DVCinderella
I'll send you a postcard from Paradise Falls!
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2002
- Messages
- 466
Day 1 (Arrival):
We had reserved an Ocean View Inn Room from May 6th-9th. Two days before our arrival, I faxed in a room request. I requested a non-smoking room on the top floor of the Inn (in order to get the best ocean view).
We arrived at Vero Beach at noon on Monday, but our room was not ready. We moved our car to the parking garage under the Inn. I asked if we could bring up our bags, as I did not feel comfortable leaving everything in the car, but VB does not have a luggage storage room.
We checked back every hour to see if our room was ready. At 2pm, the front desk CM said that she had other rooms available facing the side of the resort (which would mean a partial ocean view), but she said the room we had been slated for was worth the wait. So we waited, and although I have nothing to compare it to (as this is our first stay at VB), I was very pleased with the accommodations.
Our room was 2423. It was located on the 4th (top) floor of the Inn. If you are standing on the beach, and looking at the resort, we were on the right-hand side. The room was laid out differently than the floor plan in our guidebook probably because it was an end unit. There were two queen-size beds, and there was plenty of room for a crib and a pack-n-play.
We had a private balcony, which was the largest balcony Ive ever had at a Disney resort. I would estimate that it was 12 x 8. Our balcony had railings, which allowed us to still have a view while being seated. The balconies directly beneath us (3rd floor) were partially enclosed, meaning you had to stand up in order to see anything. Not all balconies on the 3rd floor were enclosed, though.
The beach is narrow. A waitress told us that the beach has lost 45 in the past 7 years.
One thing I did not know is that they have personalized bricks here, similar to the Walk Around the World bricks. They are exactly the same as the ones at WDW, except the icon is a turtle. All the bricks we saw were dated 95, and they were in a small area. I asked at the Front Desk, and apparently they were only offered for a limited amount of time.
We had lunch at The Green Cabin Room. The Disney Vacation Club sandwich is delicious! We had dinner at Shutters and it was very good.
Day 2:
We started the morning off with breakfast at Shutters. I had the Country Skillet Breakfast, which was delicious, although a bit heavy. DH had the Eggs Benedict, which was also very good. The OJ is fresh-squeezed and delicious!
After breakfast, we took a ride to find some shops. We went south on A1A. A few miles down the road (on the left-hand side), there is an area of village shops. Although most of the shops were open, the area was devoid of shoppers. We continued down A1A, and came across a more populated area of Vero Beach more hotels, shops and restaurants. We found The Black Pearl and the Ocean Grill.
We returned to the resort and spent the afternoon at the pool. We did not have a problem getting a lounge-chair in the shade. The pool is beautiful, and although we did not try it, the slide looked like a lot of fun. The kids seemed to really enjoy it! The strawberry daiquiris were delicious!
DH asked a few CMs for dinner recommendations. I had my heart set on The Black Pearl, as it had been recommended on this board. Many CMs recommended the Ocean Grill, so thats where we went for dinner. We were both disappointed. The view was the best part right on the ocean. We did not care for the atmosphere or, more importantly, the food. I had the stuffed shrimp and DH had the N.Y. sirloin.
After dinner, we drove over to Dodgertown and caught a minor league baseball game between the Vero Beach Dodgers and the Daytona Cubs. It was a lot of fun! Dodgertown was a 30min drive.
Day 3:
Once again, we started off with breakfast at Shutters. This time I had the blueberry pancakes and DH had the cinnamon French toast. Breakfast was delicious, again.
After breakfast, we stopped by the Front Desk and asked if we could see one of the beach cottages. They are amazing! Each bedroom on the ground floor is beautiful. The living area on the second floor is spacious and impressive.
We spent most of the day at the pool. We had dinner at Sonyas. The atmosphere is more formal than Shutters. I would say the dress-code is smart-casual.
Day 4 (Departure):
We woke, packed, and had our last breakfast at Shutters. But our vacation is not over yet! Now onto WDW for 7-days at VWL! A trip report will follow next week.
Things I forgot, or wish I had done differently:
The beach has a lot of tiny shells. As a child, I sliced my foot up pretty bad on a broken shell, so now I am always cautious when walking on a beach. I would definitely recommend beach shoes.
I regret not bringing my own hair dryer. The in-room hair dryer is small and not very powerful. If you have long hair, it takes forever to dry.
I regret bringing so much with me from NJ that could easily have been purchased here. On our way from the airport to VB we passed a Winn-Dixie (Rt. 512 9-10mi from resort) and a Publix (US 1 4-5mi from resort). I couldve bought all my toiletries here, rather than pack them. We did stop at the Winn-Dixie and picked up a few snacks and beverages for our room.
There is an Eckerds Pharmacy and a 7-11 on A1A, about 6 miles south of the resort.
Things Im glad I did:
Im glad I didnt stay more than 3-days. I think a 3 or 4 day stay at VB is adequate.
I'm glad I followed the advice of the Disboards and changed my original reservation from a Studio to an Ocean View Inn Room. We were very pleased with the accommodations.
Im glad I faxed in a room request. I think it made a difference.
