I’m going to preface this by saying: I don’t ever think of myself as a “beach person”. I love a meticulously planned vacation. I like my Walt Disney World fastpasses planned in a spreadsheet. I like pouring over museums in big cities and walking 10+ miles a day. I don’t ever picture myself as the type of person who grabs a beach chair and a book to sit in the sun.
So when my husband and I debated a visit with our four kids to Disney’s Vero Beach resort, we understandably had reservations. First of all, it was confusing! For us, Disney is go, go, go! Rides, parades and walking! I couldn’t even wrap my brain around what a Disney beach resort would be like.
We ultimately decided that we wouldn’t know if we liked it until we tried it. I made a reservation, we packed up our kids and went!
For starters, I get a lot of questions about Disney’s Vero Beach Resort. People hear “Disney” and they think that it’s a beach resort that is near the Walt Disney World parks. Not at all! It’s about an hour and a half southwest of Orlando. You can fly into Orlando and rent a car to get there, like we did.
The moment we arrived, it was just love. The lobby is absolutely gorgeous. We were immediately greeted upon entering by a cheerful Cast Member who very quickly got us checked in.
We stayed in a one bedroom villa in building 15. It was just a 2 minute walk from the pool. We were on the first floor and because of it, we had a really spacious patio. The villas are fairly recently renovated and very spacious. They have fully equipped kitchens so you can cook all of your meals there if you so choose! The bathroom is split so two people can get ready at the same time. The villas are definitely a great mix of comfort and convenience!
When we checked in, we were given a daily schedule of activities. There was a steady stream of things to do at the pool and beach all day long. We participated in poolside Bingo, pool parties, slide races, name that tune, Red Light/Green Light and more! My kids’ absolute favorite thing they did was the Unbirthday Party. We were able to drop them off and they participated in birthday games, a piñata, cake and songs! There was also a fun treasure hunt through the lobby with Matey Mike. Older kids may enjoy the nature walk. We saw crabs, lizards and birds and learned about their native habitat. Every other night they had a campfire singalong complete with s’mores!
Disney’s Vero Beach is a great spot to see nesting sea turtles. During the summer, the beach is covered in protected areas to keep the sea turtle nests safe. They also have guided night tours to try to catch the turtles coming to land to lay their eggs. The tour is available on select nights and is a great way to see turtles up close!
They have one full service restaurant, Wind & Waves. It has amazing food! On Saturday mornings, it turns into Goofy’s Beachside Breakfast! Kids get to meet Goofy and participate in fun activities. On select evenings, they have a Pirate Night dinner. It’s served family style with fun!
We were so impressed with Disney’s Vero Beach Resort that we have decided it’s going to be our family’s annual vacation spot. A great way to enjoy Disney’s Vero Beach Resort would be to tack a few days there either on your way to or back from a Walt Disney World vacation! It’s also a great spot to spend an entire week. Let our awesome travel planners help you get the most out of your stay at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort!
