But did you
know that Disney also owns two beach resorts?
That’s right, you can get Disney’s world-class customer service and
amazing attention to detail in a quiet, relaxing setting. With an abundance of recreation options for
the entire family and plenty of dining options (including Dole Whips!), all
you’ll be missing are the crowds! Sound about perfect? It is!
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| Disney's Vero Beach |
Disney’s
Vero Beach Resort is located just 2 hours south of Walt Disney World, on the
Atlantic Treasure Coast, sharing space with the nesting grounds of the Loggerhead
Sea Turtle. And five hours north of Walt Disney World, Disney’s Hilton Head
Island Resort can be found on the picturesque coast of South Carolina,
fashioned after a 1940s hunting and fishing lodge, and featuring 12 miles of
heavenly beaches. Though both resorts
are Disney Vacation Club properties, both can be booked directly with Disney by
non-DVC members. Both resorts are very
small, however, with Hilton Head having less than 150 units (ranging from
studio to 3 bedroom layouts) and Vero Beach just under 250 (including 132 DVC
layouts and 112 rooms in the main building, or “inn”), so advance planning
remains a must, just like with any other Disney vacation!
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| Welcome Home Sign for DVC Members |
My family
got the opportunity to visit Disney’s Vero Beach Resort this past June. We did use our DVC points to book this trip,
and when we wanted to tweak our dates we struggled to find the availability we
needed, and had to move our room type in order to accommodate the change in
plans. And by the time we travelled,
there wasn’t a single available room in any room category for our trip dates. Having
never had a problem booking the resort I wanted at Walt Disney World, even for
last minute trips or during holidays, I was a bit surprised by how quickly this
resort filled up, even given its small size.
But now that I’ve experienced it for myself, it’s very easy to
understand why this resort is in such high demand!
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| Resort Property |
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| Beach at Resort |
Let me begin
by saying that while beautiful, this resort does not “scream” Disney. There are several subtle (and some
not-so-subtle) touches throughout the resort that let you know you are on a
Disney-owned property, but you won’t see characters roaming the grounds or hear
Disney music being pumped throughout the common areas. You will, however, get the same level of care
and customer service that you have come to expect from Disney Cast Members. And just like other Disney resorts, you have
all the amenities you need right at your fingertips, with no need to leave the
resort if you don’t want to!
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| Resort pictures |
The resort
itself is situated right on the beach (unlike Disney’s Hilton Head Island
Resort, where you must take a shuttle to the beach) with beach chairs,
umbrellas and cabanas available for rent (you can also bring your own). They also offer body boards, kayaks and surf
lessons on the beach, all for an additional charge.
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| Body Boarding |
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| Fishin' Time! |
Back up at
the resort there is also a large pool with a water slide, and plenty of pool
games going on throughout the day. A
9-hole miniature golf course surrounds the pool, and there is also a ping pong
table and activities center right outside the pool gates. The activities center houses different crafts
and programs throughout the day, some free of charge and some for a nominal
fee. My kids made shark tooth necklaces
one day and did a fishing excursion another (the best part about this activity
was that the price included their own rod and reel that we got to bring home!).
Needless to say, for those kids who don’t know how to RELAX (like mine!) and need
some extra stimulation, they won’t be bored!
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| Miniature Golf |
And during
sea turtle nesting season, you can reserve your spot on a guided sea turtle
night walk. This event is currently
offered select nights in June and July to those ages 8 and up. The walk begins at 9 p.m. and lasts 2-4
hours, depending on how quickly a nesting turtle can be found. Scouts will search for sea turtles while you
enjoy a presentation on the nesting process, and once a nest is located you’ll
be provided with night vision goggles to watch the turtle lay her eggs, cover the
nest and return to the sea.
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| Destination Signs |
There are several
dining options at the resort. The Wind
& Waves Market is a quick service location, serving breakfast, lunch and
dinner, and also carries some groceries and to-go items. Also, if you purchased the refillable mug
(yes, they have those here, too!), this is where the drink station is
located. (Pro Tip: If your trip to Vero
Beach follows a resort stay in Walt Disney World, the mug you purchased at WDW
will still work in Vero.) This is also
where you will find the Dole Whip station!! Wind & Waves Market is situated
right outside the pool gates, next to the Wind & Waves Bar.
The Wind
& Waves Grill is a sit down restaurant, open for breakfast and dinner. Located just off the lobby and steps away
from the pool and beach, the Wind & Waves Grill has a small, hearty menu,
with dinner specials that change daily.
The Green
Cabin Room can be found on the second floor of the resort, with sweeping views
of the ocean from its patio. The Green
Cabin Room serves a full selection of beer and wine in addition to specialty
cocktails. There is also a small menu of
appetizers available. It’s a great place
to unwind with a drink before heading to dinner. The Green Cabin Room is also host to several
after-dinner activities for the over 21-crowd, like trivia contests (Disney-themed,
of course!) and karaoke.
Lastly, in
true Disney fashion, the resort does offer two character meals – Goofy’s
Beach side Breakfast (offered seasonally on Saturday mornings) and Pirate Night
Dinner (offered seasonally on Monday nights).
This is the ONLY place to see characters at the resort, and both meals
include appearances by Goofy and Donald.
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| Goody's Beach Side Breakfast |
Guest
Services
One gift
shop is located off the lobby of the inn, Island Grove Packing Company. This shop sells a variety of Disney themed
apparel and souvenirs, in addition to groceries and sundries, and even provides
DVD rentals.
Parking is
available in an underground garage, adjacent to the parking lot. There is no overnight parking fee for resort
guests, but you will be required to display a pass on your dashboard for the
duration of your stay.
The resort
also has a spa, onsite laundry and dry cleaning services, fitness center,
tennis courts, bike rentals, outdoor grills and childcare options.
Offsite
Activities
While you
certainly don’t have to leave Disney’s Vero Beach property for a single minute
during your vacation, there are a variety of things to do in Vero Beach and the
surrounding area if you choose to venture out.
Delicious restaurants line the coastline, offering every type of cruise
– from seafood to steakhouses, Italian and American. For the golfers, there are several courses in
the area. You can also schedule airboat
rides or take a private boat tour. My
family did a personal tour of the Sebastian Inlet with Capt. Christy Lenz
Casual Cruisin’ and it was a definite highlight of our trip. We got the chance to view dolphins, manatees,
stingray and a variety of other fish and birds up close and personal during our
2-hour tour. It was truly amazing!
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| Dolphin sighting |
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| Manatee Sighting |
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| Family Cruisin' By: Alyssa Gates Schreiber
Alyssa@traveltimetravel.com
Let us make your vacation even easier! We'll help you plan from the start and can advise you and handle your arrangements, including dining, fast passes, room requests, discount application, and celebrations. We are the same price or less than if you book on your own, and you get us for FREE! Have an expert on your side at zero cost to you and contact one of our agents today! |