Mini Van rental

[Tinks]

Can anyone tell me why it costs so darn much to rent a minivan???!!! Ugh! I've gone to National, Dolllar...typed in codes, etc, all I keep getting is ~$400 - $500! We're renting June 30 - July 10th/ or even just July 3 - 10th. It's too darn expensive! Should I cram my 3 kids into a full size car with a car seat???? Blah!

Thanks for letting me vent!

 

[zulaya]

4th of July crowds is all I can think of. Maybe the inventory is low and it's a supply and demand thing.

 

[sklimuck]

Try Thrifty- We got it for $199 a week- you need to pick up from outside Orlando airport, but the savings make up for it.

 

[AspiringCindy]

Dollar has the $229/week for minivans using code:KISS3

 

[BelleBeautyandtheBeast]

We just booked a minivan for the end of July and am paying $199 for 6 days. I put in your dates at the Dollar site with the KISS3 code and came up with $350 (for your whole trip) and $370 (for July 3 -10). That is weird.

My DH has a Chevy Malibu (intermediate) and we fit 3 car seats across the back seat. I'm sure you could squish all your kids in a full size car.

Have you explored the option of picking up a minivan inside Disney World? That may be cheaper.

 

[Tinks]

Dollar's rates pop up at $350, but that is the Base rate. Go to the next page and the fees add it up to $433.00 or more.

It's actually more expensive to get your car at the Disney car care center, and the only car you can get that I'm seeing is National.

I did use the kiss3 code for Dollar and tried several others.

What a pain. I just can't believe that minivans are that much more than a full size car to rent Thanks for your ideas, though!

 

[sgtdisney]

229 per week for a minivan (which is the rate from Dollar) is a pretty good rate for a minivan especially considering it is over a holiday weekend. Usually 199 is about as low as you can find them in Orlando unless you have a coupon or a special discount. The taxes in Florida are pretty high and that does take that 349.00 rate up a pretty good chunk.

Unfortunately Minivans in Orlando are a pretty high demand item and the agencies realize that. Fullsizes are always cheaper because it is easier for people to shop those. Many people who want a fullsize can fit into a midsize, etc. But if you need 6 or 7 seats in a car you don't have a lot of choice. Supply and demand at work. Good luck though and keep shopping, you may find one lower, but if you need a minivan sized car, I would hold that rate for now, it really isn't too bad considering.

PS, it looks like we will be down there about the same time you are. We are driving so far though, unless I can find an exceptionally cheap airfare since there are 6 of us travelling.

 

[Tinks]

Sgtdisney---please check spiritair.com They have a rate right now of 186 RT to Orlando. For 5 tickets for our family it is $933! Right now we are driving to Orlando as well unless we can get a good rental car rate, too.

Also check ATA out of Midway. Their rate was even lower, I think.

United has a RT deal now for $188.00.

We live in Peoria, and our RT from here is $285 or something..so to me, $188 is a good deal!n Good luck.

 

[sgtdisney]

Thanks for the info tinks, I will check those fares out. I have been checking a couple of times a week, but since our hotel arrangements dictate that we travel on weekends, so far the fares have been somewhat high. 188 is a good price though. I am kind of holding out on the 130 fares so that probably won't happen. Even at 190 a ticket for 6 plus around 600.00 for a 2 week van rental we are at 1700+ so it has been a hard choice so far, but this year driving may win out. I haven't driven in over 10 years so it will be an adventure, but we have 3 drivers and a minivan and plan on staying over night each way somewhere, so I am hoping if we end up driving it will be ok.

 

[mickeymost]

I too am renting a minivan in July. I also wanted to start my days on July 3, but it was cheaper to actually start my days on July 2. Makes no sense to me. Go figure it's cheaper to rent it more days. I am assuming it is because the 3rd is the start of the holiday weekend.

I used the KISS3 code also.

 

[Tinks]

So are you paying around $433.00?? Or are you just renting for the week? Basically, did you get a better rate? I'm hoping they extend some specials further into July for us. Dollar or National had a good minivan deal, but it ends on June 17th. Keep looking!