Minivan or SUV?

[nutshell]

OK - so after watching the airline industry spin into disaster, I've decided to drive the six hours to Disneyland. There will be 4 adults and 2 kids. I'm wondering which will be more comfortable for us: Minivan or SUV.

Here are the dimensions of the riders (it includes some pooh-sized):

Adult male: 6'3" 300 lbs.
Adult male: 6'2" 230 lbs. (principle driver)
Adult female: 5'2" 180 lbs.
Adult female: 5'4" 100 lbs.
Child: 8 years old
Child: 5 years old

What do you think? What will give the passengers the most space while having room for luggage and all the stuff my wife will buy and want to bring home?

Also, we're staying at the DLH. Parking comes free, right? Is that valet parking and I just have to tip? How does it work?



ALSO

What games, activities, etc. do you suggest? We want to make it like a roadtrip and decorate the vehicle and make the trip as filled with Disney magic as we can.

Thanks for your help.

 

[silence]

We have a new Dodge Grand Caravan. I LOVE THIS CAR.

We rented mini-vans for so many of our prior trips, that is why we finally bought one. Our seating has 2 bucket seats in the back, so I think your party would fit fine in this arrangement.

There is so much storage space in the back of this van. Seriously.

Plus if you are lucky to find a newer one to rent.....our's has duel DVD players, so we can watch 2 movies at once. Kids sat and watched Disney flicks and hubby sat in back and watched I am Legend. All of course while my mom and I sat up front listening to radio as they used the wireless headsets. WHOOHOO.

Anyways, so my vote is for the mini-van. The kids could sit in very back and split the bench seat for 3 and have plenty of room.

As for DLH....parking was included in our package. We parked our own vehicle. We were in the furthest tower (I can never remember their names) but we got to park right behind the tower, pretty darn close.

My kids are pretty used to the drive, put on a couple of movies, give them some color books and they are set. Next trip though, I am going to do some "no movie time". We are in the car approx. 8 hours and even getting up at 4am, kids didn't sleep, they were so glued to the TV.

 

[Grumpy'sWife4Ever]

I am totally not a vehicle expert of any sort, but I can tell you that we own a mini-van (2001 Chevy Venture) and we have take a gajillion (real number) trips in it, including DL from Oregon, and it seated three adults and three kids in comfort. We had room for everything, and we also opted to get one of those soft cargo carriers for the roof that gave us even more room. One of the handy things about mini vans is they have the slider doors that make getting in and out a breeze, especially if they are automatic (which I think they pretty much all are anymore) Another plus is that minivans tend to get better gas mileage than SUVs, and with today's gas prices that might make a difference.
As for games and entertainment.....Maybe you could find some Disney books on tape to listen to, and of course some park music....Way back when my kids were tiny, I started the tradition of bringing along a "prize bag" - every time we stopped at a rest room or stopped to eat and got back in the vehicle, I gave the kids something from the bag. It was my way of getting them back in their seats and buckled without them throwing a fit.....Even though two of the three are beyond car seat size, we have carried on this tradition for long car trips. Usually it is a cheap little dollar store toy, a comic book, a fun candy....Now I even throw in trading cards and a new video game, but only for the special trips (like DL!! )

 

[hlbtimes2]

Mini van. You'll have plenty of room and not use nearly as much gas. We drive a mini van, and love it. We rented a full size SUV last time we went to DL (just as our rental car while there, not to drive there) and I didnt really like it. It was big and akward and we spent a lot on gas for very little driving.

 

[mrs.beast]

We had an SUV and bought a minivan because it just held soooo much more, and comfortably. There is just so much more cargo space. The back seat can be squishy for adults, but my kids, their cousins etc are fine. The 16 yr old was a little squished, but the 11 yr old was fine.

 

[disney-inspired]

We have 5 people and we have a minivan, and I find it squished. That being said, the trunck space isn't amazing. My cousin's family owns an SUV and has 7 people in their family. The SUV seats them all comfortably but there is not luggage space.

Sorry for my unhelpful answer but those are my experiences.

