1st time to Vero Beach with a 3 year old

[DisneyPhD]

Hi there. I am hopeing to take a trip to Vero Beach May 2 to 7th 2004. I called MS and there are inn rooms avilable, in fact garden view is only 40 points for that whole time, what a deal! We even have enough points (when you count borrowing from the next year!)

Since we had AP last year and took 3 trips to WDW with in 10 months we are looking for a nice relaxing spring vacation to the beach before our life changes forever when our second child is due early Aug 2004. My problem is hubby isn't so sure so I have to convince him. We are going back to WDW in March 2005.

I did a search here and found some good sites and info, but I have a few questions I was hoping the experts could help me with.

Will there be much to do for our 3 year old? I read the unbrithday is sometimes only for ages 4 and up. What is the unbirthday party anyway? Will she be left out because she is under 4?

How kid friendly is the beach? It looks rather narrow and hard sandy. Can young ones play in the shallow waves ok, or does it get deep too fast?

Is the property big with lots of walking, is it easy to accesss with a stroller?

Most of the off prop activities seem based for older kids, (musems, ect...) Does anyone know any day trips that are good for famlies with young children? (or even beachs near by that might be more young children friendly?)

Any good shopping nearby?

We really just plan to relax and hang out at the beach, and pool but will there be enough to do? I think the tigger lily kiddy area looks great.

Thanks so much, I really hope hubby goes for it. I could use one last family vacation before our family changes. Our DD has been to WDW many times she hasn't been to the beach since she was 1 year old and keeps asking to go. We are used to going to Virginia beach or the outerbanks of NC and wonder if this will be very different then that.



Thanks in advance

 

[jodifla]

Hi. I was just there with DH for our anniversary, and we scoped it out for when we bring DS, 2, back in a few months.

I'll try to answer some of your questions. Beach area is nice. I don't recall a big dropoff, but sometimes the waves can be rough. Pool area is great. The pirate ship looks great for little ones, and there's a playground right next to it. There were many kids whooping it up and having a blast. People were also playing minigolf, which is right next to the pool.

The resort is not all that big, and is easy to navigate in a stroller (I took DS when he was five months old -- his first time in a pool)!

The planned stuff for smaller kids is more limited, I noticed. I will try to find my list of activities and repost on the boards.

Are you thinking of five nights? I asked my DS how long he thought we could stay in Vero, which is a fairly sleepy town, and he said four nights. There is nice shopping area downtown, and we noticed a couple of playgrounds right near the beach. There's also an outlet mall and a regular mall with a big theater, a 24plex, I think. There's also a small environmental learning center that's geared for the local schoolchildren, but anyone can go. It's free and they have fish and a snake, and boardwalks into the mangroves.

The Inn rooms are very nice. But if I were you, I'd consider going for the ocean view. Here's why: some of the "garden views" actually overlook the parking lot. Most of the inn rooms have really nice balconies, so you and DH could spend some time out there while DD goes to sleep in the room. You could even have room service deliver your dinner up there! (A mom-in-waiting deserves to be pampered!)

Now that I think about it, DH and I did our last trip before DS was born to Vero Beach. We had a great time.

Oh, by the way, the resort also offers massages!

 

[ClarabelleCow]

We got back a few weeks ago, my son (age 4) loves Mickeys Beach House!!! Rent some bikes, they have the child carrier in them and hang a right out of the resort. Great riding down that way. You child will love the "Tiger Lilly", thats the play area for the little ones. Most of the activities are geared for 4 and up, but ask and see if you could stay and participate. My kids love Vero. If you have the points for the ocean view, I would go for it also. We have stayed in a studio (never again!!!!), and garden and ocean views, this past trip, it was great, we were on the 4th floor, and woke up every morning listening to the waves break on the sand!!

 

[AZKathy]

We visited there for a weekend with our three year old. She did just fine at the beach and the kiddie pool area at the resort is great for kids her age. She will have a blast in that area.

We only were there for the weekend, so we did not do any of the activities there except beach and pool. <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/18_1_29.gif' border=0></a>

We had an ocean view room and it was magnificent. Coming from an area where we don't have any water at all, we were in heaven!!!!!!!!! We really loved our stay at VB!

