Is there a "beach" that we can visit?

[NYEmomma]

My parents typically go to Cape Cod every summer and have always brought DD back lots of beach paraphernalia. They've even got her saying that pappy's taking her to the beach anytime she sees a picture of an ocean. Lol.

They'd really like to take her to a beach while we're at WDW but it's just not going to fit into our schedule. So are there any resorts that have a "beach" type area that they could visit with DD? I know swimming is a no-no, but they'd like her to just be able to stick her feet in the sand for a bit. They're going to bring a sand pail, shovel & some seashells for her to "find" if there is one at one of the resorts (and if it's allowable).

 

[jemmouse]

Carribean Beach is a moderate and has it. Also Polynesian and Grand Floridian have it, they are deluxe. My favorites would be Caribbean and Poly. Also Yacht Club and Beach Club both deluxe have a pool called Stormalong Bay which is HUGE, probably best on Disney property the pool has a sand bottom. Very be achy, but my DS got a huge rash at 4 from it so we haven't gone back, but other than the rash he loved it. All the resorts I mentioned all have zero depth pools. Good luck

 

[iheartdisney]

Carribean Beach is a moderate and has it. Also Polynesian and Grand Floridian have it, they are deluxe. My favorites would be Caribbean and Poly. Also Yacht Club and Beach Club both deluxe have a pool called Stormalong Bay which is HUGE, probably best on Disney property the pool has a sand bottom. Very be achy, but my DS got a huge rash at 4 from it so we haven't gone back, but other than the rash he loved it. All the resorts I mentioned all have zero depth pools. Good luck

How weird! i got a rash at SAB too! But you can only look at it from afar... they check everyone's room key before you can enter!

 

[NYEmomma]

We're booked at POFQ and definitely have no intentions of pool hopping since I know that's a no-no. (see, I do actually retain the knowledge I've gotten from here!)

So I was hoping there'd maybe just be an area at a resort that DD & my parents could walk by... or even better, somewhere not at a resort? What about either of the water parks? It's been years & years since I've been to one of those. Do either have a "beach" that they can walk around in the sand and pretend they're at the ocean?

 

[dfchelbay]

Don't forget about Fort Wilderness too. It's on Bay Lake. You can play on the beach, watch the Magic Kingdom boats come and go. You can even rent boats there too. Go out on a boat cruise of Bay Lake. Cruise on by the Magic Kingdom, Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Wedding Pavilion, Wilderness Lodge, etc.

 

[tlbwriter]

You can play on the beach at GF without being a guest. And she also might enjoy seeing the wedding pavilion. It would be a quick boat ride from the MK if they didn't want to spend the whole day at the beach.

 

[DisGirl819]

The "beach" at CBR is great! DD had a great time playing there. plus they have a playground and hammocks on the beach. It might be a pain to get to though. The Poly beach woudl be nice, tropical resort with a beach plus easy access to the MK.

 

[jemmouse]

I just reread this thread, and I hope no one thought I meant pool hop. I was offering suggestions as to which resorts you could stay at that had beach like atmosphere.

If you are staying at POFQ which is my favorite, been 5 plus times, but still want the beach, switch to Carribbean Beach Club they are both moderates. It's a zero depth pool, although FQ pool is fun also.

Water park is also a great idea, although at 2 it might not be an all day thing for you...

Good luck and have a MAGICAL trip....

 

[NYEmomma]

No worries jemmouse, I read it as recommending resorts to stay at.

CBR was actually our first plan but we decided against it simply because of the size w/ a worn out & cranky 2yo and a decent amount of reviews saying bus service was sketchy. POFQ is smaller, which I think will work better with us with a toddler.

1/2 day at a waterpark would actually work out perfect. My parents are taking her for the morning/afternoon (until nap time) and then we're all meeting at DHS for dinner and Fantasmic in the evening.

I have looked and looked and looked for the cost of tickets to one of the waterparks and I always find myself at the place to select MYW + waterparks option. Anyone know off the top of their head how much tix are?

 

[tjmw2727]

Lunch or dinner at beaches & cream at the YC/BC and some time at that beach would be my first choice. Resorts and beach are modeled after a new england beach resort. You can enjoy the reosrt & beach but as you know not the pool.

2nd choice would be the Dolphin beach, lots of things to do, games and activities for kids and pedal swan boats to rent.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

No worries jemmouse, I read it as recommending resorts to stay at.

CBR was actually our first plan but we decided against it simply because of the size w/ a worn out & cranky 2yo and a decent amount of reviews saying bus service was sketchy. POFQ is smaller, which I think will work better with us with a toddler.

1/2 day at a waterpark would actually work out perfect. My parents are taking her for the morning/afternoon (until nap time) and then we're all meeting at DHS for dinner and Fantasmic in the evening.

I have looked and looked and looked for the cost of tickets to one of the waterparks and I always find myself at the place to select MYW + waterparks option. Anyone know off the top of their head how much tix are?

Adult price for one visit is $46 plus tax. Child is $40 plus tax. There is a small discount ($4/$3) if the person buying them has an annual pass.

It's perfectly fine to visit the beach area of any of the resorts. I would probably choose the Poly or GF or Fort Wilderness. You might enjoy visiting Fort Wilderness to see the horses or rent a canoe. Wilderness Lodge is also a lovely place to visit and they have a small beach.

 

[dizneechic]

No worries jemmouse, I read it as recommending resorts to stay at.

CBR was actually our first plan but we decided against it simply because of the size w/ a worn out & cranky 2yo and a decent amount of reviews saying bus service was sketchy. POFQ is smaller, which I think will work better with us with a toddler.

