Want to drive to the beach from WDW - The DIS Discussion Forums

LuvindisCruiser · 11-24-2009, 09:26 PM

What beach is recommended ?
How long is the drive ?
Are there places to eat lunch in that area ?
We will have a rental car.
Thanks for the info !

CR Resort Fan 4 Life · 11-24-2009, 10:53 PM

I would recommend Clearwater Beach which is an hour & a half away from WDW. There are also several restaurants and a McDonalds located by their beach for you to eat lunch at.

jctwizzer · 11-24-2009, 11:06 PM

If you prefer the ocean, go east for about an hour and take a look at
Daytona Beach or Cocoa Beach

cranbiz · 11-25-2009, 10:00 AM

There are plenty of places to eat at beaches on both coasts. If you head east, Cocoa Beach is about an hour away. If you go to Cocoa, stop at the Ron Jon Surf shop. Right on the beach, free parking and a food court.

scard192 · 11-25-2009, 11:08 AM

Love the Gulf Coast. Clearwater Beach, St. Pete's Beach are beautiful!

LidoDeck · 11-25-2009, 11:33 AM

I live in Kissimmee and find Cocoa Beach far more convenient than Gulf Coast beaches (Clearwater, St. Pete). It takes 1 hr 5 min from my house - just can't quite make it in an hour. I also prefer this destination for the east coast waves.

From the 417 / Greenway or I-4 take the Beach Line 528 east all the way. It becomes A1A and goes right through Cocoa Beach. Alan Shepard Park is a nice location, but does charge for parking. Ron Jon has free parking (right next door to the park) but I wouldn't stay there all day.

There are plenty of shops and restaurants in the area. Awesome seafood is available at Boston Beef & Seafood right on A1A just north of the intersection with 520 (our favorite).

Capt_BJ · 11-25-2009, 04:00 PM

having lived in both places I will say I prefer the beach on the east coast over the Gulf but they both are mighty fine. I also think you'll actually get to the beach faster heading east since SR-528//A1A is going to take to all the way there while the trip west is a little more involved....exit highway, continue west, find beach, find parking.... not hard but east is much easier.

If you do come to Cocoa I would strongly NOT recommend eating at RonJon .... buy a t-shirt but there are MUCH better places to get just about anything to eat.

If you happen this way on a DCL departure day then plan to be at Grills, Rusty's, Fishlips or Millikan Reef in the port around 5 pm and watch the departure. There's usually a crowd waving on the decks of each of these places and the ship will respond by sounding the musical horn . . . These 4 places are all in a row on the south side of the port and just off 528//A1A .... just follow the signs to the Casino Cruise and you'll end up in the right place. Or be on the jetty at Jetty Park, which is at the entr to the port, south side. There is a small admission charge at this particular park/beach but it is a very popular beach area.

http://www.jettypark.org/
http://www.grillsseafood.com/

mckinley · 11-26-2009, 08:13 PM

We went to cocoa beach back over the summer. The drive was not bad at all and the beach was really nice. Our hotel was alittle run down though. With us not being there before i just found a hotel online and booked. You are able to walk out pretty far at waist deep water also. If we ever decide to go back to the beach while at Disney we will to go back to cocoa beach.

LuvindisCruiser · 11-28-2009, 04:26 PM

Thanks, got some great info.
That would be so cool if we could see DCL leaving port !
I would love to hear the horn and wave good-bye to them.
Thanks again !

zulemara · 11-28-2009, 05:25 PM

I've gone to the beach at new smyrna twice and really enjoyed it. It's not nearly as well known, so it's not as busy. There are still places to eat in the area though. I take 528 east to 95 and go north simply because I hate I4. If you take I4 east to FL 44 right to the beach, its about 55 miles.

giginator · 11-28-2009, 09:06 PM

Have been to both Cocoa beach and Clearwater. The drive is about a half hour longer to Clearwater but soooo worth it! Will never go back to Cocoa, we LOVED Clearwater. The Gulf side is much cleaner, calmer, beautiful white sand, warmer and lots of stuff happening along the pier. Many many cruises and excursions. Not much appeal in Cocoa besides Ron Jon's. You will end up with a lot of crushed shells in your bathing suit if you choose to go to Cocoa. Rough waves and waters.

11-24-2009, 09:26 PM	#1
LuvindisCruiser DIS Veteran Join Date: May 2004 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 579	Want to drive to the beach from WDW What beach is recommended ? How long is the drive ? Are there places to eat lunch in that area ? We will have a rental car. Thanks for the info ! __________________ (DH) (ME, can't stay off DIS) (DD10) (DS10) March 1998 - offsite May 2005 - POFQ, took 5 yr. old twins for their 1st visit. May 2005 - Disney Wonder (Disney @ sea, awesome!) October 2005- Disneyland (celebrating the 50th with mickey!) Numerous Disneyland trips in between!

11-24-2009, 10:53 PM	#2
CR Resort Fan 4 Life DIS Veteran Join Date: May 2006 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 24,932	I would recommend Clearwater Beach which is an hour & a half away from WDW. There are also several restaurants and a McDonalds located by their beach for you to eat lunch at. __________________ Next Vacation To Walt Disney World 08/10/2010 - 08/20/2010: Disney's Contemporary Resort - Bay Lake View - Atrium Club.

