Vero Beach Adoration & Information Thread 2008

[Belle and Rella's Dad]

KJJ,

The only time I really ventured on that side of the ramp was when we were hauling down the beach cart with all the stuff in the morning or bringing it back up at night. I was on the beach after 10 almost everyday, only coming up to the pool for lunch, beer and to use the restroom, it was a great vacation.

lildeb724,

unfortunately the wireless is still only in the lobby, I asked out at the pool about when they might get it out there and they said that the quotes were coming in to expensive to get the signal through the concrete walls. I think that is lame, since all they have to do is put a transmiter out by Eb and Flos and the pool area and surrounding buildings could pick the signal.

MiaSRN62,

There were not any Shark sightings when we were there, we talked to the lifeguard who kept coming down on his 4 wheeler, he did mentioned to us that about 5 weeks ago a teenage boy was pulled out by a riptide and drown in front of the Disney resort. Disney does not provide lifeguards at its beach, the Wabasso guard stand does the best they can trying to keep an eye on the area, but it is not directly in front of them. The story is very sad and has to be a terrible trajedy on the family, we talked to a cast member about it and they really did not want to say anything, but we were warned numerous times about riptides. You can see from KJJ photos what the surf looked like, mine are from the 2 previous years, but hers are from this year and only one day did we have a green flag.

Kendal,

Ozzies Crab House in Grant was still boarded up when we drove past it, I was told that it should be open this fall.

I wish I was still there.

Tom

 

[BWV Dreamin]

That's some picture of the beach erosion! I will need a step ladder to get to my room...thank heavens there's the pool!

Bobbi

Where are the pics? They were supposed to have done some beach resotrations last month. I wonder if that ever took place.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Where are the pics? They were supposed to have done some beach resotrations last month. I wonder if that ever took place.

Let me hold your hand.... post #249 pic #2



That's all. I'm done giving you grief for a while. Now... when does lisareniff get back.

 

[DisneyBride'03]

Just received my May issue of Parents magazine.....Cover article...Top 10 Beach Resorts.....guess what came in at #5????????????????????/

Disney's Vero Beach Resort!!!

(*We are hoping to visit next summer )

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Just received my May issue of Parents magazine.....Cover article...Top 10 Beach Resorts.....guess what came in at #5????????????????????/

Disney's Vero Beach Resort!!!

(*We are hoping to visit next summer )

Oh great........ now I'm going to have to buy VB points for sure.


Sounds like a good excuse to me

 

[MarkLyndaJakeChloe]

Hi,

Please add us to the list. We'll be there August 21st (our anniversary) til August 26th. We'll have just got off 4 nights on Disney Wonder (during which DS becomes a teenager) after spending 9 nights at BCV.

Roll on August.

 

[Starr W.]

That's some picture of the beach erosion! I will need a step ladder to get to my room...thank heavens there's the pool!

Bobbi

I have a couple of pictures in my camera of my 6yr old jumping off the ledge.
There are spots where it isn't too bad or DH would have been at me trying to get to the water.

 

[lisareniff]

\
That's all. I'm done giving you grief for a while. Now... when does lisareniff get back.

Just back very late last night and checking in!!!

Man I'm tired. Long trip home. (connecting flight instead of direct w/issues)

I'll post more later but just a few comments...

We were there during some high surf and winds. And the erosion was really bad. It brought that cliff back a few feet, almost to the umbrella posts with a height of 5 feet. I know they just brought in some sand and wondering it it did any good. I'll post some pic later.

Best part of the vacation... Petting a mantee who was playing with us during our kayak tour. Tropical Kayak Tours w/Ronda Cox or Adventure Kayak with Steve Cox. Would highly recommend her over the Disney organized trip. Same company but less people.

Restaurants... Four thumbs up for MoBay Grill in the Publix Plaza near Wal-Mart (Sebastian). A small Jamaican inspired restaurant. We really liked this place. Only 2 thumbs up for Shutters.

Chair Swap worked well. (can't really say that for bell services) ...but we didn't end up using the chairs. It was a very windy, colder visit to VB.

Just have to say, being in a BC really rocks!

Do a full report later...

 

[MiaSRN62]

about 5 weeks ago a teenage boy was pulled out by a riptide and drown in front of the Disney resort.

So tragic Belle and Rella's Dad..........it's a shame disney doesn't provide life guards. Something to keep in mind.........

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Just back very late last night and checking in!!!

Man I'm tired. Long trip home. (connecting flight instead of direct w/issues)

I'll post more later but just a few comments...

We were there during some high surf and winds. And the erosion was really bad. It brought that cliff back a few feet, almost to the umbrella posts with a height of 5 feet. I know they just brought in some sand and wondering it it did any good. I'll post some pic later.

