Disney’s theme parks are well known and many people have enjoyed vacations to these destinations. However, fewer people have heard of Disney Vacation Club (DVC). Disney Vacation Club is a real estate, point-based timeshare ownership. However, DVC is not your typical timeshare. Since it is point-based, for each visit you have total flexibility on the size of accommodation you prefer, as well as where and when you stay. Most of the properties are on Disney’s theme park property, but you may not realize that Disney has other locations on the beach. These locations include Vero Beach, Florida, Hilton Head, South Carolina and Kapolei, Hawaii. We wrote an article on the Disney property in Hilton Head that you can find here. This article will cover the Vero Beach property in Florida.
First, a Little Bit of History
In late 1991, Disney opened the first Vacation Club property (Old Key West) at Disney World near Orlando. Then in 1995, Disney’s second property was opened at Vero Beach. There are now 16 Disney Vacation Club properties and over 220,000 members. While you don’t have to be a Vacation Club member to stay at one of these properties, they are very popular and therefore availability for non-members can be somewhat limited.
Location and How to Get There
Disney’s Vero Beach is located only 95 miles from Disney World. Since the beach resort is such an easy drive from Disney World, a lot of vacationers schedule a pre or post stay at the beach resort in combination with their visit to the theme parks. The resort is located right on the beach, and there are no other hotels or similar types of resorts in the area.
The Vero Beach Regional airport is a small airport with very limited commercial traffic. Since the pandemic, commercial airline service has been very limited. Hopefully, the airport will return to pre-pandemic commercial activity, so if you are interested in flying directly to Vero Beach, keep an eye on this website.
Disney’s Vero Beach Resort
The resort is located on a fairly quiet section of beach. For miles around the resort, the surrounding properties are made up of private homes and low-rise condos. Therefore, the beach is never really crowded. We like to take long walks on the beach in the morning, and we typically only pass a handful of people on our walks.
At the resort you can be as active or as relaxed as you would like. Whether you prefer lounging around the pool, sunbathing on the beach or staying active all day, there is something for everyone. As with all Disney resorts, there are tons of scheduled activities and other things to do. Disney really works hard to provide activities for all ages, especially families with children. In this article we will highlight some of those activities, places to eat and things to do that are both on and off property.
So, let’s get started with a look at the property itself and all its amenities.
Please refer back to the property map above so you can locate each of the places referenced throughout the article.
We have been members of the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) for more than 20 years, and have visited this resort more than 15 times. In all of that time, while there have been minor changes all over the resort, the maintenance and quality of the resort continues to remain top-notch. All of the rooms were updated again just a couple of years ago, and the pool area was refurbished even more recently.
Check-in for the resort is located in the lobby of the main building. Parking garages are available under the buildings of the resort, which makes it convenient and allows your car to remain in the shade, which is appreciated during hot weather. But parking is limited under the buildings, and additional outdoor parking is located adjacent to the buildings. You will find luggage carts stationed near elevators in the parking garage if you would like to transport your luggage yourself. Or if you prefer, the resort will be happy to bring your luggage to your room for you.
Rooms
As you can see from the map above, the resort consists of the main building that includes the lobby, market, restaurant, lounge and spa on the first floor. The remaining floors are Deluxe Inn rooms that are similar to regular hotel rooms. There are three outer buildings, each with 3 floors, that include studios units, as well as 1 and 2-bedroom units. Finally, there are six, 3-bedroom standalone cottages. Altogether, the resort offers 211 units. So, let’s take a brief look at each type of room.
• Deluxe Inn Room – The Deluxe Inn Rooms are all located in the main building. While all of the rooms have the same layout, you can select from a standard view (toward the road) or an ocean view. The views of the ocean from the rooms are spectacular, so they are highly recommended. Each room has 2 queen-sized beds and a small balcony.
• Studio – The Studios are located in each of the three outer buildings. Each has a queen-size bed and a double-size sleeper sofa. They also have a small balcony with chairs.
