Big Problem!!!

[Big Mack]

Hi guys

i am travelling in three weeks with a party of 8 (six adults, 2 teenagers). I booked an eight seater through this site which i have done on four previous trips however this time i chose Alamo rather than Dollar as they were a bit cheaper.

The picture on the site was of a Ford E350 which again we have had on our four previous trips and i know has enough room for our needs.

However, once the voucher came through i noticed that Alamo provide a Toyota Sienna which does not look anywhere near as roomy as the Ford.

I have two worries, will the Toyota accomodate eight people plus eight suitcases?

Secondly, we always hire an electric scooter for my FIL who is wheelchair bound and this went into the rear of the Ford with no problems, dont know if the same can be said for the Toyota?

US Car Hire are being very good in trying to sort something out for us however at this short notice all of the larger vans are already booked so i may well be stuck with the Toyota.

If anyone has any experience of the Toyota i would be very grateful for your opinion.
Many thanks

Mack

[Robert5988]

Surely the Sienna is just a 'normal' seven(7) seater MPV - same as the Grand Caravan, Town and Country etc

[erowlands]

We like the sienna, it is a full 8 seater but you will find it difficult to get 8 suitcases in the boot,we have in the past had to put cases by the sliding doors once the passengers were seated,we did manage to get them all in though, the smaller type of scooter will fit in no problem.
I much prefer the sienna to the larger 12 seaters. With alamo you choose your car from the line of the class of car you have booked, you might get lucky and find a larger van than the Sienna

Eric

[Big Mack]

Thanks Guys

Eric, what do you mean by the smaller type of scooter? We have only ever had one type, didnt know there were different sizes?

Mack

[Tonish]

Not a hope of fitting eight plus eight suitcases in a Sienna. The E350 is basically a big converted transit van, the Sienna is like a large Ford galaxy or Chrysler whatsitsname. You will get eight people in (just), but forget the scooter. If you have another driver, I'd suggest hiring a small car as well.

[Robert5988]

The ones I have seen have been 7 seater.

However just looked up the Toyota US website and whilst most models are 7 seater, they do indeed have a 8 seater layout. However it is the same size - not bigger.

It is just a standard largish US MPV - as said above like a Grand caravan or town and country.

[randyj]

We have rented a toyota in the past it does fit 8 well but hopefully a small child is the 3 in these seats to be comfortable. Pending on past trips with how many we are travelling with it usually is a chev van which fits 7. We always deal with alamo and had a problem with our van this march of 2009 and they were very easy to deal with in switching in fact they up graded us to a Hummer at no charge for the inconvenince if the situation. we did only had four on this trip which was nice

[erowlands]

Hi Mack
the smaller scooter I meant are the three wheeler type which are foldable but are no where near the size of the full size one you hire in disney which would not fit in the Sienna.
As for passengers,if you are just going around the parks it will be a squeeze but if your planning Busch or similar it will be a bit of a struggle.
Eric

[CERICROWLEY]

Mack

What I would maybe suggest is to contact Roger at the carhire email and let me know, your concerns and it maybe possible to change your supplier to Dollar. It will obviously cost more as that was one of the reasons you took the Alamo car. but if you feel happier with Dollar then it possible to swap. Although there is still no guarantee you will get the car you normally have with Dollar either.

[Lyn]

Had a Sienna in October and loved it, but there were only 5 of us, think 8 would fit (unless very overweight[msnwink]but only just, the scooter would be a problem.

[steph_goodrum]

The other option rather than hire a second car if you found it wouldnt fit would to maybe send a couple of people by taxi from the aiport if you find they wont all fit in with the luggage. It would be cheaper and its not as if they are young children who couldnt travel alone. Just make sure you have a couple of copies of directions. If you have booked an 8 seater though that is what they should give you (not 7) as then it wouldnt even fit your party let alone luggage.

[Big Mack]

Thanks for the feedback folks.

US car hire are trying to get us a 15 seater as all of the eight seater vans are booked. Hopefully we will get one which will solve the problem, if not we may indeed need a second car [msnsad]

Mack

[Big Mack]

Eric

Here is a picture of the type of scooter we will be getting. Do you think this will fit in the Sienna's boot. The front folds down and the seat can come off if i remember right. The sun canopy is optional :D




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