Best Family Friendly Beach Close to Orlando

[3LittleMonkeys]

We are leaving for Orlando this Friday. We plan on going to Disney 2-3 days (we are getting tickets through our hotel). However, one day during our stay we want to take the kids to the beach. My youngest was 9 months old the last time we were there. She is now 3 1/2.

Suggestion on a close beach that is family friendly? We are thinking Atlantic this time since its closer to Orlando. Last time we went to Clearwater. But my husband feels that is farther than he wants to go.

Thank you!

 

[Promomx2]

Close and very easy to get to is Cape Canaveral/Cocoa Beach. Clean, quiet family friendly beach. You can watch cruise ships come in and out and visit the original Ron Jon's.

 

[3LittleMonkeys]

I was talking to my MIL earlier. She said Merritt Island would be a good choice.

 

[momto2inKC]

We spent a day at Clearwater Beach and loved it!
Edited to add...sorry, just saw the part about Clearwater being too far! It's about the same distance (hour to hour and a half) for any beach from Disney.

 

[3LittleMonkeys]

We went there last time. It is very nice, but much farther from Orlando than my husband would like us to drive.

 

[momto2inKC]

We went there last time. It is very nice, but much farther from Orlando than my husband would like us to drive.

I just saw that Honestly, you're going to have to drive that far to reach the beach, whichever direction you go. We've drove to Clearwater and Cape Canaveral and they both took about an hour to hour and a half (depending on traffic).

 

[IDoDis]

On our last trip, we went to New Smyrna Beach which is closer than Clearwater. New Smyrna is on the outskirts of Daytona Beach. It's a lot less crowded than Daytona. We stayed at the Holiday Inn which was right on the beach.

Here's a list of the closest beaches to Orlando:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/beach/orl-closestorlando-story,0,4514450.story

Originally we were going to go to Cocoa Beach but the reviews we read were not that great, so we chose New Smyrna instead.

 

[jtopp]

New Smyrna beach is actually the closest beach to Orlando, and a lot less crowded then Cocoa Beach or Daytona Beach. Usually takes about an hour, and its a nice day trip to get a beach day, but still close enough that you can get back to the parks for fireworks!