Vero Beach Adoration & Information Thread 2008

[Tine731]

NEED HELP !

I need 8/11--8/14. I asked about a cash/rack rate for an Inn room (no DVC discount was available) and it's $180/night BEFORE tax. Ouch.

$180 plus tax is the rack rate without any type of discount. I would call again and see if they even offer a DVC member discount. What about a AAA discount?

 

[BWV Dreamin]

$180 plus tax is the rack rate without any type of discount. I would call again and see if they even offer a DVC member discount. What about a AAA discount?

You can only get the dvc member discount if there are rooms available for the discount. You just don't automatically get it. Seems like VB is all booked up. Summer months are very popular there....ressie earlier if you can next time. Good advice from Lisareff.....try to waitlist. Good luck!

 

[MiaSRN62]

Hi BWVDreamin....
I have a reservation already with dh, and two dd's. Trouble is, my ds (age 21) would like to come along now. I asked him back in Feb when I booked and he wasn't interested. Now he is. He never makes anything easy for me

Here's the problem with waitlisting. Because I have thought long and hard on this. I only have points for 2 nights. I would have to pay cash for the 3rd night. If I waitlisted and did get the 2 nights, then I could possibly lose any chance of getting the cash room. It's such a gamble.

I am now looking at a resort (he plans on bringing his gf), called the Sea Turtle Inn in Vero Beach (it's about 15 min away). I may just book him there. I just got an email that they have availability and it'll be $99/night for the three nights plus tax.
Tripadvisor.com gives it pretty good reviews---but it does state it's a little older resort (across the street from the ocean). Anyone familiar with this resort ?

Question is....will disney allow them to come and visit us ? Hang on the beach together ? We are really trying to make this a family trip since we'll be dropping my dd off at college and won't see her for a couple months after we leave. How strict is disney with visitors ? Believe me, I would much rather there have been rooms to book on points/cash. But three nights all cash @$180 plus tax is a bit steep right now since we are paying a big chunk of change for dd's tuition coming up in mid July.

Thanks so much.

 

[starbox]

Question is....will disney allow them to come and visit us ? Hang on the beach together ? We are really trying to make this a family trip since we'll be dropping my dd off at college and won't see her for a couple months after we leave. How strict is disney with visitors ? Believe me, I would much rather there have been rooms to book on points/cash. But three nights all cash @$180 plus tax is a bit steep right now since we are paying a big chunk of change for dd's tuition coming up in mid July.

Thanks so much.

I can't imagine there being a problem with having your son spend time with you. Most of the gates (to the ocean/pool) are key-carded, but you easily share room keys.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Thanks starbox ! You've been a big help

 

[carolinadj]

For the Roll Call:

12/9-12/12

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Is there any free wireless/wired internet at Vero Beach yet? If so, is it only in the Inn rooms, or through out the resort?

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Is there any free wireless/wired internet at Vero Beach yet? If so, is it only in the Inn rooms, or through out the resort?

I don't think they have it in any of the rooms yet. However, if I can't my king-bed room on the fourth floor then I'm trying for the second floor room over the lobby extension area. starbox picked up the lobby wireless router from a room in this area. Plus we can use the lobby staircase instead of elevators during our stay.

Hey starbox!... do you remember what room number you were in?

 

[starbox]

I don't think they have it in any of the rooms yet. However, if I can't my king-bed room on the fourth floor then I'm trying for the second floor room over the lobby extension area. starbox picked up the lobby wireless router from a room in this area. Plus we can use the lobby staircase instead of elevators during our stay.

Hey starbox!... do you remember what room number you were in?

Yup - we could pick up the lobby signal in our room! We were right next to the Green Cabin Room - there's wireless on the landing outside the GCR as well - we saw quite a few guest on laptops in the hall.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Just wanted to update on my attempt to get an added on reservation to VB for 8/11-8/14 for my son.

Well...been on the phone with MS for 20 min. First call, the woman told me there were no cash rooms available (DVC discount or non). I hung up the phone.....didn't have a good feeling about how she checked......and called back. While this first CM was nice----she ended up being wrong.

The second CM (whom I called 5 min later), was very nice and seemed more knowledgable. I did end up biting the bullet and booked 3 nights on cash/rack rate for Aug 11-14. I really didn't want to book my ds down the road at a hotel I wasn't familiar with. He said he would have been fine, but I wasn't. So, I'm paying $180/night for a studio for him. And this CM put me on a waitlist for a studio as well. I chose not to waitlist for an Inn room because then, if only 1 or 2 nights became available, he'd have to switch rooms. This way, with a studio waitlist, they can just link the reservation to use both points and cash and he can stay put.

