Which day would you avoid the parks-Sat or sunday

[Dillis Brown]

Hi all you DISers, My kids have never seen the Ocean, (were from Canada) So I asked where to go Now I want to know which day?
I want to take them on a day when the parks will be busy, I assume thats the weekend, so which day is better for going to the beach? Sat or Sunday?
Which day is Disney the busiest?

thanks for sharing your experience

 

[DizneyNutz]

Which runs along the North side of the Orlando Airport and will take you over towards Cape Canaveral. I don't personally know what the beach looks like there, but you can see the Kennedy Space Center where the flights to the moon take off from and it is about as straight a line East from Orlando as you can get. Not sure exactly, but probably within 70 miles one way.

 

[IamErica]

Hello,
My son and I are planning a day trip to Cocoa Beach when we are down next month. I have already researched the info and I would be happy to pass it along
I am renting a car from Enterprise for 1 day(24 hour peroid) and it is very reasonable (about $30-$35) plus gas. They pick you up at your resort and will drop you off when you bring the car back
It seems like an easy drive. Here are the directions I had saved from Yahoo maps.
Good luck and have fun

Starting at WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT on EPCOT RESORT BLVD - go 0.5 mi

Turn Left on E BUENA VISTA DR - go 1.1 mi

Take ramp onto EPCOT CENTER DR toward AIRPORT (I-4) - go 1.2 mi

Continue on SR-536 E - go 2.2 mi

Take ramp onto SR-417 N (Toll applies) - go 19.4 mi

Take exit #26/BEE LINE onto SR-528 E toward BEE LINE/COCOA/KENNEDY SPACE CENTER (Toll applies) - go 38.7 mi

Continue on SR-A1A S - go 6.8 mi

Arrive at the center of COCOA BEACH, FL

 

[deej696]

You could also head west on I-4 and visit Clearwater beach. I'm not sure, but I dont think its really any further than Cocoa, and there are also no tolls. I prefer the west coast of Fl. to the east. Its usually a lot less crowded and the beach is a little nicer. Although, if you are wanting waves, you'll need to go to Cocoa, there are none on the gulf...

 

[DizneyNutz]

You will have to go East. The body of water between Florida and Texas/ Mexico side is called the Gulf of Mexico (like a huge bay between them thus not the regular waves of an ocean) but both are saltwater. To see the Atlantic Ocean you will need to go east. However the sea shells on the Gulf side seem to be more apealing, especially if looking to find a whole sandollar.

 

[twinboysmommy]

Hi Dillis,

My parents live in Cocoa Beach and I've been going there my entire life for vacations - the beach is lots of fun! Not as pretty as the other coast, but great waves!

Just FYI, SR 528 has been officially renamed from the "Beeline" to the "Beachline".

Every year (sometimes twice a year!) we go to FL for 2 weeks. We always start in Cocoa Beach and spend a few days at the beach just having fun. Then we head over to Disney for the rest of the time.

We always go to Lori Wilson park on A1A. To get there, you just take SR 528 east until it ends at A1A (at the beach) and turn south - the park is only 1 1/2 miles down the road. They have lifeguards on duty every weekend beginning Easter weekend through Labor Day and every day beginning Memorial Day through the first week in August. There are restrooms/outdoor showers, 3 pavilions, and large parking areas on both sides.

Here are some pics of the beach at Lori Wilson Park - the color pics are from this July and the b & w ones are from July 2006. You can see that the waves are usually really fun!

Let me know if you have any questions about the Cocoa Beach area!

Kristie

 

[Tammydc30]

How long does it take to get to Cocoa or Daytona beach from Disney?

 

[Pigsty333]

25-30 minutes depending on traffic. You can also take the 528 (Beach Line) and follow it to Daytona Beach.

 

[twinboysmommy]

About 45 min. to an hour depending on traffic - it's a very easy drive. Bring change for the tolls!

