Disney’s Vero Beach Resort: Review + What To Do

We don’t live too far from Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, and we thought it would be a perfect getaway with kids for the weekend.

Since we know Vero Beach pretty well from exploring the area often, I made Disney’s Vero Beach Resort: Review + What To Do itinerary to share with you!

I’ve gathered all of the information you’ll need in this review below, when deciding to book at this Disney resort.

Published June 2024

Here are a few answers to frequently asked questions:

Why did Disney choose Vero Beach?

Vero Beach is home to gorgeous beaches and one thing that Disney wanted to offer to its guests was a chance to enjoy the Disney experience and the beach at the same time. The guests have access to the semi-private beach directly across from the pool.

When was Disney’s Vero Beach Resort built?

The resort was built in 1995, but looks a lot more modern than I give that year credit for. It’s absolutely beautiful. They did a great job with a beach-theme while still including hints of Disney throughout the design and decor. The entrance is a show-stopper with shades of aqua and drift-wood colored beams, columns and other structures.

Staying somewhere with beautiful and clean views of the lobby, hallways, rooms, etc. makes a big difference in the overall relaxation and mood of the guests. This resort checks all of those boxes when looking for a family vacation that is inspiring and picturesque.

Can anyone stay at Vero Beach Disney?

Yes, you don’t have to be a Disney Vacation Club member to stay at this resort, although if you are a DVC member, you get discounts and other perks. At the time of this Disney’s Vero Beach Resort review, we were not DVC members, but we are highly considering it now after speaking with the staff about some of the perks.

Are there characters at Disney Vero Beach?

Yes! Dining with the characters was stopped for a while, but re-started in April 2024. You do not have to be a guest at the resort to reserve breakfast with the characters.

Anyone can dine with the characters each Saturday morning at the resort’s Wind & Waves Grill.

So far, we’ve only seen that Pluto and Goofy attend breakfast, but hopefully they will get Mickey and Minnie eventually.

The menu is pre-fixe, that is, selected items are available at a fixed cost, and coffee is included. The pre-fixe menu included pastries and berry compote for the starter, which was amazing and the server brought another round at no cost. A breakfast entree of your choice will come next. It was all so good.

What to do at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort?

The Pool

The heated Mickey Mouse-shaped swimming pool is amazing. One thing that makes this family-friendly resort worth booking is the 2-story water slide, and the pirate-themed wet play area. This gives kids so much more to do than just a typical pool, and I really think it elevates the experience.

The Beach

One of the major attractions to Disney’s Vero Beach Resort is the beach! Being able to enjoy both Disney hospitality and the beach at the same time is long-sought after by visitors from near and far.

You can access the beach directly from the resort near the pool and bar. Beach access is reserved for resort guests only. To be able to get down on the beach, you need your room key to open the gate.

Beach rentals are available such as lounge chairs, umbrellas, cabins, body boards and other water sport equipment.

During sea-turtle nesting season, which is October-March, you can take a guided sea-turtle tour at night and you will see many sea turtle nests with strict rules on how to respect the area.

Outdoor Recreation

Corn-hole and mini-golf are conveniently located right near the pool.

There is also a 7-mile bike trail near the property. No bike? No problem, the resort has bike and helmet rentals.

There are more recreational activities across the street from the resort. Don’t worry, there is an underground tunnel that safely leads you directly there. This is where you can access volleyball, archery, a walking trail, basketball courts, tennis courts, and they are building homes in this area as well.

The Spa

The Spa is the perfect addition to a beach resort. I can’t think of anything more relaxing than a massage after the beach. They offer a range of services and even have services for tweens from 6-12 years old.

Activities

We were so surprised to find that throughout the day, everyday, you’ll have the option for participating in various crafts and activities. Guests can sign-up for a range of things to do in the lobby of the resort such as making sea-necklaces, beach totes, tile art, and so much more.

They even have tot crafts for kids under 5. This is a fun option for changing up the pace of the day, while at the same time creating your own souvenir to take home. The cost of the activity varies on each project.

They also do DIY cocktail classes!

Disney Gift Shop

Just like any Disney Gift Shop, the quality of the products will involuntarily compel you to buy something. They even have a movie-rental selection for free, so you can enjoy watching a DVD in your room. The gift shop sells speciality popcorns and candy to go with it.

I tried putting the gift shop in the off-limits, do not enter zone, but this sucker ended up buying a Minnie Mouse stuffy and a Mickie Pirate toy. I really wanted the kids to feel like this vacation was special, and excite them for a future Disney trip, which I think was accomplished, overall.

Dining

Wind and Waves Grill

This restaurant, where the character breakfast is, located downstairs, offers breakfast and dinner for a casual but inviting atmosphere.

If you want a specialty cocktail, you can add it on.

The breakfast was delicious and we really enjoyed everything. They offer plenty of vegetarian options as well.

Wind and Waves Market

The market is a quick dining option, with grab-and-go items and Mickey Mouse Whoopie-pies! They also sell grocery items here.

The Green Cabin Room

This restaurant, located upstairs, is more dark and moody than the rest of the resort, serving as a great spot for a more intimate dining experience. It also has views of the ocean.

Wind and Waves Bar

The bar overlooks the pool and serves cocktails, mocktails, beer and wine. Nothing really says a vacation without a frozen pool-side drink!

How many rooms are at Disney Vero Beach resort?

There are 211 room options. You can stay at a villa, cottage, or the inn.

The inn studios sleep up to 4 Adults. This is the room that we opted for and we had a view of the pool, but you can also get a view of the ocean. It was perfect as a family of 2 adults and 2 kids.

The bigger options are the villas. You can get a 1 or 2 bedroom villa for 5 or 9 adults. You also get a full kitchen.

The biggest options are the 3 bedroom cottages, which can sleep up to 12 adults and come with much more space and a full kitchen and dining table. This would be a lot of fun to plan with a group of close friends, cousins etc.

Room rates at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort

The room rates vary based on size and time of year. The inn studios are the most affordable and the smallest in size. These rooms go for about $280 per night on average. The rest of the room options go up in price from there.

How long to stay at Vero Beach?

If you are traveling to Vero Beach, you can get a lot done in one weekend if you plan your itinerary just right. While there is so much to do at the resort, that you basically don’t need to leave, I have some recommendations if you want to explore the area.

Things to do in Vero Beach

• The Environmental Learning Center

(2 miles from the resort)

Nature center and trails with lush trees

• The Vero Beach Museum of Art

(8.6 miles from the resort)
Great museum for the entire family and they have a kids zone

• Barrier Island Sanctuary

(10.9 miles from the resort)

• The McKee Botanical Gardens

(12.7 miles from the resort)
Very kid-friendly and a wonderful spot for the entire family. The Children’s garden has a playground and splash pad.

• Round Island Park

(15 miles from the resort)
Spot manatees here at this little gem of a park! (manatees will be on the river-side, not the ocean-side.) Manatee season in Florida is November through April.

You can find a complete list of Family Things to Do in Vero Beach, Florida 

Places to eat in Vero Beach

My husband and I love to head to Vero Beach for a date night. There are a lot of really great restaurants, so I’ve created the list of our favorites.

To summarize our stay at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, I have to say it was well-worth it. The kids had so much fun with activities, the pool, the characters, and we enjoyed seeing them have the best time ever. We will definitely be coming back.
I hope you enjoyed reading this post on Disney’s Vero Beach Resort: Review + What To Do. Drop a comment if you are excited to check it out.