Best part of the vacation... Petting a mantee who was playing with us during our kayak tour. Tropical Kayak Tours w/Ronda Cox or Adventure Kayak with Steve Cox. Would highly recommend her over the Disney organized trip. Same company but less people.

Restaurants... Four thumbs up for MoBay Grill in the Publix Plaza near Wal-Mart (Sebastian). A small Jamaican inspired restaurant. We really liked this place. Only 2 thumbs up for Shutters.

Chair Swap worked well. (can't really say that for bell services) ...but we didn't end up using the chairs. It was a very windy, colder visit to VB.

Just have to say, being in a BC really rocks!

Do a full report later...

Welcome back. Looking forward to your report. Just may have to do that kayak tour because DW loves manatee.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

it's a shame disney doesn't provide life guards. Something to keep in mind.........

I'm not sure they can. All coastal beaches in the US are public domain and are managed by federal, state and local governments. The life guards at HHI aren't provided by Disney either.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I'm not sure they can. All coastal beaches in the US are public domain and are managed by federal, state and local governments. The life guards at HHI aren't provided by Disney either.

That makes sense.....I'm so used to south Jersey shore beaches (Wildwood, Ocean City, Cape May etc). They all have lifeguards.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Lisa....
Welcome back. The kayak tour sounds awesome.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

Since it looks like I'll never be organized enough to do an entire trip report I'll just report stuff on the fly as it comes to me:

Squid lips=AWESOME! There were 8 of us there, 4 kids, 4 grownups, lots of fun. Good cheap eats.

Shutter=sucked! 126 dollars for a mediocre meal for 4 and that's with no adult beverages. Rip off. Squid lips was a better meal and it was 42 with tip! When I asked the Shutters waitress if the catch of the day was fresh she replied "well, I don't think it's been frozen" whoa, that's not what I want to hear for a 25 dollar entree. It was wahoo, I ate it, it was ok.

Kayak tour: This was the funniest part of the trip. I play tennis about 2x a week for a total of around 6 hours of exercising each week, I'm not overweight, I'm under 40, and the kayak trip darn near freakin' KILLED me! DH and I had double kayaks, I had the (almost 8) year old and my DH had our 9 year old. I'm paddlin', paddlin', having fun, paddlin' paddlin'-starting to get hot and tired, having trouble keeping up (DD is no help) paddlin' paddlin' paddlin' paddlin' (you see a pattern?) and they said we were going to an island for snacks. There's a big island in front of us, WAAAAAAAY out there.

So I'm paddling, just trying to keep up, for literally 45 minutes straight. We get to the island, and oh, sweet mother of God, it's not THIS island, it's the one off in the distance way the ayche eee double hockey sticks off in the distance. I nearly burst into tears at this point because not only do I have to make it there, I have to get back! But not for nothing did I go through 22 hours of unmedicated labor with my first kid-I'm tough and I grimly put my back into it and continue paddling. My DD at this point is happily snoozing in the front of the kayak.

We finally, finally get to the correct island and every muscle in my upper torso is completely on fire. And the snacks? Wine, cheese, grapes? Nope, warm bottled water and melted M & M's. At this point I don't even care. DH takes one look at my face and says "I told you we should have rented jet skis." He's right, but he's lucky he outweighs me by 100 lbs or I would have tossed him into the ocean. I settled for giving him a dirty look and grimly stalked back out to the kayak.

I had DD 9 with me on the way back, she did a little more paddling than younger DD but not enough to help me keep up. The Disney guide lady was nice, but I hated her for gliding effortlessly along side of me and chatting while I was killing myself to keep the boat going. Plus, it's now hotter than the face of the sun and I'm fair skinned and seriously starting to feel like a pork rind in the sun. We made it back, eventually. I think I saw some manatees. I think the girls had a good time. I nearly yakked in the van for the 20+ minute ride back (how did I end up in the back!), but made it back to the room, took two aspirin, drank a bottle of water, curled up under a blanket and konked out solid for three hours.

The next day I was fine other than my shoulders killing me, but if you're thinking of doing the kayak tour, be warned, it's 4 miles of paddling. I should probably preface this "the sissy's warning" .

 

[lisareniff]

Oh KJJ, Don't you hate those moments in life that bring a grown woman to the brink of tears! Been there. Usually it's with my DH yelling at be from the back of the canoe to paddle harder with the wind whipping us around.

What tour did you do? When? Sounds like the Disney arranged one.