• 1 Bedroom Villa – These rooms are much larger and have a separate master bedroom, in-room laundry, a full kitchen and an extra-large bathroom with 2 sinks, a tub and separate shower. The living room has a queen-sized sleeper sofa and a single-sized sleeper chair. They also have a large balcony with 4 chairs and a dining table. If you are staying more than a couple of days, you may find it more convenient to stay in one of these villas so that you can use the kitchen to prepare some meals, wash clothes and also have room to spread out and relax.
• 2 Bedroom Villa – There are two versions of this room, but both are basically the 1-bedroom villa with the addition of a second bedroom and bathroom. One version is actually a one-bedroom unit and a studio unit with a connecting door. This version is called the ‘2-bedroom lock-off’. The second version is a dedicated 2-bedroom villa with a single entry door and a second bedroom and bathroom within the unit. Both versions of the 2-bedrooms have two balconies, one for the 1-bedroom section and a smaller one for the studio or second bedroom.
TIP: The dedicated 2-bedroom villas are all located on the side of the building closest to the road and parking lot, therefore these units may be a little noisy. The 2-bedroom lock-offs face the beach side of the resort, so you will be less likely to hear noise from the road or parking lot. If we reserve a 2 bedroom, we always select the lock-off.
• 3 Bedroom Beach Cottage – These cottages are amazing. They are two stories with 3 bedrooms and 3 baths on the first floor. The second floor has a large kitchen, dining area and living room. The deck overlooking the beach and ocean provide one of the best views in the resort. But there are only 6 cottages, so it can be a little more difficult to snag a reservation.
TIP: While the resort is located on the water, the mature landscape and tall trees may mean that you will not have a view of the ocean. Only the Inn rooms (on the ocean side) and the cottages will have ‘guaranteed’ ocean views. If you are lucky and have a 3rd floor studio or 1 bedroom, you may have a view of the ocean. But just to set expectations, only very few units will have a clear, unobstructed view.
Places to Eat
• On Disney Property – There are several choices for food on property, ranging from a full-service restaurant to a grab-and-go market. Here is a brief description of each venue.
– Wind and Waves Grill – Located just off the main lobby, you will find the Wind and Waves Grill. If you are looking for a nice sit-down restaurant that serves both breakfast and dinner, this is a good spot. While the dinner menu is not extensive, they do have a nice selection of entrees to choose from, including some delicious seafood choices. One of my favorites is the Key West Shrimp and Coconut Grits.
Some specialty dining is also offered, including Goofy’s Beachside Character Breakfast. This breakfast is typically on Saturday mornings and is a perennial favorite with kids. Keep in mind that this experience has been temporarily suspended due to social distancing rules, but hopefully it will be reintroduced soon. You can check here.
– Wind and Waves Bar – Just outside the pool area is the Wind and Waves Bar. This is the spot to grab a poolside libation. They have a good assortment of beer, wine and specialty drinks, that will help to quench your thirst in the hot Florida sun. All of the items on the Wind and Waves Grill menu can be ordered here.
There are several seats at the bar, as well as some tables next to the bar. Of course, you can always take your food and drink back to your spot around the pool or beach.
TIP: As with most resorts, alcoholic drinks can be very pricey and Disney is no exception. Specialty drinks can run around $12 and a beer might cost you $8 or more. So, most times we take our own drinks to the pool area and the beach, and as long as you are not using glass bottles or tumblers, you are allowed to do so.
– Wind and Waves Market – Next to the bar area is the Market. The Market has everything from salads and sandwiches to dinner items, including daily specials. There are also many types of prepackaged snacks, breakfast items and ice cream. They even have a small selection of beer and wine. We picked up dinner here a few times to take back to our room and the food was quite good.
– The Green Cabin Room – While this venue is really a lounge, they do offer a limited menu of light bites. The Green Cabin Room has to be our favorite spot anywhere on Disney property. The lounge has an incredible view of the ocean from its second story outside balcony. While seating is very limited outside, we are usually pretty lucky at snagging a table.
