Which car to drive to WDW?

[heatherwillmom]

We are going to WDW next week for our first MNNSHP although we have been many times at other times of the year. Up until about a year & a half ago, I had an Expedition so we had plenty of room traveling. I traded it for a sports car. DH had said we could just rent a SUV if we needed it for vacations. We rented a Surburban last year for our WDW trip. This will be a shorter trip, only staying 5 days.This trip will only be the 4 of us, me, DH, DD(17) & DS(15). DH wants to take his Honda that gets 45 MPG. It has a decent size trunk, but DD & I take a lot of stuff including snacks & a cooler for the road. It's a 12 hour drive each way. DD wants to take her Jeep Liberty. She only get 17 MPG city but she's never taken it on a trip so we don't know about highway mileage. We would have more room in the Jeep but I can't decide if I want more room or better gas mileage. Opinions?

 

[jmkjr72]

well the liberty isnt going to get much better on the higway just like an explorer with a v6 it suffers from lack of power to move the big heavy sail down the higway

honestly with gas as expensive as it is i would take the honda and down size what i need to bring

 

[tobikaye]

Test out how much you can get in the trunk of the Honda. Use the suitcases and bags and see what room you have left for a cooler if it would not fit in the back seat. If anything, since it is only a 12 hour drive, maybe plan on forgoing the cooler and just getting these when you stop for gas/bathroom breaks or use a soft sided smaller cooler with less drinks. I've done this on 16 hour drives. I will not forgo my snacks, but I just pack a smaller bag that can fit at someone's feet.

If you find that it will not fit then consider the other vehicle. I've traveled to FL in vehicles that only get about 20-22 mpg highway and those that get 30-32 mpg highway. Being able to travel longer without stopping was great.

 

[heatherwillmom]

These are some great thoughts. We used to go in an Expedition that got 18 MPG. I think I can use a small soft sided cooler & a small snack bag. I will have to go with a smaller suitcase too but it's only 5 days this time