VB Adoration & Information Thread (Plus 2007 Chair Swap)

[keliblue]

Keliblue,

Didn't you drop off the list and then ask to be added back on? My guess is that is where the confusion comes in, but you are definitely on the updated list (swap list 2) - I know I put your screen name on the list I left in the box (I didn't have your real name to add). As starbox is on the same list, I'm sure she'll update the list to add "real" names for those added after she emailed me the original list.

Actually, There used to be a "Group 1" and "Group 2" on the very first page of this thread. Now there is only 1 listing of names on the first post

 

[starbox]

Actually, There used to be a "Group 1" and "Group 2" on the very first page of this thread. Now there is only 1 listing of names on the first post

It should be fixed now.

 

[Debs Hill]

Starbox: Thanks for the info about the unbirthday parties! I think they sound fun but not sure if my son would think that it was too 'girly'?!! We'll see! ha! ha! Have a great trip!

Does anyone else have any information about the following:
1) What are wave runners and is it a fun trip?
2) Has anyone done any of the other trips offered?
3) What type of food is at the buffet at Sonyas?

Debsxxxx

 

[lisareniff]

Does anyone else have any information about the following:
1) What are wave runners and is it a fun trip?

Since no one else answered this I will ... but I am not the most knowledgeable about such things...

A wave runner is not a trip but a piece of equipment you can rent. I believe the same as a jet ski.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Starbox: Thanks for the info about the unbirthday parties! I think they sound fun but not sure if my son would think that it was too 'girly'?!! We'll see! ha! ha! Have a great trip!

Does anyone else have any information about the following:
1) What are wave runners and is it a fun trip?
2) Has anyone done any of the other trips offered?
3) What type of food is at the buffet at Sonyas?

Debsxxxx

Lisareniff is correct. It is like a motorcycle for the water. DS and I did it once at VB and it is a lot of fun. This was years ago, but the cost was $50 for 30 minutes.

 

[goofyguy1958]

bjakmom, I called and we are officially in the Monday June 18th Turtle walk. Thanks for the information. By the way, there is a fee of $20 for the first person and then $10 for each additional person and they were close to sold out when I called an hour ago. Glad I found you in time.

Mike "GG" B

 

[kdzgon]

Starbox: Thanks for the info about the unbirthday parties! I think they sound fun but not sure if my son would think that it was too 'girly'?!! We'll see! ha! ha! Have a great trip!

Does anyone else have any information about the following:
1) What are wave runners and is it a fun trip?
2) Has anyone done any of the other trips offered?
3) What type of food is at the buffet at Sonyas?

Debsxxxx

I may have missed how old your DS is but we just returned, and the un-birthday party had slightly more boys than girls (incl our 2 - 4 YO DGSs). Both genders seemed to enjoy it quite a bit, and don't forget at the end they get to whack the piñata and then scramble for candy - AND eat the cupcake they decorated!

 

[Ooba]

I apologize in advance if this was already asked somewhere, but we have never been to Vero Beach (or any Florida beach for that matter), and we are trying to decide when to go. Could someone answer a couple questions?

Because of school schedules, we can only go spring break (last full week of March) or summertime (mid June to early Sept).

1. Is it possible to get ressies for end of march at 7 months? Is it overly crowded?

2. How hard is it to get ressies over the July 4th week?

3. Is it unbearably hot/humid in the summer - or does a breeze keep it semi-comfortable?

4. I am assuming that the turtle activities are primarily in the summer - are the turtles around in March, or is that too early?

5. Bugs (ewww). I don't care much at all for them - and neither do the DDs. I unfortunately am the one that the bugs always find, and I usually react to any bites. I HATE smelling like bug spray all the time. Which time period has fewer/more issues with bugs?

Given the options, which is the best time??

 

[DisDaydreamer]

I apologize in advance if this was already asked somewhere, but we have never been to Vero Beach (or any Florida beach for that matter), and we are trying to decide when to go. Could someone answer a couple questions?

