Will we fit?

[jack'smom]

I have rented a full size car from Alamo (Chevy Impala or similar) and am wondering if all of our luggage will fit.

We will probably have 3 good sized suitcases, a rolling carryon, a double stroller, and a couple of backpacks. We will also have 2 kids in the backseat--one in a car seat and one in a booster.

We usually get a van or SUV, but are picking the car up at MCO and dropping it off in Tampa this time, so prices are astronomical!

Thanks for any help!

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

We just rented an Impala (but from Hertz).

We have DD in a booster, and DS in a car seat, DW and me.

There will be room in the backseat for the backpacks, between your children.

I don't know the sizes/shapes of what you have, but I can tell you what we did.

I can tell you what we did. We have a single stroller, but it's from DS's travel system, so it's a larger one. We put that in first, and it fit in the back of the trunk, between the wheel wells. There was enough room in front of that for two suitcases, one on top of the other on one side. There was enough room on the other sidefor a carry on and some other smaller things.

I don't think there's enough room in the trunk for a large stroller and 3 large suit cases.

Can you or DH hold one of the suitcases in your lap in the passenger seat? DW has been able to do that in a pinch. If you put the child seat behind the passenger seat, you can put the passenger seat all the way back, so there may be room for you or DH and the third suitcase. But, I see you are driving from Orlando to Tampa, so I don't know if you want to do that for a long trip.

How long will you be in Tampa for? Can you pack what you need for Tampa in 2 suitcases, and ship the third suitcase home?

 

[disney david]

I have rented a full size car from Alamo (Chevy Impala or similar) and am wondering if all of our luggage will fit.

We will probably have 3 good sized suitcases, a rolling carryon, a double stroller, and a couple of backpacks. We will also have 2 kids in the backseat--one in a car seat and one in a booster.

We usually get a van or SUV, but are picking the car up at MCO and dropping it off in Tampa this time, so prices are astronomical!

Thanks for any help!

if you have a costco membership they offer good discount sometimes with alamo. well go on costco.com click on travel then rental car. then alamo they have some offers no need to login in just click the buttons they say print the cupon and bring your card but all the times i did this alamo did check or ask. just use the self checkin but you my get that one alamo worker trying to show off and ask and sometimes the rates are still high but thought it be worth it even if you can get the full size car cheaper.

 

[tinkgirl1984]

I'm not sure about an Impala, but I'm pretty sure everything would fit in the trunk in a Malibu if it's possible to rent one instead. I actually drive a Malibu and the trunk is huge. The back of the backseat is hollow, and the trunk extends that far. If something falls all the way to the back of the trunk, I actually have to crawl in all the way up to my knees to reach it, and I'm 5'8.

 

[mareed]

I have rented a full size car from Alamo (Chevy Impala or similar) and am wondering if all of our luggage will fit.

We will probably have 3 good sized suitcases, a rolling carryon, a double stroller, and a couple of backpacks. We will also have 2 kids in the backseat--one in a car seat and one in a booster.

We usually get a van or SUV, but are picking the car up at MCO and dropping it off in Tampa this time, so prices are astronomical!

Thanks for any help!

If the 3 good sized suitcases are large roller bags, then I don't think you'll fit. I'd say you'll be able to fit the double stroller and one large roller bag in the trunk, with smaller bags in the space around those items. Can you pack in a couple of smaller duffle bags instead of all the large roller bags? Duffle bags are much more flexible as far as filling in the trunk space around the stroller & larger bag(s). If you can keep it to 2 large bags, I'd say one would fit in the trunk with the stroller, and the other one in between the kids in the backseat. Definitely recommend duffles for the rest as they'll fit in the extra trunk space or under kids feet on the floorboard. The large bags are just too inflexible and won't fit in the leftover available trunk space after you load the double stroller.

 

[Jestocost]

In my experience, the only full-size cars with a trunk big enough to fit three full-size suitcases are the Lincoln Town Car and whatever the big Cadillac is. The others generally can handle only two. However, those smaller trunks frequently can hold two full-size bags and two mid-size or small bags. You may be able to get by with some creative packing and by stashing a few smaller pieces in the back seat. It's tough to say for sure. A van or SUV would be a better bet.

 

[jack'smom]

Thanks for everyone's replies.

I do think we will need 3 suitcases--I can pack the two boys in one suitcase, but my DH is leaving Tampa 5 days earlier than I am, so he'll need a suitcase and I will need a suitcase. Our double stroller is a Maclaren, so relatively small...

The suitcases would range from 26" to 28".

I do have a Costco membership, but so far everything is about $600-$700 for a van or SUV. I can get the car for $295 with taxes.

I really don't mind holding on to the suitcase, but am worried that it all still wouldn't fit. My parents have a Buick Regal--how would that compare? I can test run some suitcases at their house...

 

[snowy76]

I'm not sure about an Impala, but I'm pretty sure everything would fit in the trunk in a Malibu if it's possible to rent one instead. I actually drive a Malibu and the trunk is huge. The back of the backseat is hollow, and the trunk extends that far. If something falls all the way to the back of the trunk, I actually have to crawl in all the way up to my knees to reach it, and I'm 5'8.