TIP: The Green Cabin Room doesn’t open until 4 pm. However, outside stairs leads to the covered balcony area and guests are welcome to sit there any time. Before 4pm, we sometimes will grab a drink at the pool side bar and then walk up to the Green Cabin Room balcony to enjoy the views. You can take food up there too!
• Off Property Dining – Vero Beach has many wonderful restaurants from which to choose, but we are just going to talk about our absolute favorites, the ones we always visit when in Vero Beach.
– Scampi Grill – The Scampi Grill is our favorite restaurant in Vero Beach and we have been going there for 10 years. We always visit this restaurant at least once, but often twice on our trips to the area. They serve some of the best Italian dishes we have ever had, and the Shrimp Scampi is incredible. Be sure to leave room for dessert, they are delectable. Make a reservation though, the restaurant is usually full. Scampi Grill is located just 20 minutes from Disney’s Vero Beach on 20th street (Highway 60).
– Crab Stop of Sebastian– For a more casual atmosphere and fantastic seafood, the Crab Stop in Sebastian has a beautiful outdoor setting on the Indian River. The staff is friendly and the views from the deck make for a very relaxed and enjoyable meal. Opened in 2018, this is the second Crab Stop restaurant in the area and is only 15 minutes north of the Vero Beach resort on Indian River Road, just off of Highway 1.
– American Icon Brewery – Ready for some craft beer and a large delicious burger? The American Icon Brewery is a perfect setting for sitting inside or out and sipping on a large selection of craft beers and enjoying a juicy burger – or maybe a Mahi sandwich if you haven’t had your fill of seafood yet. Located just up the street from the Scampi Grill on Highway 60, this restaurant is also only 20 minutes from the Disney resort.
– Ocean Grill – Located right on the Atlantic Ocean in Vero Beach, the Ocean Grill has an extensive menu, including many fresh seafood dishes. They don’t take reservations and this is a very popular spot, so if you don’t arrive early you might have a wait. But the food and views are worth it.
Activities – You can be as relaxed as you want at Disney’s Vero Beach, but if you prefer, there is no shortage of fun activities to keep everyone busy.
• Pool Area
– Pool and Slide – The large pool is in the shape of Mickey Mouse and has never felt crowded, even on busy days. There are tables with umbrellas and lounge chairs. If you don’t want too much sun, there are several areas in the shade. A tall spiral slide is located on one side of the pool and provides excellent views from the top. The slide is a lot of fun and not just for kids. Adults seem to enjoy it just as much! There is a hot tub next to the pool, though not many people seemed to want to sit in hot water during the daytime. There are excellent lifeguards on duty all of the time and they maintain a constant vigilance on everything going on in the pool.
– Children’s Play Area – Next to the slide is a large play area for small children called the Tiger Lilly Ship. It is a small pirate ship for kids to climb on, with water cannons and slides. This is a great spot for children that might be too small for swimming in the pool, or who just want something else to do.
– Mini Golf – Also in the pool area is Port Holes Mini Golf. A full 18 holes, this is a fun break from the pool and it is free!
– Eb and Flo’s Rentals – Just outside the pool area is Eb and Flo’s Rentals (more on that later). This is where you can pick up beach/pool towels, life jackets, mini golf equipment and much more.
• Beach – Our favorite way to spend the day is an early walk on the beach to enjoy the waves and sunrise. Since the area around the resort is purely residential, the beach is quiet and uncrowded. Sea turtle nesting season runs from March through October, so be on the lookout for the many turtle nests all along the beach.
After our morning walk, we take our beach chairs and a small cooler out to the beach for the day. Nothing is more relaxing than enjoying the sounds of the waves and watching for the ubiquitous sea life that includes dolphins, manatees, jumping fish and all sorts of seabirds.
If you do not have your own beach chairs or umbrellas, the resort has a beach-side spot where you can rent chairs, umbrellas, and even cabanas. They also have other beach items, such as kayaks and Waverunner-style personal watercraft.
TIP: Unlike the pool area, there are no lifeguards on the beach. The Atlantic Ocean can be fairly rough on some days and the nature of the shoreline can cause some large waves to break very close to shore. So be careful of the under tow (Rip Tide) and don’t get blindsided by a hit from a large wave. Leave your good sunglasses and hats on the beach just in case it happens!
