Cocoa Beach -- Close to Disney and Fun in the Sun

We had a one-bedroom unit on the second floor (204). All units in the resort are oceanfront. We could not see the beach because of the greenery/dunes in front of us. Higher floors have a much better view, but ours was nice anyway. The bedroom has a queen bed with a full bathroom (stall shower, no tub in the unit). There were TVs in the bedroom and living room. There was a half bathroom off the hall with a small washer/dryer. There was a small kitchen, but it was stocked with all the necessities. The dining table is in the living room area, making it a little tight. There’s a nice balcony with sliding doors. The concierge was very helpful in suggesting things to do. Housekeeping was also very nice and accommodating. Towels and linens are exchanged daily. There is a midweek cleaning. The service and staff are exceptional in all regards, including the restaurant.

My only complaint is the pool. It is very small with lounges on top of each other and in all the walkways. There is a generator of some kind right in the middle of the deck that smells like gas and makes a loud noise. Also, in order to get to the beach, you have to walk through the lobby, pass the restaurant, through the pool, around the cafe, pass the dunes and out to the sand. It is a long trip through several doors with arms loaded with beach stuff.

We thoroughly enjoyed a few excursions: a half-hour airboat ride at Lone Cabbage (up Rt 520). The kids could also enjoy it whereas other companies have the seats up high and don't allow children. We saw loads of alligators. I also highly recommend the Wonderworks Magic Show and Dinner in Orlando. It was REALLY hysterical with unlimited pizza, popcorn, wine, beer, and soda. It was one of the best shows we'd seen in a long time! Don't miss it (and get there 40 minutes early for good seats)!

The resort has a large selection of Survivor memorabilia, including Jan and Clay's torches.

• Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
• Activities: Excellent
• Amenities: Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

BEACH: We really enjoyed the beaches at Cocoa Beach, especially the waves for boogie boards! My young sons could run out into the surf and still be within a few inches of water. The tide was low and allowed for them to play in the surf. The beach is very wide and provided ample space for lounging and playing. The resort has a tar removal station at the end of the boardwalk on the return, but we never saw any of the black stuff while we were there. The sand is indeed cocoa in color.

UNIT: The resort is older than most that we've stayed in, but most of the units have been redecorated over the last couple of years. We really liked our third-floor one-bedroom/two-bath unit with a good view and short walk to the beach. Our family of six (four adults, one child, and one baby) were ok in the one-bedroom unit with the addition of a roll-away bed and a crib. Everything actually fit ok and allowed us to sleep comfortably. The Florida decor was very nice. The two full sized bathrooms had a tub and shower in one and only a shower in the other. Everything was open and airy. The bedroom did not have a view, but instead looked out to the parking lot/hall. The living room had floor to ceiling windows with a spectacular view of the ocean and beach and a wonderful balcony. We watched dolphins playing in the surf and pelicans diving for fish. The first floor units are at a bit of a disadvantage since the buildings have sand dunes and vegetation between them and the beach. The view is obstructed on the lower floors.

RESORT: The Caribbean and Dream buildings face the beach with a short walk to the beach and are in excellent condition. All of the other buildings look like older motel units. We experienced friendly staff at Ocean Landings. The guys at the front desk were efficient, friendly, and very helpful. I don't believe any of the units have washers or dryers, but they have daily towel exchange service and there is a coin laundry in each of the buildings with reasonably priced machines. There were a number of planned activities for children and adults but I did not participate in any of these.

AREA: Many guests stated that the resort restaurant, GREGORY'S is one of the finest in the Cocoa Beach area, specializing in steaks. Places to visit include: Kennedy Space Center, Port Canaveral (Disney ships and daily casino boat cruises- free and fun) and airboat rides at Cabbage Key. There are many restaurants and stores within walking distance of the resort and within the local area. Orlando is less than an hour away via the Beeline.

• Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
• Activities: Very Good
• Amenities: Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

The restaurant, recommended to me by the resort staff, is located in Port Canaveral. When we arrived in the parking lot, there were cars, boats and motorcycles everywhere. It took a while to find a spot. Once we did, we put our name in on the hostess' list and waited to be called. The wait was about 20 minutes. We arrived somewhat early so I can't imagine how long it must be during primetime. Be aware if you come with children that the bar is large and bustling. However, the open air dining area is fine for families. Eating dinner, we watched as several GIANT cruise ships passed by, including the Disney Magic. They were so close it felt as if we could touch them.

