gulf beach or atlantic beach?

[chrismartinique]

trying to decide which way to go from orlando for a couple days. Just started reading a bunch of beach threads. Please post your best beach

 

[DSLRuser]

The last 2 years we did day trips. March of 2009 we went to the gulf side, st pete beach. June of 2010 we went to the atlantic side. CoCo beach.

Both times we left at 8:00am. The problem is, it's about 2 hours to hit the gulf, and only 45 mins to hit the atlantic.

I will concede that st. pete beach was prettier than coco. But the kids actually prefer coco because there is a little more wave action. Both were crowded.

June of this year we are headed back to coco. the 45 min drive is so much nicer than the 2 hour drive. Especially on the way back to the resorts.

 

[swilshire]

I much prefer the Gulf side, but Disney Vero Beach is also a great place to spend a few days. We were there last week.

Sheila

 

[chrismartinique]

I much prefer the Gulf side, but Disney Vero Beach is also a great place to spend a few days. We were there last week.

Sheila

is there anything Disney-ish about this resort....like characters or other special things

 

[swilshire]

Lots of activities for all ages. Characters are pretty scarce except during the holidays. They do a character meal or two, but we didn't attend any.

Pin trading and hidden Mickeys. The Disney experience, just without many characters.

Sheila

 

[chrismartinique]

any other specific resorts along the gulf coast.. I wanted doubletree but they won't allow 3 nights over holiday week-end. They will only allow 4 nights. I have heard of minimum stay, but this is balony!

 

[utahkennedys]

We are doing a day trip at the end of this month from WDW to Fort de Soto beach on the Gulf side. I haven't been to that area since I was a kid and I want my girls (9 and 5) to actually be able to enjoy the water. The Atlantic is just too cold for us! I hear the sand is nicer as well, so it's worth the extra drive to me to check it out this time. We also want to try DVC at Vero Beach someday however, looks wonderful!

 

[topolskis]

Yikes, 4 night minimum!

Either coast will be awesome. Just gotta see the ocean while you are down there. (But then again I am land-locked now and grew up by the ocean).

 

[Art 1]

any other specific resorts along the gulf coast.. I wanted doubletree but they won't allow 3 nights over holiday week-end. They will only allow 4 nights. I have heard of minimum stay, but this is balony!

Check out the Longboat Key Club, Longboat Key, Sarasota.

 

[swilshire]

I was in Tampa for one night on business this week and took a ride over to Clearwater beach. Lots of young folks there for Spring break, but the beach was as great as I remembered.

Sheila

 

[two*little*birds]

I can't say enough about Siesta Key.

Do a search and you'll see some older posts. Amazing beach, and only about 1.5 hours away.

One of my older posts with photos - http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2624964&highlight=siesta+key

 

[1GR8DISNEYFAN]

Anna Maria Island on the gulf side is great. Lots of shells and warm water. We stayed in a little place called "Resort Sixty Six" . Nothing fancy, but very clean. Had 1 bedroom and kitchen. Best part was we stepped right out of the inclosed patio onto the sand.

 

[TnTWalter]

gulf side....love anna maria....also like st pete area (treasure island too) and siesta key

 

[chrismartinique]

gulf side....love anna maria....also like st pete area (treasure island too) and siesta key

where did you stay at anna maria

 

[caribear]

Highly recommend the Gulf side...worth the extra drive. My favorites are Siesta Key, Anna Maria Island....and Sanibel/Captiva Island(much further though!). The beach at Honeymoon Island State Park is very nice also....with a ferry out to Caladesi Island if you so chose (the furthest beach area to the north is full of shells!).

 

[KatMark]

We just returend from a trip to Florida (my husband had business) and we spent time on the Atlantic side and the Gulf side. We've stayed in Daytona Beach a number of times and have been on Marco Island the last three years. We definitely PREFER the Gulf side for beaches.

 

[chrismartinique]

We just returend from a trip to Florida (my husband had business) and we spent time on the Atlantic side and the Gulf side. We've stayed in Daytona Beach a number of times and have been on Marco Island the last three years. We definitely PREFER the Gulf side for beaches.

where did you stay on the gulf side

 

[KatMark]

where did you stay on the gulf side

Usually, we stay in a condo on Marco Island (which we will be doing again in September--a friend lets us use his condo every year); however, this year it was a business trip for my husband and we stayed in Naples and drove to Marco Island for the beach. There is a Marriott on Marco Island--although I think it is pretty pricey. But I understand both Naples and Ft. Myers have nice beaches too and there are cheaper hotels there.