Rental Car Size - Family of Four

[keepswimming76]

Hi, we will be at WDW for 9 nights in May of 2016 and are considering renting a car. We expect to be arriving at MCO after 7-8 p.m. and I want to get to our resort asap. We would also use the car maybe for a trip to Disney Springs and maybe a quick grocery run. We're considering heading down to Legoland for the night after our WDW stay is over, so we would use it to get there and then back to the airport.

Would a compact fit our family? Our son will be 9 (he's little for his age) and our daughter 6. I expect 3-4 suitcases (rolling duffle style) and 1 carry on bag.

Any help is appreciated, thanks!

 

[rwdavis2]

It would be tight. I doubt you could fit all the suitcases in the trunk.

 

[vacation_junkie]

Hi, we will be at WDW for 9 nights in May of 2016 and are considering renting a car. We expect to be arriving at MCO after 7-8 p.m. and I want to get to our resort asap. We would also use the car maybe for a trip to Disney Springs and maybe a quick grocery run. We're considering heading down to Legoland for the night after our WDW stay is over, so we would use it to get there and then back to the airport.

Would a compact fit our family? Our son will be 9 (he's little for his age) and our daughter 6. I expect 3-4 suitcases (rolling duffle style) and 1 carry on bag.

Any help is appreciated, thanks!

We reserved a Compact car for the 3 of us.
We refused an upsell to a larger car at the counter and walked out to retrieve our car and it was a 2 door Chevy Spark!
I burst out laughing. I lined our 3 bags up at the side of the car and the luggage was longer than the car!
It could fit a small suitcase in the hatch. No way was it fitting a large suitcase.

I was visibly & vocally mad. Loudly I said to my husband that I rented a car that stated it will fit 4-5 people and 1 large luggage and 2 smaller bags & 2 personal times such a gym bag , purse ...etc... I wasn't paying a penny more to that rental company and I'd tie the luggage to the roof if I had to. It barley accommodated 1 kid and a backpack in the back seat.

The rental car manager saw us by the car and came over to apologize and said the rental clerk knowing there was three of us should never have assigned us that car. I said she was quite snarky when we refused to pay more for a larger car then we reserved so I think it was a spite thing.

He told us to go pick any vehicle we wanted for our trouble and frustration. It worked out in the end.

Besides this incident we had never had a problem with a Compact car. Always plenty room for three in the back seat and all our luggage in the trunk.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

It should be big enough. If you can't fit all the suitcases in the trunk, you should be able to fit one on the seat between the kids or on the back floor.

 

[mieuxmew]

We are a family of 4 and travel often with 2 adults/2 kids and 3-4 suitcases. We rent nothing smaller than a standard/full size and try to limit ourselves to 3 large suitcases. Otherwise, you may seriously not be able to fit everyone and luggage. Who needs that stress/aggrevation to start your vacation!? Also, saving a few dollars isn't worth risking safety by trying to shove suitcases in the back seat with your kids. Keep looking for car rentals - you will probably find a full size for not much more than a compact.

 

[Tiggs14]

We are a family of four and we never rent anything smaller than a full sized car. We travel with two large suitcases and one or two smaller ones. We have honestly had issues at times with getting everything into a full sized car.

I would not even consider booking a compact car if you need to carry luggage and kids.