 

[bonita_babe232]

i think for the 6 of u the mini van will be best..... we are a family of 7 (when everyone is in) soon to be 8.... so we are thinking we are gonna need a passenger van soon LOL.... We are a "cuddle sized " family all of us so 6 of us fit fine ( with 2 car seats) and when my grandpa comes he gets stuck in the middle of the 2 car seats in the back cause hes a little skinny butt at about 100 pounds (and thats after falling in a lake ) but the 2 guys up front, to moms in the first 2 back seats, and the kids in the very back should work out fine... but sometimes the trunk space isn't to big so just make sure you check that info before packing... if your gonna rent i usually tells you how much baggage can more or less fit

 

[spaddy]

Another vote for Minivan. Way more comfortable for adults to sit in the back. My parents have an Excursion (pretty much as big as you can get) and we have an Odyssey and I would take our car anyday over theirs. Make sure though that whatever minivan you get have bucket seats in the second row.

 

[pixiewings71]

We own a minivan and we drive it every trip to DL. It's 6 hrs for us too. We are a family of 4. We have driven a car down but the minivan is much more comfortable for us. We have a DVD (after factory) player and the girls take the Nintendo DS, we also play 20 questions which is mostly centered around Disneyland and CA. I would say the minivan will give you guys the most room.

 

[tinkerbelt]

I always feel squished in the back of minivans...I prefer a large SUV for comfort.

 

[nutshell]

Looks like the minivan has it!

Thanks everyone for your feedback!

 

[nutshell]

One more question: Those of you who have rented a minivan before, did the van have the bucket seats in the back? Do you have to request those or do they already come that way? Or, are they not available at all if renting?

Thanks!

 

[staley7580]

One more question: Those of you who have rented a minivan before, did the van have the bucket seats in the back? Do you have to request those or do they already come that way? Or, are they not available at all if renting?

Thanks!

I rented a minivan once, and I got an 8 passenger Toyota. It had bench seating across, that was very roomy. My mom, and my 2 kids fit in the second row. My mom is NOT small.. and both the kids are in car seats.

Im a big help, huh? Sorry! But we loved it.

 

[Leofoenget]

Van all the way. More storage. I got one of those on the roof packing deals and I love it. Saved up so much space inside.

 

[Dukland]

I'd vote for a minivan, too. We own ours, and it will be 2 adults and 3 kids, all the way from Washington state this summer in the minivan.

For luggage space, it makes a difference if the minivan is a "Grand" or not. Ours is a Grand Voyager. I have seen minivans that are not a "Grand" and I would never be able to function with that tiny little space in the back!

Our middle row is a bench, and I do recommend the captain chairs, if it's available. In our case, it puts siblings out of reach of each other. In your case, it means 2 grownups don't have to "play kneesies" with each other all the way to Disneyland.

Have fun!

 

[sunshinemummy]

I'd go minivan too. We also just bought a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan and I'm in love with it. We almost bought a Buick Enclave SUV but it came down to storage room and the minivan won.

 

[cats mom]

One more question: Those of you who have rented a minivan before, did the van have the bucket seats in the back? Do you have to request those or do they already come that way? Or, are they not available at all if renting?

Thanks!

I agree that a minivan is probably the best choice.

We've rented mini vans a couple of times and have always had 2nd row bucket seats, third row bench.


IIRC self parking is included, but if you choose to valet park that costs an additional $12.00 per day.

 

[Albort]

i really varies on what "KIND" of SUVs and Minivans.

Some like the Toyota Sienna is very spacious, and hold a lot of luggages. If you want and an SUV, you can get like the biggest one, an Excursion(though only gives you like 7-10mpg) but it hold quite a lot.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

I agree w/ everone else who posted that it really depends on what kind of Van. You may want to go check out what your local car rental places have. I've rented some that wouldn't store much luggage w/out removing the very back row of seats, so you never know. Some places also have 15 passenger vans. Those might provide enough room for everyone plus the luggage if your people tend to overpack like my people do.
On one trip to DL, my DS and I rode w/ 3 'larger' individuals (1- 350lbs, 2-250lbs). We ended up squished in the back row of the van w/ luggage piled up around us, between the seats and the doors, and behind us. It wasn't fun. My son was very small for his age at that point, and underweight, and I was average sized for a 5'1" female.

 

[pixiewings71]

I would ask the rental company for the "Grand" version as well. Ours is a Grand Caravan with Stow & Go seats, we have Captain's Chairs (bucket seats) for the second row and the third row are bench seats. The Grand gives you a bit more room in the rear for your luggage so you don't feel cramped with bags around you.