11-25-2009, 10:00 AM	#4
cranbiz DIS Veteran Join Date: May 2004 Location: Exactly 45 miles from the mouse and 1350 miles from good clam chowder Posts: 2,321	There are plenty of places to eat at beaches on both coasts. If you head east, Cocoa Beach is about an hour away. If you go to Cocoa, stop at the Ron Jon Surf shop. Right on the beach, free parking and a food court. __________________ Now wearing Purple Pants! Off Site 8-91 Off Site 8-92 ASMU 12-03, 1-06 (AP preview of EE) New FL House 9-04, 11-04, 1-05, 2-05, 4-05, 5-05, 6-05, 7-05, 9-05, 10-05, 11-05, NYE05 at EPCOT!, 4-06, 10-06(X2) (Stopping now - there every weekend) AKL 12-04 CBR 6-05 The opinions and comments in the above post do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Walt Disney Company or any of its affiliates. This post was written while off the clock and off WDW property. Any information or advice in the above post is subject to change at any time without notice and should not, if ever, be taken seriously by anyone. All rights reserved. Your mileage may vary. Offer is valid only at participating locations. Many will enter, few will win. If this post begins to smoke, get away immediately. Seek shelter and cover head. Guarantee void in Tennessee.

11-25-2009, 04:00 PM	#7
Capt_BJ So Many Times Join Date: May 2005 Location: Melbourne, FL Posts: 744	having lived in both places I will say I prefer the beach on the east coast over the Gulf but they both are mighty fine. I also think you'll actually get to the beach faster heading east since SR-528//A1A is going to take to all the way there while the trip west is a little more involved....exit highway, continue west, find beach, find parking.... not hard but east is much easier. If you do come to Cocoa I would strongly NOT recommend eating at RonJon .... buy a t-shirt but there are MUCH better places to get just about anything to eat. If you happen this way on a DCL departure day then plan to be at Grills, Rusty's, Fishlips or Millikan Reef in the port around 5 pm and watch the departure. There's usually a crowd waving on the decks of each of these places and the ship will respond by sounding the musical horn . . . These 4 places are all in a row on the south side of the port and just off 528//A1A .... just follow the signs to the Casino Cruise and you'll end up in the right place. Or be on the jetty at Jetty Park, which is at the entr to the port, south side. There is a small admission charge at this particular park/beach but it is a very popular beach area. http://www.jettypark.org/ http://www.grillsseafood.com/ __________________ Captain BJ WDW more than I can count incl EPCOT opening DCL x 7 incl inaugural year on both 12 years at sea, 4 in Command retired 29 yr USCG

11-26-2009, 08:13 PM	#8
mckinley Mouseketeer Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 373	We went to cocoa beach back over the summer. The drive was not bad at all and the beach was really nice. Our hotel was alittle run down though. With us not being there before i just found a hotel online and booked. You are able to walk out pretty far at waist deep water also. If we ever decide to go back to the beach while at Disney we will to go back to cocoa beach. __________________

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11-24-2009, 11:06 PM	#3
jctwizzer DIS Veteran Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: st. louis, MO.....usa Posts: 1,023	If you prefer the ocean, go east for about an hour and take a look at Daytona Beach or Cocoa Beach

11-25-2009, 11:08 AM	#5
scard192 Mouseketeer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Suburb of Boston, MA Posts: 417	Love the Gulf Coast. Clearwater Beach, St. Pete's Beach are beautiful!

11-25-2009, 11:33 AM	#6
LidoDeck Earning My Ears Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Kissimmee, FL Posts: 15	I live in Kissimmee and find Cocoa Beach far more convenient than Gulf Coast beaches (Clearwater, St. Pete). It takes 1 hr 5 min from my house - just can't quite make it in an hour. I also prefer this destination for the east coast waves. From the 417 / Greenway or I-4 take the Beach Line 528 east all the way. It becomes A1A and goes right through Cocoa Beach. Alan Shepard Park is a nice location, but does charge for parking. Ron Jon has free parking (right next door to the park) but I wouldn't stay there all day. There are plenty of shops and restaurants in the area. Awesome seafood is available at Boston Beef & Seafood right on A1A just north of the intersection with 520 (our favorite).

11-28-2009, 04:26 PM	#9
LuvindisCruiser DIS Veteran Join Date: May 2004 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 579	Thanks, got some great info. That would be so cool if we could see DCL leaving port ! I would love to hear the horn and wave good-bye to them. Thanks again ! __________________ (DH) (ME, can't stay off DIS) (DD10) (DS10) March 1998 - offsite May 2005 - POFQ, took 5 yr. old twins for their 1st visit. May 2005 - Disney Wonder (Disney @ sea, awesome!) October 2005- Disneyland (celebrating the 50th with mickey!) Numerous Disneyland trips in between!

11-28-2009, 05:25 PM	#10
zulemara Oh Boy! I'm a WDW sailor! Had a Thriller of a time on the Wonder Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,689	I've gone to the beach at new smyrna twice and really enjoyed it. It's not nearly as well known, so it's not as busy. There are still places to eat in the area though. I take 528 east to 95 and go north simply because I hate I4. If you take I4 east to FL 44 right to the beach, its about 55 miles. __________________ "Welcome aboard the ____. The water we're traveling over today is approximately 14 ft deep and home to alligators, water moccasins, and brain sucking bacteria, so stay outta the lakes!" Pilot of the cruiser cruiser and fairy ferry

11-28-2009, 09:06 PM	#11
giginator Earning My Ears Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 51	Have been to both Cocoa beach and Clearwater. The drive is about a half hour longer to Clearwater but soooo worth it! Will never go back to Cocoa, we LOVED Clearwater. The Gulf side is much cleaner, calmer, beautiful white sand, warmer and lots of stuff happening along the pier. Many many cruises and excursions. Not much appeal in Cocoa besides Ron Jon's. You will end up with a lot of crushed shells in your bathing suit if you choose to go to Cocoa. Rough waves and waters.

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