Items to bring to VBR?

[ducklite]

We're spending a week at VBR in September. We stayed there for a few nights back in 1999 or 2000, but don't remember much about it.

We've booked one of the Beach Cottages, and will be driving, so we've got packing room.

So far the things I want to remember to bring are:

Off!
Sun block
beach towels
Clorox Wipes

Any other hints?

It will be DH, DS (21), DSIL, and myself, so all adults.

Anne

 

[DisDaydreamer]

We're spending a week at VBR in September. We stayed there for a few nights back in 1999 or 2000, but don't remember much about it.

We've booked one of the Beach Cottages, and will be driving, so we've got packing room.

So far the things I want to remember to bring are:

Off!
Sun block
beach towels
Clorox Wipes

Any other hints?

It will be DH, DS (21), DSIL, and myself, so all adults.

Anne

You lucky DUCK! Someday I'm going to stay in a cottage. I don't care about the size, I just want the beach at my back door.

It seems to be a consensus that Cutter Advanced is the only repellent effective with the no-see-ums.

Boogie boards

We always take a canvas shoe organizer and hang it on the bathroom door to have a place to put all the small stuff that clutters the counters.

a while back you were contemplating attending a Tool concert and trying to get some shots. Did that come to happen?

Have a great trip

 

[ducklite]

You lucky DUCK! Someday I'm going to stay in a cottage. I don't care about the size, I just want the beach at my back door.

It seems to be a consensus that Cutter Advanced is the only repellent effective with the no-see-ums.

Boogie boards

We always take a canvas shoe organizer and hang it on the bathroom door to have a place to put all the small stuff that clutters the counters.

a while back you were contemplating attending a Tool concert and trying to get some shots. Did that come to happen?

Have a great trip

Thanks on the tip on the Cutter.

Yeah, we didn't really need that much room, a 2BR would have worked, but having that beachfront balcony was really enticing, and we decided to go for it. It will also give DS his own space, and he can hook up his PS2 to the TV and stay up all night for all I care.

With three bathrooms for four of us I'm not really worried about clutter.

Not sure if any of us would use the boogie boards...do they rent them if DH wants to use one for a couple hours?

I'm not shooting Tool. I'm not really fond of the band, and you get to shoot one song, Maynard sings it with his back to the crowd and with no lighting. Why bother? None of the photogs I know are going to the show. I think the only ones who are putting in for photo passes are the ones who are pretty new and still looking to shoot any band that comes to town. I pass on more assignments than I accept these days.

Anne

 

[MrsNick]

Anne, unless you drink tea, pack COFFEE & COFFEE FILTERS! I'll say this nicely...I just really prefer our coffee to theirs, lol. Have a great trip. Did you say there were only 4 of you? You won't mind if DH and I stowaway with ya, right?

Yes, you can rent chairs, umbrellas, boogie boards, cabana and jet skis. Alternately, you could drive to the SuperWalmart and buy all that stuff, too. Much cheaper than renting if you'll be there a more than a couple of days.

 

[ducklite]

Anne, unless you drink tea, pack COFFEE & COFFEE FILTERS! I'll say this nicely...I just really prefer our coffee to theirs, lol. Have a great trip. Did you say there were only 4 of you? You won't mind if DH and I stowaway with ya, right?

I'm primarily a tea drinker, and always bring my own. The other three don't drink either, so we're all set there.

Yeah, only four of us--think we'll be cramped?

Anne

 

[lisareniff]

I always bring a small stash of zip lock bags in different sizes. They come in handy for many things. Including bringing home the treasures off the beach.

How difficult was it to reserve a BC for Sept? We are going to try for one next April. I realize April will be much more difficult but if Sept. was easy then I might have a chance.

We also won't have to worry about the clutter. Currently it is just our family of 4.

Please bring back some pics!!

 

[ducklite]

I always bring a small stash of zip lock bags in different sizes. They come in handy for many things. Including bringing home the treasures off the beach.

