Affordable SUV Rentals

[PrincessNelly]

Hi All,

We've decided that for our trip later this year, we will most likely want a rental car. We are a group of 5 adults & 1 three year old.

Based on charts, it looks like a SUV/Minivan is only option (Sits 7 with room for 4 large suitcases).

We aren't traveling until December & the cheapest rate I could find is $60 a day plus taxes & fees.

Any tips for a cheaper option? Will the rate get cheaper closer to December?

 

[davper]

You will find that rates will fluctuate until that time. Most of your fluctuation and savings will come in the few weeks before your trip.

Reserve a vehicle now that you can cancel without fee. I use Costcotravel.com and get great rates. But you have to be a Costco member.

 

[powellrj]

Just keep checking every few days at different times of day and hop onto one when you find a great price. It doesn't cost to make a reservation, just don't forget to cancel the ones you don't use.

 

[momto4obkids]

I check www.carrentalsavers.com and www.autoslash.com

Auto slash was great this time for me. We are renting a 15 passenger van at MCO for Nov.26-Dec.4 and everywhere I checked was 800 and up. Autoslash emails you a list of prices from all the companies and I ended up getting the van for 491.00 from Dollar!

 

[Ngwira]

I check www.carrentalsavers.com and www.autoslash.com

Auto slash was great this time for me. We are renting a 15 passenger van at MCO for Nov.26-Dec.4 and everywhere I checked was 800 and up. Autoslash emails you a list of prices from all the companies and I ended up getting the van for 491.00 from Dollar!

I second autoslash.com. It was cheaper than costco.

 

[tvguy]

If they are small adults, a mini-van might work. Average size, you're really going to need a full sized SUV or van.
We took 2 family trips last year, 5 adults, rented an Excursion XL for one, the most comfortable (although my kids said our 29 year old Suburban is roomier in the back seats)
Rented a Nissan Quest for the other, same 5 adults....who felt like sardines.

 

[mjkacmom]

My family of 7 fits well in our Honda Odyssey, the kids range in age from 13 - 19, ds17 is the largest at 6'1", 200 pounds.

 

[ski_mom]

I check www.carrentalsavers.com and www.autoslash.com

Auto slash was great this time for me. We are renting a 15 passenger van at MCO for Nov.26-Dec.4 and everywhere I checked was 800 and up. Autoslash emails you a list of prices from all the companies and I ended up getting the van for 491.00 from Dollar!

I've never heard of autoslash. I just sent in for a quote for our trip.

Is it like other places, you can keep submitting for a quote and if the price goes down, you can get the lower price?

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

I've had good luck with Priceline. I put in a price I was comfortable paying and they took that bid. It wasn't for an SUV but a small car but saved about $50 for a 3 day trip.

 

[momto4obkids]

I've never heard of autoslash. I just sent in for a quote for our trip.

Is it like other places, you can keep submitting for a quote and if the price goes down, you can get the lower price?

Yes you can submit for a new quote whenever you want and if you end up booking through them they keep checking your rate and rebook it for you if there's a cheaper rate.

 

[tvguy]

My family of 7 fits well in our Honda Odyssey, the kids range in age from 13 - 19, ds17 is the largest at 6'1", 200 pounds.

Never seen a place rent Honda mini-vans. My DD is 6', and DS is 6'6", I'm 6'2" , DW is 5' 8" and DS's Fiance is 5'5" so she got stuck in the back back seat all the time.

 

[PrincessNelly]

My family of 7 fits well in our Honda Odyssey, the kids range in age from 13 - 19, ds17 is the largest at 6'1", 200 pounds.

Im not so concerned with us fitting 6 people in the car. Just how well we can fit 6 people plus large suitcases for each person.

 

[monorailsilver]

Last year we rented a minivan, like we have at home, a crappy dodge. We are a family of 5-dh, me, 3 kids (14,12,9) and my mom. The back of the van is super roomy for luggage (and beach gear since we drove down and took the auto train 2 other trips) and worse corks to worse you can flip down the single 3rd row just for the ride to the hotel for luggage.

Anyways, back to last year, we rented a minivan, van #1 with the no smoking sticker smelled like an ash tray, van #2 was even worse, van #3 was a little better but still smelled like smoke.

So they gave us an upgrade, a traverse. It was more comfy but beach gear did not fit as good and our luggage, well my kids had their duffle bags between them and there were back packs between the middle row seats. We had 4 suitcases-carry on size, 2 duffle bags, 5 back packs and my mom had a small carry on. It was a tight squeeze luggage wise (and beach wise).

