Shuttle Launch on Nov 29th

[Patinmn]

I see there is a shuttle Launch on November 29th, Do you think it will be visible from WDW? I was thinking if it was a night Launch we might be able to see it pretty well.

[Towncrier]

Last I checked it was scheduled for 8PM.

[glo]

I have heard that it is supposed to be great to watch from the Contmporary...and that it can be seen from WDW easily. I would love to see it... though it happens right in the middle of our exclusive two hours on TOT.....any ideas?

[Mackey Mouse]

I have no idea if you can see it.. but Pat how about organizing a little mini meet for those of us who would like to try to see it.. Do we know what time?? I know Tom would be up for this... he has been talking about it..

The 29th is my daughter's birthday.. can you believe I asked her and her fiancee to come to WDW and we would pay for her as a birthday visit and she turned it down.. So much for having Disney shoved down your throat 24 hours a day.. sometimes the kids rebel.. Her loss..

[Scottwdw]

Last year during our MVMCP the shuttle launched right in the middle of the fireworks at MK! From our vantage point, we saw it rise over Space Mountan...neat!

So, yes, you can see the it from WDW. However, I intend to be defying gravity in the TOT at the time of the launch (IF it's on time). :D

[shoes99]

Last September we saw the 9AM launch from the top of the Contemporary Hotel. We went outside on the catwalks in back of the kitchen. It was exciting to see.
One year my SIL was flying in to Orlando and saw the shuttle from the airplane.

[Patinmn]

Ok, I will see what I can find out on it. I wonder if there is a good place to see it from MGM, So it wouldn't cut into TOT event to much.

[Patinmn]

I checked the NASA Flight schedule, and it says there is a scheduled flight that day but it says TO:TBD which i assumes means Take Off to be determined, since there was not time listed. So I will keep a close watch on this, and keep you updated. If youwant to check out the nasa site goto www.nasa.gov

[Mackey Mouse]

Hmmmm... I wish I knew, what is the time frame...can we fly from one side of WDW to the other. I will have a car. Maybe we will have to do some very good commando type investigation.. Anyone want to help us here.. Maybe there is a spot at MGM where we could see it... too bad we could not stop the elevator at the top and just sit there and watch.. lolol...

[Patinmn]

the only place I could thing you might be able to see something at MGM is from the amphitheater for fantasmic(maybe linda can sweet talk them into letting us sit there)...but I am sure the will probably have that blocked off since the park will already be closed at the time.
It says they will release the take off time approximatley 2 weeks prior to launch, so that will give me a little time to find a spot that might be good. Anyone have any suggestions?

[glo]

How about a wide open space....I was thinking the parking lot actually. We would get a pretty good view, and not to many cars if it happens during the TOT event. If it is during the day it would be cool to see from the Contemporary...I heard it is the best place. One thing two years ago I sent my dad and DD to space Camp...they were supposed to be there during a launch, but it was postponed...most launches are for some reason or another. I am definitely interested Pat, and will keep an eye out too.

[SideshowBob]

It is WAY COOL to see it take off !!

:D

[disneycub]

Particularly if you're strapped underneath it, huh SSB?

:D

[Patrick IL.]

I really want to see this too- I have never seen a launch:)

[RaySharpton]

It is very cool. On a clear night you can sometimes see the two side rockets fall off like two cigarettes. And with binoculars or zoom lens, the main rocket "flames" looks like a sci-fi launch in an old movie.

I started a post on the CB at

http://www.disboards.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=117424

for other DISers to give us their experiences. I tried to do a search, but it only goes back one day.

[Mackey Mouse]

I discussed this with Tom.. he is wondering if we stand at the beach in front of Yacht and Beach club looking at Epcot, he thinks we could see it.. We have our work cut out for us.. No sleep...do everything in WDW in 3 days and see the launch.. LOLOL.. I'm game.

[phototkr]

I looked into getting tickets and saw the time here:
(it says there is less than a 5 minute window)

http://www.store.yahoo.com/kennedyspacecenter/lttandmaxac.html#108

But my boyfriend and I only have a couple of days at Disney so we didn't want to spend hours trying to get out of the crowds and drive back to Disney. We were thinking we might drive in that direction though to get a better view.

