Renting a passenger van vs. flying

[flagdaytwins]

Of course we'd rather fly to Disney, but there are 8 of us (two families) and currently airfare (as of today) is in the ballpark of $2,500 for all 8. Plus $200 for two cars to park for a week at an airport.

If we drove, it'd be in one "car" to facilitate 4 adults who can drive with a goal of driving straight through.

We'd have to rent a passenger van for the trip for 4 adults and 4 kids who like to fight. Any one have advice on that (not on the kids on the van)? pros and cons?

We're staying offsite so we'll need the passenger van for the week.

The drive would be from southern CT.

 

[tazlikesrobots]

Be careful of how your rental contract is done. Most car rental companies do not allow vehicles to travel beyond neighboring states. Large passenger vans are also somewhat on the high side (60+ dollars a day here in TX), so you may not be saving all that much by the time you add gas, taxes, etc.....

 

[Minniemouse07]

As the owner of an 8 passenger van (Toyota Sienna) you will be hard pressed to fit 8 people (half of them adults) AND all your luggage into one van.

 

[tjmw2727]

We have done the drive from New England and IMHO I would do anything to avoid it - especially in your situation.

I would look into flying separately, flying out of boston or a regional airport, using a shuttle service to and from the airport to save the parking fee, offsite parking and coupons etc any thing I could think of to bring the price down.

If you did drive together you will have to rent a premium car (surburban or a van) and that will be pricey. Once you arrive then you are stuck on one schedule and there is no option for separating. We travel with family all the time and rarely spend the entire day together. Usually meet for meals and parades or swim breaks and maybe 1/2 day at a park together.

If you do manage to fly, then once you arrive, if you are not locked into the offsite accomodations then maybe a value or moderate at WDW would actually be affordable when you price it out. Complimentary transportation to and from the airport and between the hotels and parks vs the rental of a van or two cars.

Good luck ~