Has anyone stayed at VB before the cruise?

[DVCinderella]

Just wondering if anyone has spent the night before the cruise at Disney's Vero Beach? DH and I just spent 3-days at VB earlier this month and we really liked the resort. I guess it would be about an hour from VB to the Port. Has anyone done this?

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Somebody's bound to have done this. I haven't seen VB except from their web site. It does look nice.

You ought to allow 90 minutes rather than an hour. And the only realistic means of transportation from airport to resort to cruise is a rental car.

 

[cruisinpenguin]

I can answer this one!! Last year our family did this staying at Vero Beach (our home resort for DVC members) for 2 days before our cruise. We had a rental car which we picked up at the airport in Orlando and drove to Vero Beach....I think travel time was an hour and half but that's from the airport to Vero. Driving from Vero to Port Canaveral driving time was like 45 minutes....it was a fast drive plus we had no traffic so depending on when you're going you should probably allow an hour to get there. When we did this it was February 3rd...so allow yourself at least an hour. Please let me know if I can help any further!! Vero Beach is really a nice relaxing place isn't it....we love it there we spent a whole week there this past February and it was heaven!!
Enjoy,
Laurie

 

[DVCinderella]

cruisinpenguin...

Thanks for the info! We are also DVC members, so I'd rather use points than pay to stay at the Radisson the night before the cruise. Plus, VB is such a lovely resort.

When DH and I took the Wonder last September, we had a 7am flight from NJ. Our trip was less than 2 weeks after 9/11, and we were told to get to the airport at least 2 1/2hrs before the flight. So we were at the airport at 4:30am. We arrived at the Port by 11:30am. By the time dinner rolled around that night, I was exhasuted (I never sleep well the night before vacation anyway). Next time we cruise, I would prefer to arrive the day before.

I'm thinking we could take an early flight the day before the cruise, drive from the airport to VB, spend the day at the pool, and the next morning drive to the Port.

I have a few questions for you:

1) Do you think just spending 1 day at VB is enough? Should I plan on 2 days?

2) Did you rent a car? I know I'll have to rent a car to get from OIA to VB, and then back to the Port. I hate to think I'd be paying for a rental car that is just sitting in the parking lot at the Port, though. BTW, we are spending a week at WDW after the cruise, so maybe getting a rental car for the entire trip would be worth it.

 

[DOOGIERUNNER]

No, but we stayed after the cruise for three nights last year. This year I asked my wife how long @ Vero Beach and she said as long as possible. It's so relaxing... so we're crusing, 5 nights at Vero followed by 7 @ BWV.

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Originally posted by DVCinderella

I know I'll have to rent a car to get from OIA to VB, and then back to the Port. I hate to think I'd be paying for a rental car that is just sitting in the parking lot at the Port, though. BTW, we are spending a week at WDW after the cruise, so maybe getting a rental car for the entire trip would be worth it.

It's possible, with Avis, Hertz, and National, to rent a car at the airport and return it near the port before your cruise. Then, after your cruise, you could rent another car near the port and return it later at the airport. I have info about this option at my web site:

www.dcltribute.com/carhire

Of course you'll want to price out what it would cost to rent a car for the entire time you're in Florida and park it at the port. Parking at the port costs $8/day, but since you're staying at WDW for a week after your return, it may be cheaper with the weekly rates to do it that way rather than do do the two-car thing. Price it both ways and see which you'd rather do.

 

[cruisinpenguin]

Hi Liz: I think 1 day should be enough...but 2 is even better!!lol We always go at least 2 days....coming from Massachusetts in the winter time you just never know!! We always stay somewhere before cruising just so we don't miss the boat!! As for the rental car...we did the air/car package from SouthWest (Delta also has that too) it's just the air and the rental car. We rented from Avis because the Radisson at Port Canaveral/Cocoa Beach is where you would drop it off. We only had the car for the 2 days and when we got to port we dropped it off and took the free shuttle back to DCL terminal. After the cruise we paid for 1 way transfers back to the airport taking DCL bus. What you could do is either rent the car again and drive back to Disney or buy the 1 way transfers and use the free transportation while at the World...it's up to you. Hope I helped...if you have any other questions will be glad to help!!
Enjoy, Laurie

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by cruisinpenguin
Driving from Vero to Port Canaveral driving time was like 45 minutes....it was a fast drive plus we had no traffic so depending on when you're going you should probably allow an hour to get there.

According to http://www.mapquest.com/
-- From: 9250 Highway A1A, Vero Beach, FL 32963 US
-- To: Port Canaveral, FL US
-- Total Distance: 71.92 miles
-- Total Estimated Time: 1 hour, 38 minutes

If you drive 71.92 miles in 45 minutes, you need to average 95.89 miles per hour. I'd rather take Mapquest's advice and allow 1 hour, 38 minutes.

By the way, Mapquest's instructions used I-95. You could take A1A the whole way through various beach towns, and you could save a few miles. But my guess is that I-95 would be much faster than A1A.

 

[legs22]

Hmmm... 95.89 MPH
I think that WAS the speed everyone was doing on the turnpike between West Palm Beach and Disney this past weekend. I got left in the dust (the ONLY one on the road doing the speed limit )

Disney VB is a great resort right on the ocean. Enjoy your stay!

 

[cruisinpenguin]

We did make it from Vero to Port in 45 minutes!! There was absolutely NO traffic and our cruisin speed was probably 80mph. Anyhow, I-95 is the fastest way to go A1A would be slower for sure.

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

MapQuest's directions take you from VB to the port via A1A... certainly a scenic route, but not an efficient one. The more efficient route is to use I-95. But I'd still allow 90 minutes because traffic isn't always as easy as cruisinpenguin experienced.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by Dave_from_Marietta
MapQuest's directions take you from VB to the port via A1A...

When I used MapQuest, the map and directions used I-95. I'm surprised that MapQuest used A1A for Dave. In any case, the MapQuest numbers I posted earlier in this thread were for a route that largely followed I-95.

And I have a request for cruisinpenguin: Please warn me before you drive those 71.92 miles in 45 minutes again. I'll stay off the road!

 

[cruisinpenguin]

Horace Horsecollar .....maybe it was a bit longer than 45 minutes. I just asked my husband and he thought it took us about an hour 15 minutes...but I tell ya no traffic was the key!! Anyhow, leave plenty of time to drive to Port Canaveral...it was a nice drive no matter what speed you're doing lol!! Us New Englanders drive fast...sorry!!

 

[Laurajean1014]

We stayed at VB 3 days prior to cruise last year and doing the same next month!

My family prefers 10 vacations, so we leave on a Wednesday and stay at VB til Saturday (sail off). We rent from Enterprise (they are near MCO and have a drop off at Merritt Island). Enterprise will take you back to Port Canaveral (if you schedule ahead of time).

We left VB at 8:00 am on Saturday morning and got to PC at 9:10!DH had plenty of time to return car and I did the paperwork to get us boarded. By the time DH was back from Enterprise, I was the 4th family in line for cruise enter!

VB is great to unwind and get a good base tan before heading out into the tropical temps. Love it.