Best ocean beach, near WDW??

gjpjtj

gjpjtj

Well-Known Member
We are leaving for WDW in 8 days:sohappy: , and I am thinking of going to the Ocean while we are in Florida. We have never done this before, as we usually don't leave the parks that much.

Does anyone have any advice as to what beaches are nicest, and family friendly? Also approximate travel times.(I realize it may take over an hour).
Thanks!!!:)
 
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gjpjtj

gjpjtj

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Wow! Thanks for all of the great suggestions. Maybe to narrow things down, I should have worded the question differently.

Are there any beaches to avoid???:lol:
 
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HiddenMinnie

HiddenMinnie

New Member
Anything but Cocoa Beach!!!!!!!!! We went there for 2 nights after leaving WDW last year. It was probably the worst beach in Florida that I have been to! I was envisioning white sand and beautiful blue water (typical Florida, right?!). The water was brown and murky and the sand looked more like south Texas sand (brown).

If we try and do the beach on a WDW trip again, I've heard that New Smyrna Beach is beautiful. That's probably where we would go.
 
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Hurricane

Hurricane

New Member
Caseyis8 said:
Could someone tell me what hotel on Daytona Beach is the best for a family? My son really wants to go to the beach where you can drive dune buggies and cars on. He also wants to see the turtles, so if someone also knows the best time of year for viewing the turtles it would be greatly appreciated. :)
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Depends how much he wants to see Sea Turtles, they're pretty rare, but if you want to see them in a sanctuary a good bet is 2.5 hours south of orlando (on the turnpike) in Jupiter -- http://marinelife.org/ . Jupiter also has one of the nicest beaches in Florida (white sand, good surf, very few tourists) But you can't drive on it, only Daytona to my knowledge allows vehicles
 
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PintoColvig

PintoColvig

Active Member
Caseyis8 said:
He also wants to see the turtles, so if someone also knows the best time of year for viewing the turtles it would be greatly appreciated. :)
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Take him to the Living Seas. He can see Crush every day of the year. :animwink:
 
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DW1

DW1

Active Member
gjpjtj said:
We are leaving for WDW in 8 days:sohappy: , and I am thinking of going to the Ocean while we are in Florida. We have never done this before, as we usually don't leave the parks that much.

Does anyone have any advice as to what beaches are nicest, and family friendly? Also approximate travel times.(I realize it may take over an hour).
Thanks!!!:)
Click to expand...

Obviously Disney is "inland" so any beach would have a drive. If you don't mind a small drive 2-3 hours than Siesta beach in Sarasota is considered on of the nicest beaches in world. It was on the travel channels "best beaches in the world" and I've heard it mentioned on tv and radio shows numerous times. Arnold and Tom Cruise both supposedly have houses on that beach. Plus I'm partial to it cause I lived there. You will not believe how fine the sand is and clear the water is. It is in the Gulf of Mexico so the water is warmer than the Daytonna side. You can actually see dolphins there at sunset.It is worth the trip. Daytonna is great if your looking for a party or wnat to get hit by a car walking from your blanket to the water. But it is closer.
 
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Gucci65

Gucci65

Well-Known Member
Caseyis8 said:
Could someone tell me what hotel on Daytona Beach is the best for a family? My son really wants to go to the beach where you can drive dune buggies and cars on. He also wants to see the turtles, so if someone also knows the best time of year for viewing the turtles it would be greatly appreciated. :)
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We have been going to Daytona Beach for the past 20 years. Stayed the last 10 at the Nautilus Inn (www.nautilus-inn.com). Very clean and on the beach. They offer: free breakfast every morning, towels for the pool, arts & crafts for the kids, show movies at night in the lobby for kids (and adults), and have a free happy hour every night (5pm-6pm ----Their version of $ex on the Beach is excellent!). They also have bingo once or twice a week and karoake once a week during happy hour.:lol:

Cars do drive on the beach, so you have to make your kids be really aware of their surroundings. Cars typically do not speed (except for the lifeguards) & the beachs are patrolled pretty heavily.

Turtles usually come ashore further down the beach towards Ponce Inlet. When you rent your doon buggy, you will find where the no drive zone is (because of turtle nesting). The beaches are dark at night - so you would want to be back up in your hotel by 9pm. Shoot, by that time after a full day on the beach starting at 6am - I'm fast asleep.

I prefer the cooler water and the waves on the Atlantic side. To each his own right.

Send me a PM if you need some more info and I hope you enjoy your trip!
 
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gjpjtj

gjpjtj

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
We are leaning toward Daytona, thinking of visiting Daytona USA the same day. Where do you enter the beach if you want to drive on it? Sounds like fun to me!!
 
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Gucci65

Gucci65

Well-Known Member
gjpjtj said:
We are leaning toward Daytona, thinking of visiting Daytona USA the same day. Where do you enter the beach if you want to drive on it? Sounds like fun to me!!
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there are entry points all along A1A. You can drive straight past Daytona USA, go over the huge bridge and end up in front of the pier and go on there. BUT I would drive down a little further south to stay away from the boardwalk.

Have fun!!
 
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