Discovering Vero Beach

[BobH]

My wife and I tried Vero Beach last week. We stayed 6 nights and found it very nice. We might try to go back in
the month of October - hoping for less of the troublesome "no see-um" mosquitos. It is a great place to relax. The beach was nice for a long walk at low tide.
The beach is not as beuatiful as some we have tried in Bermuda, but the overall experience at Vero is very, very good.

 

[J.P.]

We have been members at VB for the last six years. We go every year and always are very sad when we have to leave. My kids love the beach, pool and all the activties they have going on down there. It has been a great investment. JP

 

[NJParkhopper]

My mom lives about 40 minutes away from VB. Since we always stay at her place when we go to WDW, we'll definitely be hitting VB at some point. We'll probably split up the time between WDW and VB (and of course, Mom's!)

 

[wdw1972]

I started with OKW points, but before my first dvc trip I wanted to add on more points. My use year at okw had already sold out, so since we love spending part of a week at Daytona (Daytona Beach Shores - where it's more family oriented) I decided to add the points at Vero.

On our first visit, I loved the resort, but was disappointed with the beach.....it's nowhere near as nice as the beaches up by Daytona. The resort though, makes up for that - there are no *nice* resorts in Daytona, lol! For a while I still did Daytona for cash for a *beach* vacation, did Vero for the resort, and of course went to wdw alot. Now I have no time for Daytona - since I've kept adding dvc points. We're going to Vero twice this summer - both times for 2 nights prior to wdw. On the 2nd trip I also booked a couple of extra rooms for friends to join us, and next year I'll book a 2 br so friends from Scotland can enjoy the resort with us for a couple of days before wdw. I don't see myself going to Vero for very long stays - especially with wdw so close, but 2-3 nights is just about perfect for us.

 

[J.P.]

We love VB, we go every year as a relaxing vacation before we go to OKW. WE enjoy all the activities, beach,food and the rooms. JP

 

[DVC97-RobKathy]

We own Vero Beach points. Bought 130 this past October. We used them in March to go to Hilton Head (we hadn't been there yet) and also a few days at Wilderness Lodge Villas (since they are new). Enjoyed both. But we do plan to try out Vero too.

 

[aricau]

We split up a Disney trip 2 years ago and spent several days at Vero Beach. We liked it but my family prefers the Florida panhandle beaches. The sandy beaches and the water on the panhandle is just beautiful....too bad Disney doesn't invest in a resort out that way.....we would be there every year!

 

[scott.campbell]

Was at Vero Beach this year, loved it so much we did an add on !!!!!!

 

[imgoingtodisney]

Im flying back to FL from MA in 12 days. Before the 6 of us leave for my very first cruise my MIL and I will stop and tour Vero Beach. My husband and I just bought our very first DVC points after a 9 night stay at Wilderness Lodge 5 weeks ago. So we are planning on staying at Vero Beach within the next 5 years.

 

[Pam Lau]

We stayed at Vero for the 1st time last month and loved it. We took a couple days to drive down from Chicago and then spent four nights at VB before taking the 3 night cruise and then spending almost a week at WDW in our Home Resort BWV. We really enjoyed the down time at VB. It was nice to just do nothing. The kids enjoyed running around the resort and playing in the ocean. We plan to return. Vero is great for a 3-4 night stay.

 

[Wildman9]

Is Vero Beach sold out?

 

[PamOKW]

No. Points are still available at Vero.

 

[Patricia]

We visited Vero a few years ago and loved it! My family loves the atmosphere and the peacefulness of the entire resort. We added on there two trips back and I still end up using cash in addition to my points there! The first time I did this, the cash discount was available right away. Lately, they haven't had the cash discount available at all. I am still waiting for it for my trip in June. I am not sure if this is an indication that Vero is gaining in popularity, but I think so. We are doing a week in WDW and a week at Vero. A perfect combination for us.

 

[yasuern]

We are going in july - its our 1st trip as dvc members and can't wait to have a non park vacation.

 

[pharmlivin]

We bought at VWL but took a short 5 day stay at Vero in March. We stayed in a 1 bedroom. WE LOVED VERO. DH said next time he wanted to stay longer in a studio or Inn room. We have not stayed at anyother DVC resort yet...I think I'm going to have a hard time letting go of Vero. This was my concern about adding or even buying there in the first place. When we were there the beach was very eroded away and someone (the kid who does the towels on the boardwalk to the beach) said Disney had just hauled in $50,000 worth of sand for replenishment and it was gone in a matter of weeks. My concern was the dues that it might require down the road to keep the beach from meeting the pool at some point. I would add on there in a minute except the beach maintenance might just be too costly and be reflected in uncontrollable dues. Any thoughts?

 

[PamOKW]

I'd have to look over my documents but I don't believe that beach replenishment would be a member responsibility.

There are plans for a massive replenishment for the whole area.

 

[Firefighter Mickey]

Adding sand to the beach may not be a member expense, but it's certainly clear that Vero and Hilton Head are much more at risk for damage from hurricanes than any other DVC resort, and this could potentially impact dues (though hopefully the insurance would pick up most of this) - and then there's always the risk of the entire resort being wiped out. But, getting out of bed in the morning is a risk, so, we figured what the heck....we loved the resort, and frequently use it to wind down from a disney vacation.

We have 70 points at Vero, and sometimes I wish for more, because it's going to be really tough for us to get that beach cottage for a decent length of time with only 210 points to work with.

 

[Cinderella]

Hi Pam - Great thread. We joined in January 2001 and will be trying Vero for the first time this September. We also hope to try Hilton Head Island very soon. We are also thinking that with points everywhere selling out quickly we may need an add on at a beach resort so maybe Vero will sway our decision.

 

[nezy]

I have only stopped at Vero for a day after we got off the Disney Cruise on our way to West PalmBeach t o visit my mom. We spent the day at Vero and loved it.

Years ago befroe Vero opened and was in constuction, they were planning to build on both sides of A1A. They seemed to have stopped that . Does anyone know what the story is wtih that? If member interest increases as it seems to be in Vero,will they continue w/ the expansion or have they sold this property?

 

[Beth]

I'm sure PamOKW could tell you, but I think it's been 1-2 years since they sold that property.

We were there over SuperBowl weekend, and there's not been anything done with the property by the purchasers - I'm not sure of their intentions.

Disney still has the property <i>directly</i> across the street - with the walking trail, the tennis courts, the additional parking, the lagoon, the picnic tables, the soccer field, etc.

There was talk on this board for a while that the property immediately south (on the beach side of A1A) of the resort was also Disney's, and that they might expand <i>there</i>. Not sure if that was true, or not. There's another condominium not <i>too</i> far south of the resort. Anyone seen it lately? They were <i>really</i> having problems with erosion when we were there in February. They built too close to the beach wall, IMO.