VERO BEACH 2016 Information & Adoration Thread

[ljcrochet]

Btw Apparently the braid station hasn't been here at all 'this year' according to a few lifeguards.

We went Christmas week the last 2 years, and there wasn't a hair braid station either time.

 

[RSHEALAND]

I hear on other sites that the second and third floor of Building 15 is now open and first floor might get the CO today, hopefully someone on site can confirm and maybe we can get some pictures soon

 

[MousekeTom]

For several years I have been going the first week of February, and there are always some PMo'W during my stay. Some days there are quite a few.

Yeaaaaah...they don't have great calendars.

The Portuguese man-of-war tends to be found off South Florida from late fall to early spring, said Charles Messing, professor at Nova Southeastern University's Oceanographic Center.

...but they are more prevalent coming ashore when the wind is at its peak, which is usually March.

 

[gabriellyn]

Are the sandflies and no see ums the same thing? Thanks for the heads up, that would be bad if it happened to one of my GD's.

Yes. Apparently I am quite sensitive to them. It was really really awful.
But it's all good now.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[MarriedAtDisney]

First a few tidbits.....

All of building 15 is now open. Renovations to 12 and 14 postponed start dates until November. Shutters closes in 2-3 weeks and will reopen as "The Wind and the Waves". Apparently the renovations ran into a number of issues unexpectedly as well as some new building codes.

Now a negative experience. We've been coming to vero for 11 or 12 years. Been attending the pirate night the entire time. We called three weeks ago to make reservations and explicitly asked, will the dinner be in the shutters restaurant? I asked because I know the restaurant is closing and the plan is to have dinners in the two conference rooms. I was assured the pirate dinner on 6/6 would be in shutters.

Fast forward to tonight. Check in and seated in the conference room at tables for 8-12, which in our case was facing another family and seated next to me as well. I'm not a small guy. So we're bumping elbows the entire time and staring at each other the whole dinner. Food? We were ushered out into the lobby for a buffet line.

Now I will say. The food was tasty and well prepared. The staff was clearly enthusiastic and did a great job. Young kids were having fun. But this is nothing like what it has been for the last dozen or more years. If you had told me, group seating, in the conference room, buffet line and "interactive", I would have not gone. My kids 10 and 12 said, 'this is really weird, can we go?'

So we ate, took pictures and stepped out. I'm not a 'talk to the manager kind of guy', but this really upset me. So I went to the front desk and asked for the manager. Turns out she's working the event and comes over. I say to her, I'm sorry to drag you out, I just wanted to express my feelings on the dinner. I tell her about calling in and being told about shutters and she interrupts with 'Disney reservations messed up and overbooked the dinner', I said 'I'm sorry about that but regardless you need to communicate what the event is now and that it's changed.' I told her 'that was not enjoyable for us, it was like sitting at a wedding dinner where you don't know anyone'. Before I could finish she said 'well we've been getting great feedback from others and we wanted to do something different and immersive. We tried to communicate that it as different and there is another hour of games and dancing".

I said 'ok, well thank you but that's not something we're interested in, was communicated to me, nor were we expecting.' Then I left.

Now maybe she hasn't finished her customer experience training but here's what she should have said. 'I'm sorry we didn't meet your expectations, thank you for the feedback. We will certainly work harder to communicate more clearly for future events.' I would have left fine. Instead I left madder than I was sitting in the dark bumping elbows trying to see what I was eating. So....if you have little ones 2-8, they'll probably like this immersive event. But if you want to see a window, not be jammed with strangers or prefer to have your dinner brought to you.....skip this event. And if you have a less than magical experience, skip talking to the manager about it.....everyone else is having a good time.

 

[girli565]

Yes. Apparently I am quite sensitive to them. It was really really awful.
But it's all good now.

Enjoy your trip!

I'm also very sensitive to no see ums. I actually react worse than with mosquitos. I pack my deet bug spray anytime I'm at the beach. It's a necessity for me.

 

[gabriellyn]

I'm also very sensitive to no see ums. I actually react worse than with mosquitos. I pack my deet bug spray anytime I'm at the beach. It's a necessity for me.

This was my first experience with them. I thought I would be scarred for life and unable to wear shorts or a skirt ever again - the wounds were THAT bad. I am not exaggerating. Luckily I found some really good scar serum from Paula's Choice. The itching was so much worse than a mosquito bite, and I had HUNDREDS on my legs (if you google sandfly bites you'll get an idea of what my legs looked like). I finally discovered Benadryl spray worked to calm the itching, but by then my legs were already covered in scabs. Believe me, I learned my lesson the really hard way. It isn't stopping us from going back though - we'll just be armed with gallons of bug spray! Vero is one of our favorite DVC resorts!

