Vero Beach Questions

[KyleRayner]

I need help in planning a possible trip to Vero Beach. My mother is turning 80 in March and the family wanted to take a trip together to celebrate the occasion. We were tossing around ideas like Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, places like that. Without going into detail, life has thrown us some curveballs so a majority of the family members would not be able to afford a trip like that. My mom and one of my sisters live in Coral Springs, FL. My other sister and I live in NY and go down there for vacation at least once a year to vist them. I still want to do some type of trip to celebrate my mom's birthday but to just go down to Coral Springs like we always do just doesn't seem right to me.

So I got to thinking what can we do. So I thought about using my points to stay at Vero Beach. This way no one has to spend money on accomodations. My sister and mom in Florida wouldn't have to spend money on a flight, they could just drive up to Vero Beach, and my other sister and I up here in NY would just either fly to Coral Springs and drive up with them or just meet them at Vero Beach. Now we've narrowed down the spending to just food and recreation.

Here's where I need my fellow DIS board members. I've never stayed at Vero Beach before. The age of this group runs from new born baby up to 80 years old. So I'm hoping there will be things to do there that will appeal to everyone.

I have enough points to get either a 2 BDR or 3 BDR cottage at VB depending how many people come on this trip. We would probably stay Sunday to Thursday.

1. What are my chances of getting a 2 or 3 BDR cottage with March only 6 months away? How many of these cottages do they have?
2. What's the weather usually like in Vero Beach in March?
3. Can the Dining Plan be purchased at VB or can I use my DDE card at VB? Or do most people buy groceries and just bring the groceries with them to cook in the cottage?
4. What do you guys usually do at VB? Without any parks to go to, I'm just curious what most people do there?

I want my mom to have a good time. She's not the kind of person that likes to lay out by the pool or beach, but still this would be a relaxing trip. So I'm hoping there are activites that an 80 year old woman would like. She likes bingo. She likes to gamble but I know there aren't any casinos. We will have access to a car, so I don't know what is in town nearby.

Any tips and guidance would be HUGELY appreciated.

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

VB is a great relaxing vacation. They have a pool with a waterslide and on weekends they had a DJ & games at the pool for everyone. VB also has mini -golf, a playground, camp fire/sing a-long, unbirthday parties for the kids, croquet, the beach, tennis. Off the premises you can go fishing and on a dolphin watch and they have an outlet mall south of VB(I think its the exit prior to the one for the resort if your coming from Coral Springs)

Its only about a 2 hour drive up 1-95 from Coral Springs.

Don't know about the availability of a beach cottage, but they are really nice to have. They are stand alone units right on the beach, that have a porch in the front and back with a swing. VERY NICE!!!! If you can get one -grab it!!

You can use your DDE card, although they don't offer the DDP. There is a walmart -right down the street (on your way in)

The weather in March is good, however, does vary year to year. The weather in Coral Springs tend to be a little warmer (about 5degrees) I went in February and it was a little cool and really foggy. We were fog in for the 2 days we were there. It is right on the ocean so you will get the ocean breeze.

Overall, we thought VB was awesome. We met alot of people who go there after their Disney trip to relax. Its a beach resort so there isn't much entertainment on site.

 

[KyleRayner]

Is it okay to check in first and then drive to the grocery store and bring groceries back to the room?

 

[mbhoxsie]

Is it okay to check in first and then drive to the grocery store and bring groceries back to the room?

Certainily... That is what we usually do...

When we get there, we check in... If the room is ready, then one of us goes to the room with the kids, while the other goes shopping..

If the room isn't ready yet, then it's a family trip to Walmart or Publix...

After you shop, if the room STILL isn't ready, then you can check all of the groceries with bell services and they will deliver them to the room when its ready...

Hang by the pool... Have a good time..

 

[KyleRayner]

Sounds great!! Thank you both for your input.

 

[PamOKW]

A beach cottage would be awesome for this celebration but I wouldn't get your hopes up. March is "prime season" for Vero and the beach cottages go quickly. But, a 2 bedroom is a great idea too.

There is a an area of small shops down in the heart of Vero along the water that your mom might enjoy poking around in. The Ocean Grill restaurant is here as well and a terrific place for lunch or dinner. If you have any interest in catching a spring training baseball game, the Dodgers are in Vero and the Mets are nearby in Port St. Lucie.

I think your idea to celebrate mom's birthday is spectacular!

 

[Candace]

1. What are my chances of getting a 2 or 3 BDR cottage with March only 6 months away? How many of these cottages do they have?

There are 5, and they are fantastic. The view from the upper beach-side deck is truly stunning, March is Premier season, so it might be difficult to get one. You just have to call and try.

2. What's the weather usually like in Vero Beach in March?

The weather is wonderful. I go every year in March for Spring Break.