Because of school schedules, we can only go spring break (last full week of March) or summertime (mid June to early Sept).

1. Is it possible to get ressies for end of march at 7 months? Is it overly crowded?

2. How hard is it to get ressies over the July 4th week?

3. Is it unbearably hot/humid in the summer - or does a breeze keep it semi-comfortable?

4. I am assuming that the turtle activities are primarily in the summer - are the turtles around in March, or is that too early?

5. Bugs (ewww). I don't care much at all for them - and neither do the DDs. I unfortunately am the one that the bugs always find, and I usually react to any bites. I HATE smelling like bug spray all the time. Which time period has fewer/more issues with bugs?

Given the options, which is the best time??

1. end of March at 7 months... easy.

2. July 4th... impossible at 7 months.

3. Seems to always be a breeze on the beach. July/August are the most difficult for the heat. We won't be going back to VB in July or Aug.

4 The turtles lay the eggs around March/April and the eggs hatch aroung August/September.

5 May in Florida is bad for love bugs (but they don't bite.. just a nuisence). Otherwise, the no-see-ums at dusk are the only other problem..... we have never personally had a problem with bugs at VB. It is pretty widely agreed that Cutter Advanced is the best deterent to no-see-ums. I would recommend YOU not attend the campfire.

 

[Ooba]

Thanks for the great information!! I knew I could find the answers here! Now I guess we are just going to have to add on some points to make it all happen!

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Hey Starbox.... just 4 days.... are you packed yet? We are... (for HHI)... But then... we leave on Friday and are staying offsite 2 nights on the way down. Georgia is a state we're really looking at moving to. So close to eveything Disney... and of course... the best beaches!

If I don't talk to you before you all leave... HAVE A GREAT TIME

 

[starbox]

Hey Starbox.... just 4 days.... are you packed yet? We are... (for HHI)... But then... we leave on Friday and are staying offsite 2 nights on the way down. Georgia is a state we're really looking at moving to. So close to eveything Disney... and of course... the best beaches!

If I don't talk to you before you all leave... HAVE A GREAT TIME

I'm sort of packed. I had a bunch of stuff dumped in my lap at work this week, so I am going to head over to school early this morning and try to finish. We're going to stay in Gainesville on Saturday night so we can get to Disney bright and early.

There are some great places to live in Georgia, and there are lots of birds. Have a great time at HHI as well. We've had great (although dry) weather around these parts - so it should be nice!

 

[keliblue]

Have a wonderful trip Starbox we will be thinking about you

 

[cmdobrien]

Wanted to give a quick trip report - and thank Starbox for facilitating the Chair Swap! I added a "boogie board" to the mix. Enjoy!

Pros: Nice facilities, "Disney Clean", pool area great, pool games, campfire!, LOTS of activities for kids ALL DAY long - very impressive. Hit with tennis pro. Food prices/dining VERY reasonable. GREAT Fitness facility!!

Cons: We were in a studio, (Myself, DH, DD13, DS8) - should probably have gotten at least a 1BR. BUT - we were only there for 4 days, so worked out fine. No teen meet & Greet - so shy DD13 hung around w/us. no biggie.

The weather was great (a little cold & windy by arizona standards) - hardly any of those Love/June bugs (we left to go to Orlando, where it practically rained bugs).

Would definitly recommend to others and hope to go back sometime ourselves!

 

[TinkTatoo]

Could someone tell me waht the swap involves - we are there from 24th - 27th July

Thanks

 

[TinkTatoo]

.....2) What is a waverunner!? And is it a fun excursion?......

We hired one of these in the summer - you have to be a reasonably strong swimmer as you have to swim out to where it's moored then climb on which is easier said that done

DS and DD got a bit scared and didn't let DH go too fast but this is a shot of them I took from the top of the slide

 

[kdzgon]

Wanted to give a quick trip report - and thank Starbox for facilitating the Chair Swap! I added a "boogie board" to the mix. Enjoy!