• On Property Activities
– Biking – Bikes can be rented from Eb and Flo’s Rentals either by the week, day or for shorter periods. The best place to ride is the Jungle Trail which is just down the street from the resort. Disney can provide a map for your convenience. The trail has a north and south loop and we usually do the north loop in the morning and the south loop after lunch. It is a good work out as the north loop is 10 miles and the south loop is 7 miles. The trail is really a packed dirt road and while cars can drive on the road, we hardly ever see any.
The north loop passes through the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, a great place to stop and explore. We will cover the refuge a little later in this article.
– Basketball and Tennis – Most of the resort is located between the ocean and Highway A1A, but Disney also owns property on the other side of A1A (reference the resort map from earlier in the article). There is a tunnel that runs under the road so you don’t need to worry about traffic. After proceeding through the tunnel, you will find a basketball court as well as two tennis courts. Eb and Flo’s Rentals can provide a basketball and other sporting equipment.
In addition to these activities, a volley ball court and soccer field are also located here, as well as areas for other Disney activities.
– Community Hall – The Community Hall is located in the same building as Eb and Flo’s Rentals. Also located here is the Anchors A-Weigh Fitness Center, changing rooms, sauna and a room where many of the craft activities are held.
– Spa – Located at the north end of the main building, the Spa provides the opportunity to unwind, where you can treat yourself to a full menu of rejuvenating massages and services.
– Campfire – On several nights during the week, Disney offers a Sing-Along Campfire. Fun for both kids and adults, you will be led by Disney cast members as you sing around the campfire. And the best part is that after you finish singing, you get to make your own S’mores around the campfire.
– Shuffleboard – Next to Eb and Flo’s Rentals is the Shuffleboard court. Just ask at the rental counter for the free equipment.
– Croquet/Bocce Ball – Croquet and bocce ball sets are also available and the perfect place to play is on the manicured lawn adjacent to the rear of the main building.
– All the Other Activities – There are so many other activities throughout the day that there is no way to list them all. But a sample of what the weeks activities might consist of is displayed in the picture above. This list was from our most recent visit in May, 2021. As you can see, each day is packed with things to do. And not just for kids, there are adult activities too. For example, the Bourbon & Beyond activity, one of our favorites.
• Off Property
– Golf – There are several nice golf courses that are only a short drive from the resort. You can make your own reservations or Disney’s concierge can help make a tee time for you. Sandridge Golf Course is a favorite and only 10 minutes from the resort.
– Fishing – There are several fishing charters available to meet the needs of everyone. The Disney concierge can help with any reservations you may need.
– Wildlife Preserves and State Parks – There are many state parks and wildlife preserves nearby, but one that is only a short distance away is the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge. President Theodore Roosevelt declared Pelican Island to be America’s First National Wildlife Refuge in 1903. Located off the Jungle Trail, you can walk to the viewing area that overlooks the Indian River and Pelican, Egret and Roosevelt Islands.
We really need to give a shout out to the amazing staff at the Vero Beach resort. Of course, Disney employees are always friendly and hospitable. However, we have stayed at plenty of Disney resorts and have never seen such happy and friendly employees! Literally, every single person we saw said ‘hello’ and welcomed us, no matter what time of day or night.
We hope this review of Disney’s Vero Beach Resort was helpful and that you get an opportunity to visit soon. Thank you for your support and we hope wherever you go you have safe travels!
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My husband and I are at Vero Beach celebrating our anniversary. We just left Scampi Grill, and it was fantastic!! Thanks for the great recommendation, we are planning to try the Crab Stop as well!
Very happy you enjoyed Scampi Grill. The Crab Stop is a really laid back place with great food, we think you will enjoy it too.
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Thanks for the very informative review. My wife and I will be there in a week and are very excited, I hope we have time to do all your recommendations.
Thanks for the comment. Make sure to get reservations for the Scampi Grill, our favorite restaurant.