Just under a two-hour drive from Walt Disney World, lies Vero Beach. It's a Disney Vacation Club resort with a character breakfast on Saturdays, and a beach which stretches for a few miles.
It's a gorgeous place to experience Disney magic without the hustle and bustle of the parks. If you want to meet a couple of characters and have extended time with them, book a reservation at Wind and Waves Grill. Here you'll meet Goofy and Pluto in their beach best, and will help you pick what to have for breakfast!
The breakfast food is your traditional morning grub: Mickey waffles, omelets, blueberry pancakes and a banana's foster French toast. The cost is roughly $35 per person for the character breakfast, which is extremely affordable compared to other breakfasts on Disney World property.
Head to the lobby after you stuff your stomach and heart with good food and laughs. There's a turtle compass on the floor, which is beautiful to see from the upper floors. Make your way to the activities side, where you can play video games, color, make art, and check out the Brooklyn Dodgers memorabilia.
Disney is known for its conservation efforts and it doesn't stop on the beach.
Disney shared photos of the 17th annual Tour de Turtles at Disney's Vero Beach Resort. Two nesting turtles named Ebb and Flo were fitted with satellite tags for migration tracking. Disney estimates 1.8 million sea turtles have started their lives at Disney's Vero Beach. pic.twitter.com/RG4dn7ndUa
— Scott Gustin 🔜 D23 Expo (@ScottGustin) July 27, 2024
Along the beach, there are numerous turtle nests during the summer months. The most common turtle you'll find here is the Loggerhead. But Disney has reported other origins of turtles making nests along the coast, which is fantastic news.
On the beach, you can rent umbrellas and chairs, bodyboards and other beach equipment to enjoy the sun. But if sand between your toes, isn't for you, there's a gorgeous relaxing pool in the middle of the resort. It has a waterslide for all ages, and if you go up it, the view of the ocean is breathtaking.
For those early risers, you can join a team from Animal Kingdom who inspect the nests every morning. They make sure there are no forgotten turtles, they make sure the nests aren't tampered with, and if there was a recent hatching they'll show you the shells. The conservation team spends the entire morning going along the roughly five-mile line to inspect every nest. Even if you aren't a morning person, wake up! It's worth it.
Keep in mind, that this resort is DVC so the cost for one night is a bit pricey for non-members. But if it's in your budget and you want to experience a different side of Disney, it's worth every penny to experience.