The 2009 Vero Beach Adoration and INFO thread

[lisareniff]

Why not skip the car rental? If you are only going to WDW just use Magical Express and save the $$

We did skip the car with this past trip (and saved us a lot of money!) but next years trip to VB would require one.

 

[pixierella]

I'm a DVC member and will be in VB next month visiting my parents. Would I be able to bring them to the restaurant just for dinner? I don't have to be staying there to have dinner do I?

 

[MiaSRN62]

I'm a DVC member and will be in VB next month visiting my parents. Would I be able to bring them to the restaurant just for dinner? I don't have to be staying there to have dinner do I?

Hi pixierella.....
I can't imagine why not ? One can dine at any other disney resort whether staying there or not....whether staying on disney property or offsite for that matter.
I also have family in the VB/Sebastian area. My uncle has mentioned he has dined at Disney's VB before. Not recently though....it's been 4-5 years I believe. Especially if you make reservations I'd think you'd have no problems.

Enjoy.......
Maria

 

[drjamba]

I would not think there would be any problem, even at the "guard" post if there was a reservation in hand.

My issue isn't whether one can eat at Sonya's/Shutters, but whether the experience would be worth the effort. I was perusing the Restaurant Forum trying to find reviews of the two and found what amounted to very unsatisfactory experiences as reported by the posters. I grant you that some of the reviews have some age to them so I was wondering if a new thread could be started with some frank and more recent reviews of the VB eating establishments?

<expecting to be moved to another topic>

DrJamba
"I prefer to be called eee-vil genius!"

 

[Belle and Rella's Dad]

I would not think there would be any problem, even at the "guard" post if there was a reservation in hand.

My issue isn't whether one can eat at Sonya's/Shutters, but whether the experience would be worth the effort. I was perusing the Restaurant Forum trying to find reviews of the two and found what amounted to very unsatisfactory experiences as reported by the posters.

Both Sonya's and Shutters are open to the general public and you actually do not need a reservation to eat here, just let the guard know and they will direct your guests to park out in front of the guard shack. As far as experieces at Sonya's and Shutters, we have had dinner at both within the last two years and honestly any experience that you read about has to be taken with a grain of salt, because ours was great does not mean everyone elses will be. When people are given a forum, most often dwell on the negative parts of anyones experience and that is what they write about. I don't mean to insult anyone at all, but truely life is what you make of it, and just because Mildred and Monty did not like their wait staff, or their tea was tepid and not lukewarm, or the Cabernet was only available in the 05 vintage and not the 04, won't affect my experience.

The bonus, pixierella is that your guests can enjoy the view and beverage of their choice from the Green Cabin also, which IMHO has great flatbreads.

16 days and we are on our way to Vero, Have a Great Monday everyone.

Tom

 

[drjamba]

As far as experieces at Sonya's and Shutters, we have had dinner at both within the last two years and honestly any experience that you read about has to be taken with a grain of salt, because ours was great does not mean everyone elses will be. When people are given a forum, most often dwell on the negative parts of anyones experience and that is what they write about. I don't mean to insult anyone at all, but truely life is what you make of it, and just because Mildred and Monty did not like their wait staff, or their tea was tepid and not lukewarm, or the Cabernet was only available in the 05 vintage and not the 04, won't affect my experience.

Tom

Tom,

Well put, and you're right, we (people) tend to dwell on the negative rather than the positive.

If you don't mind, please would you make note of your dining experiences during your upcoming trip and post them to the Restaurant forum with a link here to there (why does Dr. Seuss come to mind?).

Oh and by the way, welcome home!

Dr.Jamba
"I prefer to be called eevil-genius!"
133 days to go!

 

[Belle and Rella's Dad]

drjamba,

I will try and get something up on here, we have actually made the decision to stay at the resort more this year for dinner instead of heading out every night. For us to go out to dinner now it is at least $100 everytime, and then we pull the kids away from their friends and all the activities that Vero has to offer. Not sure if Sonya's or Shutters will make the list, right now it is Squid Lips (Drunken Sweet Potatoe), and the Riverside Cafe (Grouper), along with a cookout across the road.


Have a great day and will check in soon,

Tom

 

[DisDaydreamer]

I know Bob, Hope, and Lisa saw this, but for those of you who may have missed it.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2116628

 

[MiaSRN62]

Thanks for the link Rob......finally ! Don't have to hover in the hallways with my laptop


I haven't eaten at Sonjya's ever......and it's been years since we dined at Shutters. Even though I was at VB last year for a week, we were so darn busy with moving my dd into college and freshman orientation week, that we tended to eat more in Melbourne since that's where her campus is. We also ate in Sebastian with my relatives who live there. If we do get a chance to do a sit down meal at Shutters or Sonya's this May, I'll post for sure.

We did however have the flatbread and crab cakes at the Green Cabin Room. Flatbread was very good. I don't recall the crab cakes wow'ing me ? It's been too long to give a report on these.......I need to go back !!!
The whole reason we went to the Green Cabin Room was for internet (which u can get in there btw). We really just snacked.

