National Emerald Reserve - Minivans?

[KerriMc]

Just wondered if anyone has used the Emerald Reserve lately for minivans? Was wondering what vans you have seen? Last year we had a great Pontiac Terraza that was leather and had a DVD player in it (that the girls were very excited about ... especially after we bought the newly released Mermaidia !). Anyways ... we saw two Toyota Siennas that we just missed (I WANT a Sienna for us, so would love to drive one) ... also saw Montanas and Caravans. Just wondered what it was like lately??

Thanks so much ...

Kerri

p.s. We are going in march!

 

[Disneyjosh229]

I was in TPA yesterday and took a walk around the lot...

TONS AND TONS of Dodge Grand Caravans

The rest for the most part are a mixture of Saturn Relay's, Buick Terrazza's and Pontiac Montana SV6's. All of those GM vans have standard DVD players.

There were also a few (3 or so) Toyota Sienna's and Hyundai Entourages...

 

[KerriMc]

Thanks ... I'm really hoping for a Sienna, but would be happy to drive the Terraza again ... new Barbie video due for release around that time (if you have girls - you understand this momentous occasion )!!!

Kerri

 

[Sammy]

I'm crossing my fingers just to find any minivan on the Emerald Aisle for our trip in April. We arrive at MCO at 11:30 PM on a Wednesday night, so I'm really hoping there will be some there to choose from!

 

[KerriMc]

Sammy ... we are actually an Emerald Reserve, rather than Emerald Aisle. This is because I specifically want a minivan, so I go to the aisle for Emerald Reserve Minivans section. We need one as we have four adults and two children. Good luck!!

Kerri

 

[mousy_in_canada]

I used EA for a mini van and had a back up ressie with Dollar if there was not one on the EA.. ended up seeing 4 on the EA! I will do this again for my next trip too! I think this is the best way to do it!

 

[son3disfan]

I used EA for a mini van and had a back up ressie with Dollar if there was not one on the EA.. ended up seeing 4 on the EA! I will do this again for my next trip too! I think this is the best way to do it!

I have a mid size SUV booked ( E Reserve) for March. Do I have to take that car ,or do I get to pick something else ( like a minivan) like you can on EI?
Are there as many different types of cars on E Reserve , or just small SUV's...
I actually have 2 ressies I 'm trying to decide on.
Just looking for someone with some idea of what they might offer on E Reserve.
Thanks.

 

[KerriMc]

Son ... as far as I understand, EI has a mixture of cars, but Reserve has specific aisles for each type of vehicle (minivan has its own aisle). So I don't know if you can just jump aisles ... I would think you would have to pay for what you take, especially if it is an upgrade. I don't know if EI is really any faster than Reserve. It is the same thing. We just went up (reserve aisle for minivans) and chose our van and drove out the booth and the guy there gave us a thing to sign and that was it. Easy!

Kerri

 

[son3disfan]

Thanks.
I thought maybe they had upgrades on the E Reserve...
I have a ressie with EI too. Just didn't know which one would give us some better options.We are a family of 5 and the midsize SUV looks smaller then the midsize car.

 

[mousy_in_canada]

if you have a ressie for ER and see something you want more on EA, then by all means ask if you can take that, EA is priced on an intermediate so you are actually downgrading by going to that row, so I am sure they will say yes to you! give it a shot!

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

Rented in December, and September of 06 and saw mostly Chevy Uplanders. Got that each time, with the DVD player in it.

 

[pxlbarrel]

if you have a ressie for ER and see something you want more on EA, then by all means ask if you can take that, EA is priced on an intermediate so you are actually downgrading by going to that row, so I am sure they will say yes to you! give it a shot!

Yes...that's what we did... We couldn't find a full size that we liked (we were booked as a ER) and we asked the attendant if we could pick something in the EA. He said exactly what you said, "You're paying more than for a full size so you can pick anything in EA." I drove off with a SUV.

In Vegas, the attendant said the same thing but the EA didn't have any special cars so we took a car from the full size aisle.

 

[LISAVWL]

Rented in December, and September of 06 and saw mostly Chevy Uplanders. Got that each time, with the DVD player in it.

these are 7 passenger right? I just reserved one for our upcoming trip. We'll be 3 adults, DS13, DD4 booster, DS3 carseat and DS1 carseat-- will we all fit? Last year we rented a luxury SUV, Suburban I think, and we all fit but I can't seem to find one this year. I don't think they have these anymore, anyone seen one?

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

Yes, you will all fit as long as the 13 year old goes in the middle back between two in carseats

 

[LISAVWL]

thanks Memorymakers, I worried about it most of last night! Now I can worry about packing without my kids knowing, we're surprising them in 2 weeks!

 

[snowbunny]

If you want and need a Sienna, you will need to book an 8-person vehicle through ER specifically. A couple of months ago we did that - our party would not be able to fit one of the smaller minivans - and there were none out on the aisle; they were holding our Sienna separately for us.

 

[50 years Too!]

I'm glad to hear that they will hold back the 8 passenger van if that is what was reserved. I was getting a little nervous that my van would be taken by someone "jumping the line" We have 8 people, so I bit the bullet and paid double for the Sienna.

 

[snowbunny]

I'm glad to hear that they will hold back the 8 passenger van if that is what was reserved. I was getting a little nervous that my van would be taken by someone "jumping the line"

I felt the same way and was really peeved when I couldn't find the Sienna on the aisle at first. The National attendants said that it is so popular, they don't put many of them out anymore just for the taking. I have to say, it was a very nice van - surprisingly peppy for a car that size. My DH says, um yes, that would be due to the V8 engine

 

[shelly3girls]

We also reserved the 8-person sienna and loved it! We had to wait a couple minutes for them to go get it but no big deal. The agent told me that they try not to leave them in the aisle b/c people do not realize that they are an upgraded minivan when they take them then there is an argument when they get charged more. She also said that she believed some people take them on purpose even though they haven't reserved them leaving others who have reserved them stuck without one. I don't see why they don't stop these people when they go to leave???

 

[KerriMc]

I didn't know that the Sienna was considered to be an 8 passenger van. That would be why we couldn't find one then!! The two I saw had people loading into them, so maybe that is what they actually reserved. Guess I won't rush to get there to look for a Sienna then

Kerri