Also, anyone going to the Cocoa Beach area - don't miss Ron Jon Surf Shop! It's on A1A very close to where it intersects with SR 528.

Kristie

http://www.ronjons.com/DisplayContent.aspx?ContentID=39&MenuGroup=2&SelectedItem=4

 

[twinboysmommy]

LOL - Pigsty lives in Orlando so would know better than I . . . I'm just speaking as a visitor!

If you aren't overly familiar with the area it might take a little longer I guess!

 

[Megan07]

Cocoa Beach was nice. It was the first time I've been to the beach ever. We went to a part of it called Jetty Park. There was literally no one there. It was also kind of chilly that day, but it made it that much more special. Make sure to bring lots of change/quarters for the tolls. We wern't prepared.

 

[IamErica]

Hey great stuff
What would your thoughts on Cocoa Beach Pier and Lori Wilson's beach?
I am trying to decide the best location on the beach for my son's first trip to the ocean. Also what kind of restaurants are within walking distance from either location?

And what is this about Daytona beach. Is that just as close?
ahhh man the choices and here I thought I kinda knew what I was doin'
any more help would be great

 

[twinboysmommy]

While the CB pier is neat to see, we personally do not feel comfortable spending the day there with our family. The restrooms are, to say the least, disgusting! And there are some, ahem, "interesting" characters hanging about.

I'm sure for teens/younger adults is the hoppin' place to be . . . but for our family we prefer to spend our time at Lori Wilson park.

As far as restaurants go, if memory serves me correctly you can walk south on the beach a ways to Coconuts on the Beach - that's a fun place to get some food/cold beverages! You can check it out at: http://www.coconutsonthebeach.com/index.htm

If you are driving, we really liked Sunset Cafe on the Banana River. It was great and we loved sitting on the deck while we ate. Our twins loved this place too! It is on the way into Cocoa - very near A1A.

Kristie

 

[IamErica]

It will only be my son and I and he is a very low key guy, so may be we would be better off at Lori's. We could always check out the pier on the way How would one get to Sunset Cafe on Bannana River?
Thanks for the quick reply

 

[twinboysmommy]

Hi!
Try this link. You can read a review from a lady who ate there in Sept. and had a fun experience with dolphins! Also, she included 2 pictures. (In the 2nd, the hospital you see is in the background is where my stepmom works - she's a nurse). Click on the interactive map in the upper right hand corner and you can see where SR 520 comes in from Orlando - you'll go past the hospital and then Sunset Cafe will be on your right where the silverware icon is.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser...r8615181-Sunset_Cafe-Cocoa_Beach_Florida.html

Kristie

p.s.
We stayed at POP for 10 days last July and LOVED it! Have fun!

 

[twinboysmommy]

Computer glitch? Extra posts! (How do I delete?) Sorry!

 

[twinboysmommy]

again!

 

[twinboysmommy]

and yet again!

 

[goofy4tink]

Last August we drove from Orlando (actually MCO since we had just picked up our car there) to Cocoa Beach. It was an incredibly easy drive...took about 50 mins. My dh said that if he had known how close it was, we would have headed over there sooner!! We stayed at the Best Western, which was just down the road from the Cocoa Beach Pier. The beach in that area was really nice.
It does take longer to get to the gulf coast. We have made the drive to Tampa, from WDW, several times. My ds lives there so we like to squeeze in a visit with him. It took us, every time, about 75 mins to get from WDW to Tampa Intnl. DS lives about 10 mins from there. Then, it's another 20-25 m ins to the gulf coast and the beautiful beaches. The beach at Ft. DeSoto is absolutely one of the most gorgeous beaches I have ever seen. But, it is a hike.

 

[Endeavour105]

25-30 minutes depending on traffic. You can also take the 528 (Beach Line) and follow it to Daytona Beach.

The above info is totally incorrect.

528 goes to Cocoa Beach...not Daytona...and if you can make it in 25-30 minutes, you'll be driving in the neighborhood of 100 mph.