3. Can the Dining Plan be purchased at VB or can I use my DDE card at VB? Or do most people buy groceries and just bring the groceries with them to cook in the cottage?
The DDE is accepted in the dining establishments at the resort. Cooking is always an option, and grocery stores are nearby - Publix, Walmart, etc. Also, Vero Beach and Sebastian have many, many good restaurants. There is a book by the front desk which has menus, and the front desk will give driving directions/maps.


4. What do you guys usually do at VB? Without any parks to go to, I'm just curious what most people do there?

The beach and pool are wonderful there. Lots of kids activities, water-type rentals, campfires, etc. You can schedule massages, if you wish. The Green Cabin Room has live musical entertainment at night. I go to the Vero Beach Resort to relax mostly, it is just so beautiful. To me, it would be perfect for your mom's 80th celebration. My mother, who is 86, really likes it there. She even enjoys the Green Cabin Room as well!

 

[KyleRayner]

A beach cottage would be awesome for this celebration but I wouldn't get your hopes up. March is "prime season" for Vero and the beach cottages go quickly.

Would my chances be better in April or May if I can't get the 2 or 3 BDR in March? Even though I'd like to do the trip when mom's actual birthday is, if the 2 or 3 BDR isn't available for March, I wouldn't mind pushing the trip a month or 2.

 

[Mahusky]

One thing to keep in mind with the LOVELY Beach Cottages...... the bedrooms are on the 1st floor and the common rooms Kitchen, dining etc... are on the second flloor up a set of stairs. With an 80 year old that doesn't like steps this present a challenge. 2br may be a better choice...

 

[Candace]

One thing to keep in mind with the LOVELY Beach Cottages...... the bedrooms are on the 1st floor and the common rooms Kitchen, dining etc... are on the second flloor up a set of stairs. With an 80 year old that doesn't like steps this present a challenge. 2br may be a better choice...

Good point about the stairs - and one other thing, there are no bathrooms, not even a 1/2 bath on the second floor. If you are up there in the living room/kitchen area, you will need to go downstairs to use one of the bathrooms. Still, that view is worth that small inconvenience if your mother is able to do the stairs easily. That view is incredible!

 

[KyleRayner]

One thing to keep in mind with the LOVELY Beach Cottages...... the bedrooms are on the 1st floor and the common rooms Kitchen, dining etc... are on the second flloor up a set of stairs. With an 80 year old that doesn't like steps this present a challenge. 2br may be a better choice...

I just saw that on the DVC website and thought the same thing. I agree and think the 2 BDR would be better just for that reason. Thanks!

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

We only live 30 minutes from Vero, so we LOVE going there to relax. You will have a blast there with your entire family. The weather in March should be warm enough to use the pool at least some of the time. The ocean will still be cold (to us), but it might be warmer to you being from a cold climate

If we only go to VBR for one night, we eat at Sonya's at the resort. It's a good restaurant. I believe that you can use your Disney Dining card there for 20% off if you have one. If we were to go to Vero for longer than 1 night, we would bring food, go to Captain Hiram's, go for pizza at the pizzeria right next to the resort, etc. Our one big complaint about VBR is that there is no ice cream place, so bring ice cream if you want it.

 

[bobbiwoz]

...
Our one big complaint about VBR is that there is no ice cream place, so bring ice cream if you want it.

Yes, no icecream place, but you can buy Mickey Bars, and that's my pleasure!!

Bobbi

 

[Par8hed]

1. What are my chances of getting a 2 or 3 BDR cottage with March only 6 months away? How many of these cottages do they have?

There are 5, and they are fantastic. The view from the upper beach-side deck is truly stunning, March is Premier season, so it might be difficult to get one. You just have to call and try.

Actually there are 6, but I think getting one will be a long shot and frankly the 2 bedrooms are a tough requst as well. But you never know.

 

[KyleRayner]

It turns out if we do this trip, it will be in May. I can't afford the points for a 2 BDR in March, but I can for May.

Do you think my chances are better for May plus the weather should be a little warmer, correct?

 

[Florida Princess]

May is a great time to be in Florida---crowds have thinned out a bit. I agree that the Beach Cottage may be a problem with the 2 story configuration---I would go for a 2 bedroom. Vero Beach is a very relaxing time---nice to visit with each other and spend some good quality time together.
We are planning my FIL's 80th Birthday trip and asked him where he would like to go----we thought that he might like a cruise or a trip to see his Sister in Montreal. But guess where he wants to go? To Disney World and stay at any DVC! Since his Birthday was in August--he decided that a cooler time of the year would be better---so we are planning a Jan. 2007 visit. He was a late bloomer with Disney----didn't visit until 2 years ago and now I guess he is making up for lost time!
Good luck with your plans---Vero Beach is beautiful anytime of the year.