Larger Car Vs Smaller Car + Taxis?

[Scrap_Vamp]

Hi all,

When we travel next year we will have a total of 7 adults and 2 children (7 and 4).

Carl and I will have a car no matter what but nobody else wants to drive as we are staying at OKW.

Most of the time we will stay on property but there will be two days where six of us (4 adults/2 children) will head over to Universal.

Would it be more cost effective to get an SUV or stick with a smaller car and to use taxis for half the family when travelling outside WDW?

I realise that other trips off site (to the malls etc.) would require a taxi even if we had a 7-seater.

Alternatively, perhaps we should get two smaller cars, where I drive one and Carl drives one, but we only have the second car for 5 days or something?

If anyone has any advice on working this out I would appreciate it. Luckily we have over a year to go

 

[scoobydooby]

Hi all,

When we travel next year we will have a total of 7 adults and 2 children (7 and 4).

Carl and I will have a car no matter what but nobody else wants to drive as we are staying at OKW.

Most of the time we will stay on property but there will be two days where six of us (4 adults/2 children) will head over to Universal.

Would it be more cost effective to get an SUV or stick with a smaller car and to use taxis for half the family when travelling outside WDW?

I realise that other trips off site (to the malls etc.) would require a taxi even if we had a 7-seater.

Alternatively, perhaps we should get two smaller cars, where I drive one and Carl drives one, but we only have the second car for 5 days or something?

If anyone has any advice on working this out I would appreciate it. Luckily we have over a year to go

Don't take this the wrong way, but I would not get a second car if it means you and your boyfriend are then both the drivers for everyone. That will make you really potentially at the mercy of other people. I would say if they don't want to drive let them book taxis when they need them
And retain your right to independence.

Meeting the needs of a group holiday can be stressful. Your suggestion is kind but I think would increase your stress. A 7 and 4 year old are likely to have different touring needs to the adults as well. Younger kids have a habit of crashing at Disney in my experience and their parents should be ready to be flexible to this possibility.

 

[orangetiggs]

Agree I organised 11 peeps last year and was nightmare we had three cars so we all did what we want

It's stressful organising so you have to do what's best for you

 

[wilma-bride]

If you will have a car no matter what and nobody else wants to drive, I suggest you make it clear to them that they will need to be responsible for transport costs for getting to Universal/other places.

Personally, I would be tempted to get a vehicle big enough to transport the whole party (just because I like to keep everybody happy) but the realist in me knows that would mean committing yourselves to being a taxi service and having to fork out for a more expensive car that might not necessarily get full use. I would discuss with the other members of your travelling party and, if they would be happy to share in the costs of renting a larger vehicle and you/your OH would be happy to drive when needed then do that. If not, then just get the car you want and explain to the others that they will need to arrange/pay for additional transportation when needed.

 

[duffdo]

Personally, if funds allowed it, I would go for the biggest car possible. I would take who I could fit in the car and make it clear that the others need to make their own way. It's your holiday too and not your problem if certain members of your party don't want to drive. Even if funds don't stretch to a larger vehicle, the issue is not really your problem. I wouldn't even consider a second car. I know it's not nice, but I would make it clear before you go and stick to your guns. Group holidays can be stressful sometimes!

 

[Scrap_Vamp]

Thanks for all the feedback, everyone. Hopefully we won't have anyone taking advantage but you are all right about setting out the plans with everyone in advance!

 

[wayneg]

So many things to consider, every group/family will be different. We have been with friends and wouldn't want to be sharing a car yet go with relatives as we are again this summer and sharing a car works well.
You need to get some figures to find out best option for you, don't be out of pocket, if they are saving on taxis then split the car costs to make it fair on everyone.
Ideally one vehicle would be easiest but I suspect the cost will not allow that for 9 of you, 2 cars may well be cheaper.
Good luck.

 

[Samaya]

If you're booking an Alamo car rental then what about this option, but it could take a bit of pre-planning for the exact days you will be travelling off-site.

Alamo has a rental office on site called the Disney Car Care centre and booking a one-two or more day car hire through Holiday Auto's can be easy and comparable in price to taxis.

For one week rent a 7-seater van so to cover your trip up to Universal for the six of you, cost £175 before any discounts (Quidco-etc), about £60 more than a compact for the week, so comparable to taxi's for two-days up to Universal plus you stay all together so there's no time wasting.

For the other week rent an Alamo car for the two of you and during your stay (when you're all shopping) either pre-book a few days rental picking up on site, in single days or in a block; a two day rental for a compact should be less than £50.

Or if you don't pre-book then while you're there and only if you have access to the web, you could book a one day or more car rental through Holiday Auto's picking up on site. Just done a check on booking a one-day rental for picking up tomorrow and a compact 4-door would set you back £26.00. That way it's easier to work out the extra costs for your friends-relatives to pay and exactly when you want to make journeys off-site. But might need to ask at the OKW front desk if they could let you use their computer-printer to print off your voucher.

Alamo I believe will pick you up at OKW if you give then enough notice and take you to the rental office at Walt Disney Car Care 1000 Car Care Dr, Orlando, FL 32830, it's located near the Magic Kingdom toll plaza, but you will have the other rental car, so a pick up is not really required in your case.

You will have the option when booking to pick up at one location (MCO or Sandford) and drop off at the Disney Car Care centre with Alamo.

Happy planning.......

 

[Scrap_Vamp]

So many things to consider, every group/family will be different. We have been with friends and wouldn't want to be sharing a car yet go with relatives as we are again this summer and sharing a car works well.
You need to get some figures to find out best option for you, don't be out of pocket, if they are saving on taxis then split the car costs to make it fair on everyone.
Ideally one vehicle would be easiest but I suspect the cost will not allow that for 9 of you, 2 cars may well be cheaper.
Good luck.

Thanks Wayne

 

[Scrap_Vamp]

If you're booking an Alamo car rental then what about this option, but it could take a bit of pre-planning for the exact days you will be travelling off-site.

Alamo has a rental office on site called the Disney Car Care centre and booking a one-two or more day car hire through Holiday Auto's can be easy and comparable in price to taxis.

For one week rent a 7-seater van so to cover your trip up to Universal for the six of you, cost £175 before any discounts (Quidco-etc), about £60 more than a compact for the week, so comparable to taxi's for two-days up to Universal plus you stay all together so there's no time wasting.

For the other week rent an Alamo car for the two of you and during your stay (when you're all shopping) either pre-book a few days rental picking up on site, in single days or in a block; a two day rental for a compact should be less than £50.

Or if you don't pre-book then while you're there and only if you have access to the web, you could book a one day or more car rental through Holiday Auto's picking up on site. Just done a check on booking a one-day rental for picking up tomorrow and a compact 4-door would set you back £26.00. That way it's easier to work out the extra costs for your friends-relatives to pay and exactly when you want to make journeys off-site. But might need to ask at the OKW front desk if they could let you use their computer-printer to print off your voucher.

Alamo I believe will pick you up at OKW if you give then enough notice and take you to the rental office at Walt Disney Car Care 1000 Car Care Dr, Orlando, FL 32830, it's located near the Magic Kingdom toll plaza, but you will have the other rental car, so a pick up is not really required in your case.

You will have the option when booking to pick up at one location (MCO or Sandford) and drop off at the Disney Car Care centre with Alamo.

Happy planning.......

Thanks for that - those figures are really helpful!