2 or 3 night stay on Gulf Coast (I need help)

[nicknamy1996]

My wife and I just booked an INCREDIBLE deal on a house near WDW for 5 nights (wanted 7, but because it was only available for 5 we were offered a deal) Now we have to decide what to do with our additional 2 or 3 nights. We are thinking about "making lemonade" and doing a beach for a couple of days before we drive back home. We've considered this before but didn't want to leave Disney early or extend our trips to go to the beach afterwards.... so now we are being "kicked out" of our house early and we are going to look at options including on and off property hotels BUT also the beach option. My problem is I don't know anything about the beaches either side of Orlando and the options for staying there. The only place I am familiar with is way up (and around) the coast in Gulf Shores, AL (which we LOVE) We have to drive back to Missouri afterwards so Gulf Shores is not (completely) out of the way, it would just mean taking another route back.

I've been searching the web for options but I have no clue and I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction.

SO... If anyone can please help me out with some rental home/condo/hotel info, suggestions for towns to search or websites to browse, for preferably the Gulf Coast somewhere northwest of Orlando I would be extremely grateful.

 

[CheshireVal]

Personally, I'm fond of Mexico Beach, Fl, which is about 20 miles south of Panama City. My grandparents used to have a house there, so I spent a lot of time there growing up.

It's gotten a little more touristy lately, but it still has a "small town" feel to it. The beaches are beautiful and not crowded, and there are several really good restaurants and fresh seafood "shacks" in town also.

I like staying at El Governor hotel, which is right on the beach, but there are a lot of rentals, too.

The website is www.mexicobeach.com


The only thing is... it's like 6 hours away from Disney!

 

[lillygator]

do you want to stay north of Orlando?

 

[nicknamy1996]

Thank you both.

Yes we are looking north of Orlando, and 6 hours from Disney is not a big deal because we would be driving back to Missouri from the beach house, so six hours from Disney (as long as it's northwest) is going to be 6 hours closer to home.

I will check out the website now. It sounds a lot like what we'd be looking for. When I was younger I spent a few weeks on Port St. Joe and loved the cozy non touristy feel. And after a week at WDW we are looking for a laid back couple of days to just relax and soak up the sun.