Vero beach struggling?

[tarheelmjfan]

Yes! It's a very unique odor but I recognize it right away. We have stayed on both FL coasts and don't always smell it. We stayed at a Hilton in Seattle and it was really strong. It was only a 2-night stay prior to an Alaskan cruise and the whole hotel smelled that way so we didn't bother moving.
Ironically, despite cruise ships being on the water all the time, we've never smelled mold on a cruise ship in almost 40 cruises. (32 on DCL and 7 on 4 other cruise lines.)
I think it's all in the housekeeping.

I'm surprised a CM would bring a humidifier to a room that smells like mold. That would only make it worse. Mold grows in damp, dark places so if anything, a dehumidifier would help.

We went to Ireland for our honeymoon in 1995 and their mold levels are much higher due to all the rain and I think them burning peat made my allergies worse too. In all the jet lag and day napping when we arrived, I forgot to take my allergy meds. (Seldane, back then.) I woke up at 10 pm, my throat was feeling kind of tight and it wasn't so easy to breathe. A thousand throughts went through my brain about what if I need to go to their ER and how much it would cost. I took my medicine and felt better in 2 hours. I've learned to keep them better under control.

Housekeeping & general upkeep.

 

[Girlstar30]

We like the resort just not the food lol. Although we actually prefer HHI although neither compare to the gulf side.

Ive heard great things about hhi, cant wait to explore that one, aulani up next tho!

 

[DVCAddict]

You all have done a very good job at setting my expectations low for our 4-night VB stay in early April! LOL. I'm still looking forward to it. Will definitely report back.

I do think a lot of people's beach trips are affected, to some degree, by what they're used to. And, beaches can vary greatly both by location and time of year. I've done beach trips in SoCal, NJ, Cape Cod (MA), NC, SC, FL (East Coast, Gulf Coast), Bahamas, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, St. Lucia, and Cancun. Each beach has its unique character. From what I've read of VB, I'm expecting something similar to what I've experienced further up the Atlantic Coast, but not too busy or too crowded. I think I'll like it, actually. I guess I'll see.

I’ve been to all of these beaches aside from St Lucia and also to a few in Hawaii, Siesta Key, NH and Maine (I’m from. Mass).

I wonder if it’s the time of year that made the beach more narrow than typical.

As long as you have a good room location and don’t expect much from the food service, you’ll enjoy it I’m sure.

Like I said, I did like the vibes, the room size was good and the pool was nice. It was just altogether not the kind of Disney experience I’m used to. Aulani, as example, is not a theme park hotel, but is light years better.

 

[eticketplease]

I’ve been to all of these beaches aside from St Lucia and also to a few in Hawaii, Siesta Key, NH and Maine (I’m from. Mass).

I wonder if it’s the time of year that made the beach more narrow than typical.

As long as you have a good room location and don’t expect much from the food service, you’ll enjoy it I’m sure.

Like I said, I did like the vibes, the room size was good and the pool was nice. It was just altogether not the kind of Disney experience I’m used to. Aulani, as example, is not a theme park hotel, but is light years better.

I agree Ailani is light years better however it also opened 15 years after Vero beach did it and has much more land to build resort amenities such as the lazy stream (there are no rivers in HI so therefore Aulani doesn’t have a lazy river)

 

[DVCAddict]

I agree Ailani is light years better however it also opened 15 years after Vero beach did it and has much more land to build resort amenities such as the lazy stream (there are no rivers in HI so therefore Aulani doesn’t have a lazy river)

I just meant in terms of resort service, not amenities. Vero was overall nice as far as the resort goes, and met expectations for the most part. But the lack of staff training was super apparent.

 

[Girlstar30]

@airjay75 how long are you going for? A shorter stay there will probably yield better results Never mind I just saw 4 days. Thats how long we stayed. Its def long enough for you to get a grasp on how you feel about it, im excited to hopefully read your thoughts!

 

[Girlstar30]

I just meant in terms of resort service, not amenities. Vero was overall nice as far as the resort goes, and met expectations for the most part. But the lack of staff training was super apparent.

The cms helping us take the luggage to the room seemed more like a game of which one of us is going to get stuck with this task

 

[Kim&Chris]

I guess I'm the odd man out, because I've been to this resort about 6 times so far, and have never smelled anything odd.

We love Wind and Waves as well. Yes, the service is a bit different from that at WDW, but we've had great service and enjoy chatting with the servers. Plus, I'm a super PITA eater and they always accomodate me.

