Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE being at Walt Disney World. The rides… the shows… the food… the fun… all at the tip of your fingers. However, sometimes a relaxing break from the parks is just what the doctor ordered. And nothing says relaxation like a lazy beach day in the middle of your Disney vacation.
When going to the beach from the Orlando area you have a choice to make: Atlantic Coast vs. Gulf Coast. Each has their own distinct advantages and disadvantages.
Atlantic Coast Advantages
- Cocoa Beach is the closest beach to the Disney area at approximately one hour
- There are lots of spots to park for free
Atlantic Coast Disadvantages
- It costs approximately $10.00 in tolls to drive roundtrip from the Orlando area to Cocoa Beach.
Gulf Coast Advantages
- The Tampa/St. Pete/Clearwater area features lots of shops, restaurants and fun things to do.
Gulf Coast Disadvantages
- The closest beach is Clearwater at between 1.5 and 2 hours from Disney depending on traffic.
- Parking can be as much as $30/day the closer you get to the center of Clearwater
- The Gulf Boulevard, where all the beaches are, can be bumper-to-bumper traffic at times.
Other Things to Consider
- The waves on the Atlantic Coast are typically bigger than gulf waves. If you are traveling with teens, they might be interested in surfing or playing in the breakers. If you are traveling with little ones, the waves can be daunting.
- The waters of the Gulf Coast are warmer than the Atlantic waters. If you are going with little ones they might find the waters of Gulf coast a little more inviting. However, on a hot Florida day the cool Atlantic waters will be very refreshing.
Clearwater
When driving down the infamous Gulf Boulevard in Clearwater there seems to be a parking lot every 100 feet or so. The problem is that most of these lots can cost as much as $30 per day for parking and fill well before noon on busy days. However, a diamond in the rough on the Gulf Coast is Sand Key Park.
Sand Key Park is located just south of Clearwater Beach. The park features plenty of parking, shower facilities and lots of beach space for the bargain price of $5/day. On our beach day at Sand Key, we spent a lazy day catching some rays, searching for starfish and shells, walking up to the jetti and wading in the warm Gulf water.
One draw back of the Gulf coast came to light when the day we visited was VERY hot nearing 100°. Given the warmth of the Gulf waters this made it hard to cool off even when you were in the water. It was the epitome of the term ‘as warm as bath water’.
Besides the beach, the Tampa/Clearwater does offer some other fun destinations such as the Busch Gardens and Clearwater Marine Aquarium which is the home of Winter, the dolphin from A Dolphin’s Tale.
Cocoa Beach
Any day which starts with a view of a Disney Cruise Line ship can’t be a bad day. As you are driving into Cocoa Beach on certain days you can catch a glimpse of the Disney Dream or Disney Fantasy as you make your way to the beach.
When visiting Cocoa Beach, we like to go to Lori Wilson Park because the parking is plentiful, free and very close to the beach. The facilities at the park include restrooms, 2 pavilions, a nature boardwalk, a volleyball court, a playground, barbecue grills, and a dog park. They also offer chair and umbrella rentals. We spent our day at Cocoa Beach cooling off in the refreshing water of the Atlantic, body surfing and playing in the breakers.
The day we visited there was also a scheduled launch from Kennedy Space Center. Unfortunately, the launch was scrubbed for some reason but Cocoa Beach is definitely the perfect place to watch a launch.
Add Some Disney to Your Beach Day
There are two places to watch the ships head off on their voyage. The first is right from your blanket at the beach. As the ships make the 90° turn south, they sail right by the beach. The second is from Fishlips Waterfront Bar & Grill. This restaurant is located on the causeway which leads to the Disney Cruise terminal. Not only do they have a waterfront spot to view the ships they also have a great menu of fresh fish dishes and traditional bar fare and the prices are extremely reasonable.
Another claim to fame of Fishlips is that it is the home of the Port Canaveral Webcam. Those who have read my Surviving the Wait Until Your Disney Vacation post know this port cam is a fun way to keep the Disney magic alive when you are at home.
Getting to the Beach
Unfortunately, getting to the beach will require a rental car. Yes, you could order a private car service but the price would be astronomical. Luckily, there is a car rental location right on Disney property at the Car Care Center as well as at some of the Disney Springs area hotels and they will pick you up and drop you off. The cost of renting a car, depending on car size, will run about $30/day but it is well worth it.
Have you added a beach day to your Walt Disney World vacation? Did you head east or west? Both have their advantages and both are a relaxing way to spend any vacation day.
Sue Nowicki is an alumna of the 2014/15 planDisney Panel and is a travel agent with Looking Glass Travel. She is a team mom extraordinaire who has filled her time serving as secretary, navigator, head cheerleader, treasurer, athletic trainer and team psychologist for her daughter’s travel sports team for over 15 years before becoming a team owner. She is also a travel consultant for Looking Glass Travel specializing in Disney destinations. You can follow her on Twitter at @JazzinDisneyMom.
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