We did the one to Round Island that started 20 minutes south of the resort on Thursday (4/17 at 10am with Ronda Cox). I think she said it was a 6 mile paddle. The Disney organized one did the same tour and hour before. It was just the 4 of us and another much more experienced (but nice) couple. We originally tried to sign up for the Disney one but they did not accept children under 8. They indicated it was a rule not a guideline ....so you were able to get you daughter in?? DD6 was in a tandem with DH and DD12 and I had solo kayaks. DD12 made it but wanted to cry on the way back into the wind. She told me that on the way back she was swearing she would never sit in a kayak again ....that is until we played with the manatee. That erased all memory of pain.

 

[MiaSRN62]

We get to the island, and oh, sweet mother of God, it's not THIS island, it's the one off in the distance way the ayche eee double hockey sticks off in the distance. I nearly burst into tears at this point because not only do I have to make it there, I have to get back! But not for nothing did I go through 22 hours of unmedicated labor with my first kid-I'm tough and I grimly put my back into it and continue paddling. My DD at this point is happily snoozing in the front of the kayak.

Wow Kickapoo ! You cracked me up here I'm exhausted from just reading about this !

We had a similar experience (in terms of majorily underestimating time/energy needed etc) on a Disney cruise we took in 2004. Did the Western itinerary. While in Key West we did a jet ski tour. This is the one : http://www.islandwatersports.us/
Here's the description of the tour :
The ULTIMATE ISLAND ADVENTURE. Experience Key West from the sea as you glide along with our professional guides through tropical waterways on your way around Key West and several nearby islands. Our 26 mile tour will take you through the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico, or both! Bring a waterproof camera because you could see the southernmost point, which is the most photographed site in Key West, a WWII submarine base, mangrove islands, and many other sites, including a variety of wildlife such as dolphins, stingrays, sea turtles, or manatees. You also will have plenty of time for "freestyle riding" along the way.

Let me tell you......it was nothing like this description. Nor how the staff explained when I emailed them about the specifics. Frist of all...."GLIDE" ????The guides automatically assumed everyone had experience with jet skis ! Not here. This was 3 hours of intense (often high speed) riding. You could barely stop and smell the roses or you would be left behind ! There were several times when the 3 staff took off and left us out in open sea. My husband had my 12 yo dd on his jet ski and I had my 14 yo dd on mine. At one point, my dd and I are out in open sea (literally LEFT BEHIND----think that movie : Open Water !). Imagine looking around and seeing no land or other person ! My dd was in a panic. She said, "mom...you better drive as fast as you can and catch up to the group". I rode like the wind. Think me, my dd and the jet ski flying up over the waves and crashing down on the water. I drove so fast I scared myself. Then the one tour guide had the nerve to scold me in front of everyone for not knowing correct hand signals. Well....jeez....if he would have waited for me I would have heard his instructions. The noise from all the idle jet skis in the group (may 12 ?) was loud enough that you couldn't hear the tour guides talk about the history of the area. We never saw so much as a fish or a crab let alone the sea turtles, dolphins or manatees they mention in their description. And the worst part was actually getting off the jet skis after 3 hours and being expected to know how to walk like a respectable human being ! Let's just say you very ungracefully waddle for a couple hours afterwards and you are sore from gripping the handles of the jet ski so tightly so has to hang on for dear life.

So Kickapoo......I totally relate and enjoyed your recounting of your kayak experience. Thanks for posting

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

Oh KJJ, . We originally tried to sign up for the Disney one but they did not accept children under 8. They indicated it was a rule not a guideline ....so you were able to get you daughter in?? DD6 was in a tandem with DH and DD12 and I had solo kayaks. DD12 made it but wanted to cry on the way back into the wind. She told me that on the way back she was swearing she would never sit in a kayak again ....that is until we played with the manatee. That erased all memory of pain.

I lied like a rug. She's almost 8 and very tall for her age (both girls are). I figured, three months is NOT going to make her a better paddler. Proved that theory on the way back with my 9 yo in the boat .

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

Wow Kickapoo ! You cracked me up here I'm exhausted from just reading about this !

Seriously! Where's the tag fairy when you need her-I earned a tag somewhere in my travails!

OMG Mia, that sounds as bad as our trip! My In-Laws with the Mule Ride From Hell Into The Grand Canyon is still the best trip story I'll ever hear, though...

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Seriously! Where's the tag fairy when you need her-I earned a tag somewhere in my travails!

Probably partying over on the community boards

 

[Sarahtink]

Hi! My DH and I will be at VB for the first time this Oct 4 through Oct 10 ... have a 1 bedroom villa and have requested an ocean view. We plan to have breakfasts and a handful of lunches/dinners in the villa ... would love suggestions of restaurants and/or reports on restaurants that are good in the area. We will have a rental car and both love to walk as well ... have heard about the botanical garden nearby ... any other places (besides the beach) that would be beautiful/unique? Any suggestions would be helpful...thank you!