Back from OKW and Vero...(trip report long)

[loveit]

We arrived at the airport on July 1. We went straight from the airport to Cocoa Beach to see the Space Shuttle Discovery take off. Traffic was HORRIBLE (3 hours worth) but we were bound and determined to see it take off. Long story short, we got to the beach, it was cancelled and we drove a whopping 4 hours back to check in at OKW!!! Thank goodness check in was PAINLESS. We were in a 2 bedroom in building 27 (awesome location) and it was wonderful!! We were with my sisters family and just had a GREAT time. We went to Universal the first 2 days (NO comment) and spent the next day all day by the pool. We went to DD at night and had a wonderful time. Wednesday we went to the Magic Kingdom and all my husband said the whole day was "finally, I am home!!" Spent the next day at the pool and the next at Blizzard Beach. We had a really great time!! We were going to go to Typhoon Lagoon on Friday, but it poured rain so we decided to go park hopping. Come to find out, the Magic Kingdom had extra magic hours until 2:00 am. so we went!! Our DD (8) and my Nephews (10 and 7) made it the whole time!! They had a blast! OKW and Disney was wonderful .

Saturday morning it was off to Vero Beach. We checked into our 2 bedroom and went to our room. Opened the door and P.U. There was a horrible stench in the studio portion. It truly smelled like the stink bug in Bugs Life. I went back down to the front desk and talked to Bruce, who said they were booked. I told him I was NOT staying in that room. He worked a little magic ( ) and switched rooms for us. Thank goodness. The second room was wonderful and smelled just fine! We spent 4 days by the pool and ocean and the kids played the pool games with the D.J. and painted shirts. The only downfall were the No Seeums!! I am not lying when I say I have over 100 bites on me. I obviously had a allergic reaction to them because the bites are swollen and red and have a little white head on them (sorry to be so graphic!) and can I tell you about the serious itching!! I thought I was going to go out of my mind. My sister had the same problem. Our DD's and kids seemed to fair ok (thank goodness). I talked to numerous people and they said the No Seeums are really really bad this year. DEET didn't work at all. One of the waitresses said to bring Skin So Soft next time. I don't know, but I am still red and itchy! But....that was the ONLY drawback of the whole Vero Beach trip. The resort is FANTASTIC and the pool and beach is also!!!

Our 12 day vacation was absolutely awesome. I miss it already!!

 

[lat]

We were just at Vero too and had the same problem with bug bites. I was told that they are sand fleas. The bites are in a line and each time there are many tiny bites. It was awful. However, we still love Vero and plan to go every time we go to Disney. I was told that July is the worst time for these.

 

[newfamilyman]

I guess one person's long is another person's short because I don't consider two paragraphs to be very long.

 

[Patricia]

We just got back from the exact same vacation. We spent one week at OKW and then one week at Vero. It was amazing. We left OKW on the 1st of July and were in building 27. Wonder if you got our room!?

Anyway, we were able to see the take off from Vero of the space shuttle. I loved it!! The no-seeums are really awful. I seem to be the only one in my family who has a problem with them but I would have to say that I have been to Vero 6 times and they were no worse or better this year than any other. I have tried the Deet and the Skin So SOft, neither worked for me. I too had more than 100 bites. We have been home since the 8th and I am just done itching now!

Glad to hear you had fun too. Isnt' it a great combo to do WDW and Vero??

 

[elijahpep]

Thank you so much for the great report! Sorry that you had all the road time without the payoff of the launch tho'.
Hope you got plenty of rest during what sounds like a wonderful time!

~DW

 

[Jhalkias]

We did a similar trip in May, OKW and Vero. It was our first time at Vero, and we LOVED the resort.

About the no-seeums . . . I got it from them the first evening, but, at least at the time that we were there, they only seemed to attack at dusk. They were non existant during the day, and seemed to dissipate at night. So we always made sure we were eating around dusk, and stayed away from the pool!

John

 

[Mahusky]

Great Post glad to hear you had an excellent time!!! I too have been to Vero different times and haven't been bit once by those NoSEEums! I guess Im sour!

 

[gracelrm]

loveit - just curious if you only had problems with the bugs at dawn and dusk? We're going in Oct. and when we've been before - those were the only times we had problems with them. Well actually, only my DH had problems with them. Thank goodness for me!

 

[MonkeyPants]

I guess one person's long is another person's short because I don't consider two paragraphs to be very long.

was thinking the same thing, but thanks for the report. Everyone seems to love Vero.

 

[floridafam]

I'm sorry you had so much trouble with the no-see-ums. They are AWFUL!

I am also curious about when you had trouble. Usually they are only bad at dawn or dusk. We don't sit out on our balcony at night when we go to Vero or walk on the beach in the early morning or evening.

I learned my lesson on one of our trips. The bites are so painful and much worse than any other bug bite I've had.

I hope you are feeling better soon!

 

[Jhalkias]

Yup, as I said, just happened at dusk for us . . .

Couldn't tell you about dawn though

John

 

[patsfan]

Patricia, thank you for posting about the space shuttle. We're at VB the end of August and there is a launch scheduled for Aug. 28th. Wasn't sure if we'd be able to see the shuttle from Vero, but your post indicated we can! So excited!

Maureen

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

Anyway, we were able to see the take off from Vero of the space shuttle. I loved it!!

That must of been so Awesome. All the time I have spent in Florida and not once have I seen the shuttle take off!!! Hopefully, I will get to real soon.

 

[jncvh]

I am from FLA and to help with the no-seeums the " Skin so Soft" works great. I always have some around. It doesn't work for everyone but have not heard of many complaints. It doesn't smell bad and makes your skin feel soft.

I remember being a kid on Sanibel Island and waiting for the school bus and having to do jumpin jacks just to keep the bugs off of me. Usually a good storm will blow through, like a hurricane, and get rid of them all until they rehatch.

 

[marymrg]

Anyway, we were able to see the take off from Vero of the space shuttle. I loved it!!

Glad to hear you had fun too. Isnt' it a great combo to do WDW and Vero??

DD and some of her friends watched the launch from the beach. The rest of us drove a little north of Satellite Beach and watched it from there. It was great. Next time, we're gonna try for Cocoa Beach.

I wasn't bothered by the no-seeums at Vero. But, when we got to Hilton Head after that I was. When I put the Skin So Soft with spf30 on my lower legs, they stopped attacking me. I noticed it in the kitchen in the villa. (weird - I know)