Just Booked (my First Time)

[mouseuk1]

just booked hoilday to disney booked with first choice hoildays and have a few questions if any one can answer please.

1. we have booked a villa hoilday and there is 9 of us going and it says it comes with free car rental but i am the only one who can drive, dose this mean we will be given a mini van with 9 seats?

2 has any one been with first choice in a villa and what was it like

3. what deposits do i need to budget for(villa and car rental)

as i work in car rental in the uk i know we charge a deposit for fuel (£50) and a damage excess which we hold on a credit card (£500) was wondering if this is the same in usa ??

many thanks hopefuly some one can help

lee

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Hi and Welcome Lee.

Difficult to fully answer your questions really, was the size of car specified when you booked your package?

To rent what will more than likely be a minibus, you may struggle to fit all your luggage in to be honest, I know the minvan(people carrier type) is a 7 seater, however, they are not necessarily made for luggage and people.

I am not sure about your 'budget' question, did you not book the car and villa with your First Choice package?

You will have to pay Insurances and Taxes with your car rental, they are called CDW/LDW (collision or loss damage waiver) and SLI (Supplementary Liability Insurance, this is not mandatory though) - these cover you for any damage to the vehicle.
Sorry , again have you pre-paid these with your booking?

More questions than answers I am afraid

Have never stayed in one of their villas I am afraid as we always book with Virgin.

 

[florida sun]

Hi Lee

Welcome to the disboards Happy Planning!!

 

[mouseuk1]

when we booked the car came with the villa but since there is nine of us there allocated 2 cars ye. but since only i can drive there have told us it will nly be one vehicle a mini van ye through dollar rent a car. but been on there web site and the biggiest car in only a seven seater ?

also when we booked we declined the extra insurance option

thanks for the help
lee

 

[Deedee]

The boot size of the cars over there are pretty small we hired a seven seater for 5 of us and only just about got the luggage in so you need to check it out also try to pay cdw over here. We were had with virgin last time so have paid this time before we go. If you get your passes and pay for what you need over here you will know how much money you have to take with you for food and spending.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Although they are not listed on Dollar website, they do (or did!) have minibus type vehicles that are bigger than a minivan, I have seen them.

The problem you have is that 9 people plus luggage will be a tight squeeze even in one of the minibus type.
Ideally you 2 need 2 minivan's I think.

Might be a good idea to contact Dollar on 0800 085 4578, to see what they say.

 

[Scottish-Helen]

Hi there, I work for a tour operator in IReland and we use Dollar for our car rentals. They go up to a 12 seater vehicle but I would get First choice to confirm that this is what you will be given.

You must be so excited. I know I was my first time

 

[ely3857]

Last trip my df dad got a 12 seater van - from dollar - for 9 people, they had plenty of room in this for people & luggage



Jodie

 

[Miffy2003]

Welcome to the Dis Lee!

Your first trip, how exciting!!

 

[jns]

welcome

You have landed at the right place to get all your questions answered
enjoy the planning
when are you all heading on holidays

even though you get a free car you will have to pay for the car insurcance

 

[mouseuk1]

thanks guys for the answers regarding the car has anyone stayed in a first choice villa it says its only 10 mins from disney parks

we are going on june 13th flying from east midlands

are the parks busy then

the reason we booked then was it was a lot cheaper before the kids break off for there summer hoildays.

lee

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Have never stayed in a First Choice home, how long to get to the parks depends on the location.
There are a few areas, in Kissimmee just off the 192 highway , you have the Formosa Gardens and Poinciana Boulevard areas.
Then there are several villa developments just off the US27 highway.

If you are on the US27 you could be a bit further away from Disney than if you were staying near the 192.

It could vary from 10 - 25 minutes to get you to the parks, is is impossible to say unless we know where you are staying.

I think the parks will be fairly busy but nothing like as bad as it gets later on when all the school's are on holiday.
Your main consideration will probably be the weather, it will be very hot with high humidity, I suggest you try and take things easy, especially over the first few days.
You may also find it difficult staying for a long time at any of the parks, getting there early having a break for lunch and returning in the evening is a good way of avoiding the busiest and hottest times of the day.

It is also better not to try and pack too much in too soon, take the theme parks at a leisurely pace and have plenty of rest days.

 

[alisonbestford]

also when we booked we declined the extra insurance option

Quite a few DIS members buy the annual insurance, from www.insurance4carhire.com , for £103 (int taxes).
Saying that though I think it only covers up to an 8 seater vehicle

We used it last year, instead of paying Dollar's extortionate rates and I'll be re-newing before our Easter trip

 

[Miffy2003]

we are going on june 13th flying from east midlands

are the parks busy then

I think some of the American school holidays have already started then and their holidays influence the crowd levels in the parks far more than UK holidays do.

My "Unofficial guide to WDW" book rates days at 1-10 for busy-ness, 1 being least busy and 10 being most busy. Your dates are listed as mostly an 8, so pretty busy I'm afraid. My advice is, get to the parks early!