Seven seater vehicles

[pascalstongue]

Hi,

We will be a party of seven, five adults and two young children travelling from the UK next year.

I booked car hire with Avis via British Airways and at the time didn't really think too much about the size of vehicle I was booking. A seven seater is stated as being a Dodge Grand caravan or similar. Since booking I've come to realise that it may be a bit of a squeeze trying to fit the seven of us, plus four (or so) suitcases, plus two strollers!!

I've tried looking at the Grand caravan on Youtube but I'm having trouble gauging the size in comparison to similar vehicles we have here in the U.K.

Is it completely unrealistic that the seven of us can fit in the vehicle? We don't mind if we are slightly uncomfortable as we will only be making short journeys in it and will mostly rely on Disney transport. If so I will book half the party onto the ME and they can take half the luggage. If the general opinion is that there is no way we will all fit I will pay to upgrade the car. If so should I be looking at an 8 or 12 seater?

BTW we are all fairly short in stature apart from DH who will be driving anyway!!

Thanks

 

[Madzac]

There will be 7 of us this trip, 3 adults and 4 children and we have the same thing booked. I think you will be fine. Our car was recently in the shop and this is what we were given as a loaner and we LOVED it. There were two seats in front, two in center and a long seat in the back that would fit three. You could easily put the two kids in your party and one adult back there. The back was also VERY roomy, lots of space of luggage, etc. If you couldnt fit the strollers both in back there should even be room in the mid section.

 

[NJRRK]

Being from the UK, I think your DH would not be comfortable driving anything larger than a Caravan. Unless he happens to be a bus or, as you say, lorry driver.

You may be a little cramped when you have your luggage and everyone in the vehicle, but you will find a way to fit it all. Without the luggage you will have plenty of room.

 

[njmom47]

I drive an older model of the Grand Caravan but I can't imagine the configurations are that much different. There should be plenty of room! We have done a few long trips in the van (all 5 of us, plus luggage, including luggage for 2 teen girls and baseball equipment which probably equals a couple of strollers ) and were perfectly comfortable. DH, DS and I all drive the van, and I'm 5'9, dh is 6'2 and ds is 6'4, and we are all comfortable driving it.

 

[Cricket2]

I don't know if the current model is like this anymore but there used to be versions of the Caravan/T&C/Routan where the 3rd row was removable that had less luggage room behind the seats than the stow-and-go version (which most rentals are now) and there is no way that would fit 4 bags behind it.

 

[SmallWorld71]

I think you will be fine. My mother has a Grand Caravan and we often take 7 in it. Generally speaking, we put the 3 smallest (and by smallest, I mean skinniest) people in the back seat. (Unless one of the people is small enough that they require a car seat. Car seats take up a lot of room so usually we put DNiece(2) in one of the middle seats.)
We find that there is enough room for all of our stuff in the back. And, if not, there is space in the middle that can fit things as well. You would just need the people in the back to get in first.
If you were going on long journeys, I might suggest something bigger. But, I think this will suit your needs fine. I also agree with PP. If you aren't already used to driving a mini van or something similar, it is going to seem huge enough for the driver.

 

[pascalstongue]

Thanks very much for all your replies. It's put my mind at rest that we will all fit.

 

[wlfans]

I hate to be the one to knock the Caravan, but I recently rented one while my Sienna was getting fixed. We are also 5 adults and two kids. My Sienna will fit our luggage due to the angle in which the seats can move. The Caravan could not fit the same luggage because the seats do not position to an angle less than 90 degrees.
Now we have two 25" bags and five 28-29 bags. The two 25 will fit in the access between the seats.
We're driving to the airport in a Sienna, but have to rent a 12 passenger van to fit the luggage after first securing a Caravan from Avis.
If possible it may be worth it to rent one if you can in the UK. If all the luggage is 25" I don't think you would behave a problem with the Caravan. It will be tight. I was amazes at the room between the front and second row. Also between the second row in the aisle there is room or a 25" bags.
Good luck.

 

[jameswilson799]

Being from the UK, I think your DH would not be comfortable driving anything larger than a Caravan. Unless he happens to be a bus or, as you say, lorry driver.

You may be a little cramped when you have your luggage and everyone in the vehicle, but you will find a way to fit it all. Without the luggage you will have plenty of room.

My opinion is the same as ^. You should think about it.

 

[gmeh1]

I don't know if the current model is like this anymore but there used to be versions of the Caravan/T&C/Routan where the 3rd row was removable that had less luggage room behind the seats than the stow-and-go version (which most rentals are now) and there is no way that would fit 4 bags behind it.

There is more than enough room for 4 bags, carry ons and strollers in the newer Caravans and T&Cs. The seats are no longer removeable in the two I just mentioned, they, do, however, collapse and lie flat.

 

[gmeh1]

I hate to be the one to knock the Caravan, but I recently rented one while my Sienna was getting fixed. We are also 5 adults and two kids. My Sienna will fit our luggage due to the angle in which the seats can move. The Caravan could not fit the same luggage because the seats do not position to an angle less than 90 degrees.
Now we have two 25" bags and five 28-29 bags. The two 25 will fit in the access between the seats.
We're driving to the airport in a Sienna, but have to rent a 12 passenger van to fit the luggage after first securing a Caravan from Avis.
If possible it may be worth it to rent one if you can in the UK. If all the luggage is 25" I don't think you would behave a problem with the Caravan. It will be tight. I was amazes at the room between the front and second row. Also between the second row in the aisle there is room or a 25" bags.
Good luck.

I am constantly amazed (daily) at the amount of "stuff"' people manage to fit into the 7 seater minivans. Even more amazed when there are only 4 or 5 people and we collapse the back seats, easy as 1, 2, 3, 4.

 

[mwmom]

We frequently rent Caravans on vacation and it would be very difficult for us to get all of our gear in one with all 7 of us (5 adults, 2 teens and 1 child). If we HAD to do it, we could probably make it work from the airport to hotel, knowing that we would have things in our lap and possibly under our feet. If it were me, I would send some people with the luggage on ME just to keep from stressing about it. That way I would know it was definitely going to work. Without the luggage, you can easily get all 7 of you from park to park in the Caravan.

 

[NJRRK]

I reiterate; you may be cramped from the airport to hotel, but you'll be fine around disney.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

op, another idea, have all but driver use the ME bus and take luggage to resort while driver drives the minivan to resort and do the reverse back to airport. only time i see a problem is at airport both ways. gtsntrd it was a Make A Wish trip but we just fit a 7 passenger with luggage with 2 adults and 3 under8 year olds. think this would be a good way to handle luggage.

 

[monorailsilver]

Well I have a caravan & I hate it & can't wait to get rid of it but it was the cheapest 3rd row option for us (not that you asked).

Anyways, yes you can easily fit 7 in it & put the kids in the back with the smallest adult.

But suitcases & strollers depending on size may not fit.

I assume it will have the stow & go option but you can't stow a suitcase there, possibly a duffle bag/soft bag or two.

The 'trunk'/back space is deep but there isn't alot of room. I had more room in my SUV then I had in that.

I have had to put stuff between the middle row seats but there is no way anything can go in front of those seats due to leg room.

I do like the option of a few taking ME & someone else taking the rental.

I wouldn't go bigger just for luggage when you do have that ME option.

I'd take a picture of the inside (PM me) if you want but it is a pit of despair right now with soccer (football to you) & baseball stuff all over it...yeah...3 kids aren't exactly mindful of their trash...