Update - Rent a Mini Van or Drive our car to wdw ? About This Page:

[AngelaVa]

Rent a Mini Van or Drive our car to wdw? We will be driving from Va.

DH - wants to rent the mini van, cost $700.00 - $900.00 for a week.
Me - drive our car 2000 GrandAm, we have the turtle (carhop). Cost just gas $40.00 - $75.00

There will be 4 ppl in the car? As you all know that once you get to wdw you do not need a car. We did not use one the last trip at all.

So my question is what to do. Rent or Save money! My DH asked me to post this, what one wins is the way we go!

PS. As you see I say SAVE THE MONEY! HINT, HINT. lol [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Thanks
Angela ºoº

[ 03-08-2002, 07:59 PM: Message edited by: AngelaVa ]

[I Luv Pooh]

If it costs $700 to $900 to rent the mini van, you could probably fly there cheaper. As you said, once you're there you don't need the car - unless you want to go off property.

So my vote would be either drive your own car or fly. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[ 03-06-2002, 11:15 AM: Message edited by: I Luv Pooh ]

[minemoz1]

I'm in the saving $$ category, too.

Take you car as long as it's up for the trip! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] The $700-900 it will cost you to rent, would probably be close to airfare for all of you. Plus, you could use that $ to stay an extra night (or 2 [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] ) or on a few nice meals.

The only concern would be roadside assistance. I would get a membership to AAA (if you haven't one already).

[Starshine]

Another vote for saving the $$! As long as all the luggage will fit in the turtle, I'd go with the car. I agree with Michele- just think how many meals or other fun stuff you can buy with the extra money. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[ 03-06-2002, 11:53 AM: Message edited by: Starshine ]

[Ariel66]

We always rent a car to go on 'vacation', althought the price you are paying sounds high-you may be able to get a better deal around $280-$350 for a weekly rate of a mini-van. My husband likes it for these reasons: 1) if the car breaks down all we do is turn in the keys and get another one. 2)it puts less milage on our cars and we can keep them longer without having to get a loan for a new car (saves $$ in the long run) 3) a drive that long makes it just about time to change the oil anyway (saves $$ again) 4)If there is a wreck a bigger vehicle is safer and again-just turn in the keys and get a new one -no waiting for days to get it fixed because it is undrivable (could be a money saving depending on what is the penalty for how your room is booked) I like it for these reasons 1) we have lots more room (and can drive a more economical car on a daily basis) as there are only three of us 2) the drive is much more bearable if we can get to snacks and drinks along the way -there are less stops -if your kids are old enough to eat in the car and not take too many potty breaks 3)It MAKES me clean out the car before we return it-or otherwise I would probably have souveniers stashed in my car in odd places forever. 4) If your children are still little and you need to temporarily get to the back to grab a dropped stuffed animal or pacifier, mini-vans are MUCH safer than cars for getting to kids in the back. (of course once a child sees you unbuckle your safety belt along the road you are history as far as getting him to wear one)
I hope this helps-have fun.
Kel

[AngelaVa]

Ariel66
i know that these rates for the mini-van looks high. I have got them from looking on the internet form the rental places. So if there are places that rent under $300.00 I will go for that price.
Please tell me where you rent your van from.

Thanks
AngelaVa

[DisneyNutMary]

I say rent the mini-van...if anything goes wrong with it, you can just return it to the nearest branch of the rental company and get a different car. No need to put extra mileage on your own car.

[September]

One suggestion for saving $$ would be to check out alternate places to rent cars. I know in our area a local Ford dealership rents Windstars for $350-400/week...and that includes 200 miles per day. It's mainly used by people getting body shop work & repairs done, so it's not advertised, but anybody can use them.

Just a thought.

[BelleFan]

Have you tried travelocity or expedia? I've used them for air travel but they also search for car rentals. I'd give them a try for your van rental. Or maybe even priceline although I've never try it.

I can see both sides to this debate. Are the 4 passengers all adults? If so, 4 of you in a Grand Am is really going to old on the trip. If the other 2 are kids then I wouldn't worry about it much. Although the convenience of the van would be nice but not completely necessary.

[Johnsgal]

Hi, Angela VA! We're driving as well, from AL. And, we're taking the car, our own car (Saturn) as I have talked my DH into staying an extra day instead of renting a bigger car/mini-van.

Still, it was a tough, tough decision to make as I really wanted the extra legroom.

Also, as a last resort, I plan to priceline in hopes of getting an amazingly cheap rental car deal...but, bottom line, I'm sure we'll end up driving the Saturn, and thinking its worth it to have the extra night's stay at CBR. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[stonewall]

Are there kids involved? It is worth the extra $$ if they are! We really enjoy the freedom of having our own car at WDW, and if you are staying on site, parking is free anyway!

[DisneyEveryJanuary]

Try www.orbitz.com
We always use them. We used to rent mini-vans for the drive from NY.
We finally bought our own mini-van last year since we do drive every year.

[Ursunique2001]

Okay let me add my 2-cents...

When driving long distances like that I prefer to rent a van rather than use my car. The fact that there will be four people riding would sway me towards a van. (by the way, are these 4 adults?) If your answer to that question is yes then let me warn you. We rode to SC with 4 adults and on child in my full size car 2 years ago and even without the child, we barely got all our stuff in the car. I actually sent one of my sons bags back with someone else. He only had one other bag which was small. We had stuff on our laps, the trunk was packed to capacity and I vowed I would never travel like that again. The problem was not going, but coming back. We had brought so many things while down there that we had no where to put them. It was a mess. Well last year we rented a van. Can you believe we actually just about filled that too, but at least we were comfortable.

If it is 4 adults go with the van. If it is two adults and 2 children then you can probably do the car.

[AngelaVa]

Thank you all for the input. First of all yes there is 4 adults in a way. DH, Me DD who is 17 but very small built. and maybe her boyfriend.
I would like to rent a van but will not spend as much money as the sites are asking for now. If they go down to around $200.00 then I will.

Now for a question. Is there a way that we could just rent the van to WDW, turn it in there, and rent one for the return trip?

Thanks!
Angela

[Bert & Sully]

Usually more expensive to do two one-ways; than one complete round trip in our experience.