 

[jerseygal]

Good news for those traveling soon about building 15! LOOKING FORWARD to seeing some pics! Wow, only there 1 1/2 weeks ago and I never would have guessed that Building 15 would be ready. Walked by there three times and there were no workers around, dead. In any case, hoping that the villas are great!

 

[Ensusieasm]

First a few tidbits.....

All of building 15 is now open. Renovations to 12 and 14 postponed start dates until November. Shutters closes in 2-3 weeks and will reopen as "The Wind and the Waves". Apparently the renovations ran into a number of issues unexpectedly as well as some new building codes.

Now a negative experience. We've been coming to vero for 11 or 12 years. Been attending the pirate night the entire time. We called three weeks ago to make reservations and explicitly asked, will the dinner be in the shutters restaurant? I asked because I know the restaurant is closing and the plan is to have dinners in the two conference rooms. I was assured the pirate dinner on 6/6 would be in shutters.

Fast forward to tonight. Check in and seated in the conference room at tables for 8-12, which in our case was facing another family and seated next to me as well. I'm not a small guy. So we're bumping elbows the entire time and staring at each other the whole dinner. Food? We were ushered out into the lobby for a buffet line.

Now I will say. The food was tasty and well prepared. The staff was clearly enthusiastic and did a great job. Young kids were having fun. But this is nothing like what it has been for the last dozen or more years. If you had told me, group seating, in the conference room, buffet line and "interactive", I would have not gone. My kids 10 and 12 said, 'this is really weird, can we go?'

So we ate, took pictures and stepped out. I'm not a 'talk to the manager kind of guy', but this really upset me. So I went to the front desk and asked for the manager. Turns out she's working the event and comes over. I say to her, I'm sorry to drag you out, I just wanted to express my feelings on the dinner. I tell her about calling in and being told about shutters and she interrupts with 'Disney reservations messed up and overbooked the dinner', I said 'I'm sorry about that but regardless you need to communicate what the event is now and that it's changed.' I told her 'that was not enjoyable for us, it was like sitting at a wedding dinner where you don't know anyone'. Before I could finish she said 'well we've been getting great feedback from others and we wanted to do something different and immersive. We tried to communicate that it as different and there is another hour of games and dancing".

I said 'ok, well thank you but that's not something we're interested in, was communicated to me, nor were we expecting.' Then I left.

Now maybe she hasn't finished her customer experience training but here's what she should have said. 'I'm sorry we didn't meet your expectations, thank you for the feedback. We will certainly work harder to communicate more clearly for future events.' I would have left fine. Instead I left madder than I was sitting in the dark bumping elbows trying to see what I was eating. So....if you have little ones 2-8, they'll probably like this immersive event. But if you want to see a window, not be jammed with strangers or prefer to have your dinner brought to you.....skip this event. And if you have a less than magical experience, skip talking to the manager about it.....everyone else is having a good time.

Wow, sounds awful, and that manager flunked training I'm sure. She needs a refresher course right away!

 

[dallastxcpa]

Here are some pictures that were shared on the Facebook page Disney's Vero Beach Resort Rocks of a 2 bedroom that was renovated: Join the facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/67472459843/

 

[PammyK]

Wow, sounds awful, and that manager flunked training I'm sure. She needs a refresher course right away!

Honestly, his was the first and only negative comment I've read here or on social media about the changes to the Pirate Dinner. And from personal experience as a confirmed "old lady who hates people" I have to say that I really enjoyed the new version of the Pirate Dinner when I attended in May. I wasn't planning to go because I really didn't like the previous incarnation at all but made a last minute decision to attend and I'm so glad I did. I was seated with 7 strangers but by the end of the night we had become members of the same pirate crew.
I'm also willing to give the manager the benefit of the doubt here as based on the quoted remarks, I'm not convinced that she was uncaring. Perhaps she didn't convey things properly, but if it was the same manager who assisted me with my last minute booking, I really got the sense that she truly cares about creating a great event for all the guests, even if her response may not have communicated that to the PP.

 

[CarolynK]

Honestly, his was the first and only negative comment I've read here or on social media about the changes to the Pirate Dinner. And from personal experience as a confirmed "old lady who hates people" I have to say that I really enjoyed the new version of the Pirate Dinner when I attended in May. I wasn't planning to go because I really didn't like the previous incarnation at all but made a last minute decision to attend and I'm so glad I did. I was seated with 7 strangers but by the end of the night we had become members of the same pirate crew.
I'm also willing to give the manager the benefit of the doubt here as based on the quoted remarks, I'm not convinced that she was uncaring. Perhaps she didn't convey things properly, but if it was the same manager who assisted me with my last minute booking, I really got the sense that she truly cares about creating a great event for all the guests, even if her response may not have communicated that to the PP.

