VB 2013 Information & Adoration Thread ---CLOSED---

[RSHEALAND]

Yes, I'd love to know what the deal is with beach chair rentals. Price, etc.? Thanks!

beach chair rentals are $7 per day, beach umbrellas $10 per day and cabanas $12 per day

 

[TimeforMe]

beach chair rentals are $7 per day, beach umbrellas $10 per day and cabanas $12 per day

Great, thank you. I thought they were more expensive for some reason.

 

[MagicFan75]

Hi! We are headed down to Vero Beach in less than two weeks! We are checking in on 4/6 and checking out on 4/8, and then driving down to Miami to board the Disney Wonder! Hopefully we will have nice weather for the day we are at VB and are looking forward to playing on the beach, in the pool, going to the campfire, and playing minigolf while we are there. That isn't too much to do in one day, is it? Also, this will be our third visit.

 

[omalley1118]

We are going to Vero aug 28-sept 2 then off to BLT for 5 days. W spent 4 days in Vero last November and absolutely loved it. The beach is great,a nd the kids loved the pool area. The one thing I was less than impressed was the community hall...nothing really to do and a bit dreary.

 

[goofy4tink]

Okay....maybe a silly question...which airport is a shorter drive to VB....WPalm or MCO?? We are booked into WPalm, but the rental car is ridiculously expensive. I can get a much cheaper rate if I buy my passes (for dh) from UT and then book the car through them, but you have to fly into MCO...so after the change fees for air, I would probably end up saving about $40 total.
So will go with the shorter drive....we go to VB first, then drive to MCO and return the car, and take ME to BWV. So, we have to go to MCO after VB anyway. Just don't know which drive is faster??

 

[MagicFan75]

Okay....maybe a silly question...which airport is a shorter drive to VB....WPalm or MCO?? We are booked into WPalm, but the rental car is ridiculously expensive. I can get a much cheaper rate if I buy my passes (for dh) from UT and then book the car through them, but you have to fly into MCO...so after the change fees for air, I would probably end up saving about $40 total.
So will go with the shorter drive....we go to VB first, then drive to MCO and return the car, and take ME to BWV. So, we have to go to MCO after VB anyway. Just don't know which drive is faster??

Looking at Google Maps, it appears to be almost exactly the same trip time from either airport . Maybe you should also consider tolls? Also, I've flown into both airports ... the west palm beach airport is much smaller and QUICKER to get your rental car and out of the airport than MCO.

 

[goofy4tink]

Looking at Google Maps, it appears to be almost exactly the same trip time from either airport . Maybe you should also consider tolls? Also, I've flown into both airports ... the west palm beach airport is much smaller and QUICKER to get your rental car and out of the airport than MCO.

I love WPalm...it's a terrific airport. I think I'll just stick with that. The drive north will be more interesting for my dh...he does love to rubberneck along the way. That's why I always drive!!!

 

[Shellandscott]

I have only driven to Vero from West Palm. As stated above it is smaller and quicker. Keep checking rent a cars, also check about 2 weeks before then 1 week before. Alamo runs specials last minute & check mousesavers for discount codes. You can also check Yahoo travel for rent a car rates to get the best one, then go to the rent a car site directly and book it. Keep in mind all rent a cars are off site at West Palm.

 

[tchrrx]

We'll be at Vero Beach for the first time in less than 2 months! I was so busy planning our first trip to Disneyland (just got back a few days ago), that I haven't even thought about Vero.

So far my plans include flying into MCO, renting a car (booked- first time to that too, so I hope I did it right!), and driving to VB. I think we'll just hang out on the beach/at the pool for a couple of days before going on our cruise. I am planning on heading to Squid Lips for dinner one night, but other than that I have no idea what we're doing. I am going to read through this entire thread, but if you have any other links, hints, or tips of how to have a wonderful VB trip, I would greatly appreciate it!



ETA: The movie & campfire sounds like fun. Should I grab s'mores making items from the grocery store, or do they provide it for you?

Also, is it worth the $7/day to rent a chair?

 

[floridafam]

Don't forget about the Melbourne airport. It's wonderful. My family regularly finds great fares from Michigan when they come visit us in Sebastian.

 

[MagicFan75]

The movie & campfire sounds like fun. Should I grab s'mores making items from the grocery store, or do they provide it for you?

Great question! I'm looking forward to this answer too. Based on the activity schedules, it doesn't look like they do the campfire every night, so I'm hoping we'll be up for it on Saturday night after a long drive from Atlanta.

 

[bobbiwoz]

...


ETA: The movie & campfire sounds like fun. Should I grab s'mores making items from the grocery store, or do they provide it for you?

Also, is it worth the $7/day to rent a chair?

VB provides all of the fixins for S'mores! You can even make more than one per person!

Some people stop at WalMart, or one of the Drug stores nearby that carry such things as beach chairs and buy them at a lesser cost than renting.

 

[mecllap]

I'm making my first visit (solo, Inn room) to Vero over Mother's Day weekend on a break from a WDW trip -- checking in May 10, and out May 13 (heading to BWV). Plan to visit some nearby botanic gardens and towns as well as beach relaxing (weather permitting -- this has been a strange year so far, who knows?). Anyone have any Inn room photos posted?

