Minivan Rental Question

[MamaCrush]

DH and I plan to rent a minivan to drive from NC to Port Canaveral for our cruise in December. I am most interested in getting a good rate. However, a close second is having the DVD movie system in it for obvious reasons.

My question is, when you reserve your minivan (Dollar or anyone else) will they/can they GUARANTEE that you get one with the DVD system? I'm thinking it may be worth the investment to buy a portable DVD system and not worry about this-- just focus on the best rental price.

Any thoughts or experiences with this?

 

[dreaminofdisney]

I rent mini vans all the time, but have never seen a DVD player even offered. I'm missing somithing? Check with the companies. I dont think it's an option. I vote to buy one. I own one and LOVE IT! It is a great thing with a three year old. I even use it when we go out to dinner sometimes so we all can enjoy the evening.

 

[Brian Noble]

If you plan to take a "long" trip or two each year, consider investing in a portable DVD player. You can take it in any vehicle you drive (including your own), and they can be had for around $200.

 

[BethR]

We have rented minivans for each of our Disney trips (and a couple have been pretty high end) and there has never been a DVD player them.

I would be interested to know if anyone has ever found a rental minivan that has had a DVD in it.

 

[MateasMom]

I HAVE MINIVAN QUESTIONS TOO!!!!

(OP...sorry to jump in on your thread...figured it was better than opening a similar thread!)

We're seriously considering Alamo and Dollar. One says Dodge Caravan, the other says Chevy Venture. We're concerned about luggage space. According to Edmunds.com the Venture has TWICE the luggage space the Caravan has, is that correct?

The Venture....every picture I look up online (cars for sale one Ebay...the editor reviews, ect) have THREE seats across the middle making it an 8 passanger van. The rental company has it as a 7 passanger. Which is it.

Also...does anyone know the middle seat configuration. Do the rental companies use the vans with captians chairs or the cheapy bench seats? Also, I assume all vans now a days have 2 sliders, right?

ALSO (sorry!) do you have to pay the 'additional driver fee' for a SPOUSE? I've tried to find the answer on the rental sites and it's so vauge.

Thanks guys! (and yes, I did email the companies and both sent me cookie cutter responses with zero helpful information in return).

 

[mtblujeans]

The last time we rented a 7-passenger van, it was a 'short version' and our luggage would not fit into the back. Also, we have not yet found anyone who does not charge you for the spouse to drive. I would like to hear other people's experiences, too.

 

[MateasMom]

Originally posted by mtblujeans
The last time we rented a 7-passenger van, it was a 'short version' and our luggage would not fit into the back. Also, we have not yet found anyone who does not charge you for the spouse to drive. I would like to hear other people's experiences, too.

Thanks.

Here's what it says on Dollars site

an additional authorized driver will be required to pay an additional fee; however, spouses, employers, co-workers and others may not be required to pay this fee.

and Alamo

An Additional Driver fee is required at most locations

Thrifty

At most Thrifty locations, there is no additional charge for spouses, however, there there may be a daily charge for any other individuals who are listed on the contract as additional renters.

Also....they all seem to charge different fees, is that right? It seems like Dollar has more added fees than everyone else....but maybe I missed those fees with the other companies.

It's all SO confusing.

 

[BethR]

Originally posted by mtblujeans
The last time we rented a 7-passenger van, it was a 'short version' and our luggage would not fit into the back.

Us TOO!!! The six of us were SURROUNDED by all of our luggage travelling to and from the airport!
We have rented a "minivan" 5 times once from Avis and 4 times from Dollar and only this last time were we given a regular Caravan. They tried at the airport to get us to "upgrade" to a "luxury" model for an additional $5 a day ("half of what they usually charge" ). I was stubborn (and cheap) and opted not to pay the extra $40. But the trips to an from the airport were CRAZY!!!