We went to HHI once and that was plenty for me. We do not have a desire to return.

So there it is....to each their own!!!

 

[Rebsy]

everyone’s experience is different, but we just did a one-night pre-Christmas stay on our way down to South Florida and had such a nice time, we’re talking about going back for longer next year. We only did the quick service food and found it to be a bit disorganized with where to stand when ordering or waiting for food, but enjoyed everything we got. It was nearly impossible to get my kids out of the pool and our inn studio room was nice, large, and quiet.

 

[DeeCee735]

Wow, I'm somewhat taken aback by so many negatives on this resort. We just booked our first stay for end of April for 5 nights in an Inn room standard view studio and now I'm wondering if this is a mistake. We go to HHI every year (not always Disney's HHI resort) and we absolutely love it, but we booked that for October this year.

We were looking forward to a more "non" Disney type resort, low key, quiet, laid back and relaxing (we are from the Northeast - and I'm a beach bum). Need some beach weather and hoping we get it. That said, we will have a car, so if there are any recommendations of where else to have nice dinners, I sure would appreciate them.

From the youtube video's I've watched about DVB resort, I was all excited! I loved the room video's (standard and ocean view) landscaping, the main building, the beach especially so I am hoping I don't leave there thinking we made a mistake in trying it. Is the spa still open? It's just myself and my DH, so we are really going into relax mode.

Thanks for any recommendations or updated info....

Dee

 

[gleddo]

My wife and I have owned at VBR since 1997. We've stayed there every year since 1997, except for Covid, and we've never had a bad experience.

 

[Girlstar30]

Wow, I'm somewhat taken aback by so many negatives on this resort. We just booked our first stay for end of April for 5 nights in an Inn room standard view studio and now I'm wondering if this is a mistake. We go to HHI every year (not always Disney's HHI resort) and we absolutely love it, but we booked that for October this year.

We were looking forward to a more "non" Disney type resort, low key, quiet, laid back and relaxing (we are from the Northeast - and I'm a beach bum). Need some beach weather and hoping we get it. That said, we will have a car, so if there are any recommendations of where else to have nice dinners, I sure would appreciate them.

From the youtube video's I've watched about DVB resort, I was all excited! I loved the room video's (standard and ocean view) landscaping, the main building, the beach especially so I am hoping I don't leave there thinking we made a mistake in trying it. Is the spa still open? It's just myself and my DH, so we are really going into relax mode.

Thanks for any recommendations or updated info....

Dee

You should go, everyone's experience is different. Since multiple people have cited slower service, i would just go there with that expectation

 

[Cfabar1]

I agree Ailani is light years better however it also opened 15 years after Vero beach did it and has much more land to build resort amenities such as the lazy stream (there are no rivers in HI so therefore Aulani doesn’t have a lazy river)

I'm a big VB defender, but I'm going to push back on this... I'm not sure if lazy rivers were a thing in the early 90s, but VB did have the land to offer better pool and other amenities. As I recall, they sold two parcels - one south of the current resort, and the other more recently across the street so West of the resort...

They could have offered more amenities if they wanted. Personally I think a second (quiet) pool for laps would have been a welcome addition. I also think a park area for kids with what we used to call a "jungle gym" and some swings would have been a great addition - similar to what they have at the Swan & Dolphin.

They seemed to have decided that wasn't necessary at the time, and when sales were sluggish, rather than enhance the product they recognized this might not be something worth doubling down on and rolled up the carpet....

 

[starsaber25]

We were looking forward to a more "non" Disney type resort, low key, quiet, laid back and relaxing (we are from the Northeast - and I'm a beach bum). Need some beach weather and hoping we get it. That said, we will have a car, so if there are any recommendations of where else to have nice dinners, I sure would appreciate them.

Thanks for any recommendations or updated info....

Dee

I would also love some dinner recommendations for my first week in April trip.



I have been reading up on VB and I am certainly a little concerned about the beach. I think I may have to temper my expectations.

 

[Cfabar1]

I would also love some dinner recommendations for my first week in April trip.



I have been reading up on VB and I am certainly a little concerned about the beach. I think I may have to temper my expectations.

Ocean Grille is beloved
The Tides of Vero has the reputation of best restaurant in VB
Polo Grille is another one
Citrus Grille is another one
Trattoria Dario is another nice one
Johnny D's (the to go market is especially great)

I would strongly recommend to avoid Mulligans (VB location)

Further away, check out Vero Prime - excellent steakhouse
CJ Cannons - awesome runway views, okay (but cheap) food

Pretty much all of these venues will require an uber or a car...

