Vero Beach before a cruise

[JLitfin]

My DH and I are booked on a 4 day cruise next November 2015, I'm planning on extending our trip with either a pre-trip to WDW or Vero Beach has anyone ever done Vero Beach before a cruise vacation? I was wondering the distance from Vero to Port Canaveral? Would it be better to just do WDW before a cruise instead and do Vero another time. Thanks.

 

[olewnikpe]

A few years back, we did an afternoon and evening at WDW pre-cruise (1 night), then did Vero Beach for two nights post cruise. We utilized some of our DVC points for both of these stays.

The simple reason for for us doing WDW pre-cruise was to enjoy an on-property resort pool during the day and Downtown Disney in the evening, then drove our rental car to the port the following morning. This was a relaxing, relatively low-cost (no parks) way to put us in vacation mode.

The thinking for doing Disney's Vero Beach Resort post cruise is because we find the night before debarkation, when packing suitcases, to the actual debarkation, to be somewhat depressing. So the thought of going to the Vero Beach resort really softened the hard reality of the end of the cruise.

The resort itself is about an hour's drive south from Port Canaveral, then about a 1.5 hr to 2 hr drive back up to Orlando International Airport. Also, its a great Florida beach resort.

 

[Quellman]

I'm a member of don't cruise then go to WDW, because you only get tired from WDW. The cruise is a relaxation in itself. But WDW before a cruise I could do, and have.

I've done Vero by itself and all it needs is a few days you'll have had your fill. It would be a great compliment at the end of a cruise because you know you still have some Disney magic left.

 

[dhelin]

We are doing exactly this over Christmas and New Years this winter....will let you know !!(PS flying in and out of Melbourne---quieter and cheaper for us)

 

[robhawk]

We have done Vero after our a Dream cruise. Nice one hour drive down A1A. Like said before, it definitely softens the blow of getting off the ship.
It is a nice relaxing couple of days. Cast members are great! DJ Joe is a lot of fun poolside on the weekend!
Lots of good restaurants in the area. Nice character breakfast at the resort on Saturday morning.

 

[bbn1122]

We just did 4 days at Vero Beach before our 3 day cruise. We really enjoyed our stay at VB. We will be back.

It was about an hour plus to the port we took I 95, A1A was longer. It was an easy drive.

 

[JLitfin]

Thanks guys, another question when you rent your car for your pre trip to either WDW or Vero and drive to the port do you turn your car in or park it in the port's parking lot?

 

[dhelin]

Thanks guys, another question when you rent your car for your pre trip to either WDW or Vero and drive to the port do you turn your car in or park it in the port's parking lot?

I priced it both ways. To do 2 one way rentals (we have a 4 night precruise stay at VB and then one night after in a hotel on the beach near the Melbourne airport) was the same price as a round trip car rental+parking off-terminal+parking it while we cruise 4 days! And we can leave some things in the car that we won't need on the ship...so it's a rent and park option for us!