Regarding the seating at the dinner, I think it's about expectations. A family of four probably just wants to sit together.

DH and I go to local wine dinners, where more often than not, we're seated at a table for 4 or more. Funny how at a wine dinner, strangers become friends by the end of the night. The first time it happened, though, it was awkward. And, if I had been told that we'd be seated at a table for 2 over the phone, I'd have been annoyed too.
Last August at Vero we had some words with one of the managers. I was pleased with the end result, but her attitude kind of reminds me of MarriedAtDisney's description. I have an issue with being interrupted with/argued with when I am making a complaint to someone in a management position. Overall, I find the CM's at Vero to be friendly but much less professional than WDW CM's (not unreasonable or unexpected for a beach resort, but still the manager must be a professional and deal with guests' complaints appropriately).
.

 

[jerseygal]

Dallastxcpa, thank for posting the pics! Pics look very sleek, but personally I like more of a "beachy" theme. Kitchens and baths look very nice, nice large tv! Great to see renovated rooms . Looking forward to hearing guests observations!

 

[MarriedAtDisney]

Honestly, his was the first and only negative comment I've read here or on social media about the changes to the Pirate Dinner. And from personal experience as a confirmed "old lady who hates people" I have to say that I really enjoyed the new version of the Pirate Dinner when I attended in May. I wasn't planning to go because I really didn't like the previous incarnation at all but made a last minute decision to attend and I'm so glad I did. I was seated with 7 strangers but by the end of the night we had become members of the same pirate crew.
I'm also willing to give the manager the benefit of the doubt here as based on the quoted remarks, I'm not convinced that she was uncaring. Perhaps she didn't convey things properly, but if it was the same manager who assisted me with my last minute booking, I really got the sense that she truly cares about creating a great event for all the guests, even if her response may not have communicated that to the PP.

It's all about expectations. We liked the prior version. And my kids 10 and 12 are outside what I think this version is designed for. In the end, to each their own. I simply thought it was different enough to warrant communication and it was not what I explicitly was told three weeks earlier.

 

[Alice Sr.]

It's all about expectations. We liked the prior version. And my kids 10 and 12 are outside what I think this version is designed for. In the end, to each their own. I simply thought it was different enough to warrant communication and it was not what I explicitly was told three weeks earlier.

And it should have been addressed immediately in a positive manner to your satisfaction, not debated with you. There is enough going on that miscommunications and last minute changes are to be expected but you (the customer) should not have take on the burden of those oversights. I wish you would communicate your experience via email with DVC customer relations. I think you would be refunded but even if you weren't hopefully the manager would be provided with some tips or training for similar issues that will likely arise in the future as they work through their renovation.

 

[PammyK]

It's all about expectations. We liked the prior version. And my kids 10 and 12 are outside what I think this version is designed for. In the end, to each their own. I simply thought it was different enough to warrant communication and it was not what I explicitly was told three weeks earlier.

Oh for sure, and it really isn't good if you were given incorrect information when you booked/called. I'm a bit curious to know if you called the WDW Dining Line or the resort directly because there definitely should have been information about that for them to share with you, especially if you called the resort directly. In any case, the Pirate Dinner is going on hiatus this month until after the dining facilities have been updated so for anyone going in the near future it is kind of a moot point.

 

[CarolynK]

Roll call: we'll be there July 18-23, 1BR, 6th visit.

 

[MarriedAtDisney]

Oh for sure, and it really isn't good if you were given incorrect information when you booked/called. I'm a bit curious to know if you called the WDW Dining Line or the resort directly because there definitely should have been information about that for them to share with you, especially if you called the resort directly. In any case, the Pirate Dinner is going on hiatus this month until after the dining facilities have been updated so for anyone going in the near future it is kind of a moot point.

Both. Main WDW to make the reservations a while ago and then the front desk a few weeks ago to confirm a few other things including where the Pirate dinner was being held.

 

[BentheRed]

Have a great time and stay cool!
If you can spare an extra minute while you are there, I am trying to find out the room numbers of the 3 rooms facing the pool on the 3rd floor...the ones with the covered balconies in the middle. I would be grateful if you get a free moment!
View attachment 172646!

Hi NanaPapa, those 3 rooms are 2313,2314,2315. The 4th fl room above are 2407 and 2408.

 

[BentheRed]

I am staying in a renovated studio in bldg 15, and I took some pics on my phone but I can't figure out how to upload them to this site (I'm not on Facebook) The decor is great, very smart but not beachy. The appliances are all new. TV is huge (for the rm size) it must be 42" at least, and in fact it is so large it hits the wall when trying to pivot it to view on the couch! Even the washer / dryers down in the garage look new.