 

[canda]

I will be taking a 1.5 year old for the first time to VB. I have been twice before. I think it kind of reminds me of the outerbanks a little bit. It is remote, with not much around other than residential. I don't think they have as much history and parks as the outerbanks. and i have not seen any sandbars or dunes too play in (or to 4x4), but that does not mean that they are not there. The town of Vero is larger than any outerbanks town (not including Wilmington)and it is a few miles down the road. It has a "tanger" style outlet like whats near jockey's ridge. the mall and outlet are with in a 15 - 20 min drive. I plan on taking a small umbrella stroller. There are plenty of elevators and walkways. As for the waves, they were big the first year i went and i bought a raft and had fun. The next time I went, I took the raft and the water was smooth and clear. The pool is great and the slide is fun.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Thanks for the answers. We were thinking a Sunday- Friday for 2 reasons, one the cheaper points (this is an "extra vacation".) and hubby teaches college and is between winter and spring semester and wants some time to prepare at home. However I was thinking about maybe spending a night or two in orlando in a cheap off prop place and exploreing some parts of orlando we never go to since we are always at WDW. We also thought about staying at an All Star or Pop Cen for a night or two, but I am afraid if we go to WDW prop at all DD will really want to go and not understand that we are not spending a whole week there. (it also depends on when we can find the cheapest airfare.)

I think I would go for a ocean view, it is only 2 points more a night, but when I called MS yesterday she said they only had GV inn rooms, and no studios. She also said she had many rooms for that time so I could wait a week or so to decide. If when I call back they have OV aviable I think I might (we have 50 points avilable and that is how many it would take.)

Since we will have a car (and never do when we stay at WDW) we would like to expolore some of the other things to do in FLA. Is there any close enough for day trips? Who knows we may find there is so much to do at VB we just will hang around there.

Still working on hubby, but I think he is coming around!

What about the unbirthday party? Is the only charactars that are around is the Sunday breakfest, (we won't get there until Sunday afternoon.) Does the store sell WDW merchaidce?

 

[kel3420]

The UnBirthday Party is wonderful. Our kids do this every time we go and they love it. You have to sign up early!!!

There are no Disney characters at this resort except for the bfast.

You will love it!

 

[jaysue]

I am not sure how strict they are on the Unbirthday party in terms of age to participate - I suspect they are more concerned with ability to behave "well" in a group and without parents hovering around, potty training etc. Our DS loves the Unbirthday party and always wants to go (you are allowed to attend one per trip).

In terms of other activities for young kids:

Tot Fish Find
Chalk Art
Scavenger Hunt
Partner races on the Front Lawn
Campfire sing a long

etc.....

You guys will have a blast - go for it - I would book the Inn View room and waitlist for an Oceanview Inn Room - it might come up - remember a Studio does not always have an ocean view

thanks
jaysue

 

[DisneyPhD]

Thanks for the comparison to the outerbanks canda, that does help alot. I am starting to really look forward to it (if hubby gets on board.) I am not too worried about running out of things to do, since we are used to spending a week on the an Island on the outerbanks, when the beach is all there is too do.


Since we are not planning on going to WDW at all, I keep thinking just being that close it will "call our names" and we will get the ich to go. However since we have been to WDW a combined total of 24 days over the past year I think I can contain myself. Our annual passes expired last week, how sad. (if DD knows how close she will be that is another story.) I am lookig forward to not having tickets be part of the trip expence.

I think I will book the GV inn room, but ask for a OV if one becomes avilable. I think it would be worth 2 extra points a night. (with out it I am sure the vacation will be just fine.)

Normally when we do ocean trips we drive and our car is full of beach chairs, umbrellas, beach toys and coolers. It will be a bit more difficult this trip flying in. I know you can rent, but that adds up fast. Do you rent right on the beach or do you have to carry the stuff down there yourself. (since I am pregnant and DD likes to be carried, that leaves a lot for my poor hubby, no wonder he is draging his feet!)

Any other hints or things not to miss for 1st timers? I am hoping May is a pretty good time of year to go.

 

[jodifla]

I think I'd just make a trip to Eckerd's drug store and buy inexpensive beach chairs, umbrella and soft-sided cooler. Stuff like that is always on sale during season.

 

[AZKathy]

Oh, one more thing. I don't know if it is the season for them, but we were there in the beginning of June and I got eaten alive by the noseeums. It was terrible!<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_2_108.gif' border=0></a> I believe I had at least forty bites on each leg from them. Come prepared for them, just in case.

I don't know if anyone mentioned the campfire. <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/7/7_2_200.gif' border=0></a> It is a fun thing to do one night if you enjoy campfire songs and silliness.

Happy planning!

 

[jaysue]

Second on buying beach stuff if you are going to be there for a significant time.