Pros: Nice facilities, "Disney Clean", pool area great, pool games, campfire!, LOTS of activities for kids ALL DAY long - very impressive. Hit with tennis pro. Food prices/dining VERY reasonable.

Cons: We were in a studio, (Myself, DH, DD13, DS8) - should probably have gotten at least a 1BR. BUT - we were only there for 4 days, so worked out fine. No teen meet & Greet - so shy DD13 hung around w/us. no biggie.

The weather was great (a little cold & windy by arizona standards) - hardly any of those Love/June bugs (we left to go to Orlando, where it practically rained bugs).

Would definitly recommend to others and hope to go back sometime ourselves!

You might want to consider an inn room, too assuming either the kids would share a bed or you have a sleeping bag or air mattress. The inn room was pretty comfortable, and large than the average studio. I think it was only 10 pts vs 8 for a studio for an ocean view inn room.

 

[MiaSRN62]

We hired one of these in the summer - you have to be a reasonably strong swimmer as you have to swim out to where it's moored then climb on which is easier said that done

TinkTatoo,
You are so right....they really make u swim out fairly far. And hoisting yourself up, with nothing to stand on after a fairly rigorous swim was exhausting----but fun ! Definitely have to be a strong swimmer.........

 

[TinkTatoo]

TinkTatoo,
You are so right....they really make u swim out fairly far. And hoisting yourself up, with nothing to stand on after a fairly rigorous swim was exhausting----but fun ! Definitely have to be a strong swimmer.........

LOL I have some great shots of DH's Butt as he tried (and failed) to gracefully get on

 

[bjakmom]

LIVE FROM THE LOBBY AT VERO!!! Doing a couple of loads of laundry and staying out of the noon sun for today so thought I'd check in with you all.

First re: chair swap - I'm also adding a boogie board and umbrella anchor to my swap - Enjoy - DNeph was in the ocean for hours yesterday on the board - met a friend his age and they had a BLAST - hence the mild sunburn today - we're going to go back down at 3PM and then to the pool for tonight's dive in movie. Starbox - the chairs are GREAT - I will be ordering a couple for the beach at home - love them. REMINDER - you have to go down the beach past the 'official' umbrellas and cabanas to set up your own umbrella - I forgot and had to take everything down after I set up and move - seems silly to me, there was plenty of room, but they have their rental thing going and the young man was polite about it.

Second: turtle walk - last night we went with the conservation group Carribean Conservation Corporation - AWESOME !!! (I posted their info a few posts back on this thread) We were soooo lucky (and they told us so) - had several turtle sightings within 10 minutes of getting to the beach - we waited less than an hour for the 3rd or 4th one to be the 'right' one to observe. It was quite a distance down the beach, but so beautiful to walk by the water under the clear, star filled sky! We were able to get down in the sand RIGHT behind an incredible loggerhead and watch her drop her eggs (via red light) into her nest, the kids were allowed to push some sand to her to help her cover it up. Watched her disguise the nest - and then our guide asked who was the youngest child - DNeph(9) was!! - he got to give this turtle his name (he had picked TK, his father's nickname) - he lost his dad 4 years ago this summer to West Nile Virus, so you can only imagine how moved I was by the whole experience - we had been 'calling' to 'our' turtle from the beach that day, encouraging her to swim in - talk about a magical experience - one we will never forget!!

This place is a gem!! We lucked out (yet again!) and got the corner OVIR by the pool. Our balcony looks over the pool and ocean - two sets of double windows overlook the ocean - when I'm at the bathroom sink I can see the ocean in the mirror behind me - the room seems super large because of it's L-shape - gives me a little sitting area around the corner where the kitchen is for reading. To sum it all up, DNeph keeps saying "I think I've died and gone to heaven!!" Off to check my laundry - almost forgot to mention - the CMs here ROCK!!!!

This trip has been so amazing - I can't believe we still have SWW to look forward to!