Vero Beach About This Page:

[Minniemoomoo]

While on our last cruise, the folks at our table had purchased the original Vero Beach. He was telling me how the original plan was laid out to them on purchasing. Lots of other build outs across the way and more enhancements such as spa and the like... Does anyone out there have the original plan ideas? We purchased Vero on the used market last year, and we have been and do love Vero. I was just curious as to what the plans were when it was sold many years ago. Thanks for any info. I'm just like Alice curious to a fault.

[chezp]

I've never heard of any such plans, but I'd be intrigued to find out more as well, if anyone knows anymore?

[HiddenMickey]

After all this time, you'd think that some of those plans would have come about by now. I'm sure it would be nice to have more amenities there at the resort and right nearby.

[tjkraz]

Disney sold the other plot of land so they don't really have any intention to grow the Vero resort. I haven't made it out to Vero yet but I've been told the other piece of land was "across the road." Maybe that makes sense to those of you who have been there.

Vero was a victim of slow sales. After OKW proved to be a success, Disney moved forward simultaneously on Vero, Hilton Head and the BoardWalk. That aggressive growth may have come about a little too quickly. And DVC really shot themselves in the foot by choosing sub-par locations in Vero and HHI. The Hilton Head resort is not actually on the beach, which hurt its demand. Many customers found themselves asking "who wants to buy a beach resort that isn't on the beach?"

While Vero appears to be a very attractive resort, many potential buyers were turned-off by the fact that it wasn't in a prime Florida beach area like Daytona or Miami Beach.

Vero ended up with just over 100 units after the plan was scaled-back and still took the better part of a decade to sell out. DVC began selling points around 1995/96 and were still actively selling (with deep discounts) as recently as 2003.

By comparison, 100 units is about 3-6 months worth of inventory at a Walt Disney World-based resort.

The slow sales were directly responsible for their reluctance to enter the off-site market again. It will be 15 years by the time Hawaii opens in 2011. Those poor decisions also cost us several other off-site options. DVC had projects on the table for Times Square in NY, a Colorado ski resort and another beach property which would have been about 20 minutes away from Disneyland. DVC actually purchased the California land but later sold it to Marriott when they decided not to go forward.

They had an option on the Times Square site in the mid-90s but allowed it to expire when Michael Eisner got cold feet over the project. Bear in mind this was a point in time before Times Square's revitalization. Disney could have been a big part of that revitalization. Their theater ventures were wildly successful (BatB, Lion King.) The project would have included a couple hundred DVC villas plus cash hotel rooms, a Disney Store and perhaps even their own brand new theater. Disney would have offered vacation packages that included the room, dining, limo service, theater tickets...an entire Disney experience in heart of the Big Apple.

[chezp]

Very interesting - thanks for sharing that.

[Minniemoomoo]

Wow, that is very interesting. Thanks for all that information. It is amazing what comes and goes in the life of Disney planning.

[kthunter02]

I love Vero Beach - its our home...Don't know of any of those original plans. But I always thought it was weird having that piece of property across the road. I have walked over there before just to take a walk and I think there were tennis courts (maybe?), a little pond, and cast member parking. I think perhaps some of the daily activities are also held over there.

Would love a spa there though! It would be perfect!