Complete Guide to Disney’s Vero Beach Resort: Activities, Packing Tips, and Outfit Ideas
- Ashlie & Lauren
- Mar 23
- 8 min read
Tucked away on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean is Disney’s hidden gem, Disney’s Vero Beach Resort. If you are a family who loves Disney but also wants to soak up the sun and feel the ocean waves hit your feet, this is the place for you.
Located about an hour and a half from Walt Disney World, Disney’s Vero Beach Resort offers a beach vacation, all while providing Disney’s top-tier service, themes, and Disney magic. If you are a DVC member, you can use your points here, but you do NOT have to own DVC to book a room at this resort.
While we love Disney theme parks, our kids really wanted a beach vacation. So, we booked our Disney Vero Beach stay before our yearly Disney trip. We are from St. Louis, so we flew into Orlando and rented a car a few days ahead of our vacation.
Resort Overview: What It Feels Like to Stay Here
When you step into the lobby of Disney's Vero Beach Resort, it truly feels like you’ve arrived at a Walt Disney World Resort, with the exception of a beach front view. You are greeted with a Disney signature resort scent, and the collage mural behind the desk is filled with images of Mickey and friends.
There is even pin trading available right at the front desk! The Island Grove gift shop is filled with all your necessities if you have forgotten any items from home.
Of course you can find Disney merchandise, such as exclusive DVC items, ears, shirts, and more. We even spotted an Olu Mel section, which is extremely rare in the states aside from Aulani! Even though you’re not at the parks, Vero Beach feels very much like staying on Walt Disney World Property.
Dining at Disney’s Vero Beach
If you are wanting to mainly stay on resort property, Disney’s Vero Beach Resort offers three choices for grabbing a bite to eat.
Table Service Dining at Disney's Vero Beach
Wind and Waves Grill is the table service option at Disney’s Vero Beach. We dined here for both breakfast and dinner and loved our meals.
Breakfast was my favorite meal due in large part to the Key Lime Waffles.
Reservations can be made through the app, OpenTable. When we stayed in August, we didn't have any issues grabbing a reservation for either meal.
A Character Breakfast is available here with Goofy and Pluto, but ONLY on Saturdays from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Our trip did not allow for this experience, but we hope to catch them on another vacation!
Quick Service & Grab-and-Go Dining at Disney's Vero Beach
The Wind and Waves Market is the quick service and grab-and-go spot. They have daily specials, fresh salads, sandwiches, and even Mickey Pretzels and Dole Whip! We thoroughly enjoyed our lunches here while poolside.
Just be prepared for the lunch rush. In my opinion, the only downside to this resort is the lack of mobile ordering. It’s such a time-saver when staying on Walt Disney World Resort property, and we really missed it, especially with the long lines during lunch.
If you are able to grab a cabana or beach chair/umbrella reservation for your beach day, you can also order Wind and Waves through a cast member.
You’ll scan a QR code at your reservation spot, and a cast member will take your order then deliver it to you while you’re on the beach! The menu is modified, but there are plenty of delicious options to choose from.
Lounges & Drinks at Disney's Vero Beach
For poolside drinks you can find the Wind and Waves bar. We didn't get a chance to enjoy anything here, but it had a fully stocked bar.
While I couldn't find anything on Disney's official menu, I have seen people post about light snacks such a hummus and salads available here.
One last spot to grab a bite to eat (and most importantly, a coffee) is the Green Cabin Lounge. This nautical themed lounge is located on the second floor above the lobby.
In the mornings, they offer breakfast pastries and coffee from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM and light bites and drinks from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM. The coffee was great and had seasonal offerings, along with standard coffees and lattes.
*Please note that Disney currently has listed that the Green Cabin Lounge will be under construction for most of the 2026 summer season. You can find more information about that refurbishment on Disney’s website.
Off Property Dining Options at Disney's Vero Beach
We didn’t venture off property too much, but we did drive about 10 minutes to an Italian restaurant called Pizzoodles. It was so delicious, and we would highly recommend it if you’re looking for a place to eat outside of the resort.
The only downside to Pizzoodles is that it’s tiny, so if you’re eating here on the weekend, maybe try going at low peak times.
Beach & Pool Experience at Disney's Vero Beach
Beach Access at Disney's Vero Beach
One of the main reasons people book this resort is because of the beach access. You are steps away from the Atlantic Ocean and sand. The beach is gated, so you will need your room key or MagicBand to access the beach.
During our visit, we never felt the beach was crowded. In the evening, it’s even more beautiful and a perfect place to take some family photos.
Cabana, Umbrella, and Chair Rentals
Each day of your stay, you can rent a cabana or umbrella for the beach. The Green Cabin opens at 8:00 AM for rentals, and certain items do sell out for the day.
My husband went down early in the morning and reserved our umbrella and lounge set. When we arrived later in the morning for our beach time, we went back to the Green Cabin and they let us know where our set was located.
