Trip report - First time at Vero Beach

[rigsby25a]

We just got back from our Oct 19-24 vacation at Vero Beach. It was an interesting experience. We arrived at the hotel at about 1 or so. Our room was not ready. We are getting kind of used to that lately. Anyway - they said the Inn had been full, so they were just now cleaning the rooms people had vacated at 11:00. Since this was our first time here, we were a little perplexed about what to do next. We have the routine down pat at WDW. We decided to go up to the Green Room and have a drink and look out at the ocean and maybe have something to eat. The lady gave us menus and then disappeared. We were waiting and waiting and waiting, and decided to go down to the pool to eat. On our way out she said she would be with us in a little while but since she was "alone" we were in for a wait. (???). Well - then we decided to get the grocery shopping over with so we went to Publix. We were delighted to find out how close Publix, CVS, Walgreens, and Super Walmart are. (I even had a prescription speedily filled at Walgreens.) I think it takes us just as long to just leave WDW property in Orlando as it did to get to Publix. When we came back, our room was ready. It was 2320. I didn't see this anywhere else on this board, but I found out that some rooms have railings on the balcony, and some have plain no-see-through wood. That's what we got. You have to stand up to see the ocean view. For the first time in our DVC history, we asked for a change of rooms. My idea of ocean view is not that you have to stand up on the balcony to see the ocean. Plus that there was a palm tree smack in front of our balcony. I think this must be the worst ocean view room they have. We were moved one floor lower but this was much better. We couldn't see as far out, but we could actually sit on the balcony, drink our coffee, and watch the sun rise! More later if anyone is interested.

 

[goldilocks_63]

We're going in March, and would love to hear more.

I also signed up for a OVIR - so any more info on what is a good room is appreaciated.

Goldi

 

[thesupersmartguy]

Congrats! Hope you have a super trip.

 

[rigsby25]

If I knew how to post pictures, I would show what I mean about the balcony. It may not bother other people, but with the economy the way it is and the air fares the way they are and not knowing when we'd be back, I just decided that I really pictured my vacation to be sitting on the balcony and viewing the ocean.

Another interesting thing to me is that you could walk to Orchid Pizza. Its practically on the premises. But we didn't know it wasn't a restaurant, so we just picked up our pizza and walked back to the resort and ate it in our room. Which was fine because we had that wonderful ocean. To me its almost like watching a campfire. Hypnotizing or something. It would probably be better to phone your order in and then go pick it up. Actually - I ordered a sweet sausage flatbread in the Green Cabin room and it was really delicious. I would take that over Orchid Pizza any day.

We found we could get the internet sometimes in our room and sometimes not. And they said it was the same in the Green Cabin Room at the bar. Sometimes you could and sometimes you couldn't.

Oh - and I've heard so much about bugs. I didn't notice a one. Being in October maybe?

One of the local people who was out walking her dog told us that if we were going to swim, it was best to do it right in front of the lodge because there were "rips" that would pull you out just off the Disney beach front. We didn't really swim. We walked in about maybe knee deep and just let the waves come in. And then we'd walk a little further and do it again. We usually went on the beach early. About 8:30 or 9 and the sun was warm and the water was warm. They said 77 or 75 but it felt really nice an warm to me.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Views are very important to us when we visit VB. In the future, put the following in your room request when you book: Ocean facing OVIR, see thru balcony. CM's will try and tell you you don't need to put Ocean facing as it is an OVIR. Still do it, there is also a chance of getting an OVIR with a glimpse of the ocean. You want that full oceanfront view!

 

[IAMaGR8DISMOM]

Could you let me know if there were bowls and silverware (or plastic) in the inn rooms? Any mugs? and was it a full size coffee pot?

Thanks

 

[DisDaydreamer]

