Rental Minivan Roll Call! What Models are they Renting?

[MFLetou]

I'm trying to figure out what make/model minivans the various rental companies are renting at MCO. Obviously, you can tell what you are "supposed" to get (ie, Avis lists Chevrolet Uplander, Dollar lists Dodge Grand Caravan, etc), but sometimes what you see on your screen isn't what you actually get.

So I thought it would be fun to make a list of what people have actually gotten when they reserved a minivan at MCO. I've seen Toyota Siennas, Hyundai Entourages, Kia Sedonas, as well as Grand Caravans and Town and Country's floating around.

List the company, date (roughly), and make/and model!

 

[MFLetou]

Not so much?

Nobody's rented a minivan in the relatively recent term?

 

[Tara]

I'm trying to figure out what make/model minivans the various rental companies are renting at MCO. Obviously, you can tell what you are "supposed" to get (ie, Avis lists Chevrolet Uplander, Dollar lists Dodge Grand Caravan, etc), but sometimes what you see on your screen isn't what you actually get.

So I thought it would be fun to make a list of what people have actually gotten when they reserved a minivan at MCO. I've seen Toyota Siennas, Hyundai Entourages, Kia Sedonas, as well as Grand Caravans and Town and Country's floating around.

List the company, date (roughly), and make/and model!

With Alamo, Toyota Siennas are in a separate booking category (8 pax van). I rented a 7 pax van through Alamo on May 10th and when I got to the garage at about 11am, there were none left, so they let us pick from the Sienna row instead.

 

[Tissa]

I've always gotten a Town and Country.

 

[4forMe]

We rented through Dollar and got a Town and Country.

 

[MFLetou]

I've always gotten a Town and Country.

What brand have you used?

Any word on Avis?

 

[peacefrogdog]

I've rented from Dollar and Alamo for my last 4 trips to Orlando and Jacksonville (in the past 2 years) - every time I get a Caravan/Town & Country.

 

[BigTigger]

We rented from Alamo on the A garage side from 8/18 to 8/25 and the choices were plentiful for 7 passenger vans. There are 7 seat Toyota Siennas in addition to 8 seat Siennas. Of the dozen of so vans in the 7 passenger area, one lone Dodge Caravan in white was there, about 4-5 Kia Sedonas, and the same amount of Siennas. We chose the Caravan as it had the stow and go seating and we could hide the back row when we didn't need it for additional luggage space. It was pretty loaded with Sirius satellite radio and upgraded materials. The Siennas were base models with acres of hard plastic and the lousy mouse fur seats. I've also noticed that all the rental Siennas have a musty smell to them after they have been in Florida duty with the AC on all the time. The AC must not drain correctly and the mold grows in the condenser. It was in all the vans we looked in, so it must be that Toyota quality (not!!) showing through. The Sedonas were pretty loaded with options as well, but I've had them on past trips and wanted to try the Dodge.

 

[MFLetou]

I'd actually like a Sienna...I'll take the extra 80-90 HP! One of our 2 personal vehicles is an Odyssey, but my father has an '09 Town and Country that's loaded...

Still can't figure out what Avis rents--I currently have ressies with Thrifty (certain to be a Chrysler product) and Avis. Alamo and National are crazy expensive--even with the best codes-just about double Thrifty/Dollar for my dates.

 

[Tara]

I'd actually like a Sienna...I'll take the extra 80-90 HP! One of our 2 personal vehicles is an Odyssey, but my father has an '09 Town and Country that's loaded...

Still can't figure out what Avis rents--I currently have ressies with Thrifty (certain to be a Chrysler product) and Avis. Alamo and National are crazy expensive--even with the best codes-just about double Thrifty/Dollar for my dates.

Avis shows Uplanders on their website...not sure what they have at MCO, though.

I currently have a quote from Alamo for a Sienna for about $100 more than an Uplander or similar from Avis. I'll very likely go with the Alamo deal because it's a system I know, the kiosk is fast, and we'll have a vehicle I like more. That may seem outrageous to some, but Alamo has also given me very good customer service at MCO, so I'm glad to stick with them versus go with an unknown.

 

[MFLetou]

Avis shows Uplanders on their website...not sure what they have at MCO, though.

I currently have a quote from Alamo for a Sienna for about $100 more than an Uplander or similar from Avis. I'll very likely go with the Alamo deal because it's a system I know, the kiosk is fast, and we'll have a vehicle I like more. That may seem outrageous to some, but Alamo has also given me very good customer service at MCO, so I'm glad to stick with them versus go with an unknown.

Yeah, I just have a hard time believing its really an Uplander. I know they've made them for fleet sales for a the last 2 years or so, but I'm not sure they make them at all anymore.

The 8 pax seating can be valuable because you can fold down the rear seats and put everyone in the first 2 rows...or some combo like that. You can fit more luggage and "stuff." We'll be traveling with 4 adults and 2 children...