If you rent, the cabana person sets it all up for you - you do not have to lift a finger. He is usually in the hut on the walkout to the beach or down on the beach setting things up.

Noseeums can come around anytime the temperature is consistently above 70 degrees. I believe insect repellent and have heard that Skin So Soft are the only consistent remedies against their activites.

We had these persistant things after us once at Ft Lauderdale and we had no clue at the time what was causing this. We had to abandon the beach at the time.


http://www.floridaenvironment.com/programs/fe10716.htm

thanks
jaysue

 

[scotth1042]

Thanks for asking these questions about VB. We are taking our 3 year old and our 6 year old this summer.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Well, I am happy to say that Hubby did come around and agreed to the May vacation. So we have a Ocean View Inn room booked for May 2 to the 7th. I am really looking forward to doing something we have not tried yet, but still knowing it will be up to DVC quailty. Now we just need to find good airfare and a rental car. (we normally just take town car transportation to WDW, so this will be new for us.)

BTW hubby agreed the morning after getting the ultrasound done, another girl. I was suprized, I was thinking boy this time, but I guess I have been too sick for that! A sister is what our almost 3 year old DD wanted, but now she doesn't act so sure! A week at the beach should be just what the Dr ordered this spring.

Mrs. PhD

 

[thegoods]

The weather is beautiful in the first week of May. Rainy season generally starts the third week of May so you should have less rain and little humidity while you are there.

 

[floridafam]

We've been taking our children since they were around 1 and 2.

They have always loved VB. We love playing on the beach and in the pool.

A 3 yr. old may not be able to do everything there but he/she can play mini golf, play on the beach, in the pool. I'm pretty sure 3 yr olds can do the treasure hunt at the playground.

VB is perfect for any age, IMO.

Take good sunscreen and a good bug spray for the evenings or early mornings.

VB is very relaxing. The picture in my signature is of the rocking chairs on the porch at VB.

 

[floridafam]

Just wanted to add...

I really like the beach. Our kids play on it and dig in the sand for hours. Just keep an eye on the tides. You may not want to go down to the beach near high tide. We always rent an umbrella and 2 chairs which gives us some time in the shade if we need it.

I think you will be able to get around the property with a stroller. There are elevators in the main building and villas. We prefer the main inn, especially with little ones.

I believe the un-birthday party is only for 4 and above and you have to be potty trained. They do not budge on age from what I've heard.

They often have activities scheduled for the 3-5 yr olds.

The gift shop does sell Disney merchandise and the restaurants have wonderful kids food.

Have fun.

 

[KLR-wlv]

This spring break will be our 3rd time to VB - our kids are 5 &7 - it's a great resort - I can't imagine being bored there. Across the street is a fun place to go too - around the lake where more buildings were supposed to be built and there are little paths through the woods around the lake.

Kennedy Space Center is about an hour north - and their is the environmental learning center someone mentioned. There is also Pelican island National Wildlife Refuge, the Mangrove Garden foundation, an art museum and theater in town, and manatee viewings at the water treatment plant. I haven't down any of these yet - but plan to on our next trip. There are some really nice restaurants in town as well. The seafood buffet at Sonya's is really good - I think it's Thursday nights.

If your OV room doesn't come through - maybe ask for a GV with a side view of the ocean. When we stayed last time - we got one of these and while it wasn't as great as the ov rooms - at least you could sit out on the balcony at an angle and see the ocean.

I think it will be a very relaxing way to vacation while pregnant. Have a great time!

 

[DisneyPhD]

Thanks for the info, I am really starting to look forward to the trip. (espcially now that I am feeling better too!) It sounds so relaxing and beatiful.

I would hope the OV would come through, since that is the points they are using (GV is 2 points less a night.) But if not I wouldn't mind too much, as long as I get the points back. (we really need more, but with an expanding family that will have to wait.)

BTW floridafam my hubby (the real Phd, not me,) used to teach at Mich State in East Lansing, however we will lived her and Royal Oak, and the commute was too much. He is at a local collge around here now and likes it, but MSU was really good to him.

So good to hear about the weather, we have never been to FLA in May and I have heard good things about that. It has to be that week since hubby is between sememsters.

 

[floridafam]

We're not that far from MSU.

The commute anywhere in Michigan can be rough in the winter. DH drives to Grand Rapids every week for class and sometimes it's a pain.

You can see some more VB pictures from our last trip in the link below. I hope you get the OV-it's awesome. Don't forget to spend some time in the Green Cabin Room.


http://homepage.mac.com/energylab/PhotoAlbum2.html