Grills Restaurant offers a unique waterfront experience featuring island cuisine. You can savor any of their fresh seafood dishes while watching the day’s catches being brought in at 5pm. Capt. Joe will ensure you have the freshest and best tasting seafood around. My favorites were the:
Shrimp Jammers- Fried, butterflied shrimp filled with cheese. $6.99
Snow Crab Clusters - One pound of steamed crab legs served with pasta, Tahiti taters, or Caribbean wild rice, steamed island veggies, and cheese bread. $11.99
Tenderloin Tip Kabobs - Skewered tenderloin tips with an assortment of veggies and served with pasta or Caribbean wild rice, steamed island veggies, and cheese bread. $11.99
Don’t forget their chowders, made fresh and from their own recipes.

Present an out of state driver’s license for 10% off your meal!

Grill’s offer giant portions, fresh food, original recipes, and a fun and entertaining atmosphere. Try it once and you’re sure to return. I can’t wait to go back!

You walk around the sanctuary at your own pace. The average time is about three hours. They offer several programs and tours spaced in time while you are there so that you don’t miss any. Their atmosphere is very casual. The park has interesting animal exhibits including alligators, crocodiles, turtles, snakes, monkeys, Macaws, skunks, bobcats, panthers, bears and deer.

The tours and shows are low-key but unlike any you’ll find anywhere else. We watched as a woman fed chicken to huge alligators. The gators weren’t that hungry so she did her best to entice them while providing interesting facts. It was amazing how huge these animals are and how high they can jump out of the water. Their two largest alligators, Jaws and Goliath, are 13 and 14 feet long respectively. They breed the gators for meat, which is available for purchase. I did not try gator, but my brother said it tastes like chicken.

Next was a ride on the jungle cruise in the alligator inhabited swamp to a Native American Village. The Indian guide at the Village wasn’t in the day we were there so we just had the opportunity to stroll around a bit. The cruise wasn’t nearly as exciting as an airboat ride that we took later that week, but it was ok.

During the interactive and informative wildlife show, we all got a chance to hold a baby alligator and have our pictures taken. Keychains with the photos were later available for purchase at the gift shop. They made a great souvenir.

One thing you can’t miss when you come in is purchasing zoo food in the gift shop to feed many of their animals. The black bears will climb a tree to get to the food you give them. Peacocks and deer will eat right from your hand, and you can feed fish to the smaller alligators using a fishing pole. My sons (and me) will never forget this!

Jungle Adventures is open all year, daily, from 9:30am to 5:30pm.

For a $1 discount per person, go to their website and print out the coupon.

For Children:
These Coast Guard certified deluxe airboats are great for kids. Other airboats I looked into in the area are set high so they don’t allow children for safety reasons. These boats allow guests to sit safely inside. My four- and six-year-old sons loved the experience!

Entering:
When you first enter the parking lot, it seems like a roadside bar. There were lots of cars parked in front of a local pub. However, upon entering, you realized that this is the real deal. You can sit outside on the picnic tables or inside and get a real feel for the local culture. After you’ve paid your admission, you are called by boat number to board.

The Ride:
Everyone receives headsets to cover their ears from the noise of the airboat. You need them! You glide through the grassy marsh of the St. Johns River and Lake Poinsett at speeds of up to 45mph for 30 minutes. As the boat slows down to an idle and you learn about the alligators, you also get the opportunity to take photos of alligators close up. It can be scary and exciting! The ride felt similar to being on a motorcycle, but on the water. Spinning around turns was fun too. Everyone in our family enjoyed the ride, from my senior mother to my young son.

Price:
$17 per adult
$8.50 for kids 12 years and under

For $2 off the price of an adult ticket, print out their internet coupon here.

Food:
After the ride, enjoy lunch in the surroundings of an old style Florida Fish Camp on the banks on the St. Johns River. If you’re adventurous, you can try some of their famous local foods, like gator tail, frog legs, turtle, or catfish. Otherwise, you can go with the stuff you know (like I did). Click here for the menu! It’s standard fare like hamburgers, fries and fried shrimp, good with a cold beer.

The restaurant is open from 10am to 9pm Sunday through Thursday and 10am to 10pm Friday and Saturday.

Boating
The bait and tackle shop is open from 6am till 5pm Tuesday through Sunday, located directly behind the restaurant. There is over 300 feet of dock space, so you can bring your boat. There is also a public boat ramp adjacent to the dock.

Directions:
From I-95 take exit 75, and go west till the St. Johns River.
From 528 out of Orlando, take the 520 Cut off till the St. Johns River!