Im glad I followed the advice of the Disboards. Everyones advice was so helpful, and I hope my trip report can assist someone else in the planning stages.
We had reserved an Ocean View Inn Room from May 6th-9th. Two days before our arrival, I faxed in a room request. I requested a non-smoking room on the top floor of the Inn (in order to get the best ocean view).
We arrived at Vero Beach at noon on Monday, but our room was not ready. We moved our car to the parking garage under the Inn. I asked if we could bring up our bags, as I did not feel comfortable leaving everything in the car, but VB does not have a luggage storage room.
We checked back every hour to see if our room was ready. At 2pm, the front desk CM said that she had other rooms available facing the side of the resort (which would mean a partial ocean view), but she said the room we had been slated for was worth the wait. So we waited, and although I have nothing to compare it to (as this is our first stay at VB), I was very pleased with the accommodations.
Our room was 2423. It was located on the 4th (top) floor of the Inn. If you are standing on the beach, and looking at the resort, we were on the right-hand side. The room was laid out differently than the floor plan in our guidebook probably because it was an end unit. There were two queen-size beds, and there was plenty of room for a crib and a pack-n-play.
We had a private balcony, which was the largest balcony Ive ever had at a Disney resort. I would estimate that it was 12 x 8. Our balcony had railings, which allowed us to still have a view while being seated. The balconies directly beneath us (3rd floor) were partially enclosed, meaning you had to stand up in order to see anything. Not all balconies on the 3rd floor were enclosed, though.
The beach is narrow. A waitress told us that the beach has lost 45 in the past 7 years.
One thing I did not know is that they have personalized bricks here, similar to the Walk Around the World bricks. They are exactly the same as the ones at WDW, except the icon is a turtle. All the bricks we saw were dated 95, and they were in a small area. I asked at the Front Desk, and apparently they were only offered for a limited amount of time.
We had lunch at The Green Cabin Room. The Disney Vacation Club sandwich is delicious! We had dinner at Shutters and it was very good.
Day 2:
We started the morning off with breakfast at Shutters. I had the Country Skillet Breakfast, which was delicious, although a bit heavy. DH had the Eggs Benedict, which was also very good. The OJ is fresh-squeezed and delicious!
After breakfast, we took a ride to find some shops. We went south on A1A. A few miles down the road (on the left-hand side), there is an area of village shops. Although most of the shops were open, the area was devoid of shoppers. We continued down A1A, and came across a more populated area of Vero Beach more hotels, shops and restaurants. We found The Black Pearl and the Ocean Grill.
We returned to the resort and spent the afternoon at the pool. We did not have a problem getting a lounge-chair in the shade. The pool is beautiful, and although we did not try it, the slide looked like a lot of fun. The kids seemed to really enjoy it! The strawberry daiquiris were delicious!
DH asked a few CMs for dinner recommendations. I had my heart set on The Black Pearl, as it had been recommended on this board. Many CMs recommended the Ocean Grill, so thats where we went for dinner. We were both disappointed. The view was the best part right on the ocean. We did not care for the atmosphere or, more importantly, the food. I had the stuffed shrimp and DH had the N.Y. sirloin.
After dinner, we drove over to Dodgertown and caught a minor league baseball game between the Vero Beach Dodgers and the Daytona Cubs. It was a lot of fun! Dodgertown was a 30min drive.
Day 3:
Once again, we started off with breakfast at Shutters. This time I had the blueberry pancakes and DH had the cinnamon French toast. Breakfast was delicious, again.
After breakfast, we stopped by the Front Desk and asked if we could see one of the beach cottages. They are amazing! Each bedroom on the ground floor is beautiful. The living area on the second floor is spacious and impressive.
We spent most of the day at the pool. We had dinner at Sonyas. The atmosphere is more formal than Shutters. I would say the dress-code is smart-casual.
Day 4 (Departure):
We woke, packed, and had our last breakfast at Shutters. But our vacation is not over yet! Now onto WDW for 7-days at VWL! A trip report will follow next week.
Things I forgot, or wish I had done differently:
The beach has a lot of tiny shells. As a child, I sliced my foot up pretty bad on a broken shell, so now I am always cautious when walking on a beach. I would definitely recommend beach shoes.
I regret not bringing my own hair dryer. The in-room hair dryer is small and not very powerful. If you have long hair, it takes forever to dry.
I regret bringing so much with me from NJ that could easily have been purchased here. On our way from the airport to VB we passed a Winn-Dixie (Rt. 512 9-10mi from resort) and a Publix (US 1 4-5mi from resort). I couldve bought all my toiletries here, rather than pack them. We did stop at the Winn-Dixie and picked up a few snacks and beverages for our room.
There is an Eckerds Pharmacy and a 7-11 on A1A, about 6 miles south of the resort.
Things Im glad I did:
Im glad I didnt stay more than 3-days. I think a 3 or 4 day stay at VB is adequate.
I'm glad I followed the advice of the Disboards and changed my original reservation from a Studio to an Ocean View Inn Room. We were very pleased with the accommodations.
Im glad I faxed in a room request. I think it made a difference.
Im glad I followed the advice of the Disboards. Everyones advice was so helpful, and I hope my trip report can assist someone else in the planning stages.
