania region with my wife and two kids- son 8 and daughter 6. I am looking to purchase a mini van new or used in the $20-25K price range. Anyone have any good luck with or would suggest any particular make and model that you made the trip with?

I had a 2006 Mazda MPV which made the trip a number of times from central PA. I loved that MPV! I think if you get any late model (mid 2000's to new) minivan, in good shape with not too many miles, you will have a great trip. All the modern minivans, including the ones listed here are well made and will handle the highway just fine. Enjoy the drive!

 

[Rock71]

I had a 2006 Mazda MPV which made the trip a number of times from central PA. I loved that MPV! I think if you get any late model (mid 2000's to new) minivan, in good shape with not too many miles, you will have a great trip. All the modern minivans, including the ones listed here are well made and will handle the highway just fine. Enjoy the drive!

thanks!

 

[Dittz]

I am driving down to Disneyworld at the end of the month from the northeastern Pennsylvania region with my wife and two kids- son 8 and daughter 6. I am looking to purchase a mini van new or used in the $20-25K price range. Anyone have any good luck with or would suggest any particular make and model that you made the trip with?

We bought our 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan 6 months before our Drive to Disney from southern Ontario in 2010. We had a 1 year old and a 4 (turning 5) year old with us. was great with the fold flat seats. Fit all our gear which included a pack and play, 2 strollers suitcases and cooler. Had cases of water in the stow and go spots. Prepping to go fall of 2014 with it again.

 

[DisMom1981]

I am driving down to Disneyworld at the end of the month from the northeastern Pennsylvania region with my wife and two kids- son 8 and daughter 6. I am looking to purchase a mini van new or used in the $20-25K price range. Anyone have any good luck with or would suggest any particular make and model that you made the trip with?

We bought a fully loaded Chrysler Town & Country to make the trip this coming August. The cost was around 30k, but it is new and has all the bells and whistles- could easily slice the price by not having GPS included and going for the Dodge Caravan which is the same car. We also have two separate DVD / TV - one for each row and automatic startup. We rented the dodge caravan last year and LOVED IT. That is in your price range- same car, just a little more modest (ex; cloth seats).

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[patclairesmom]

I am driving down to Disneyworld at the end of the month from the northeastern Pennsylvania region with my wife and two kids- son 8 and daughter 6. I am looking to purchase a mini van new or used in the $20-25K price range. Anyone have any good luck with or would suggest any particular make and model that you made the trip with?

In May, we bought a 2005 Honda Odyssey with 65K miles on it. It's nicely loaded. We only paid $11k for it, so I'm sure in your price range you can find a newer/less miles mini van. Anyway, I absolutely adore it. We've been driving around the NJ and Pa for the past 3 weekends going to lacrosse tournaments and it drives beautiful. I can't wait to take it to Disney this November.

 

[dvczerfs]

Here's my old girl. Got her new in 2006. Made 8 trips to Florida and countless dance comps. When dd graduated in 2011 we no longer needed the van. Traded it in last July and it had 36k on it and not a scratch or ding. Still had the original tires. An older couple bought it the day I traded it In and the use it to go back and forth to Florida in. Lol

I have a company mini van and we have had some Chevys over the years that have givien us a lot of trouble. They stopped making them but there are used ones floating around.

 

[glen65]

We have a 2007 Kia Sedona that has about 85K on it and has taken us on many trips to NC, SC, and FL. We’ll be taking it again to Disney at the end of this month. Knock on wood, but it has been reliable and a pleasure to drive. We’re driving from the Lehigh Valley, Pa and I’ve already started getting ready. Changed the oil and flushed/filled the coolant, new wipers, tires, air and cabin filters, and finally a good cleaning inside. The only thing I need to do at this point is clean the windshield and put some RainX on.

A lot of cars and vans have cabin filters and I’m betting a lot of people don’t even know about it or have ever changed them. If you have one, change it, you won’t believe how dirty they can get. The filter the air that comes into the cabin/driving compartment.

 

[kbarrett]

We own a 2010 Chrysler Town and Country mini van which we plan to drive to WDW next October... We bought it one year old and that will give you an affordable price (ours was around $17,500 out the door, when we bought it in 2011) low miles, and high quality! We also looked at the Dodges which are basically the same van, but they were the same price and so it just came down to preference. You are sure to find a deal in your price range!

 

[dvcville]

We have a 04&05 Ford Freestars with DVD. We bought both used. The 04 had 88k and the 05 we just recently bought with 65k on it. The dealer we buy from sold and accepted the trades on these vans. They also serviced the vans. So I could see the records and know what was done to it and it the owner kept up with the service plan for them. We are taking the 04 for its 2nd trip to WDW. It made the first trip just fine with 88k on it. It now has 99k on it. I just serviced it oil change, fluids check, brake check, rotated the tires and of course a good cleaning. Last year was the first time we drove to WDW we really enjoyed it and plan to drive all the time for now on. We hit the road in 5 days can’t wait. We are driving straight through and staying off sight 2 nights then over to OKW!




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[blondietink]

Here's my old girl. Got her new in 2006. Made 8 trips to Florida and countless dance comps. When dd graduated in 2011 we no longer needed the van. Traded it in last July and it had 36k on it and not a scratch or ding. Still had the original tires. An older couple bought it the day I traded it In and the use it to go back and forth to Florida in. Lol

I have a company mini van and we have had some Chevys over the years that have givien us a lot of trouble. They stopped making them but there are used ones floating around.

You are lucky. We had a Chrysler Town and Country and it was a piece of crap. First transmission went at 70,000 miles, then that transmission went at 110,000. Power steering went on it, too once. Drove it to the junk yard.

We bought a used Hyundai Entourage mini-van with 17,000 miles on it in 2008. Have had no issues with it, other than brake pads, new tires, etc. It now has 113,000 miles on it. Wish they still made them! Next one will just have to be a Kia.

 

[glen65]

As I mentioned earlier, I have the Kia Sedona. In my opinion, you can't beat the price for what you get and it has been reliable but you should be aware that the resale value on them is one of the worst. I've read that it's due to the initial low cost that the resale is so bad. If you keep cars a long time like I do, then it shouldn't be a concern.