Changes at VB?

[RobDoc]

Inspired by the "Changes at OKW" thread ...

I you had in a say in the matter, what positive changes would you like see implimented at VB? This could be anything from housekeeping, events, food service, entertainment, transportation, etc.


As already expressed in another thread, anyone (VB owner or other DVC member or even non-DVC member) is welcome to comment since they may at some time consider staying there.


Enjoy!

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

I wish the CM's would enforce

the saving of pool chairs.

 

[Desperado]

I would like to see more ocean views from the 1 and 2 bedroom suites. I'd also like to see more activities available on the other side of the road. A big improvement that is probably impossible is that I would like to see boat docks on the inland waterway like HH has with boats to rent to tour the waterway. The children's playground could be improved. A nice grilling area available oceanside. A wider beach would be great, that allowed bike riding along the beach like you can do in HH. The business center could be improved with more computers available. Fast online access available. The movie selection could also be improved. It would be great if the pseudo towers on the resort allowed guests to go up and acutally peer out and see the area instead of being just decoration, kind of like observation areas. The putt putt course could definitely be improved. I'd also like to see more childcare options. They could also build an additional villa building on the ocean side of the resort on the south end. Better security is needed to prevent local pool crashers. Within the rooms, better sound barriers between the lockoffs would be nice. And a few more hammocks. It would be great if there were some ocean front restaraunts and lounges within walking distance that you could walk along the beach and get to as an alternative to Vero restaraunts. The pull coards for the shades could be improved so they don't present such a danger to small children. I also like the availability of the desk in the BCV master bedrooms, which would be a nice addition. Many of the tile areas are looking warn. Posting the resort activities on the DVC website would also be nice. Perhaps a jetski tour fo the inland waterway would be fun. Better publication of the Vero theater productions. Local fun activities like race cars and batting cages would be Nice. More waterpark type activities at the pool would be great, like a lazy river you could sit in tubes and float around in, perhaps around the exterior edge of the pool area. A better spa facility with an indoor hot tub for when it rains or is too cold in the winter, so that outdoor activites can still be pursued. It is important that the pool be heated to a warm temperature, even if the outside air is cooler. Perhaps a healthy chef course, maybe a photography course, some of the previous Disney Institute programs available. I would like to see Vero get better and better. There is an indoor play museum or play area in Downtown atlanta that is right off of the main park across from the CNN building that had some really neat activities for kids, that didn't look too expensive. A building with some of those types of learning activities where kids could get out of the sun or play during a rain storm would be very nice. So activities that may help avoid hot sun and rain during summer months may help make the resort more attractive during the summer season.How about a late evening champaign sunset cruise on the inland waterway once per week. The cruise could head up to Capt. Hirams for some evening entertainment and back. I know, how about those tented areas with entertainment centers and food service at teh resort taht you can rent like they have at the Hard Rock hotel pool area. Even drink service on the beach. I'd like to see better scuba diving lessons available, leading toward getting a license. Just some improvement thoughts. I'm sure there are many more. There does seem to be pretty strong demand for reservations at the resort during the winter holidays.

Notice how easy it is to talk about potiential improvements for each of the DVC resorts? No need to get too defensive about your own home resort, it's OK to dream and say "what if".

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by Desperado
I The business center could be improved with more computers available. Hast online access available.

Desparado
I forgot about VB's so called Business Center. It is a JOKE........I don't consider 1 PC in the midddle of the lobby a "Business Center".

 

[floridafam]

Desperado, is that all?



Better business center. They could easily add a few more computers and high speed internet. HSD is now available from the local cable company. I don't know why they haven't done this yet. My DH had to fiddle with their computer just to get on the internet last time we were there. Even the hotel we stayed in on the way to Florida had high speed internet.

I actually like Vero the way it is but if they were going to change anything I suppose I could go for.....

-Better mini golf. They just redid the course but it doesn't look much better than before.

-Another hot tub. We aren't big hot tub people but the one they have is tiny.

-Some type of weekly "mixer" or other event where guests/members could get together in a meeting area with wine/cheese or maybe a breakfast event where they could hold DVC prize raffles and have trivia. Just something to let the members get to know eachother.

-I like the idea of the weekly sunset cruise. I doubt it would go to Capt. Hirams because VB wants guests to eat onsite.

-The cabana is nice, also. I love cabanas on the beach or at a pool. They could really make some cash with these. Rent a cabana, chairs, etc. much like at Hard Rock Hotel.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by Desperado
A wider beach would be great.......

How do you propose to move the ocean or the VB resort to accomplish this?

 

[Desperado]

Originally posted by Nick@ VB+OKW
How do you propose to move the ocean or the VB resort to accomplish this?

Well, Vero beach could launch a major beach replentishment effort with Disney's backing like they did at Fort Lauderdale many years back. We arrived there one year when I was little and suddenly the beach was huge and very wide. They had pumped tons of sand from the ocean bottom up onto the shore.

Besides, I didn't read anything about the improvements needing to be practical.

The idea I like better is to put in a lazy river around the pool area so we could float along in innertubes in a stream like current all day. It could go by the bar so you could get your drink refilled as you floated by.