1/2 day at a waterpark would actually work out perfect. My parents are taking her for the morning/afternoon (until nap time) and then we're all meeting at DHS for dinner and Fantasmic in the evening.

I have looked and looked and looked for the cost of tickets to one of the waterparks and I always find myself at the place to select MYW + waterparks option. Anyone know off the top of their head how much tix are?

If your parents have your dd for a 1/2 day here's what I would do...
Have them take her to breakfast at Ohana @ the Poly if you can get an ADR, it's a great character meal and the food and atmosphere is great! Then you can walk out to the Poly beach and hang there for a while, you'll be able to see the castle in the distance and watch the boats and ferrys shuttle people over to the MK. The beach itself is wonderful and the sights sounds and smells can't be beat. IMO as a New Englander who often goes to the Cape, going to a water park or resort pool and claiming it's a beach is NOT the same. The Poly beach is probably the closest you'll get on Disney property.
Click to view any pic larger:

 

[robinb]

1/2 day at a waterpark would actually work out perfect. My parents are taking her for the morning/afternoon (until nap time) and then we're all meeting at DHS for dinner and Fantasmic in the evening.

You originally said you didn't have time to go to a real beach, but now it looks like you'll have time. If your parents have most of a day (from the morning to dinner) then why not just go to Clearwater Beach near Tampa? The Gulf side has nice sand and the waves are pretty tame. Clearwater is only about 2 hours away from POFQ.

 

[jemmouse]

I so agree with dizneechic! I think that would be the best real beach feel, plus I love O'Hanas for breakfast.

If all you are doing is wanting her to dig in sand, maybe an hour, plus the atmosphere is great.

You will love FQ, request building 5 or 6 my personal favorites with an inside courtyard view. Agreed it is much smaller with never no more than a 5 minute walk anywhere.

One thing you did mention you were doing, dinner at Fantasmic. Be aware that a lot of kids find it frightening. And really I agree, with the villains and the storyline. If you aren't afraid it's AWESOME.

Good luck.

 

[NYEmomma]

Adult price for one visit is $46 plus tax. Child is $40 plus tax. There is a small discount ($4/$3) if the person buying them has an annual pass.

It's perfectly fine to visit the beach area of any of the resorts. I would probably choose the Poly or GF or Fort Wilderness. You might enjoy visiting Fort Wilderness to see the horses or rent a canoe. Wilderness Lodge is also a lovely place to visit and they have a small beach.

Thanks for the pricing info! Fort Wilderness sounds like it would really be nice... DD loves horses (my parent's next door neighbors have horses and every time DD visits, we have to go give them carrots )

If your parents have your dd for a 1/2 day here's what I would do...
Have them take her to breakfast at Ohana @ the Poly if you can get an ADR, it's a great character meal and the food and atmosphere is great! Then you can walk out to the Poly beach and hang there for a while, you'll be able to see the castle in the distance and watch the boats and ferrys shuttle people over to the MK. The beach itself is wonderful and the sights sounds and smells can't be beat. IMO as a New Englander who often goes to the Cape, going to a water park or resort pool and claiming it's a beach is NOT the same. The Poly beach is probably the closest you'll get on Disney property.
Click to view any pic larger:

Those pictures are so great, dizneechic! Looks perfect! Luckily DD is 2 and has no concept of what a beach SHOULD look like... heck we contemplated taking her up to the lakeshore in Cleveland and calling it the beach.

You originally said you didn't have time to go to a real beach, but now it looks like you'll have time. If your parents have most of a day (from the morning to dinner) then why not just go to Clearwater Beach near Tampa? The Gulf side has nice sand and the waves are pretty tame. Clearwater is only about 2 hours away from POFQ.

I did look into driving time to the nearest beach but 2 hours there and 2 hours back unfortunately just isn't going to work. She's not a good car-rider so she'd scream & fuss most of the way, plus she doesn't sleep in the car and is DEFINITELY a kid that needs her beauty rest. Lol. By the tie they got back she'd be a hot mess. Definitely a must-do for our next trip when she's older though!

One thing you did mention you were doing, dinner at Fantasmic. Be aware that a lot of kids find it frightening. And really I agree, with the villains and the storyline. If you aren't afraid it's AWESOME.

Ah, should've clarified! My parents, brother & SIL will be attending Fantasmic but we will not. DD is such a timid kid, she's afraid of nearly everything! I'm honestly worried that she's going to be too scared to do any of the attractions (we've been watching videos of the rides on youtube to get her used to things). That being said, I'd be willing to give it a try & just leave if she was scared (because I love Fantasmic!) but there's no way she'll stand/sit and wait in advance for that long. My brother's one request for the entire trip is to eat at Sci-Fi so we'll be doing that instead of a Fantasmic package. So while they're waiting for the show, DH & I will take her to the few things at HS that I think she'd enjoy and then we'll head home. Bed time is 8-ish anyways and we'll be getting up early the next day to do Chef Mickey's. Thanks for the warning though!

 

[tjmw2727]

Ot - because you have lots of great beach suggestions but because you mentioned your dd was timid......

My kids were petrified of Sci Fi until they were 5/6ish. If you have a chance take a peek inside without your dd before dinner and check out the dim lighting and the sci fi movies which my kids found very scary and see if it is something your dd can do.

Also if you don't have it check out the DVD called Disney Land Fun Sing along Songs. Real kids dancing and singing at the MK in DL but most of the attractions are similar enough that your DD will think she is in the same place as the kids. My dd's LOVED this and were very familar with Main Street and Fantasy land and couldn't wait to do the thinks the kids in the video did.

Just a suggestion !