Best Beach Near WDW??

[csummerlin55]

My family and I are adding a beach day to our WDW trip. The only problem is we don't know what beach to choose. We want something as close to WDW as possible. Anyone have any suggestions (do go here or don't go there)? Thank you!

 

[southernnomore]

We just got back from our Disney trip with 2 beach day trips added in. We went to South Daytona beach/Wilbur By the Sea area. It was very nice. They have public beach access that is very nice with bathroom, showers, and picnic areas.
We really like the Wilbur By the Sea part because the beach was no driving so it was safer and not as busy. I did not care for Daytona Beach though. It was rather seedy. We have also made a day trip to Cocoa Beach in the past which is nice too, but not as nice of an area as Wilbur and to get there you go through toll after toll which really adds up. Oh yea, Ponce Inlet which is right by Wilbur, has a very beautiful and interesting lighthouse and museum. You might want to eat at Boondocks for a great meal with atmosphere at a small marina. Enjoy your trip!!

 

[Art 1]

Sarasota area. Longboat, Siesta Keys.

 

[kathy884]

It's a longer drive than some of the others (about two hours each way so you may want to opt for something different), but our favorite one is Clearwater Beach. They have a pier there and resturants right across the street. It's got great sand. It's a big wide beach, and there is lots of activity (It's a happening beach vs. a quite secluded beach.) It's on the Gulf. No driving on the beach there like Daytona. We like it so much more than the beaches on the other side that we are willing to drive the extra hour on our beach day trip when we visit Orlando.

I saw a similar question to yours posted some time back on a TripAdvisor Orlando forum and saw that I was not alone in my preference for Clearwater Beach. On that post it was the number one choice for people who responded as their preferred beach for an Orlando day trip.

 

[dtum]

It's a longer drive than some of the others (about two hours each way so you may want to opt for something different), but our favorite one is Clearwater Beach. They have a pier there and resturants right across the street. It's got great sand. It's a big wide beach, and there is lots of activity (It's a happening beach vs. a quite secluded beach.) It's on the Gulf. No driving on the beach there like Daytona. We like it so much more than the beaches on the other side that we are willing to drive the extra hour on our beach day trip when we visit Orlando.

I saw a similar question to yours posted some time back on a TripAdvisor Orlando forum and saw that I was not alone in my preference for Clearwater Beach. On that post it was the number one choice for people who responded as their preferred beach for an Orlando day trip.

Looking at Clearwater now. It's only 30 min further than Daytona so not that big of a deal and the kids have never seen the Gulf side. We like Siesta Key, but that's to far, hoping the sand at Clearwater is the same soft white sand. Is there a specific place you go to park or is it all one area?

 

[teamaaron]

Anyone have an opinion on New Symnra Beach or Playalinda Beach? I'd love to go there for smaller crowd,s but I'm still wondering if they have showers at the very least?

 

[Art 1]

Anyone have an opinion on New Symnra Beach or Playalinda Beach? I'd love to go there for smaller crowd,s but I'm still wondering if they have showers at the very least?

NSB is nice and quiet. Not over built. They have showers. Playalinda used to be a nude beach, not sure if it still is.

 

[teamaaron]

NSB is nice and quiet. Not over built. They have showers. Playalinda used to be a nude beach, not sure if it still is.

Thanks for the tips on NSB!! Will be checking that out then. Cannot wait! Is it worth going to playalinda as well?

 

[Art 1]

Thanks for the tips on NSB!! Will be checking that out then. Cannot wait! Is it worth going to playalinda as well?

Like I say it was a nude beach, not sure if it still is. I have never been there. Just note that there in not much to do at NSB other than the beach.

 

[teamaaron]

Like I say it was a nude beach, not sure if it still is. I have never been there. Just note that there in not much to do at NSB other than the beach.

Sorry, I haven't been to the beach in a while...(ever I think), what else is there to do at the beach? I'll be bringing drinks, and you said there is a shower, a bathroom, cahngeroom, etc. What else am I missing?

 

[DSLRuser]

Shepard park on coa coa beach just south of the space center. 45 min drive from Disney. We do it ever year. The kids love it. The drive to the gulf is 2 hours + each way with traffic. Highway 4 is a parking lot between 7am and 10am all the way to Tampa. Almost the same in the afternoon.

 

[kathy884]

Looking at Clearwater now. It's only 30 min further than Daytona so not that big of a deal and the kids have never seen the Gulf side. We like Siesta Key, but that's to far, hoping the sand at Clearwater is the same soft white sand. Is there a specific place you go to park or is it all one area?

There's a big parking area // very easy to park there. // nice white soft sand too -- not as white as Cancun, MX but really nice.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

Sorry, I haven't been to the beach in a while...(ever I think), what else is there to do at the beach? I'll be bringing drinks, and you said there is a shower, a bathroom, cahngeroom, etc. What else am I missing?

Well since it might be a nude beach, I bet there is plenty to see or do!!!

 

[csummerlin55]

Just now able to check back in at the board. Thanks for all of the feedback! I have plenty to look into now.

 

[canuck09]

I was coming here to ask the same question, good stuff.

I'm looking for a more relaxed beach with a nice scenic drive on the way to it if possible. I'm staying on I-Drive, would be willing to drive up to 2 hours each way, which of the ones mentioned here fits that best? Or is there another not mentioned?

 

[Orlando Vic]

Anyone have an opinion on New Symnra Beach or Playalinda Beach? I'd love to go there for smaller crowd,s but I'm still wondering if they have showers at the very least?

I have never been a fan of Daytona Beach or New Smyrna Beach either. The latter is known as the "Shark bite capital of the world". If you don't believe me, just Google those words. When I've tried to bring this to the attention of others (and to suggest better beaches), I've received responses such as "Well, I've never been bitten by a shark." or "I've never seen one."

This dramatic video clip was recently captured by an Orlando Sentinel photographer and speaks to this very issue: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/multimedia/os-fla360-shark-jumps-surfer-20110623,0,3357331.story

 

[csummerlin55]

Since I started this thread I thought maybe I should let you know where we went and how it worked out. After much discussion and all of the suggestions from friends and this thread, we decided to stay at Tuckaway Shores Resort in Indialantic, FL. We will definitely stay here every time we go in the future.

I have to say it was perfect for what we wanted. It is just south of Melbourne. It was far enough away from Melbourne for us to not feel like we were caught in a busy tourist trap but close enough to be able to drive to Wal-Mart and Ron John in about 20 minutes. While we were on the beach adjacent to the resort, we only saw about 3-4 other people. It felt like we were on a private beach. Aside from the fact that it was clean and secluded, we really enjoyed it being so close to WDW and Kissimmee. I believe it took an hour and 20 minutes to get to Kissimmee from the resort and it's pretty much a straight shot.

About the hotel--The resort was small, (which we enjoyed) nice and clean. We stayed in one of the ocean facing rooms on the 3rd floor which had a patio door that opened to let in the fresh ocean air. The owners were there and they actually gave us a clipping from their Aloe plant to use on my hubby's sunburn and gave us a bud from one of their Aloe plants to take home and try to grow (BTW, he plant is going strong). The price was great, with a discount I found on Facebook, it was around $125 for the night and the room included a queen bed, a kitchenette and a pull out couch.

 

[Montegut]

I just got back from a trip to Clearwater and was going to post my suggestions, but I see your trip has past and you found a place to stay.

I'm bookmarking it for future reference for myself.

I will definitely check out all the suggestions on this thread for empty nest trips!