What would you do???

tigger2on

<font color=6699CC>I can't believe I read this WHO
Joined
Jun 8, 2000
Messages
2,519
Our Dilemma.....

4 adults..... with luggage. 1 infant .... with car seat and stroller!
1 Disabled child...... wheelchair and stroller!

How do we all squeeze into a single 7 seater minivan from Sanford to Disney?

We need a car for getting around the parks as we find it more convienent than the buses with the wheelchair!

Help!
 
I think you will need to either reserve a larger van or two vehicles.

We just barely squeezed into a mini-van (Chevy Astro) with 4 adults and 2 children. Only one child had a car seat. We had one medium sized suitcase each (2 of them would have fit airline guidelines for carry on) and some purse sized/small back pack sized carry on luggage. We also had a medium sized stroller.

We had smaller items on the floor of the seating area and the stroller between the sliding door and second row of seats (probably not all that safe). Luggage was piled to the top behind the last row of seats.

No way would a wheel chair and another car seat fit. Sorry.

Best wishes -
 
As long as the weather cooperates, you can always get luggage straps and put 2 of the largest bags on top of the van. That would free up a lot of space. Also, you could try for a van with 2 captains seats in the middle instead of the bench. I would think a wheelchair could fit there. That, or you could fold down one of the seats and place luggage on it and have 3 sit in the very back.
 

This would take some planning re: packing luggage, and packing the luggage into the van!!!

First suggestion is even though nothing is "guaranteed", only go with a company that does the larger wheel base vans (NOT reg. Caravan from Dollar for example).

I remember reading somewhere that you can't strap things onto the top of rental vehicles (at least out of their lot!), and you are not guaranteed a luggage rack, anyway. Has anyone had experience using a luggage rack on a rental?? That would solve your problem.

Doesn't Budget rent 10-passenger vans? That would solve your space problems, but create parking problems! LOL!

Patti
 
If so, I'd rent the mini van for the entire trip, and a compact from National or Alamo just for the arrival and departure days. Maybe two people could load the compact up with luggage (could use back seat too), and just drop off at the car care center of Dolphin once you get on property and check in. The mini-van will probably be fine for daily touring. Then for the return trip to the airport, pick up a car at the car care center the day before, load it up and return it at the airport. Picking up and returning at Car care center is very easy. They will provide transportation to/from anywhere in WDW (parks or resorts). Just a thought
 
Also, you could try for a van with 2 captains seats in the middle instead of the bench. I would think a wheelchair could fit there.
It looks like a lot of room, but it's not wide enough to fit a wheelchair in between the seats (unless it would fit when folded)
We have never traveled with the exact "configuration" of people that you have, but we have traveled with 4 adults, one older child and one child in a wheelchair (when she was little, she also had a car seat). On our last trip, my mom and niece came later in our trip and rode back to the airport with us, so on our return trip to the airport, we had 4 adults (one was my oldest DD), a 10 year old and an older child with a small adult size wheelchair. She also had a large rolling carry on bag for her communication computer.
As others mentioned, the only time you will have to deal with all your stuff is when you are coming from and going to the airport. Since you have 4 adults, your most comfortable option may be to split up like others mentiones; either rent a small car for the days you are coming and going or use one of the alternate transportation options like a towncar or Mears bus.
But, we were able to fit all of us in the van (not with lots of room to spare, but we did fit).
If the wheelchair folds at all, you can make it more compact and it should fit next to the middle row of seats. We sometimes take the wheelchair apart as far as it goes (pop off the wheels, remove the seat and back) and then stow the pieces wherever they fit, under seats,etc. If it doesn't fit there, you can place a suitcase standing up in that space and/or the stroller (depending on how small it folds up). If the wheelchair doesn't fold, then you need an extended van (like Grand Voyager) to have a wide enough space behind the back seat. That affects your ability to carry your other luggage. The one thing we have done in all our years of going to WDW is editing down what we take. The first years we went, we took much more stuff than we needed. So, take a look at what you are taking and you may find you don't need so much luggage. Then look at the luggage itself. It may be easier to carry 2 big bags, but it will be harder to stow them in the van.
 
I was thinking the same as Von Drake.....I spend the extra money and rent a small car for the day to drop off at the Car care center or Dolphin hotel....Depending on time of year you could probably pay about $30

Good luck

We've done 2 adults, 4 kids and lots of luggage and barely fit...without any car seat or Wheelchair...I think that would have put us over...we ususally end up with the kids haveing luggage at there feet to fit it all..
 














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