8 or 12 seater

[senior]

Hi

We are two families (4 adults and 4 children between the age of 6 and 9) going to Florida next May. We arrive at Orlando International and have a villa for 2 weeks in Kissimmee before heading to the gulf coast for a week.

We only want one vehicle and as we will be travelling to the beach and back need something that can fit us all in with our luggage.

I've checked the other posts but am still undecided between an 8 seater and a 12 seater. A 12 seater seems too big for what we want but not sure that an 8 seater would fit us and luggage in and given the longer trip to the coast then we canot go with bags on knees etc.

Any thoughts or suggestions before I make the booking?

Many thanks
Steven

[LorraineC]

Hi Steven,

It is a huge decision as you want to get it right. The last couple of years I have hired the 8 seater from Budget through the car hire link above. This year when I arrived in Orlando I was given an 8 seater that would not have taken hardly any of our luggage when all the seats were up. ( I think it was a chevrolet!!) Luckily after nearly a 2 hour wait they gave me a Ford Expedition which turned out to be the extended edition which had a super boot to take everything. But there is go guarantee when picking a catagorie what car you end up getting. My son is severly physically disabled and has a large wheelchair so I had to argue this with the guys at the airport to get the car I had had before. (not much fun after a long flight with 3 young children and the heat!!!)

The 8 seater from Dollar is quite big but you need to think how much you will be taking with you to the coast, if you do lots of shopping in Orlando or should I say when you do lots of shopping in Orlando you will probably have extra luggage anyway. I think the 8 seater has 2 seats in front and 2 bench seats in the back and the 12 seater has 3 bench seats in the back which would leave you with the boot space and the extra bench seat in the back for luggage etc!!!!

So I have not given you a definite answer but have tried to explain the options for you. Roger who looks after the car hire on this site is great help also if you are still unsure!!!!

[LorraineC]

Sorry I should clarify!! When I say there is no guarantee what car you get when picking a catagorie I mean. If you pick the 8 seater luxury for example they say a ford expedition or similar so you will still get an 8 seater of course but as I am sure you well know they all vary in size and spec!!!!!

[senior]

Many thanks Lorraine for the response. Having also emailed and had a response from Roger, then I think we are going to bite the bullet and pay the extra to get the 12 seater. The last thing we want is a car not big enough, but can cope with one bigger than we need so the 12 seater is our choice.

The kids will be happy as they like the idea of not having to ist with the parents and having a choice of seats!

Thanks again
Steven

[des]

If you get the 12 seater minivan its the same as the 8 seater minivan just with the back row of seats removed giving you a much larger trunk space. There are always 8 of us travel and we have no problems when we hire the 8 seater.