 

[eticketplease]

I'm a big VB defender, but I'm going to push back on this... I'm not sure if lazy rivers were a thing in the early 90s, but VB did have the land to offer better pool and other amenities. As I recall, they sold two parcels - one south of the current resort, and the other more recently across the street so West of the resort...

They could have offered more amenities if they wanted. Personally I think a second (quiet) pool for laps would have been a welcome addition. I also think a park area for kids with what we used to call a "jungle gym" and some swings would have been a great addition - similar to what they have at the Swan & Dolphin.

They seemed to have decided that wasn't necessary at the time, and when sales were sluggish, rather than enhance the product they recognized this might not be something worth doubling down on and rolled up the carpet....

I'm not stating I don't enjoy VB however imo there is no comparison between the two as I view Aulani being the superior choice when factoring in dining, the beach and the amenities.

I actually prefer HHI over VB and it doesn't have a spa or a TS restaurant. For me with getting older having to climb up and down a large hill to get to the ocean water is my #1 reason VB is lower on my list behind AUL & HHI. I must say though it is very nice and compact and being able to walk from your room to the sand in 5 minutes or less is very nice.

It's true they did have additional land to add more later on but we have to stick to what was actually developed not what could have been.
Lazy rivers were around when VB was being built however I don't think that they were incorporated into many resorts at that time and more at dedicated water parks.

 

[Girlstar30]

I'm not stating I don't enjoy VB however imo there is no comparison between the two as I view Aulani being the superior choice when factoring in dining, the beach and the amenities.

I actually prefer HHI over VB and it doesn't have a spa or a TS restaurant. For me with getting older having to climb up and down a large hill to get to the water is my #1 reason VB is lower on my list behind AUL & HHI. I must say though it is very nice and compact and being able to walk from your room to the sand in 5 minutes or less is very nice.

It's true they did have additional land to add more later on but we have to stick to what was actually developed not what could have been.
Lazy rivers were around when VB was being built however I don't think that they were incorporated into many resorts at that time and more at dedicated water parks.

I forgot about that hill and now that I recall there WAS a solution when we got kicked out of the paid seating we didnt know about and that was to move us on top of that hill grrr lol!

 

[Judique]

I forgot about that hill and now that I recall there WAS a solution when we got kicked out of the paid seating we didnt know about and that was to move us on top of that hill grrr lol!

Buy you own chair. If you have a car and drive, bring your own chair.

I know you are not local but someone with the car might not know that your own chair is welcome on the 3 grains of sand.

If you happen to go to Hilton Head during season, the Town operates the life guarding and chair sales at the beach. I've never rented one but have bribed or rewarded a guard a time or two to sink my umbrella deep enough in the sand to keep it from going airborne with a wind gust. My gambit is 'let me buy you lunch!'

 

[Cfabar1]

I'm not stating I don't enjoy VB however imo there is no comparison between the two as I view Aulani being the superior choice when factoring in dining, the beach and the amenities.

I actually prefer HHI over VB and it doesn't have a spa or a TS restaurant. For me with getting older having to climb up and down a large hill to get to the ocean water is my #1 reason VB is lower on my list behind AUL & HHI. I must say though it is very nice and compact and being able to walk from your room to the sand in 5 minutes or less is very nice.

It's true they did have additional land to add more later on but we have to stick to what was actually developed not what could have been.
Lazy rivers were around when VB was being built however I don't think that they were incorporated into many resorts at that time and more at dedicated water parks.

I agree. Aulani was DVCs attempt to do beach resorts right.

From a sales perspective, it seems to have missed the mark, but it seems like it had become quite popular as a destination given Disney’s willingness to continue to promote it.

 

[DeeCee735]

We did decide to keep our reservations at Vero. I want to try it and it looks beautiful. Closest to beach trips in FL for us has been Ft. Lauderdale and that was years ago. So I am looking forward to trying this even though the beach is so narrow. We head to Marco Island after VB so yay! on the whole trip.

We own a Marriott on HHI on the ocean. We love it and go every year but we only have one week (traditional) and we usually save that for October.

Any recommendations on restaurants in or near Vero would be appreciated- we will have a car (and will still rent beach chairs from resort-any idea of the pricing?)

Dee