best beach for a day trip from disney?

[bribert]

Hi, all. We're thinking ov driving to the ocean from Disney for a few hours & was wondering if anybody had any opinions on which beach would be the best to go to with 2 kids, ages 5 & 6. Something where there's enough room for them to dig & splash in the ocean for an hour or 2 before we head back to Disney.
Thanks!

 

[spiceycat]

ocean can be scarey - but Coca beach is pretty close - if you insist on an ocean.

the other side clearwater beach is on the gulf side - so nice and tame unless there is a storm in the area.

with your age group would definitely go to the gulf side.

 

[Frothy]

I agree...go to the Gulf. Clearwater is around 90 - 120 mins from WDW.

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

I'm echoing the Gulf recommendations, especially Clearwater. I went to both Clearwater and Cocoa beaches last year and let me just put it like this - at Clearwater, a manatee swam right along the beach, and in Cocoa we had jellyfish swim right past us.

 

[NaplesRI]

You can go to Daytona Beach from Orlando- we did it once and it was such an odd experience for us! People drive their cars right onto the beach there! I would probably not recommend for youg kids- just wanted you to be aware of that in case someone points you that way.

 

[tednvon]

Hi, one more idea...we love Honeymoon Island State Park just north of Clearwater. Kids can swim in small secluded beach area, but the real fun is a walk up the totally natural beach a mile or so and fill a Walmart Bag with shells. There are millions and millions of shells here and the kids can have a ball picking them out. So, there is a place to swim and a place to explore a natural beach. It is 7 bucks to get in so may not be worth it for a few hours but be loved it with grandkids 4 and 7.
Small little store, restrooms, but NO condos, houses, just pristine beach.
Easy to get to from I-4, about the same as Clearwater beach. We actually went over to Clearwater after Honeymoon Island and had dinner at crusty seafood place...lots in the Clearwater area...

Here is link....enjoy no matter where you go, but the beach would be fun...Ted

http://www.floridastateparks.org/honeymoonisland/

 

[jmpellet]

I say clearwater and we just came back last week from Orlando and spent a day at the beach. If you have kids clearwater is the way to go. I think we may even return next April it was so nice. There was a dolphon about 10 feet from us!!!

 

[Pollito916]

I also recommend the Gulf side - Siesta Key!

 

[deej696]

Another vote for Honeymoon Island. It'll take a few minutes more to get there vs Cocoa, but its a far better beach.

 

[thepwa]

Another vote for Clearwater.

 

[grammynelliebelle]

About how long from Kissimmee to Honeymoon Island? TIA Grammy

 

[tednvon]

Hi, about and hour to the Tampa area and then 20 to 25 minutes right to the island....but it's about that to get to Clearwater also...do a Mapquest or Google map to get to Honeymoon Island...

enjoy...ted

 

[grammynelliebelle]

Thanks Ted! Grammy

 

[jeff968]

I know you want a day trip but if you could stretch it the beaches further south on the ocean side are amazing. We have been to daytona a few times and it is an interesting place. A couple of years ago some friends who live in West Palm invited us to visit. We took a day and went to the beach and I couldn't believe I was in Florida. The water was blue green in color and I could walk out until only my head stuck out of the water and still see my toes, the water was that clear. I thought I was at some caribbean island. It was beautiful.

 

[Detailor]

Also on the gulf side - the Fort DeSoto beaches in St. Petersburg are nice, too. Small toll to be paid to get there and largely under-utilized beaches when we visited in June. I don't know how beaches get rated but these beaches have recently been given the title America's Top Beach by TripAdvisor and was named the Nation's #1 Beach by "Dr. Beach" (???) in 2005.

Dick Taylor

 

[spiceycat]

A couple of years ago some friends who live in West Palm invited us to visit. We took a day and went to the beach and I couldn't believe I was in Florida. The water was blue green in color and I could walk out until only my head stuck out of the water and still see my toes, the water was that clear. I thought I was at some caribbean island. It was beautiful.

that is the color on the gulf side water all the time - at least in the Panhandle it is.

also the beach's sand on the gulf side is white and I mean white - you will definitely need sunglasses.

 

[Disney grandma]

Unless your children are good swimmers or want to walk in the ocean, why not just stay at Disneyworld and let them play on the beach at Grand Floridian or Polynesian. Our 5 and 4 year olds had fun building sand castles and filling buckets even though they couldn't swim in the beach water. Then just use the outdoor shower by the pool and you haven't had to drive for hours to get there. With us the less time spent in a car while they are young is a plus. I know the no pool hopping rule but there is always plenty of room at the resort beaches for guest of Disney.

 

[tednvon]

bump

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

See I would love to go to the beach but if you have a dolphin swimming 10 feet from you why not a shark? That is what really scares me. It is the Jaws effect all over again. WE went to the beach in St. Augustine two years ago and I really did not like it. I think these other beaches sound much better ....please convince me that my family will not get killed by a shark. I know I am a nut but blame Peter Benchley!

 

[tednvon]

In my business we call this is an irrational fear..It means it not based on the facts, the statistics, but is none the less very real. Try to tell someone with a real phobia about flying to just relax on the airplane!!
So, two things
1. skip the beach, do not do this to yourself as going to the beach is not a necessity of life.
2. Go the beach and keep saying to yourself over and over...
Peter Benchly loves beaches, he just made a movie is all.
I have a 100 times greater chance of being struck by lightening, hit by a bus, or winning the lottery than being bitten by a shark.
If you are also deathly afraid of lightening or being hit by a bus, I would suggest taking Disney Grandma's advice and going to the beach at The Beach Club or Grand Floridian or Poly...

Peace....Ted