Great idea--thanks!

How difficult was it to reserve a BC for Sept? We are going to try for one next April. I realize April will be much more difficult but if Sept. was easy then I might have a chance.

I called at the seven month mark and added one day at a time--but they told me that there were still several of them available when I booked. We're expecting it to be very, very quiet down there. We purposely chose that week because it's historically one of teh slowest weeks of the year for them.

We also won't have to worry about the clutter. Currently it is just our family of 4.

Please bring back some pics!!

I plan on taking TONS of photos.

Anne

 

[babylisa4]

We had a family reunion last year at Vero and had a beach cottage and several other condos also. We flew so we didn't have extra room in a car but some of the things we bought at the walmart were cheap chairs to sit on the beach(like $12). They paid for themselves in one day. Actually my college age son ended up taking these back in his duffle bag to use at college-they were those kind of chairs that fold up in a bag. We also got a couple of swim noodles (we had a grandma who held onto this why she was in the pool). the rest of us ended up floating around on them too. We made a grocery list before we went so shopping went pretty quick. Oh we had a couple of air mattresses too for floating around in the ocean. (They do have bigger boogie boards you can rent though.) We all had a great time hanging out.

 

[Halle]

I bring aluminum foil (not the entire roll)
seasoned salt
salt and pepper
neat sheet (Large paper like blanket, it withstands the water and sand).

 

[ducklite]

I bring aluminum foil (not the entire roll)
seasoned salt
salt and pepper
neat sheet (Large paper like blanket, it withstands the water and sand).

Tell me more about these "Neat Sheets." Where would I find one? How much do they cost?

I've been telling DH that I might want to cook dinner a couple of the nights we are there, but he seems to think that we'll jsut go out to eat every night. I think he's trying to be nice, but in all honesty it's more work to get cleaned up to go to dinner than it is to toss something together in my Wok or put some chicken in the over to bake. We'll have to figure this out before we go, because if I'm going to cook I'll be bringing spices and herbs and some other things like that, plus my wok or pizza pan or whatever I'll need to make the dinners we plan.

Anne

 

[lisareniff]

I was thinking of buying one to take down next trip. Since we fly, we need small and light. Thought it might due instead of our favorite beach blanket. Below is the product web site with a store locator.

http://www.theneatsheet.com/index.asp

 

[Cheryl N. WI]

Lisa Thanks for posting the link to the neat sheet. I think I am going to get 1 or 2 of these for our trip next month and then we would also have them for when we go to visit my sister at the lake.

 

[jonestavern]

For the cooking thing--
Ziplocs.
I like to repack my spices into sandwich sized Ziplocs, I label with stick on labels, then I also can re-use if necessary
Tin foil
I'm with Halle, I bring tin foil!
No scrubbing, you can wrap stuff with it--not to mention keeping aliens from monoitoring yr conversations!
I pre-cut the foil into large pieces (about the size of a broiler pan or cookie sheet) then gently fold them up to pack

Muffin pan, muffin papers &/or loaf pan
Easy to use, whip up a packaged muffin mix or tea bread (or mix yr own dry ingredients & pack in Ziploc) for breakfast or snacks--especially w/yr tea!

A good knife & scissors
I can't abide DVC knives
Also, I use scissors in place of knives--a lot!
In the parks--use them for cutting up moleskin (although I do pre-cut, too)

Scrubbie
We don't like the DVC dish sponges. I one of our new ones in half & bring

Non stick spray

Dryer sheets
One for each day, plus a few extra.
could pack more, if we have the younger kids with us
I also pre-measure powdered laundry detergent & pack in Ziplocs

Packs of cards or board games, puzzle books--
in case of poor weather (or when we're too pooped to go out)
Our family, & both extended families, are crazy board gamers/puzzle freaks

Clothespins
just a few, to pin the drapes together, if they do not close properly.