(Now, I must tell you that when you reserve a minivan on Dollar's site it says "Caravan or similar" - but each of the other times(both at Avis AND Dollar) we were given a Grand Caravan with no mention of it being any kind of "upgrade." )

 

[gduvall]

When you reserve a Minivan from Dollar at Orlando airport, has anyone got there and not received a Minivan. Once I reserved a full size car from National at Orlando, we were arriving the day after Christmas about 7:00pm. When we got there they had no full size cars available, we had to settle for an intermediate size. It was very tight with 2 adults, 2 kids, and 4 large suitcases and 4 carryons. Needless to say I wasn't to happy with National. But we had no other choice. We were headed to Lakeland for two days before we went to WDW, otherwise we would have used a towncar service. I've got a Minivan reserved at Dollar this year for December 17 and I hope we get one.

 

[leebee]

I've rented lots of minivans, drive one at home, too! Here's what I know...

Most minivans have seat belts for 7 passengers, usually 2 front, 2 middle, 3 rear.

"Grand" (grand caravan, grand voyager) versions or versions with special lettering (indicating special pkgs.) have extended rear cargo space, and also a separate control for rear heat/cooling, which is something to consider if you are driving a long way.

Friend has a Chevy Venture minivan. It only has 2 seatbelts in the middle seat...there's a dropdown table-thingy that makes it look like there's room for 3, but there are only 2 seatbelts.

I've never rented a minivan with captains chairs; always the bench seat in the middle. I've never seen a rented minivan with a DVD player, either!

Most rental agencies charge extra for the additional driver, including a spouse. HOWEVER, many agencies have agreements with certain programs or renters that allow a free additional driver, usually someone related to you (i.e., National's emerald Club, contractual agreements with businesses- DH or co-workers drive free when I rent using my MSU ID program # at national), that sort of thing. I suspect they word it vaguely so they can 'cover' both situations.

Hope this helps!

 

[BethR]

Originally posted by leebee


I've never rented a minivan with captains chairs;

I know that this is probably the exception, but the Grand Caravan that we got last year from Dollar was a Town and Country model and had Captain's chairs - at least in the middle.

 

[MateasMom]

Originally posted by leebee


Friend has a Chevy Venture minivan. It only has 2 seatbelts in the middle seat...there's a dropdown table-thingy that makes it look like there's room for 3, but there are only 2 seatbelts.

Okay, thanks that makes sense. I thought the only minivan with 8 passanger seating was the new Sienna....but the pictures sure do look like there are 3 across the middle in the Venture.

Your friend with the Venture....you wouldn't happened to have seen the size of her cargo area, have you? Edmonds.com....even with the most basic model, has the Caravan at 15cft and the Venture at 30cft of cargo space. -- I drive a Villager and my sister has a 'regular' Caravan and I know my cargo space is alot bigger then hers. Edmunds has mine listed as 32 cft....so I'm guessing the venture has a cargo space like mine instead of like my sisters (where the hatch practically touches the backseat when it's closed).

 

[leebee]

It's always possible that they've changed the models...my friend's Venture has cargo space that is comparable to my Plymouth Grand Voyager...not like the shorter length Voyager of Caravan, where the hatch DOES practically touch the backseat!

OoohLaLa on the Town and Country Grand Caravan! Very cool to have the captains chairs!

 

[stauncie]

We rented a mini-van from Dollar for our trip last December. (booked in August) When we got to the airport (our flight had been delayed by 5 hours!) they had NO mini-vans!. The ONLY vehicles they had were 15 passenger vans! I told them I did NOT want to have to come back tomorrow and 'trade'..... We had to wait about 30 minutes while they 'ordered' more mini-vans. I was expecting a run-down model, but when we finally got it, it was a Grand Caravan, with less than 200 miles on it, and it had PLENTY of space for our luggage (for 5 people).
It also have a DVD player in it. it did have 2 benches, and not captains chairs.

Dollar does charge for a spouse. DH decided he didn't want to drive while we were down there.

 

[Patsfan7]

We rented from Alamo in September. We got to pick from a line of mini-vans. They just said to pick whichever one we wanted out of a line of probably 20 or so. We ended up choosing the Oldsmobile version. It had two captains chairs in the middle, and it seemed to have more leg room for the back passengers. It also let the back passengers have the option of controlling their own air. Those are the reasons we picked it. We have also had the Chevy Venture and liked that also. Be sure to shop prices and discount codes. We paid $189/week, and there was a rental agreement in the vehicle that said that the people who had it two weeks before us paid over $500!
We did not ask this time, but one of our other trips to Disney, Alamo had said that they did not charge for spouse. You may want to inquire at that specific location before making a decision. It is also a big plus that Alamo is now located at the airport, no more shuttles.