[KarenNY]

The launch is tentatively scheduled for 7:44PM. In Feb, we watched a launch from the area in front of the YC. It looked like the shuttle flew right over Spaceship Earth. We even saw the boosters fall off. It was spectacular! I had planned to watch the launch from the same area (if it was on time) and then head over to MGM (using the walkway behind BWV) for the TOT (which was to be 8-10PM). I think you can see it from just about anywhere on property, but I really liked the view from the YC/BC-BW area. Maybe a meet there (subject to launch schedule changes) followed by a quick dash over to MGM? Anyone interested in giving up some TOT time to view the shuttle?

[Pluto4President]

we saw it last year from the MK, I believe during the MVMCP. Which we will be at again this year during the scheduled launch. An amazing site.

[Mackey Mouse]

Karen.. I believe we can do this.. and then just hop over to MGM.. Sounds good to me.

[Barb]

Karen, I like that idea, too. I'm planning on doing the ToT marathon, too. So we can watch the launch and then head over to MGM, right?

[Patrick IL.]

I want to do this too!!!!!!! I will need to adjust my itinerary again :confused:

[glo]

er...um...you need to adjust the itinerary Patrick???


I would love to do this too... but this will have to impropmtu as the time may change at anytime.

Lets keep our fingers crossed and plan on checking even while we are down there.

[glo]

ok, guys I think we need to look at thr intineraries. The TOT meet is from 7:15 to 9:15....the launch is at 7:48 it is smack in the middle.

So it has to be done during the event...I am sure that we will not be able to leave the area, once you are in it.

[Mackey Mouse]

I sent an email off to Linda to try and find out from Disney where we could stand and still see the launch and still be at TOT... Hang in there.

[Towncrier]

Before everyone gets their hopes up too high, don't forget (as glo pointed out) that shuttle launches are a hit and miss proposition. There are no guarantees that the shuttle launch will go off as planned. Trust me. I once drove a couple hundred miles to see the shuttle land (for the first time) at White Sands only to have the landing delayed a day for weather. The shuttle is a complex beastie and it may not launch at the date and time planned. I hope we do get to see it however. We were at Dixie Landings (oh - I'm sorry - Port Orleans Riverside) many years ago and I ran out onto our balcony to see the shuttle launch. I wasn't certain which direction to look and, when I saw a bunch of folks in the parking lot pointing at the sky, I ran down to join them. Only I was too late. I did see the contrail, but no flames.

On a totally unrelated note, we have be at WDW during two (perhaps the only two) nighttime landings of the shuttle. The double sonic boom is impressive.

[Patinmn]

Well I don't plan on missing the TOT Event, So I will have to find somewhere close to there to watch. Even if it is from the MGM Parking lot or Boat Dock. I am sure Linda will find out where the best place to view it will be from MGM.

I know how eratic the schedule is with the Space shuttle. Personally I hope it gets delayed 1 day so I can View it from the Y&BC, or EPCOT.

[glo]

My daughter Kassie and I are both Space nuts...she has already gone to space camp once...This would be so awesome. I am hoping that it goes up while we are down there. I would love to see it....Sometimes it is postponed for a day or so, other times even longer. THe window for this launch seems pretty small if what I read earlier is true....When it is that small, I think the likely hood of postponment increases.

Thanks Marsha for asking Linda...good idea!

[Mackey Mouse]

Well.. all I can say is that I have learned to play it by ear so to speak.. If we are there during the launch and it is possible to try and see it, I am going to try.. If it's cancelled and rescheduled for a time I will be there, terrific.... You all know I am not a "Commando" so what will be, will be.. In the meantime, though I will do my homework and be prepared.. just like a good Girl Scout.. :D

[glo]

On my honor I will do my best. To God and my Country and to help other people at all times.

Just popped int o my mind...geez it suprises me that I still rmembered the Girl Scout Law after all this time....Mackey you were a girl scout?