So moral of the story...if you are told "no availability" from one CM, it can't hurt to hang up and call back and speak with someone new. Thanks for listening.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

it can't hurt to hang up and call back and speak with someone new. Thanks for listening.

I do that all the time, not just with DVC Member Services, but it seems like with everyone I talk to these days! Seems like no one really has all the information...so just keep calling back and eventually you get it all! Just the latest work ethic.....

 

[MiaSRN62]

Just the latest work ethic.....

So true BWV Dreamin ! I've done the hang up and call back with department stores, banks, my kids' colleges.......so true.......

Does anyone know if VB rooms have DVD players or is it just VHS ?

Also...will the lobby check you in for your flight and print out boarding passes ? We're flying Southwest.

Thanks

 

[madcoco]

Does anyone know if VB rooms have DVD players or is it just VHS ?

Also...will the lobby check you in for your flight and print out boarding passes ? We're flying Southwest.

Yes they have DVD players and yes the front desk will print out your boarding passes if you have your confirmation codes. Enjoy your trip.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Thanks Madcoco ! August can't get here soon enough !

 

[DisDaydreamer]

So true BWV Dreamin ! I've done the hang up and call back with department stores, banks, my kids' colleges.......so true.......

Does anyone know if VB rooms have DVD players or is it just VHS ?

Also...will the lobby check you in for your flight and print out boarding passes ? We're flying Southwest.

Thanks

Caskbill said a couple weeks ago that the 1 & 2 bedroom units now have flat screen TV's and the studios and IRs would have them by year's end

It's amazing how often customer service people are wrong.

It's also amazing how many different ways our children (even into adulthood) to cost us big bucks... and it's nobody's fault. We invited our DS & DIL to VB and she is in vet school and not allowed to have job in 1st year, so things are financially rough. I think we're pretty much funding their entire stay. Of course we can't slight our DD so you know...

Can't believe we're under 3 weeks away

 

[MiaSRN62]

We invited our DS & DIL to VB and she is in vet school and not allowed to have job in 1st year, so things are financially rough. I think we're pretty much funding their entire stay. Of course we can't slight our DD so you know...

Can't believe we're under 3 weeks away

I hope you all have a great stay at VB Rob
Thanks for relaying the info from Caskbill......looks like I'll miss the flat screens this trip. But it's good to know they're updating.........

 

[schwenksvillemouse]

Is the wall of sand still present? We'll be there in less than two weeks. Any update is appreciated.

Thanks

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Is the wall of sand still present? We'll be there in less than two weeks. Any update is appreciated.

Thanks

Sent you a pm where to find some recent pics! The beach looks great!

 

[madcoco]

Most recent pictures of beach from the past week. Winds were out of the East NE most of the week. A few days of "Red Flag" riptide and surf warnings. Most others were "Yellow Flag" moderate rip/surf caution. Found and disposed of a FEW stinging jellyfish and did not spot any Portuguese Man-of-War jellyfish. Depending on the time of day and tide,you could have a bit of Sargasso Grass washing up and some areas it was "seashell" sand.Most of the turtle nesting has been high up in the dunes in the Disney area (all Loggerhead.No leatherback and too early yet for Greens) If you see Jeanne "The Turtle Lady" working in the giftshop.Say hello. Enjoy your visit.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Most recent pictures of beach from the past week. Winds were out of the East NE most of the week. A few days of "Red Flag" riptide and surf warnings. Most others were "Yellow Flag" moderate rip/surf caution. Found and disposed of a FEW stinging jellyfish and did not spot any Portuguese Man-of-War jellyfish. Depending on the time of day and tide,you could have a bit of Sargasso Grass washing up and some areas it was "seashell" sand.Most of the turtle nesting has been high up in the dunes in the Disney area (all Loggerhead.No leatherback and too early yet for Greens) If you see Jeanne "The Turtle Lady" working in the giftshop.Say hello. Enjoy your visit

Wow madcoco ! That is one awesome report and update (with photos no less !).

Awesome.

Does anyone know if certain times of the year at VB are worse or not for jelly fish /man o war ? Just curious.