Quick DVC trip report

[Hilary]

Arrived home on Saturday after our short trip to VB and SSR.

We hadn't visited VB before, and were very happy we finally got around to staying there. We'd reserved a studio and had been on the waitlist for a one-bedroom villa, but this hadn't come through by the time we left the UK, so I asked again at check-in, but without any success. No big deal as there were only the two of us this trip.

When we arrived in our studio, we found we were right next to the pool, and our vision of sitting on the balcony in the evening enjoying a quiet beer seemed an unlikely possibility! I phoned down to the front desk straight away and asked if there was anywhere else available, and the CM was very understanding and managed to find us an alternative studio in another building. When we returned to exchange keys, we were suitably appreciative of the CM's efforts, knowing that we'd have to accept the new studio whatever it was like! Well, it was perfect. Very quiet and secluded, and we even had a glimpse of the ocean

The resort itself was beautiful - more so than I had expected, somehow. We ate in Sonya's on our first night, the Driftwood Inn on the second night and back at the resort in Shutter's for our last night - all excellent in their own very different ways. We called in at the Green cabin Room every evening too, and were glad of the balcony outside when the live entertainment kicked in on one occasion!

We visited Sebastian Inlet State Park (spent a wonderful hour watching dolphins), Hales Citrus Groves shop (the tour was closed), the obligatory WalMart and Mel Fisher's Treasure Museum. We played mini golf at the resort and enjoyed walking around the lake (oh, and DH did some fishing here and there ).

Before we checked in to SSR, we were debating which location we hoped we'd been allocated, as last trip we'd really enjoyed being in Congress Park, and hoped any other location would be just as nice. Our CM had a spot of bother getting herself logged on to the system and was trying to be ultra-helpful because she felt she'd kept us waiting, so she gave us a choice of studios although said she didn't have anything available overlooking DD (we hadn't asked for this, but I think she assumed everyone would like it, if possible). We chose one that was near our villa last year and were over the moon when we opened the door and saw the most perfect DD view!

We definitely want to go back to VB, and I'm sure we'll be back to SSR sometime as we love the proximity to DD for restaurants, etc. and to OKW for DH's fishing trips

No park visits this trip, but we still managed to get a good burst of Disney magic by visiting/eating at WL, Poly, DD and Boardwalk areas.

DVC is !

 

[mrs-mac]

Sounds like you had an excellent time Hilary, thanks for the report

 

[gilld]

How long did you go for, Hilary? Did you find such a short trip exhausting as you would still get the jet-lag?

We want to try VB sometime too - it sounds great.

Thanks for posting.

 

[Hilary]

How long did you go for, Hilary? Did you find such a short trip exhausting as you would still get the jet-lag?

We had 6 nights in Florida . The first night was in a hotel in Orlando, then three nights in VB and two nights in SSR before flying home.

I was sceptical about it being too short a time there to be enjoyable, but we had a wonderful time. It felt as though we'd had at least ten days! Possibly the fact that it was just the two of us helped with the relaxation as well. I know we find that moving hotels makes a trip seem to last longer, so I'm sure that helped.

As for jet-lag, it's been no better or worse than our longer trips. I've been on two one-week trips before, and knew they'd been fine and, after all, plenty of people take two or three night breaks to New York, for example.

Would we do it again for such a short trip? You bet! In fact, the diaries are already out ...

 

[StephenKay]

Hi There,

Nice to hear some positive comments about SSR some people are having a right downer on the place just now on the main boards. I remember when BCV opened the same negative comments appeared for the first while. Hope you don't mind me asking, but are you a annual pass holder.

 

[KayleeUK]

Sounds like you had a lovely time Hilary

 

[Pootle]

Hi Hilary

Thanks for the report; it made very interesting reading as you know, our trips almost overlapped!

When booking VB I almost always request a full ocean view and full 'open' balcony. I don't like being in the ocean view rooms within the roof and therefore with a closed balcony - if you sat down you could not see over the top! But, if I'm only there for a night or two, I don't make the same requests since I'm less likely to spend so much time sitting on the balcony, and someone's got to get those rooms sometimes! (Had them a couple of times myself).

My least favourite ocean view rooms are those overlooking the pool too. I've had the same room allocated for garden view points and ocean view points overlooking the pool! Friends of ours loved it, but I want peace and quiet and ocean sounds; not pool noise and smell of food from the poolside take-away.

We too are fans of the 6-night break - great use of points and arriving back on a Saturday morning gives a bit of 'recovery' time before Monday.

Glad you enjoyed your trip. Alas ours wasn't so good - 3 out of the 4 of us came down with a heavy virus at the start of the 2nd (Florida) week. The first week touring the west coast was excellent though.

Now ask me about Vero Beach walk-in clinic and I'm an expert I had 2 'shots' and great treatment and I was charged less than half the cost because 'we appreciate the British support .......' Hmmm

Edited to add that the (yummy!) doctor was ex-military.

 

[Ali and boyz]

WE ARE GOING TO VB AND SSR THIS JULY SO WAS REALLY PLEASED TO READ YOU HAD A FAB TIME

 

[jjpenguin]

Fantastic trip Hilary, glad to hear you had such a good time.

VB is great and very relaxing! We're also definitely going back.. hopefully sooner than later, although DH did say something about not going to FL next year...

 

[Kevin Stringer]

Glad you enjoyed Vero Beach Hilary. We will be there for the second time in May, unfortuately only for a couple of nights, but on the plus side it will be in a beach cottage!

I think I may be more tempted by 1 week trips in the future, especially if cheap air fares are available.

Kev

 

[TinkTatoo]

Glad you liked VB - we love it there and it is not a firm part of our holiday plans

 

[Hilary]

Hope you don't mind me asking, but are you a annual pass holder.

No, neither of us has an Annual Pass; we didn't set foot inside any of the parks this trip. We do still have a day left on an old-style hopper, but we didn't use it this time.

Alas ours wasn't so good - 3 out of the 4 of us came down with a heavy virus at the start of the 2nd (Florida) week.

Oh no! Although I get the impression you were quite happy to be treated by the ex-military doctor , I'm sure you would rather have been in good health during your trip! Two years ago DH and I both came down with very nasty stomach upsets at OKW and I felt quite cheated to be missing the Disney magic. I'm pleased to hear your first week went so well

It was very interesting to read about your room allocations at VB. As you may remember, I wasn't sure whether to book an Inn room or a studio but I know next time we'll just ask to be as far from the pool as possible and never mind what type of room it is! LOL!

although DH did say something about not going to FL next year...

No, you must have mis-heard him .....

it will be in a beach cottage

You little name-dropper, you The cottages did look fabulous

 

[Minniespal]

Sounds as though you had a wonderful time Hilary

 

[Miffy2003]

Hilary it sounds like you had a terrific time (was there ever any doubt? )

It sounds like you might have liked SSR a little better this time?? Or am I reading too much into that?

Moira I am so sorry you were poorly but at least the doctor was .....