The way to understand Disney's Vero Beach is to be aware of the development in the area. You have the ocean, which has many resorts along the beach including Disney's. On the other side of the resorts is a highway, A1A, that runs north and south, and for about 8 to 10 miles miles in ether direction all you will essentially be doing is driving by other ocean front resorts. On the other side of the highway is either more portions of the resorts along the beach or mainly forest and swamps, although there is a couple stores and a mediocre pizza restaurant not far from Disney's VB. The main reason there is not a lot more resort developments right across the street is because all those resorts along the ocean do not allow outsiders to pass through -- the beaches are all considered public but getting to the beach if you are not in one the resorts on the beach is near impossible except for the very low number of public access areas along that highway. So if you are thinking of having a lot to do near the resort, the reality is the only place you will have anything to do anywhere near the resort is at the Disney resort, although somewhat nearby is the Environmental Learning Center, which offers a park area for a walk around.
To get to other things, like most public restaurants or larger stores, you have go south 8-10 miles to the real city area of Vero Beach, north about 15 miles to Melbourne, or west about 4 miles over the Indian River to Highway 1, which runs north and south and drive up or down it for miles to find some larger stores and some restaurants. As to decent restaurants, there are some in any of those directions but one we found better than others was on the beach in the city area of VB, called the Ocean Grill, providing both decent food and excellent views. If you go there you will recognize much of the reality of Vero Beach as a retirement community, in that 75% of those eating in the restaurant are older than 65.
One thing you can also do is a river cruise on the Indian River from one of the businesses on the docks mainly in that city area of VB. The cruises are rather pleasant and you get to go by the mansion area along the river with many huge homes having gaudy structures outside (e.g., a big metal fish), owned mainly by persons who occupy the homes likely only a month or two out of the year, and many actually hire people to live there and care for the home during the time the owners are not there.
As to the resort itself, it is very good unless you are there when it is having one of the problems that can develop -- a hurricane which has caused some destruction or the green algae disasters that close all the beaches sometimes for a month or more. The pool is very nice with a good bar and fast food area and the resort has decent kid activities. There is only one main restaurant, Wind and Waves, and reservations are recommended.
