Vero next summer plus stop at universal?

[tss2]

We are considering going to Vero Beach next summer for several days and backing the trip off with a stop at Universal Sudios. I have a few questions for anyone who has been to these places. We have only done wdw and are ready for a change.

Will Vero be ready? Is it hard to get ressies there for a 1BR in July?

How is Univeral in July? Crowded? Hot? Worth the visit?

Any recommendations on Universal hotel?

We are so spoiled by DVC & WDW I'm curious if Universal would be disappointing.

Any advice and help on Vero And Universal Studios would be great! THANKS!

 

[Scoootch]

By next July, Vero will definetly be ready I'm sure. So I wouldn't worry about that As for availibility, I'm not a VB owner so can't really answer sorry.

I would guess that Universal would probably be about the same crowd wise as WDW is at the same time of year but we aren't universal people so it's only a guess.

anyway, Vero should definely be ready by then though.

 

[StormalongKay]

Your trip idea sounds fun. I, too am interested in replies. To the VB owners, do you think 5 nights is adequate to really relax and enjoy the resort? My thought would be to spend Fri and Sat at a Universal hotel and then move on to Vero for Sun to Thus.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Originally posted by tss2
Any recommendations on Universal hotel?
We are so spoiled by DVC & WDW I'm curious if Universal would be disappointing.

You will not be disappointed with a trip to Universal at all. In fact, if you stay at one of their hotels, you will be thrilled. We always stay at the Hard Rock because you can walk to both of the Universal Parks and because it ranks very high on the "cool factor" meter. By staying on site at US you get front of line access which gives you what amounts to unlimited fast passes. You can just go on any ride whenever you want. It is a great perk and makes staying on site at US well worth it.

We often combine trips to US with WDW. We often spend our first weekend at the HRH then move to DVC on Sunday to stay for 7 nights. It is wonderful to combine the two places.

HBC

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

That is a great idea! I'll have to give it a try the next time I go on a week long Disney trip or even stay Sunday to Sunday at a Westgate.

Edit! I forgot about the OP

Universal is quite different from Disney but I enjoy it nonetheless. I think if you like MGM you'll like Universal...it's kind of like a cross between MGM and Six Flags in the Islands of Adventure and a bigger MGM in the regular Universal.

 

[AJKMOM]

As a new owner at VB, we got a letter that says they are reopening Nov. 8. My understanding is that their slow time is summer. We are using a lot of points for a March visit. Haven't been there yet, so I don't know a good amount of time to spend there without getting bored.

We have been to Disney 10 times and Universal twice. It doesn't have the same appeal or magic to us, anyway. However, you need to try it to make up your own mind, and the onsite resorts are the way to go. Can't beat the "front of the line" perk. WE had a bad experience because I booked a room for 5 family members, and they steered us to the Royal Pacific since it was new. They didn't offer a cot, and there wasn't room for one anyway. I was happy to move to BWV from there.

It will be hot in Florida no matter where you are. Crowded, too, which is why the "front of the line" is a good idea.

You should check out the Universal Studios threads on this website, and try Tripadvisor.com for suggestions about which hotel works for you.

 

[Desperado]

Originally posted by StormalongKay
Your trip idea sounds fun. I, too am interested in replies. To the VB owners, do you think 5 nights is adequate to really relax and enjoy the resort? My thought would be to spend Fri and Sat at a Universal hotel and then move on to Vero for Sun to Thus.

Taking advantage of the lower point rates for a sunday through thursday night stay sounds like a great idea. I think you'll be able to relax. You'll notice Vero has less point requirements during the summer indicating lower demand. I don't think you'll have any problem at 7 months. Enjoy your stay. Easter's the busy time at Vero. It's relaxing without the WDW crowds. You'll probably find Vero less hot than interior areas because of the ocean breeze during the summer.

 

[tss2]

Thanks for all the helpful info!

Mary Kay,

You sound like you are thinking about the same trip plan as us......a few days in Universal (We are thinking 4 nights) and then Vero during the week when it takes less points. We have some points to use up before they expire. We weren't planning a trip in the summer since we are going next month to WDW. My kids are getting older and next month is the last time we plan to pull them out of school. I love going in Nov. with Food and Wine festival, low crowds and great weather. But the homework to make up is alot sometimes. Hope your trip works out!

Everyone else,

thanks and any other hints would be great! Hard Rock hotel sounds like my best bet for hotels. I know we will spend time in the parks, but love to have fun pool for us and the kids. How is the water slide????? My kids will be 10 and 12 next summer. They love the cool pools at WDW.

 

[StormalongKay]

tss2,

We're going in January! But we still need some kind of a summer vacation so when I read your thread, I thought I'd copy your great idea!!! Thanks for the inspiration. We need an excuse to stay at Universal because when we're at WDW we love everything so much that we never get off property! But as you can see, we're fairly new to DVC and our kids are still young. Your VB/US combination will probably appeal to us again in a few more years too!

Hope you have a fantastic time! If you go before next summer, please post a trip report!

 

[SnowWitch]

The past four summers we have vacationed exacyly how you are planning. We stay Thurs-Sun at a Universal hotel. As others have mentioned can't beat the FOTL access. As far as appeal like Disney no it doesn't have the same appeal but my 12 and 14 yr old boys absolutely love it!!! After 3-4 days touring Universal we move to VB for 5-6 nights. Rest and relaxation-ahhhhhh. We own at the BWV's and have yet to have a problem booking 1-2 bedrooms in June and July at 7 months. Just make sure to book right at 7 months.

 

[Par8hed]

Went to Vero this past July....not slow season.....resort at full capacity.

 

[twinmomplus2new]

We did this trip in August of this year. We stayed in an INN room at Vero and Hard rock Club Level for 5 nights at Universal.
I posted trip reports here on the DVC Board and On the Universal Boards.