It was so lovely to be able to come and go as we pleased between the resort and beach and not have to worry about losing our spot or shade! Because it was July and so hot, they were not renting out the cabanas, as they become somewhat of a heat trap. Keep that in mind if you plan on visiting during the summer!
Pool Area at Disney's Vero Beach
The pool at Disney’s Vero Beach is conveniently located near the beach access gate. This Mickey shaped pool has something for everyone. The Pirate Plunge slide was fun for both of my kids who were 9 and 10 at the time, and my husband and I also enjoyed it!
There is also a hot tub and a splash pad for the little ones to enjoy. If you’re looking to save some space in your luggage or car, skip items like life jackets, noodles, and beach balls, as they are all provided at no extra cost!
Activities at Disney’s Vero Beach
As someone who struggles with relaxing, I was stressed that I would be bored at this resort. I am used to fast-paced vacations filled with attractions and shows.
My kids love the beach, which was why we booked this resort, but I am generally not a beach person.
Included Resort Activities at Disney's Vero Beach Resort
Luckily, my fears were quickly put to rest upon our arrival. Once you check in, you will be given the activity schedule for the week. These are planned, organized activities for a variety of ages that range from crafts, movies under the stars, and campfire sing-alongs. Some of the free activities include:
Campfire
Pin Trading
Tinker Bell Scavenger Hunt
Gaming Area
Mini Golf (free for DVC members)
Crafts
Trivia
Movies on the Green
Tot Activities
Cornhole
Not all crafts are free, but it will list on your activity schedule which ones will come at an additional cost. We attended a free craft where the cast member talked about which sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs on the resort’s beach. My kiddos loved this activity, and we still have our turtles!
Another highlight for us was the campfire sing-along. We had a blast here, as the cast members had us laughing until our cheeks hurt. It’s very interactive and includes s’mores. Be aware that the s’mores can take a while if there are a lot of people, and also beware of the no-see-ums!
Rentals & Extra Experiences at Disney's Vero Beach
There are also other experiences onsite at an additional cost. The pricing varies depending on the activity, but we felt that the cost was very similar to any extra activities you find at a Walt Disney World Resort, such as tie-dying and pillow making. Additional cost experiences may include:
Bike Rentals
Mini Golf (small fee for non-members)
Specialty Crafts
Adult Beverage Classes
Spa Services
Kayaking
Surf Lessons
Archery
Turtle Tracks
Sea Turtle Viewing
I did check out the spa and booked a facial. You can find that experience over on our Day 2 vlog!
Planning Tips Before You Go
We thoroughly enjoyed our experience here, but here are a few things to keep in mind before you book your stay!
No-see-ums at Disney's Vero Beach
I joined a Vero Beach Facebook when I started doing my research for our vacation. One of the most popular topics was the no-see-ums. We are from the Midwest, so I was not familiar with these extremely pesky bugs. They are super tiny insects that love to be near the sand. You don’t typically see or even feel when they bite, and the bites also can take days to show up.
However, they leave long-lasting effects of bite marks and painful itching. I started to panic when I read that we would be visiting during peak no-see-um season. We had booked our Vero Beach stay for the start of our trip, and I was starting to stress that we were going to get bitten and be miserable the rest of our vacation at Epic Universe and Disney World.
They are always present, but there are times of the year (like the summer) where they seem to be even more bothersome. While Disney does provide complimentary lotion to help repel these insects, it doesn’t always work.
One of the groups suggested a product called Bug Juice, made by a Vero Beach local. I purchased the travel pack before our arrival and bought a larger bottle at a local shop next to the resort on our first day. This helped tremendously! We lathered up many times throughout the day and didn’t have any issues! Make sure to reapply before any activities at night and for certain areas like the mini golf course and the campfire!
What to Wear to Disney’s Vero Beach
Since outfit planning is our speciality, we thought we'd add a couple outfits. This all depends on the season you visit, but casual beach wear is perfect for your stay. In case you need a little more inspo, we’ve put together a few ideas for you!
We also added a few swimsuit options, as those will be your main focus here if you're visiting during the summer or spring break! If you want even more options, you can can head to our blog about Disney-inspired swimwear for the entire family!
When to Visit Disney’s Vero Beach
Obviously this largely depends on your schedule and what works best for your family. However, I do think that this is a perfect place to add on to your Disney vacation either a few days after or before your Orlando destination. A lot of people also book this in coordination with their Disney Cruise!
For our family, two days was plenty of time to experience this beautiful resort, but you could easily extend your stay depending on your vacation preferences. It’s a great spring break destination away from the crowds and would also be great as a winter getaway!
We loved our time here creating special memories and can’t wait to return. As always, I am happy to answer any questions about our stay! Just leave a comment! Thank you so much for reading, and we hope you have a magical vacation.