Disney's Vero Beach Resort- Questions??

[Savsmommy]

I was thinking of staying here with DH and the kids over the summer for a weekend get away. Have any of you stayed here? How was it? What is there for the kids to do, DD6 DS2? Is 3 nights enough to really experience it? Are there Disney Characters around? What's the best section to request? Are there ever any discounts/codes for here? Hmmm what else...??? Sorry for all the questions, I guess I just need to know everything about it and your experiences. It's between staying here or some where in the Keys. I'd rather be around Disney though.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

I don't know about codes or rates, but my family and I stayed here as part of the DVC last August. I didn't see any characters around, but there may have been a character breakfast for something, I can't remember.

I will tell you that the resort and the beach are breathtaking. We had a great time there. But after five days I was ready to go. Too much sand, and with a seven year old, I sat and watched her swim most of the time. Of course, if you like to sunbathe, then you have ample opportunities for that. I just love looking out at the ocean.

I think three days is perfect in conjunction with a trip to WDW. Have fun!

 

[TinkTatoo]

We stayed there last summer for two nights and are planning 4 nights this summer (through DVC). As Tammy said the resort and the beach are breathtaking and my two (7 & 8) were happy to hop between the beach and the pool all day. There are organised kids activities which your older child could join in with.

There are no characters around but there is a character breakfast on Saturdays

 

[jann1033]

we stayed there for 5 nights a couple yrs ago...some things i read make it sound remote but it's not at all, really it right in the middle a up scale residential area. so it 's not like a disney resort at disney..

we were there in Jan but we found they have lots of planned activities ( like agarden/ land scaping tour of the grounds, trips to local things like a botanical garden, trips to a park where they have manatees in winter...they have a printed out list at the place you rent clubs for mini golf and probably at the front desk.) they have a really cute pirate ship for kids to play on, a nice pool area with a nice big circular , campfire program and they had some telescopes one night we were there. i think 3 days is fine, enough time to experience the resort itself but not too long.
Sea turtle nest walks in june or july(for get which)

i'll post some of my pics for you...if i can

if you have a car there is an outlet mall by the freeway ( 10 mins away, a nice beach at sebastian inlet, an jungle nature trail with tons of birds ( the trail itself is so so but the pelican island place is cool and boat rides on the river all about 10 mins fromt he resort and the best ever coconut shrimp at Manatiki( used to have a coupon at restaurnat. com) about 1/2 an hr away but worth it.

sebastian inlet park( state i think) , fishing pier, beach with concession stand, little museum, maybe boating although i think the current is to strong where this taken but maybe on the river. that's where they have the river cruises ( also at another park close to the jungle trail which is between the island where VBD is and the mainland of Vero., right by the bridge. oh this was during a nor easter, not normal wave height although they do hold surfing comp. there.

 

[jann1033]

back of Vero, from the beach, not sure how much of the sea grapes and dunes are left due to hurricane as this was 2004

pool area with boat and slide

actual beach area, not very wide, not sure what it's like post hurricanes. then it was maybe 20 ft past the wooden walk you see in the left bottom corner to the sand cliff things in the other pics.

outside the landing by our room, a 1 bedroom, think they call it a studio had fridg,e micro sink toaster, coffee pot in little kitchen area..no inside pics sorry

 

[jann1033]

outside between the buildings. lots of plants, very tropical looking. landscape tour was great if you are into gardening

notice the Pixie dust trail by peters back...this was in the wlkway that led under the city street and went to a nature walk, b. ball court etc. some one said they sold the land so not sure if it's still there..very cute paintings in tunnel though

Pool area

beach side at night

 

[m1ckeym0use1]

View from the beach a little after sunrise:

 

[jann1033]

mickey mouse...when was this taken..?we heard the hurricanes did lots of damage form someone who lives in Vero but it looks pretty much the same as when we went before they hit. i felt bad cause i loved the lush greenery and hoped it wasn't wiped out but it doesn't look like it was it if this is after.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

The only post hurricane difference that is noticable, is the dune between the beach and the resort is gone.
Many folks like it better, as the amount of ocean view rooms has at least doubled.
Personally, I liked the dune. I just think it looked tropical, and I enjoyed the privacy it provided for the lower floor of the Beach Cottages.

The Vero Beach Resort may be the most beautiful resort in the DVC family.

MG

 

[jann1033]

The only post hurricane difference that is noticable, is the dune between the beach and the resort is gone.
Many folks like it better, as the amount of ocean view rooms has at least doubled.
Personally, I liked the dune. I just think it looked tropical, and I enjoyed the privacy it provided for the lower floor of the Beach Cottages.

The Vero Beach Resort may be the most beautiful resort in the DVC family.

MG

so it it still lawn, then dune area or just beach to the building...it is flatter now and the beach area bigger? trying to picture it in my head and doing a lousy job

 

[PamOKW]

I think the original poster said these photos are pre-hurricane. If you look at the beautiful evening picture, take out all the beachside greenery (mangroves?) at the top of the dune. There is still dune, shrubbery, lawn but nothing really growing on the dune --- although it is trying to make a comeback. A big problem is keeping people off the dune to give it a chance to come back. Disney brought in tons of sand to rebuild the dune itself -- the vegetation has to grow back now.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Hi Pam. I don't recall seeing any rebuilding of the dune, other than the planting of some grasses. If you look at the pic posted by m1ckeym0use1, that shows it pretty good.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but you didn't use to be able to see much of the resort or the cottages from the beach.

With that said, I think over time nature will re-build the dune.

MG

 

[kab407]

Thanks all for posting the Vero photos. I'm heading down next week for a mini-Spring Break. Looking forward to some warm weather, warm sand and warm surf. Winter in NJ has taken it's toll on me!

 

[jann1033]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you didn't use to be able to see much of the resort or the cottages from the beach.

With that said, I think over time nature will re-build the dune.

MG

yes that is correct as that was a little disappointing to us, would have liked to be able to see the ocean from shutters and it was just sea grapes! landscaping tour told us they had to get special permission to prune them as they are protected ( think to save the beaches) so i wasn't sure if mickeymouse's pic was after pruning or hurricane

 

[m1ckeym0use1]

My picture was from after the hurricane. Before the hurricane, I seem to remember you really couldn't see the beach from the sidewalk running along the Inn. Now you can easily see the beach from there.

 

[SnowWitch]

Last summer they were replacing sand along the dune during our trip. The beach also seemed so wide compared to the previous summer.

 

[lovinthemouse]

Thanks for this post. The pictures are great. I am soooo very excited. We are leaving for Vero on Saturday 4/1.

 

[dvcersfromva]

The best ocean views are on the east side of the main Inn building, though with children you may want the full kitchen and washer/dryer.

We're going in August with points and one night cash. We got a AAA discount of 15% off for the cash night. I believe you can also get a discount at Vero and Hilton Head through the Birnbaum Disney book. That discount is 20% off. Ask for code BJC.

Enjoy! We can't wait to go back.

 

[lovinthemouse]

We just returned from a 4 night stay. It was nothing short of fabulous. We have a dd9 and her friend also 9 they had a ball going from beach to pool. It is a beautiful place. I felt the food was a little pricey at shutters, but that happens. We were all very sad to leave. Have Fun.!!