Resort Activities

Vero Beach is DVC's and Disney's first ocean front resort in Florida therefore the major activities are water related. A large portion of the property is taken up by the pool and associated activities. The pool is in a shape of a Mickey and is anchored by a corkscrew water slide that is fun for kids of all ages. The pool can become quite crowded at times when the resort is full therefore it is not truly a swimming pool but rather a relaxing pool. It is too small to do any sort of laps. And with a large number of people in the pool it is difficult not to bump into others. At a prime time when the resort is full it is difficult to get a pool side lounge chair and the tables with umbrellas on them are prime real estate and become occupied very early in the morning and are usually occupied throughout the day.

Landscaping around the resort is quite nice and Disney took a lot of time in planning out the foliage that would be growing on the property and blended it all together nicely. It is designed so that the foliage is somewhat above eye level so that you feel as though you are isolated from the surrounding areas (i.e. traffic, other beach side buildings). Surrounding the pool are other focal points of the resort. Here also is located the `Community Hall'. Located here is a big screen TV where Disney movies are shown each evening. A table-tennis table is located here as well. Next door to the TV room is `Anchors Aweigh', the resort's fitness room. Male and female lockers/restrooms/showers are conveniently located here as well as is the sauna room and masseuse area. At the `helm' of the pool are is Eb and Flo's. This is the Vero version of Hank's. From here many differently activities are based as well as rentals of bikes, tennis rackets, putters (for the nine-hole mini golf course located around the pool) boogie boards, beach chairs, and videos. Pool towels can be gotten here as well as an armband. Because of a problem with locals using the pool and activities, guests are given armbands to identify themselves. For this reason, it is necessary to always carry your room key-card to identify yourself as a resort guest and/or DVC member as well as to gain entrance to the locked pool area. There is also a cute little kids area near the pool as well that has a pirate ship water slide and water shooting cannons. The hot tub is here as well. For quick meals Bleacher is located pool side. Here you can purchase burgers, fries, hot dogs, sandwiches and drinks. There are kids meals which come in plastic beach buckets with shovels. The beach is usually much less crowded than the pool even at the busiest times of the day. Beach chairs can be rented at a nominal fee. The water is quite pleasant in both temperate and cleanliness. Unfortunately the beach is quite narrow and at high tide is almost completely covered. However, even at the busiest times, there was plenty to go around. Metal detector can be rented from Ebb & Flo's. There is a sunken Spanish galleon about 400 yards off shore and they say that after a storm gold coins can be found washed up on the beach.

Additional activities at the resort: Campfires (complete with songs and smores), Green Cabin Room (lounge) with mediocre service and entertainment. A croquet lawn is behind the resort and on clear nights a telescope is set up here. The area beaches are well known for being the hatching ground for Loggerhead turtles and each spring the females come on shore to lay their eggs. Once they hatch the baby turtles head for the sea. In season, tours of the beaches and nests are conducted (without disturbing them of course).