Beaches?!

[disjointed]

Are there any beaches close to WDW? If so, what do they have there? Any pictures?

 

[Koda]

We are thinking about heading to Cocoa Beach for a few days before our WDW trip. I've read that it is about 70 miles from WDW. I just started researching Cocoa Beach, but it sounds pretty nice. Close to the Kennedy Space Center, also. This will be our fifth trip to WDW with our kids, and have never ventured off-site. We thought it was about time that we saw the ocean!

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Both water parks have beaches and depending on your WDW resort you may have a beach there as well.

 

[disjointed]

We are thinking about heading to Cocoa Beach for a few days before our WDW trip. I've read that it is about 70 miles from WDW. I just started researching Cocoa Beach, but it sounds pretty nice. Close to the Kennedy Space Center, also. This will be our fifth trip to WDW with our kids, and have never ventured off-site. We thought it was about time that we saw the ocean!

We didn't even think about Cocoa Beach! Thanks!

Both water parks have beaches and depending on your WDW resort you may have a beach there as well.

Thanks, but we were looking to go off property, just because we never have before, and we've been there 25+ times!

 

[bradisgoofy]

Wow, the world's most famous beach is only an hour east on I-4. Daytona Beach !

 

[MiaSRN62]

We always visit the Vero Beach area when we visit WDW. My uncle lives 10 min away from Disney Vero Beach resort and we like to spend a day on the beach there. There is a free beach just next door to Disney's Vero resort. A 90 min drive southeast of WDW. Here's some pics of that beach :

This is on the public beach right next to the Disney Vero resorts which you can see in the background :

Then we visit my aunt who lives a tad north of Daytona Beach in Flagler Beach. This is a very very low key town, but my aunt lives 1 walking block from the ocean. You can see the ocean from the upper deck of her home :

One time we were standing on that pier in the distance, watching the fishermen. We witnessed them pulling in a 4-5 foot Spinner shark. They ended up releasing it back into the ocean after taking a few pics. But there have been shark warnings at this beach several times.

 

[powellrj]

we have done Daytona, New Symna and Cocoa. Anyone is nice. Sometime I would like to venture over to the west coast but its a little longer trip.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Sanibel Island is well worth the trip.....better than some of the Carribbean Islands we have visited......

 

[SunKat]

Sanibel Island is well worth the trip.....better than some of the Carribbean Islands we have visited......

I agree. I think it took us about three hours to drive there from Disney, but it's well worth it. Plus, I like the calm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the water was nice and warm.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Does anyone know if there are any bays or tidepools in the area? My nephew 8 wants to snorkel - We were going to do the shark reef at TL, but I read in a guide book that you have to be 10yo. Thanks!

 

[Oldironsides]

We went to Siesta Key in April as a day trip, it was nice, but ride was too long for a day trip. I like New Smyrna, my grandparents lived there a while ago and I liked that you could drive the car onto the beach. It is a less commercial and smaller than Daytona.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Not to mention the shelling....we brought shells home that I have never seen in any other part of the country or the world!!!!!

If you go make sure you stop at the Lazy Flamingo!!!!

 

[perdidochas]

Does anyone know if there are any bays or tidepools in the area? My nephew 8 wants to snorkel - We were going to do the shark reef at TL, but I read in a guide book that you have to be 10yo. Thanks!

One place you might want to consider if you're going in the January to March timeframe, is Swimming with the Manatees in Crystal River, FL. Crystal River is about 90 miles from Disney. There is freshwater snorkeling there--plenty of fish and turtles, and if you see a manatee, manatees as well.

 

[caribear]

We just went to Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin, FL. I believe it is a 2-hr drive from WDW...on the west coast. The beach was great and they have some wonderful shelling on the north part of the beach! They also have a ferry ($9/adult, $5.50/kids) to Caladesi Island which is rated the #2 beach in the US. Very pretty.....with chair/umbrella rentals/playground/nature trails. I don't think there is much else to do in the area though....but we haven't had an opportunity to check it out.....so I am not sure.

 

[lillygator]

We went to Siesta Key in April as a day trip, it was nice, but ride was too long for a day trip. I like New Smyrna, my grandparents lived there a while ago and I liked that you could drive the car onto the beach. It is a less commercial and smaller than Daytona.

Siesta Key is our home and it takes us 1 1/2 to 2 hrs depending on who is driving to get to WDW.

 

[MiaSRN62]

We just went to Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin, FL. I believe it is a 2-hr drive from WDW...on the west coast. The beach was great and they have some wonderful shelling on the north part of the beach! They also have a ferry ($9/adult, $5.50/kids) to Caladesi Island which is rated the #2 beach in the US. Very pretty.....with chair/umbrella rentals/playground/nature trails.

Thanks Cari....this is good info. Is it only for honeymooners though ? I'm assuming it's not since you quoted kids' rates for the ferry, but I was stuck on the name "Honeymoon Island".

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Thanks Peridochas - Is it only open thru March? We will be there in June - sounds great though!

 

[caribear]

Thanks Cari....this is good info. Is it only for honeymooners though ? I'm assuming it's not since you quoted kids' rates for the ferry, but I was stuck on the name "Honeymoon Island".

Nope, not for honeymooners only. I believe it is called Honeymoon Island because a developer bought the property in the late 30's and built thatched-roof bungalows for honeymooners....of course these are long gone.

 

[Amity 3]

Thanks Peridochas - Is it only open thru March? We will be there in June - sounds great though!

Crystal River is a spring-fed river. the area is open all year, but manatees come inland to the warmer water this time of year. Crystal River is 72 degrees year 'round, and the Gulf is mid-60's right now. in April, the manatees start migrating back out into the open waters.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Crystal River is a spring-fed river. the area is open all year, but manatees come inland to the warmer water this time of year. Crystal River is 72 degrees year 'round, and the Gulf is mid-60's right now. in April, the manatees start migrating back out into the open waters.

Thanks!