 

[djh96]

We just rented a Venture from National last week. It had lots of space. Our luggage consisted of 3 golf bags, 5 suitcases & 4 carryons + 6 people (2 kids). 1 or 2 bags were under our feet , but the drive is not that long.
We also joined National's Emerald Club for free by following the advice on Mousesavers. This gave us the spouse additional driver for free.It also allowed us to pick the minivan of our choice from the reserve aisle. In our case when we arrived there was only 1 minivan left in the aisle. We were fortunate in that we had reserve because there were at least 3 families waiting for minivans to be brought to them. Just hopped in & drove away all thanks to these boards for the info!!!!!!!

 

[EeyoreJMH]

Concerning charges for additional driver (spouse) . . .

We've rented from Budget and Alamo and they didn't charge us anything extra. However, we had a reservation with Dollar and they were going to charge us an additional $5 a day for the additional (spouse) driver.

 

[Amberle3]

Two things to note about renting a car:

1) When they tell what what kinds of cars they have, they never specify what you will get. It's always "or similar".

2) Pretty much the only thing they'll guarantee about the vehicle you're renting is that it will have seats and it will run.

Anything else is on a request basis, and not guaranteed.

 

[sgtdisney]

Dollar recently changed, in the last few years to consider the Caravan it's standard minivan. The last time I used Dollar they wanted to give me a Caravan unless I paid extra for the Grand Caravan which I ended up doing because we had 6 people and luggage. As has been mentioned, the Grand Caravan is an extended version of the Caravan and basically most of that extension is in the trunk space as well as the rear most seat legroom.

Most minivans, especially in the rental pool, will have two bucket seats in the front and 2 benches in the back, one seating 2 in the middle and one seating 3 in the back. Chevy Ventures and Pontiac Montana's do have an 8 passenger seating option (as well as a captain chair option for the middle row.) The 8 passenger seating will get you three seats in the middle row and they are almost like individual buckets, each flipping and folding forward. Chrysler, as far as I know, does not offer this option yet. One thing to note is that in the 8 passenger GM vans (Venture and Montana) the rear seat folds flat into the floor as opposed to flipping and folding as the standard (and captain Chair) configurations do. However the seat that folds into the floor is not a split seat so either the whole seat folds into the floor or none of it does whereas the split seats in the rear of the GM 7 passenger vans fold seperately.

I have been renting minivans for a number of years and I have never gotten a DVD system in one. It is an expensive option on the car and usually when they are ordering fleets of vehicles that is an option that is left out. I have heard of people who have gotten them in their rental minivans, but it is rare and it will not be guaranteed.

Your best bet if you need a larger van (and don't want to have to pay extra for it at the counter) is to go with a company other than Dollar. Like I said in many cases they make you pay to 'upgrade' to an extended length mini van, although again I have heard from people here on DIS who got them for no extra cost. It is hit or miss. I have used National the last 4 times I needed a van because I got the good price and because I can use Emerald Reserve and pick my own van. Each time I have used them they have had Grand Caravans, Ventures and Montana's available and many of them with 8 passenger seating. Those were the ones I picked for the extra space. Good luck.

 

[Gillian]

We rented a venture from national last may here in NJ. I chose it over a grand caravan because it DID seat 8 and thought we might need that while visiting family in FL.

The Venture must have several configurations. Ours had 3 large seats across the second row with 3 full sets of belts. We fit 2 large car seats on the outer sides and had room for an adult in between if needed. We ended up keeping the 3rd seat (not sure if it split) folded down the entire time, giving us a huge amount of cargo room.

The Grand Caravans they had at national were typical for a rental car company with 2 buckets in front, a 2 passenger bench in the middle and a 3 passenger bench in the back. It wouldn't have been ideal for a long drive with a baby & a toddler, but we would have managed.

Buy a dvd player, if that is still under discussion.