I can tell you this, we LOVE Vero Beach! Just got back from a WDW trip and made sure we spent a few days there first to "decompress" before hitting the parks. Some people would go to Vero after WDW to relax but we prefer to go first. We love the relaxing atmosphere of an ocean view inn room, kick back for a meal or just drinks at the Green Cabin Room, drive up the shore to see a few sights and have a lunch or dinner off property, enjoy the pool, or anything else we feel inclined to do. Love the beach, love the restaurants, love the Green Cabin Room. In a way it's probably the most "like" your home resort, Old Key West, in the "beachy" feel to the rooms (I guess you'd call that the "theming"). My hubby said this time, why do we never spend enough time at Vero? So I guess we will have to spend more than 2 nights next trip. There are plenty of kids/family activities, too, although we haven't checked them out yet, but when we start bringing the grandkids, I'm sure we will! If you check it out, I can't imagine that you would be disappointed!
Depending on the route you take and the traffic you encounter, it will take 1 1/2 to 2 hours to drive from the Orlando area or Space Center to the Vero Beach Resort.
We are here now. A great beach resort. We love it. As with all of Florida weather this winter, we have had some very cool and windy days along with some sunny days at the pool. A lot of children activities are presented along with adult activities. As a side note, the fitness center had been totally improved, new machines.