Maria

 

[pixierella]

Thank you everyone for your replies. My folks are interested in seeing what's so special about DVC and now that my sister and her family and my cousin and her family are also going to be around the same week in VB and I always rave about DVC.... It's something to during the week long Easter trip.

 

[Arthur27]

We'll be at Vero June 7-9, 2009! Do you have any restaurant advice? Our boys are ages 5 and 7...

Thanks!

 

[conny264]

Hello
I have a question about driving to Vero.We´ll be staying at POFQ prior to Vero and drive there on a Monday morning.Should we take the 528 and I-95 or is it to full with morning traffic.My guess is,that the Turnpike might be not so full.Am I right?
Any tip would be higly appreciated.
Thanks
Conny

 

[Sorcerer's Dad]

Hello
I have a question about driving to Vero.We´ll be staying at POFQ prior to Vero and drive there on a Monday morning.Should we take the 528 and I-95 or is it to full with morning traffic.My guess is,that the Turnpike might be not so full.Am I right?
Any tip would be higly appreciated.
Thanks
Conny

I live about seven miles from Vero Resort and can say that there have been times that I wish I had taken the turnpike instead of 528 and I-95, because of construction and accidents on I-95. There is considerable construction on I-95 between SR 528 and Palm Bay (Exit 173).

We usually take I-95 and 528 because it's a bit quicker and also a few dollars cheaper. I think the turnpike will cost about $4.90 and the time estimate is 2:17. Going I-95 and 528 is approx $3 and time estimate is 2:03. Mileage is estimated 110 and 112 miles, respectively.

We've also taken I-95 to SR 192 and gone across to SR 535 in Kissimmee, when not in any hurry and wanting to save a few dollars. There are just so many stoplights in Kissimmee and St. Cloud! And they are not synchronized.

We're planning on going to WDW on 30 Mar for the Flower and Garden Festival and may just take the turnpike to see what it's like.

I would avoid I-95 during rush hour but don't see any problem in taking it between say 0900 and 1500, and the route from I-95 exit 156 at Sebastian to the resort is much more direct than by taking the turnpike. The resort has a Vero Beach mailing address but is in Wabasso.

Chuck

 

[Sorcerer's Dad]

This has been hightly recommended (even by Dean!), and this is on my list. If any of you are going to VB in the next few weeks, and do eat here, please report!!! I'll post a link in case anyone is going to try it...
http://www.verobeachlobstershanty.com/

Ate there last Friday 3/13/09 and it was great - as usual. Bit crowded this time of year with snowbirds. I suggest making reservations and eating during the Early Birds (3-6pm) time period, when complete dinners are offered at very reasonable ($11-$15) cost. We live in the area and have always left pleased with the meal.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Ate there last Friday 3/13/09 and it was great - as usual. Bit crowded this time of year with snowbirds. I suggest making reservations and eating during the Early Birds (3-6pm) time period, when complete dinners are offered at very reasonable ($11-$15) cost. We live in the area and have always left pleased with the meal.

Thanks for the review!!!!! Ok, yes early bird special it will be! Can you still make a reservation during the early bird special time frame?

 

[Sorcerer's Dad]

Thanks for the review!!!!! Ok, yes early bird special it will be! Can you still make a reservation during the early bird special time frame?

Yes you can - enjoy! And if for other options, there is Mr. Manatee's on the left side of the road as you go from US 1 down to Lobster Shanty. The URL is http://www.mrmanatees.com/ - Good "all you can eat specials after 6 pm".

 

[MiaSRN62]

Thanks Sorcerer Dad for your contributions.....my uncle who lives in Sebastian told me about the 192 route. True, there are ALOT of lights through Kissimmee and St Cloud, but once you get through them, it's pretty smooth sailing. We even stopped at a roadside produce stand on 192 as we got closer and purchased some fruit. We saw several small gators (3 feet long or so), sun'ing on the sides of the road too......

Maria

 

[conny264]

Sorcerer Dad-thank you so much for your detailed answer.I didn´t think the time difference was so big,I only had the mileage.We are planning to start around 8 in the morning(we´re early birds),but if we take 417 to 528 wecan skip the morning traffic of I-4 and the beginning of 528.Well I guess we decide
on the monday morning.
And thanks for posting the toll rates.
Take care
Conny

 

[conny264]

Just read you´re post again,the time difference isn´t too bad.
If you go to visit the Flower and Garden Festival,please tell us how the drive was,thanks in advance and enjoy Epcot.
Take care
Conny

 

[Belle and Rella's Dad]

I have to tell everyone, that I am not a big fan of Accuweather and their 15 day forcast, we are 13 days from leaving and I don't want 70 degree days!!!

I should probably be thankful for 70 degrees since this was such a brutal winter up here in Michigan, but we definately need better weather in the next couple of weeks. I know it will change 13 more times before we leave, and we are going to have a good time no matter what, but if anyone has any extra send me some pixie dust for better weather.

I am already having a bad day, just filled out my brackets for the tourny and went with my head and not my heart, by picking Pittsburg to beat my Michigan State Spartans in the finals. Anywho everyone have a great day, this has to be the best 2 days in the sporting world, so enjoy.

Tom