We are going to Disney world Aug 16th - 19th. After we want to go to a beach for a few days. What are some good family beaches close by on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. I know the Altantic is closer but we have never been to the gulf side and have heard it has great beaches.
Best beach near Disney World
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Cocoa Beach on the Atlantic side. It is easily reached from the Disney area.
I have a preference for the Gulf - if for no other reason than you won't be run over by a car. (And neither will your kids be, especially if they're young enough that you have to worry about them running in front of one.) We started going to the Gulf beaches when our kids were young and liked them enough better than we'd make the 2+ hr. drive from north of Orlando instead of the 1 hr. drive to the Daytona area. Clearwater Beach will be the closest to Disney but any of them from Clearwater to St. Pete beach are all good. Calm water, wide beaches.
Also less worry about sharks on the Gulf, if that concerns you. Only time I remember a shark bite was some years ago when a kid around Ft. Myers stepped on a very small dog shark in shallow water and got a good nip. Of course, if you're not surfing, you're not all that likely to be bitten on the Atlantic, either. Avoid Melbourne Beach on the Atlantic - rocky.
My personal choice for the Atlantic would be the (also car-less) Canaveral National Seashore on Merritt Island, a bit farther north than Cocoa.
Clearwater Beach, esp. the hotels over the bridge, south of Clearwater. Wonderful white sand beaches.
The difference in driving distance from the Disney area is negligible.
Clearwater has flat, white sand, flat water, clear water, and warm water. Will be 90 degrees right now.
Cocoa or Daytona have tan sand. Daytona's beach is flat, Cocoa has slope. The Atlantic has surf. The water is cooler - high 70's - but comfortable.
All three beaches have good hotels and restaurants.