How about a complete waterpark on the non-ocean side of the road for any of the local condo's to use. Go carts, laser tag, paintball, a skateboard and rollerblade park, a waterfort for squirtgun battles, quiet gocarts, batting cages, better bike trails along the beach, a shooting range for pistols monitored for safety of course (although there is a sign for a local shooting range on the way to Vero, so there's one available, never been there), a giant indoor junglegym play area better than chucky cheese with a three story play area that adults can get in (like galaxy golf), hmmmmmm

 

[PamOKW]

Originally posted by Desperado
How about a complete waterpark on the non-ocean side of the road for any of the local condo's to use. Go carts, laser tag, paintball, a skateboard and rollerblade park, a waterfort for squirtgun battles, quiet gocarts, batting cages, better bike trails along the beach, a shooting range for pistols monitored for safety of course (although there is a sign for a local shooting range on the way to Vero, so there's one available, never been there), a giant indoor junglegym play area better than chucky cheese with a three story play area that adults can get in (like galaxy golf), hmmmmmm

ROFL!! Well, you are in fantasyland with your wishes. That is exactly the reason Disney had to jump through hoops to build the Vero resort. The neighbors would not be amused by your dream.

Disney does conduct major refurbishment of the beach already. In fact, reports on Global Lifeguard indicate they have just completed the yearly rebuilding of the beach. Vero is a special place -- some love it and some want it to be like somewhere else.

 

[Desperado]

Originally posted by PamOKW
ROFL!! Well, you are in fantasyland with your wishes. That is exactly the reason Disney had to jump through hoops to build the Vero resort. The neighbors would not be amused by your dream.

Disney does conduct major refurbishment of the beach already. In fact, reports on Global Lifeguard indicate they have just completed the yearly rebuilding of the beach. Vero is a special place -- some love it and some want it to be like somewhere else.

Glad to hear about the beach, although I've always been fine with it. Any of these activities mentioned could be back in the town of Vero or Sebastian, well away from the Disney neighbors, owned and operated by someone else. It's not even a dream really, those activities are more Murtle Beach like. I've just been shocked in the past of folks being so defensive about thier home resort that nobody is allowed to mention the idea of any potential improvements, and is subject to abusive posts if they do. I never understood what the big deal or huge tabu was about discussing some possible improvement ideas. I think these threads about possible resort improvements are wonderful, many people have great ideas, some of my later ones just don't happen to be among the good ones.

We love it how it is, I agree Vero is a special place and we look forward to every trip there. I'm very glad Vero did not add additional buildings on the non-ocean side of the road, we would have hated to get rooms over there being owners and have had to walk the tunnel to get to the pool. You misunderstand , I don't need Vero to be like somewhere else, it's wonderful how it is. This 'what additional changes would you like to see in a DVC resort' was the first one posted after the OKW thread.

But, if they decided to add a lazy river pool feature in the pool area that was being funded in the manner that the OKW slide is being funded and not entirely through Vero dues, I'd be jumping up and down over the nice improvement, glad it was occurring, and looking forward to floating around in the Vero sun hearing the waves on the beach as I floated by.

An indoor hot tub area for when it rains would also be nice. Vero can be so weather dependant. I'd also like to see an additional oceanside building and hope they haven't sold off the one pie shaped piece of land I believe they used to own just south of the resort (on the other side of the condo walkway). I confess, I've never made it to the other side of the road on foot, only by driving our car through the area. Perhaps a good tennis game or shooting some hoops with my sons next time will fix that.

 

[Cap]

I think Vero Beach would be improved if were operated more as a Disney Vacation Club and less as a general hotel / restaurant open to the public to walk in. It does not seem to have the friendliness of BWV or HH. The lobby, and often the pool area, seem to be filled with non-DVC people who just treat the place like a hotel, not a home. I had hoped this issue would go away once VB sold out, but it appears the mentality of the management and staff is more set on the hotel mentality versus the DVC "home" mentality.

 

[sratay]

Wish List for Vero Beach:
1) Better draft beer at Green Cabin such as Guinness or Key West Sunset Ale
2) After wish 1 comes true, they need restrooms closer than down the stairs, around the bend... As much as I love the Green Cabin, I had never been to a lounge that didn't have a loo.
3) A machine that wiped out every no-see-um within 50 miles.
4) A nude beach next door
5) Better eyesight
Steve in Iowa

 

[Desperado]

Completely non-smoking.

 

[JimC]

Better and expanded miniature golf. Possibly putting it on the other side of the road.

Expansion and development of the other side of the road. There must be something they could do with the lake.

Beach chair pass program similar to the mini golf -- one price for your stay.

 

[Par8hed]

"Completely non-smoking"???

OK- I don't smoke either. But lets cut the smokers a little slack here. I mean it is legal after all. As long as its either outdoors or in a designated area they are well within their rights. I'm sure most if not all of them would "prefer" not to smoke either but I am personally far more offended by bad language in front of children, loud obnoxious behavior, etc.

 

[jmminarik]

Originally posted by sratay
Wish List for Vero Beach:
3) A machine that wiped out every no-see-um within 50 miles.
5) Better eyesight
Steve in Iowa

They're called no-see-ums for a reason...better eyesight won't help.

4) A nude beach next door

I can't decide if this would draw more locals or keep them away. It would certainly change the demographics of the 'annoying' segment of the local population.

I agree that there is a little more 'hotel' mentality at the resort, but that's going to be tough to overcome until DVC members start filling the resort. For now, locals visiting the restaurants and the bar are probably a vital part of keeping the resort running. Getting more DVC members to stay at VB on points will be tough.

-Joe.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

How about kick the locals out from thier regular Vero pool crashing.

I know, far fetched wishing.

 

[jaysue]

Some of these have been mentioned but here are our views as VB owners:

1) DVD players in the rooms please
2) Mini Golf could use some more "design" work
3) Hi speed internet would be a good add
4) That PC in the lobby needs some help!
5) Expand the grocery selection in the store

thanks
jaysue

 

[marymrg]

5) Better eyesight

I think that was to see the nude beach next door...........

 

[Desperado]

Originally posted by marymrg
I think that was to see the nude beach next door...........

May not turn out to be a good idea in a retirement community.