So whatever you do don't rent a crossover!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Last year we rented a minivan, like we have at home, a crappy dodge. We are a family of 5-dh, me, 3 kids (14,12,9) and my mom. The back of the van is super roomy for luggage (and beach gear since we drove down and took the auto train 2 other trips) and worse corks to worse you can flip down the single 3rd row just for the ride to the hotel for luggage.

Anyways, back to last year, we rented a minivan, van #1 with the no smoking sticker smelled like an ash tray, van #2 was even worse, van #3 was a little better but still smelled like smoke.

So they gave us an upgrade, a traverse. It was more comfy but beach gear did not fit as good and our luggage, well my kids had their duffle bags between them and there were back packs between the middle row seats. We had 4 suitcases-carry on size, 2 duffle bags, 5 back packs and my mom had a small carry on. It was a tight squeeze luggage wise (and beach wise).

So whatever you do don't rent a crossover!

And a Traverse has more interior space than a Yukon/Tahoe or Expedition.

The next step up in space from a Traverse is a minivan.

Next step up from a minivan is extended length utility (Suburban/Yukon XL or Expedition XL).

Next step up from there is a 12-passenger van (don't get the 15-passenger van because there is NO room behind the rearmost seat).

 

[momto4obkids]

I just got an email from autoslash saying they rebooked my 8 day full size van from 489.00 to 301.00 with Dollar!

 

[cindala]

I just checked on autoslash and the only car company they give me an option for is Sixt which is a shuttle drive from MCO. Am I doing something wrong? I put in for all car types and no preferences on car company chosen.

 

[monorailsilver]

And a Traverse has more interior space than a Yukon/Tahoe or Expedition.

The next step up in space from a Traverse is a minivan.

Next step up from a minivan is extended length utility (Suburban/Yukon XL or Expedition XL).

Next step up from there is a 12-passenger van (don't get the 15-passenger van because there is NO room behind the rearmost seat).

The traverse did not have a lot of storage in the back. It was 6 of us most days, occasionally a 7th going to the beach. We would bring 5 chairs, 2 umbrellas, the beach cart, cooler, 3 boogie boards and a few sand toys, yes we fit it in but boogie boards/beach chairs were at our knees.

The Yukon/Tahoe would be wider in the back for storage and a little higher. I hated the traverse. We are car shopping and while I love the look of the Acadia (I know it is changing) and now I have been in the traverse I am not sure I want it now, granted car shopping but not buying anytime soon!

 

[crisi]

Do you really need a car for all people and all the luggage?

i.e. if you are going to be splitting up the group - some of the luggage and some of the people could take Magical Express. Then if you are splitting the group during your stay, some people could use Disney transportation and you could use a smaller car. Or if not, you can get the minivan, but with some people and their luggage going ME, you'll be able to fit everything in for the airport trips.

We've found it cheaper to skip the car and use taxis plus ME, plus Disney transportation.

I have a Honda Pilot that is supposed to fit seven. But it certainly doesn't fit seven AND their luggage. It fits five and their luggage pretty well.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

The traverse did not have a lot of storage in the back. It was 6 of us most days, occasionally a 7th going to the beach. We would bring 5 chairs, 2 umbrellas, the beach cart, cooler, 3 boogie boards and a few sand toys, yes we fit it in but boogie boards/beach chairs were at our knees.

The Yukon/Tahoe would be wider in the back for storage and a little higher. I hated the traverse. We are car shopping and while I love the look of the Acadia (I know it is changing) and now I have been in the traverse I am not sure I want it now, granted car shopping but not buying anytime soon!

The Yukon/Tahoe is only slightly wider inside & the seatback is even closer to the hatch. And while the roofline is higher, so is the floor. As a people/cargo mover, the Tahoe/Yukon is a step down (albeit a small one).

The new Acadia is getting smaller, unfortunately - moving from a full-size to a mid-size more in line with the Highlander & Explorer. The 3rd row won't even be standard anymore

 

[momto4obkids]

I just checked on autoslash and the only car company they give me an option for is Sixt which is a shuttle drive from MCO. Am I doing something wrong? I put in for all car types and no preferences on car company chosen.

Towards the top there's a small link that says change your search. Click that then you will see a drop down box that says car company, click on that and switch to no preference and search again.

If that doesn't work then just click on the

"Didn't find anything that meets your needs? Click here to submit a request and we'll get back to you via email with other options"