Sunday Spotlight - Disney's Vero Beach Resort

Disney's Vero Beach_® Resort first opened October 1, 1995.  It is a Disney Vacation Club_® (DVC) timeshare property, and was the first DVC resort to be opened outside of the Walt Disney World_® Resort.

Disney’s Vero Beach_® Resort is a blended resort featuring both traditional guest rooms and Disney Deluxe villas.  It is comprised of 115 guest rooms and 95 villas comprised of Deluxe Studios, 1-Bedroom, 2-Bedroom and 3-Bedroom Beach Cottages. 

• Deluxe Studios are 375 square feet and can accommodate up to 4 guests, plus 1 child under age 3 in a crib.  They include a kitchenette, 2 queen-size beds and a private porch or balcony.
• 1-Bedrooms are 880 square feet, and can accommodate up to 5 guests, plus 1 child under age 3 in a crib. They include a fully equipped kitchen, washer & dryer, king-size bed in the master bedroom, a queen-size sleeper sofa plus a sleeper chair in the living room, whirlpool tub in the master bathroom, and a private porch or balcony. 
• 2-Bedrooms are 1,255 square feet, and can accommodate up to 9 guests, plus 1 child under 3 in a crib. They offer all that a 1-Bedroom has plus a 2^nd bedroom with 2 queen-size.
• 3-Bedroom Beach Cottages are 2,175 square feet, and can accommodate up to 12 guests, plus 1 child under 3 in a crib. They offer all of the amenities of the 2-Bedroom, plus they include a 3^rd  bedroom with 2 queen-size beds, a full dining room, additional private balcony and are 2-story rooms.

 The resort includes 1 feature pool with waterslide, and  a water play area;  The Spa at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort; fitness center;  miniature golf; bicycle rentals;  tennis;  shuffleboard;  fishing & surfing lessons;  private access to the beach/seashore;  an arcade and other assorted recreational activities including Disney movies after dark.

The resort features 2 table service restaurants:  Shutters and Sonya’s.  It also features lounge/bar locations: The Green Cabin Room and Bleachers.  A Character breakfast is offered on weekends as well.

Disney’s Vero Beach_® Resort is a deluxe villas level resort located on the eastern coast of Florida, along the Atlantic Ocean, about 2 hours away from Walt Disney World_® Resort. 

Friday Family Fun - Miniature Golf: Fantasia Gardens

When looking for fun things to do with the family at Walt Disney World, beyond going to one of the theme parks, why not think golf?... mini-golf, that is.  The resort boasts two fun, ultra-themed miniature golf courses: Fantasia Gardens, located across the street from the Walt Disney World Swan and Walt Disney World Dolphin resorts; and Winter Summerland, located adjacent to Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park, in the area of the Animal Kingdom Resorts.  Both offer a fun-filled time, at a relatively low cost. Oftentimes, depending on your resort package, guests might even be given a discount.  Annual Passholders also can get a discount.

Disney's Fantasia Gardens features two courses, both themed to Walt Disney's animated classic film, "Fantasia":  "The Hippo-est Golf Around," and Fantasia Fairways, "A Miniature Golfing Adventure."   Fantasia Gardens features pirouetting gators, tutu-clad hippos and dancing water fountains.  Fantasia Fairways is more of a putting course designed around skill than chance;  holes include "Ave Maria", "Rite of Spring", "Ostrich Island" and "Ballet of the Bunkers."  

Getting to Fantasia Gardens is not very complicated, though at first blush you might think so, especially if you haven't gone there before. If staying at an Epcot area resort, simply walk over to the Swan and Dolphin via the Crescent Lake bridge, and then cross the street.  If not at an Epcot area resort, you'll need to take a bus to one of those resorts (depending on where you are at at the time), or you can go to Disney's Hollywood Studios and then take a boat up to the Swan and Dolphin. It's a great way to spend an evening (followed by time along the Boardwalk!), or part of an afternoon.  So far we've only done the Fantasia Gardens course, but hope to try the Fantasia Fairways in the future.