Personal reading light
Not only for reading, but can use as a flashlight--not the greatest but will do

Small battery powered lantern
the are no lights on the balcony at HHI--don't remember if VB has them
so we use these to sit out of an evening on the balcony or use them at a picnic table

As you can see, I am compulsive about DVC packing!

Jean

 

[ducklite]

Wow Jones Tavern--thanks!

We have a nice lantern (battery operated) that would work well for the balcony, I'll remember to pack that.

Anne

 

[lisareniff]

I'm definately not a turtle expert but you may want to investigate the use of the lantern at VB before using it (especially in a BC!). I know that the coast line needs to be kept dark during the turtle nesting season and there are restrictions on light use. The hatchlings may go toward the light of a porch light instead of the light of the moon.

 

[Halle]

lisareniff, you're right about the light at VB, no lights allowed during nesting season. When we were there in August there was a medical emergency and it was difficult to read the instructions on the ADR due to low lighting at the resort.

 

[jonestavern]

I'm definately not a turtle expert but you may want to investigate the use of the lantern at VB before using it (especially in a BC!). I know that the coast line needs to be kept dark during the turtle nesting season and there are restrictions on light use. The hatchlings may go toward the light of a porch light instead of the light of the moon.

Yes! Thanks for pointing that out!
Naturally, you wouldn't let the light glare during turtle nesting.
Our lantern is not one of the powerful Coleman type-- you know the type, with the glaring flourescent bulbs or the dual fuel--the camp lanterns.
We have the el cheapo, a small (about 5 or 6 " tall) plastic battery operated thing with a moveable shade that is used to block light directionally. I don't think it has the output of a nightlight. I think I got it at KMart or Job Lot a few yrs back.
You can also block the light where if shines toward the sea direction
At HHI, our rooms did not face the sea, & the picnic table we used did not face the sea.

Jean

 

[lisareniff]

Yes! Thanks for pointing that out!
Naturally, you wouldn't let the light glare during turtle nesting.
Our lantern is not one of the powerful Coleman type-- you know the type, with the glaring flourescent bulbs or the dual fuel--the camp lanterns.
We have the el cheapo, a small (about 5 or 6 " tall) plastic battery operated thing with a moveable shade that is used to block light directionally. I don't think it has the output of a nightlight. I think I got it at KMart or Job Lot a few yrs back.
You can also block the light where if shines toward the sea direction
At HHI, our rooms did not face the sea, & the picnic table we used did not face the sea.

Jean

I really have no clue the details of the lighting constraints. Just wanted to bring that up in case some new members to VB were not aware, ...so they could ask the questions first instead of after the fact. (We have only been during the spring.)

I'm never been to HHI. Does HH have nesting turtles too? I wouldn't think the resort would (would it?), but the Island?

 

[ducklite]

I'm definately not a turtle expert but you may want to investigate the use of the lantern at VB before using it (especially in a BC!). I know that the coast line needs to be kept dark during the turtle nesting season and there are restrictions on light use. The hatchlings may go toward the light of a porch light instead of the light of the moon.

Ah--you're right! I remember that from when we were there in November the last time. Does anyone know when turtle season is?

Anne

 

[jonestavern]

I really have no clue the details of the lighting constraints. Just wanted to bring that up in case some new members to VB were not aware, ...so they could ask the questions first instead of after the fact. (We have only been during the spring.)

I'm never been to HHI. Does HH have nesting turtles too? I wouldn't think the resort would (would it?), but the Island?

Yes, HHI has nesting turtles. One of the restrictions Disney (& all the resorts) had to abide by was the no lights (or very low lights, depending on location) thing. So there are no lights--at least there weren't in our section!-- out on the balconies @ HHI

Ah--you're right! I remember that from when we were there in November the last time. Does anyone know when turtle season is?

Anne

There are several differing answers on line, perhaps some DISer who lives in or near VB can give us the exact answer.
Meanwhile, here are some interesting links:
http://www.elliott.org/archives/001110tracking_turtle.php
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/travel/destinations/flacentral/stories/seaturtles052004.html

Jean