Help with Beach Days after WDW

[Magic4UsZ's]

DH would like to go to the beach after our summer trip to WDW.
We have been to Cape Caneveral last year, loved doing the space center!!!

But was wondering about going to the gulf side for two nights after disney to unwind and relax, or do you recommend going somewhere on the atlantic side?

We need to keep it to a fairly short drive, as we will fly out around 9am and I dont want to get up at 5 to drive back to the airport.

Any suggestions?

 

[OlderMan]

...beaches are closer, so that's probably your better bet.

While some people like the Gulf of Mexico side of FL, I prefer the Atlantic Side.

The beaches, generally, are wider and firmer than the Gulf's.

You are on the ocean, so waves are bigger--so is the undertow/rip currents.

Amazing sunrises!

Who knows? You might get lucky and see a shuttle/rocket launch!

 

[swilshire]

We much prefer the Gulf side, but you would definitely need to be up at 5 if you have a 9:00 flight out of Orlando.

There have been some good threads recently about St Pete and Clearwater, which would be the closest Gulf beaches. You could check Mapquest, but I'd think it would be close to 1 1/2 hours to the airport. Sometimes there is a lot of traffic, which would also need to be factored in. Combine that with the long lines at the Orlando airport, and you'd definitely need to be up early.

I'd be more inclined to spend the last night right at the airport.

Sheila

 

[spiceycat]

Cocoa beach is the closest. but I don't like the Atlantic side.

like my waves to be nice and tame and not

So would go to St Peterburg or Clearwater.

the Atlantic can put up some BIG waves. the only time the gulf comes even close is when a hurricane is in the area. Then it is definitely time to leave - just pack the car and come back to Orlando - if you see big waves on the gulf side.

 

[Magic4UsZ's]

This is some great info!!!

Anyone else want to chime in?

What hotels at these beaches does everyone like to stay at?

We've been to the Atlantic, and there were some big waves, we were there for two night before last years WDW vacation and the last night a tropical storm rolled in, but it was just alot of rain by the next am we were off to WDW with the sun coming out.

Ive heard the water is clearer in the gulf? Anything like the water at Cancun?

 

[DanenRox]

St Pete Beach is very close to Tampa International Airport. You can fly into MCO, fly home from TPA. If your lucky, your favorite baseball team will be playing the Devil Rays at Tropicana Field and you can tie that into your post Disney beach stay...

 

[Magic4UsZ's]

We allready purchased our air, got the best deal in seven years , but we are pretty much stuck with flying out of this airport to mco and back due to the fact we live in the middle of corn and bean field country and there is not alot of choices for us.

How far/much time to drive to clearwater and get back to mco?

 

[Magic4UsZ's]

Anyone got pics of the gulf side beaches?

I was thinking maybe clearwater is the closest?

How about hotels on the beach there?

 

[Magic4UsZ's]

ok I just mapquested, looks like 2hrs from clearwater to mco.

So Im thinking maybe we could drive to clearwater and get there by noon spend the day there, sleep in and play most of the next day there and then drive to the airport that evening, giving us two good half days on the beach.

Where to stay at the airport?
As of now we have 10 am flights home, not 9 like I thought earlier.

That still means up at 5am, drive fom 6amto 8am, and fly out at 10 am if we dont drive to the airport the night before.

Maybe we will have to go to the atlantic side?

What about Melbourne?

Thats just south of canaveral right?

 

[fla4fun]

On the gulf side, we usually stay on Sand Key, which is just south of Clearwater Beach. You're close enough to all the activity if you want it, but the beach and hotels are much quieter at Sand Key. There is a Sheraton right on the beach, or a Marriott Suites resort across the street on the bay. We actually prefer the Marriott, but both are very nice. I definitely prefer the gulf to the ocean, especially when it comes to walking along the beach.

You are looking at a minimum of an hour and a half from there to the Orlando airport (if there aren't any traffic hold ups).

When we do go to the east coast, we usually go to either the Hilton or Doubletree on Cocoa Beach. They are a little ways south of the pier and more touristy section of Cocoa Beach. The Doubletree rooms have balconies and the Hilton rooms don't, but they are both right on the beach and very nice hotels.

You are looking at about a 45 minute drive to the Orlando airport from Cocoa Beach (if there aren't any traffic hold ups).

Melbourne will add at least another 15-20 minutes travel time to the airport. I haven't stayed overnight there.