After my Ap's expire. I will be doing the same trip again. 2-3 days at Vero. and 5 at Universal. We ( the adults did not enjoy Vero this time around. But to be fair. I don't think it was Vero I firmly believe we made some planning errors.
Firstly we had stayed already 4 days in Miami before we hit Vero, So when we hit we had been eating out for 5 days already and had a ton of wet sandy laundry. The beach was not usable at Vero due to High surf from hurricane Charlie. So we were mainly confined to the pool. which was very crowded I am sure if the beach was usable alot of the Pool congestion would be alleviated.
Also given our situation, I absolutely needed a 1 bedroom or larger to spread the kids out, tackle the mountain of laundry, and more importantly have a kitchen and be able to prepare food for the kids in the villa. My 4 year olds are not good restaurant people and we really needed to get them to sit and eat. room service Got pretty expensive. If I corrected those issues we would have had a great time.

As for Universal. I loved my stay at the HArd rock. The kids loved the pool there better than any of the DVC resorts or WDW pools. They can not wait to go back to Hard Rock. As for my honest opinion read my trip report.

FYI. My kids ages at the time of the trip were, 4,4, 10, and 17. We also had traveling with us...7, 7, and another 17. All of the kids loved the water slide spent almost all day going back and forth. Staying there I would stay Club level for sure, And rent a cabanna!!! If you stay club level they are half price. For 50 per day. You get a private cabanna, a mini fridge stocked twice with cold soda, fresh fruit also replenished. A table, shade Ceiling fan, and a televison. There are waiters AKA cabanna boys who walk around all day asking if you need anything from the beach club( Food or drinks) The purple rain. a mixed drink was heaven! If I were to do it over again I would rent a cabanna for each day we stayed at the resort. Cabannas 9, and 10, are closest to teh slide and seem to be the most convienant. on Friday nights they have a Dive in Movie on a Giant screen by the pool. I believe cabanna numberes 1 an 2 are best for viewing the movies! Any questions ask away!

 

[twinmomplus2new]

I loved the picture in your signature!!!!

 

[StormalongKay]

your trip sounded like alot of fun! I had never heard about the pool cabanas - an excellent tip. I'm also thinking I'll make sure to do the one bedroom at Vero for your very same reasons. Thanks for all your info!

 

[tss2]

twinmomplus2new,

can you tell me about the club level? and describe the pool at the hardrock?

Thanks!

 

[twinmomplus2new]

The club level was ok. I would stay it again for the ease of it. The only problems I had were with logistical things like reservations that were messed up by the cm's or canceled entirely. I had booked the Spiderman breakfast for the kids that was canceled, last minute. I had booked the Scooby dinner, that was also canceled and had I not called to confirm the evening before I never would have known.

We had a passle of kids traveling with us so the breakfast and availability of soda and water all day saved so much money for us/ We kept the mini cans of soda and water in the rooms so we always had a supply for the kids. I myself never ordered one dinner while we were at Hard rock. I picked in the lounge and it more than met my needs.
If I can remember correctly, There was each day multi grain breads, bagels all types, fresh fruit (cut up) muffins and donuts, several types of cream cheese and jams, butter, cereals, milk and coffees. (we never bought a breakfast either the kids were very happy with the selections.)
As we left each day we threw a few waters in the baby carriage for use in the parks. It is warm as is the soda. On our first day there one of my twins reached into the stroller basket and pulled out a sample sized bug spray and sprayed his brother in the eye. Oh the screaming that insued!!!! Luckily we had all that nice warm HRH water to flush his eye out on the spot.
I don't recall any daytime offerings although soda, water and maybe coffeee was out all day. There was a fruit bowl on the CM's desk. But as I remember that was all.
At night there were varying things crudites with dip each night, chicken satay and eggrolls veggie, one night. On another chicken wings, all were quite good. beer and wine was served nightly/ Later evenings were pudding, ice creams, cookies, popcorn, snack type offerings. One of my twins was not eating due to teh heat. So twice, I asked the cm's to get him some cheerios from the breakfast store room, And truly they weer very nice about it and very accomadating. The maid service was very good. My ice bucket was filled each night and our little cokes put in. beds turned down and pillow gifts left for the kids.
As I said we spent 90% of the trip simply in the pool, my kids had very little interest in the parks it was simply to hot for them. My 4 year olds have asked every day since we have been home to go back to the hard rock. Because of the passes situation it was a much more affordable vacation for me. I got 5, 5 day passes for 82 dollars each. So $490 for all of us for 5 days. My annuals for 5 people are close to 1800 dollars. So comparatively it was a cheap trip.

The pool is large and free frorm it slopes in like a beach on the right side if you were looking back towards the hotel. The beach club food and drinks will be on the left. There was never a shortage of pool loungers. There is a little lip right next to the slope side that is about 6 feet from where the kids come off the slide. we typically sat there and waited for the kids to come up and down. Alot of people are on teh edges of the pool drinking mixed type drinks. I never had any rowdiness in the pool just the parks! there were pool games several days mostly things like water balloon tosses things like that. Those games were rowdy!!! My kids did not partciapte in them. of course that would have meant getting off the slide. There is a hot tub that was never crowded pool towels are available you just show your room key.
I wish I could figure out how to post a link, perhaps someone savy can post the trip report link from the Universal board for me? There are 2 parts. ANything else you are curious about? I will also Pm you with a link to my Universal photos on ofoto if you like there are a few of the pool, room and cabannas.

 

[tss2]

Thanks for your help on all this. Nice to get info from people who have been there. Now just have to wait till December for reservations.

I finally figured out how to find the trip report. I think this is it.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=630264

Again, thanks everyone for the info!