We just got back from our Oct 19-24 vacation at Vero Beach. It was an interesting experience. We arrived at the hotel at about 1 or so. Our room was not ready. We are getting kind of used to that lately. Anyway - they said the Inn had been full, so they were just now cleaning the rooms people had vacated at 11:00. Since this was our first time here, we were a little perplexed about what to do next. We have the routine down pat at WDW. We decided to go up to the Green Room and have a drink and look out at the ocean and maybe have something to eat. The lady gave us menus and then disappeared. We were waiting and waiting and waiting, and decided to go down to the pool to eat. On our way out she said she would be with us in a little while but since she was "alone" we were in for a wait. (???). Well - then we decided to get the grocery shopping over with so we went to Publix. We were delighted to find out how close Publix, CVS, Walgreens, and Super Walmart are. (I even had a prescription speedily filled at Walgreens.) I think it takes us just as long to just leave WDW property in Orlando as it did to get to Publix. When we came back, our room was ready. It was 2320. I didn't see this anywhere else on this board, but I found out that some rooms have railings on the balcony, and some have plain no-see-through wood. That's what we got. You have to stand up to see the ocean view. For the first time in our DVC history, we asked for a change of rooms. My idea of ocean view is not that you have to stand up on the balcony to see the ocean. Plus that there was a palm tree smack in front of our balcony. I think this must be the worst ocean view room they have. We were moved one floor lower but this was much better. We couldn't see as far out, but we could actually sit on the balcony, drink our coffee, and watch the sun rise! More later if anyone is interested.

Yes... there are some rooms to avoid. We noticed on our last visit that the room below us had the solid wall and that the rain kind of filled up their balcony and didn't seem to disappear nearly as fast as it came. We were in 2314 and thought all the rooms on our floor would be good. Sounds like there are more of the closed balconies on the 3rd floor too. Glad you stuck up for yourself and got another room... glad they had one.

We're not restaurant go'ers and have never tried the GC room except for a couple drinks and sitting on the deck. Personally, we think the restaurants... GC room, Shutters, and Sonya's for sure.... are just way to expensive for us.

We do like you did and head out to get groceries. So far... we haven't had a situation where we bought groceries and didn't have a unit to go to. We came close once, but we were ready and had plenty of cooler space for the stuff that needed to be refrigerated.

All things considered... we have had decent OVIR views for many years and I think we have decided that we need the 1 bdrm amenities more than the view. So, we will likely be staying in the villa buildings in the future. And it is possible to get an ocean view in the villa buildings. Especially in bldg 12 and bldg 15. Building 14 is almost impossible to see the ocean because of the vegetation and the beach cottages in the way.

Thanks for giving us your trip report. Every bit of Info helps the next visitors.

Glad you ultimately had a good time. Did you spend much time on the beach, at the pool, campfire (we've never done that), Did you go across the street to the lake? or take the Jungle trail?

I am very interested in hearing more... waiting for more reporting....

 

[Pootle]

I didn't see this anywhere else on this board, but I found out that some rooms have railings on the balcony, and some have plain no-see-through wood. That's what we got. You have to stand up to see the ocean view. For the first time in our DVC history, we asked for a change of rooms. My idea of ocean view is not that you have to stand up on the balcony to see the ocean.

It can be very disappointing to get one of these rooms. We've only once requested a change because of the view and that was because we were staying 5 nights. Shortly I'll be doing a 1-night stay (had points to be used up so are taking a short trip from OKW) and although I've booked an OVIR, I won't bother what sort of room it is - I figure someone has to have these rooms and for a short stay (1 or 2 nights) I will take whatever they give me.

I don't really think that some of the ocean view rooms are worthy of the OV points rate. If you'd only 'paid' for a garden view and ended up with a partial side view you'd be happy though.

 

[rigsby25]

We had real coffee mugs and real glasses. Other than that we had paper plates and bowls. We always bring a couple of plastic cups with us and some non breakable plates. (for just the two of us). We had a standard 12-cup coffee pot.

We hit the ocean every morning at about 8:30 or 9:00 except our last and only then because it was drizzeling. About 11 we would go to the hot tub and then order a drink and lay by the pool. This was the best vacation I've ever had. I'm back at work now and every now and then I will close my eyes and see that sunrise, or the ocean waves.

We never made it to Shutters although we had planned to. We tried once, but - here's another thing if I didn't mention it - Shutters is closed between 3 and 5. That's really how we wound up at the Green Cabin room. We were looking for a late lunch/early dinner kind of thing. As far as going out to eat, I don't know - we had no desire to leave the inn. We did take a walk to the lake and to look at what was there. There were grills there and I think a picnic table. We saw a yoga class being held right there and we saw the campfire. Do you believe we completely forgot about it? We had planned on going on Wednesday night. We were just relaxing in our room after a day of swimming and sun.

They kind of decorated the pool area for Halloween which I thought was a nice touch. Also - this is the first pool slide I've seen with a lot of grown ups going down. I did it once. It is very fast!

 

[alldiz]

Glad you had a great trip.....Can't wait to go to VB one day
Thanks for posting.
Kerri