 

[J&K'sPrincessMommy]

We are considering a trip next Easter in mid-April. During busier times, would the character breakfast happen on a Saturday or would they keep in only Memorial Day- Labor Day?

 

[robhawk]

We are considering a trip next Easter in mid-April. During busier times, would the character breakfast happen on a Saturday or would they keep in only Memorial Day- Labor Day?

We went last February and they had it on Saturday morning.

 

[Hopefully]

Okay....maybe a silly question...which airport is a shorter drive to VB....WPalm or MCO?? We are booked into WPalm, but the rental car is ridiculously expensive. I can get a much cheaper rate if I buy my passes (for dh) from UT and then book the car through them, but you have to fly into MCO...so after the change fees for air, I would probably end up saving about $40 total.
So will go with the shorter drive....we go to VB first, then drive to MCO and return the car, and take ME to BWV. So, we have to go to MCO after VB anyway. Just don't know which drive is faster??

We are flying into West Palm for the first time on the advice of a DVC owner co-worker. I watched fares for a couple of months, and really they were comparable to flying into MCO. It looks like the commute is comparable.
But the rental car rates for a week were over $100 less from West Palm. I priced Alamo, National and Avis. All were significantly less directly at West Palm than MCO.
That is what we went with, but I am also looking forward to a smaller, less busy airport.

 

[dwelty]

We had our first visit to Vero Last October. We stayed 3 nights and spent the last 4 at WDW. My family was not happy to leave VBR, and would have liked to spend the whole week there. Last month we were able to secure 5 days in a beach cottage the first week in October (a full week after the 7 month window opened) and could not be happier. The weather in October in Vero is just about perfect for us. It will be our family of 4 plus BIL,SIL,MIL, and FIL. Any feedback on the cottages would be appreciated...

 

[DisDaydreamer]

I'm making my first visit (solo, Inn room) to Vero over Mother's Day weekend on a break from a WDW trip -- checking in May 10, and out May 13 (heading to BWV). Plan to visit some nearby botanic gardens and towns as well as beach relaxing (weather permitting -- this has been a strange year so far, who knows?). Anyone have any Inn room photos posted?

Added you to the rollcall

 

[job09]

Just back from VB, wonderful trip. Highlights: Loved using my Disney Dollars at the poolside Grill, loved the bucket of beer boiled shrimp 11.99 for a full pound of large fresh shrimp! Crab cake sandwich for 8.99 very good and real crab. The weather was perfect. We had to be at the pool at 8am when it opened to get a spot in the shade but it was worth it, spent the whole day there. The my twins enjoyed the UnBirthday party, it is free for the first 30 kids who sign up the day of the party, they had gift bags and a pinata and played party games it is for 10 and under. We saw 1 turtle swimming in the ocean, a drunk foolish guy tried to pick it up to show his kids, luckily it got away. They had a fun Easter egg hunt and gave the kids tons of candy. While we were there they resodded the lawn in front of the back entrance. Brave was the outdoor movie. The beach looks great, we could walk/run for a long distance. The water was a beautiful blue and very calm. Someone just gave us their beach chairs and we had fun giving them to a very happy family when we left. Remeber to bring your DVC membership card won't give you the discount without it even though it says on your key to the world card DVC member (live and learn). Got stuck in bldg 12 again but this time we were in the front facing the beach cottage, better view than the parking lot. Have a great trip we did! We went after the 4 day Disney Dream Cruise, it was so perfect to go to VB and just chill after that busy cruise!

 

[MagicFan75]

Just back from VB, wonderful trip. Highlights: Loved using my Disney Dollars at the poolside Grill, loved the bucket of beer boiled shrimp 11.99 for a full pound of large fresh shrimp! Crab cake sandwich for 8.99 very good and real crab. The weather was perfect. We had to be at the pool at 8am when it opened to get a spot in the shade but it was worth it, spent the whole day there. The my twins enjoyed the UnBirthday party, it is free for the first 30 kids who sign up the day of the party, they had gift bags and a pinata and played party games it is for 10 and under. We saw 1 turtle swimming in the ocean, a drunk foolish guy tried to pick it up to show his kids, luckily it got away. They had a fun Easter egg hunt and gave the kids tons of candy. While we were there they resodded the lawn in front of the back entrance. Brave was the outdoor movie. The beach looks great, we could walk/run for a long distance. The water was a beautiful blue and very calm. Someone just gave us their beach chairs and we had fun giving them to a very happy family when we left. Remeber to bring your DVC membership card won't give you the discount without it even though it says on your key to the world card DVC member (live and learn). Got stuck in bldg 12 again but this time we were in the front facing the beach cottage, better view than the parking lot. Have a great trip we did! We went after the 4 day Disney Dream Cruise, it was so perfect to go to VB and just chill after that busy cruise!

Great update and thanks for the DVC member card tip! We leave tomorrow for two nights at VB and can't wait. The fresh shrimp sound AWESOME!