uhaul

[resQmermaid]

Oh yes! We rae a family of 6 in a mini van. So we will have to put luggage or the kids(hehehe) in a trailer. I am not so thrilled about uhaul but we just don't have the room for both in our mini van. LOLOLOLO. Someone has offered to take some of our luggage but we are not leaving at the same time. Husband doesn't want to be separated from luggage. and we just don't know how much room they will have because they are camping.

 

[jsginmd]

Don't think I've ever heard of someone taking a U-haul to WDW!

As an option, could you rent or buy one of those roof storage containers? I've seen both hard- and soft-sided (like luggage) that strap onto your roof.

Please don't take this the wrong way but since you didn't mention how long your trip was, perhaps you can find some ways to pack less? There are usually great packing tips on the Tips Board and we always find we don't use everything we pack (including clothes). It might even be cheaper to pick up some things when you get there (compared to a U-haul rental).

Good luck!

 

[resQmermaid]

Yeah! We have knida thought about that but..... I have two almost teens one big boy with long legs. And two little ones we have no "under the seat room". I don't know what we are going to do. I also think that my husband wants to do some cave diving on the way down. And we are coming from Slidell La, it is a 12 to 13 hours trip.
I guess we are just talking about our options.

 

[gibbys1]

We bought a soft sided "bag" for the top of our van. It looks like a big duffle bag and boy does it hold a lot of stuff.

 

[holycow]

I was going to suggest that too...I think I've seen them at Target for 29 or 39...they look pretty big too!...

Good luck to you!

HC

 

[jsginmd]

Another option I've heard about is mailing/UPS/FedEx packages to your resort ahead of you. From what I've heard, most people do this with snacks/water/etc., but I suppose you could do it with clothes too. Unfortunately, I don't have any idea what the cost might be compared to a U-haul rental.

Ask around on these boards or call your resort directly to find out how to do it. Don't know how difficult it would be for the return trip.

 

[Mic]

We purchased 1 soft,collapsable bag for the roof of our van, and we were surprised how much fit in there! We have a family of 6 in a full-size Safari van, and are usually able to put everything inside. However, last June, we took 3 extra teens with us, and wanted to leave the back of the van free for their luggage(since they were girls). We were able to put all of our luggage(4 reg. size pilot cases and 2 small ones)in the bag on the roof, as well as 2 12-packs of soda. We had considered driving a 2nd vehicle, but decided it was not necessary with the foof-top carrier. I can honestly say the carrier was well worth the money, and I am kicking myself for not getting 2 of them, as our van will hold 2 on the roof. I suggest you look into this before a u-haul.

 

[resQmermaid]

How bad is gas mileage?

 

[cynjam]

I would think it would be better than dragging a uhaul. We have used hard and soft side carriers in the past. Soft side is definetly more convient. When you arrive and unload, just fold up the carrier and stick it in the closest or under the bed. Be careful when you buy, especially Target's, weather resistant is NOT the same as water proof! We figured that out the hard way. After driving 16 hours in the rain, all the clothes in the front suitcases were soaked. Since then I bouht a can of spray water proofing, no more worries.

 

[Mic]

We estimated having the roof-top carrier added about $6 extra to our gas total for a 9-hour drive. I did not think that was too bad. My DH tried placing it on a different way, and it seemed to have less wind-resistance. Ours, too, is only water-resistant, but nothing got wet inside, and it rained all through GA and SC on our way home. If you are concerned about the weather, you could always wrap everything in a (heavy) plastic bag before placing it in the carrier. This is still way less expensive than a u-haul.

 

[Deb & Bill]

From Slidell, you are only looking at 8-9 hours on the road. An easy drive. It's 14 from Shreveport and we are way on the other side of the state from you.

If you rent a U-Haul, where will you park your vehicle? The trailer will make parking much more difficult. I'd go with a roof top carrier.

 

[kileybeth]

oh yes you can fit! we once took our family of six to Atlanta in a regular length Crysler mini van in a snow storm the whole way with only one soft sided carrier on top! That trip included one carseat, a full size stroller and a porta crib not to mention a full size cooler in the van plus a large LLbean bag full of snacks and other food stuffs and at least one full size suitcase and overnight bag per customer! Let's not even menton the pillows, blankies, walkmen, bags of books and colored pencils that trip involved. Oh, and we just wrapped each bag in the car top carrier in a black trash bag and despite the fact that it literally snowed the whole way down until Georgia where it turned to heavy thunderestorms <sigh> everything was dry as could be when we unloaded. the bellhop loved us, I'm sure they are still calling us the Beverly Hillbillies to this day. We just put all our blankies and pillows and kids toys and our food on the first luggage cart and then plopped out whole soft sided carrier on their other one and unpacked it in the hall outside our room and then just folded it up and out of the way for the duration (7 nights) <grin> BTW, it was a full service Marriot in one of Atlanta's nicer sections of town! hehe

And then, the trip to beat all trips was our '96 Ford Aerostar, extended length again with 6 people, 2 adults, one 6 foot teenager, one 5 foot jr high, one 5 and one 2 yr old! Nothing on the roof for a 14 day road trip, everyting in the back (yup! still a stoller and carseat ) and cooler and food bag too. Everyone had leg room and no one felt they didn't have enough clothes or whatever needed. and I am a horrible packer (everything but the kitchen sink)

so. . . you can do it. Hubby says difference in gas milage was truly negligable with the carrier. Pulling a trailer is way more of a deficiet not to mention $$$. Just think of the bonding

Have a great trip.

 

[resQmermaid]

What is the exact name of the car carrier? I have been searching on line and cannot find them

 

[kileybeth]

try www.autogeek.net, they sell several Highland brand car top carriers. ours was a cheapy, I can't remember from were, maybe k-mart so I don't think it was "waterproof" per say. anyway they do sell different sizes and have a 10% discount code until end of this month. don't know what shipping might add to cost however. do try Wal-mart and K-mart and Target though.

and what is cave diving by the way? does it invovle splunking and such? lots of gear for that too?

 

[Mic]

Kiley-
I think the bell hops at the Boardwalk still call us the Beverly hillbillies, too! Imagine what we looked like this past June in a '99 Safari van with a carrier on top and 7(yes, count them, 7) kids falling out when the doors opened. I am sure we stood out among the Navigators, towncars, and limos!

resQ-
We purchased the car-top carrier at a K-mart that was going out of business last May, and I have seen them at Target and Sears recently. Some are pricier than others, so shop around. I paid less than $25 for mine, but it was the last week of the clearance, so I am guessing the original price was $60-70.

 

[AprilsZoo]

Got ours at Wally-World. Dh says we paid $49 - I thought it was $69 - but he is better at remembering things like that, so....

Brand name is Axius.

Try this site to see it: http://www.axius.com/html/products/org/org_other.htm

 

[resQmermaid]

I just about have my husband talked out of bringing a uhaul to WDW. I went pricing those roof racks today, the one thaty looks like a duffle bag. Well, everyone mentioned looking at Target. Well, we do not have a Target. But my brother in law's brother is a manger of one and I called to ask if he could look. He offered for me to use theirs. I thought that was really nice. So, well have to see what the hubby says. I really appreciate your input.