Minivan rental---will we have enough room?

[NC State Tigger]

We are a party of 6---5 adults and 3yr old who will need to be in a car seat.

We will be at Disney's Aulani resort in Hawaii for 9 days. We plan to rent at the airport. Can anyone who has rented a minivan in the past tell me about the room you had for luggage? I'm concerned we won't be able to fit the luggage and everyone in the minivan. We will each have a large checked bag and then our carry-ons (totes, laptops, etc stuff to keep us entertained on the looooong flight)

I think we should be ok in the minivan touring the island. I really don't want to have to get 2 rental cars.

Tia

 

[dmunsil]

It should be OK. We've had 6 people in a minivan with luggage and it worked, most recently last month. I suppose if you pack super heavy, it could be problematic. We had one large suitcase for each person and one backpack/totebag/computer case for each person. We were able to make it fit. The first day, the visibility was somewhat impaired out the back window, but we managed to shift everything around and get it all squared away by the second day.

There's usually room (that we didn't even use) under the bench seat in the back, and there's room for totes and stuff between/under the bucket seats. Worst case the people on the bench seat are sharing it with a bag.

 

[ParrotBill]

Hopefully it's a larger minivan like a Dodge or Chrysler. I thought about packing our Chrysler T&C based on your description. You may get 4 big bags in the back, and use the space between people in the third row.

If necessary, get a big bag between people in both the second and third rows. You may squeeze a few smaller bags around the big bags, but worst case have everyone except the little one and the driver hold their carry ons in their laps. It should be possible. If you get a small minivan, like a Nissan or Toyota, could be harder.

 

[jameyh]

We rented a Chrysler t&c in 2010 & it had space in the floor where the middle seats folded down flat. We used the space as storage, as we had 4 adults and 1child.

 

[NC State Tigger]

Thanks to all for the info. Guess we'll go with the minivan.

 

[rdevine10]

I drive a Toyota Sienna and it has ample trunk space. I could easily fit 4 large suitcases and a few small bags in the trunk (it is deeper aka lower than the floor where you put your feet- as the 3rd row can fold into it). I dont think you will have a problem for the short ride to and from the airport.

Also, just as an FYI to the poster above, the Sienna (toyota) is not small at all. Some models actually hold more than the Chrysler products.