An Impala is larger than a Malibu, so I think it would work.

I guess my question is, what's your comfort level? You may have bags under the kids' feet or yours. We would put up with it if the furthest we were going was Tampa, and the savings was significant.

PS, OP: I'm pretty sure the Regal and Impala are basically the same vehicle (my dad worked for GM for 30 years).

 

[CleoPahd]

We rented a Camry on our last trip and it fit 3 (2/28" and 1/26") suitcases. We were also able to squeeze a carry bag into the trunk as well, but it was tight. We could have never fit a stroller. Maybe you could put the stroller on the floor of the back seats. since your kids are in a car seat & booster seat, I'm guessing their feet don't touch the floor yet.

 

[webworm]

Thanks for everyone's replies.

I do think we will need 3 suitcases--I can pack the two boys in one suitcase, but my DH is leaving Tampa 5 days earlier than I am, so he'll need a suitcase and I will need a suitcase. Our double stroller is a Maclaren, so relatively small...

The suitcases would range from 26" to 28".

I do have a Costco membership, but so far everything is about $600-$700 for a van or SUV. I can get the car for $295 with taxes.

I really don't mind holding on to the suitcase, but am worried that it all still wouldn't fit. My parents have a Buick Regal--how would that compare? I can test run some suitcases at their house...

What dates were you looking for a rental?

 

[cel_disney]

I think you would fit but may have to creatively use the space int he backseat!

you may be able to fit a suitcase between the 2 carseats in the backseat - that would probably solve most issues depending on how deep the suitcase is!

The mac double would fit on the floor in the backseat if you needed it to, but it would probably also fit on top of the luggage in the trunk..

You may (and are probably accustomed to this anyway!) have a carryon bag near your feet...

I think you can make it work if you have too!!

 

[jack'smom]

Thanks for all of the information! Everyone has been so helpful.

We are arriving in Orlando on 9/17 and my husband would return the car in Tampa on 9/26.

The stroller definitely could fit along the backseat's floor and I don't mind having bags by feet or anything like that.

If we took 2 larger suitcases and 2 rolling carryons (plus backpacks), would that make a difference? We are flying Southwest, so we can have 2 bags per person for free, so that's ok. We don't have any duffel bags and I really don't want to go out and buy more luggage.

Also, an Impala is just the example that Alamo uses. Is this a fair estimate on trunk size for all of their cars? I would be able to pick my car from their full size row, right?

 

[GrtWtNorth]

I think you could use a full size car, but just recognize that you can't fit all your luggage in the trunk. There's lots of room in the back seat, between the child seats and/or between the floor and the child seats. Your kids might be grumpy with luggage bumping their arms or legs, but for the short trip between the airport and your resort, it's short-term pain / long term gain. (Just watch out for finger-pinching stroller parts.) Renting a larger vehicle can be an expensive alternative!

We had an awkward ride with four adults, two large bags, two medium bags, plus carry-on. For the ride to and from the airport (~30 minutes each way), the backseat passengers had to juggle some of our luggage between them. However, for the week we were staying in Orlando, we traveled in reasonable comfort, even making a day-trip to Tampa, no problem.

 

[Taja]

If you look at the vehicle classes on Alamo--not on the booking page, but on the home page--they give a description of how many people/bags fit into each class of car. Of course, they don't define "large," but it should give you some idea.

 

[NJRRK]

I drive a Grand Prix and the trunk is within inches the same size as an Impala. We have gone for 2 week trips with the following in the trunk: 4 26in suitcases, two backpack sized carryon type, large cooler and 5-6 12packs of soda/beer. With raingear on top.

Here's my suggestion:
1 - Put the suitcases in first, all the way back. (towards the front of the car).
2 - Next put in the rolling carryon and the backpacks (they all should fit).
3 - Put the stroller on top of all this. Make sure the latch is clear. You might have to force the trunklid down, but as long as you have nothing breakable on the outside of any of the suitcases this all should fit.

PPs have made it sound like the trunk of the Impala is small but it really is quite roomy, and it's deep too, with no hinges in the way of stuff.

 

[jack'smom]

I drive a Grand Prix and the trunk is within inches the same size as an Impala. We have gone for 2 week trips with the following in the trunk: 4 26in suitcases, two backpack sized carryon type, large cooler and 5-6 12packs of soda/beer. With raingear on top.

Here's my suggestion:
1 - Put the suitcases in first, all the way back. (towards the front of the car).
2 - Next put in the rolling carryon and the backpacks (they all should fit).
3 - Put the stroller on top of all this. Make sure the latch is clear. You might have to force the trunklid down, but as long as you have nothing breakable on the outside of any of the suitcases this all should fit.

PPs have made it sound like the trunk of the Impala is small but it really is quite roomy, and it's deep too, with no hinges in the way of stuff.

Thanks for the instructions!

Anyone see anything smaller than the Impala on the full size aisle? Hopefully I won't go there thinking we can do it and then get stuck with something smaller...