Anyone been to a shuttle launch?

[christyewhite]

My husband and I have tickets to watch the Dec 7th launch from the causeway at Kennedy. I'm looking for locals or anyone who has experienced this to help me please. I'm wondering what we should do after the launch.
I know that the launch could be scrubbed at the last second, and I KNOW that traffic is going to be very bad, but since I've never done it before, I could use some advice.

Should we hang around and wait awhile after the launch (or non-launch)?
CAN we hang around (the launch is at 9:38 PM)?
How long did it take you to get back to Orlando?
What is the best route to take back to Orlando? (528, 50, or something else?)

I appreciate any help you can give me. I suggested to my husband a while back that we get a hotel near the space center just for that night, but he wants to just drive back to the Wilderness Lodge.

Have a magical day!!

 

[MomWith2Cinderellas]

I went to a shuttle launch about 10 years ago...I am trying to rack my memory as to how long you could linger to let tarffic die out...I don't remember anyone ushering us right out...It was as soon as traffic allowed you to leave...
Ours was a night launch and it was amazing...We did light snacks in our min-van with some coffee...I do not remember if there were port-o-potty's around...
Maybe you can call the Kennedy Space Center to find out all the information on viewing a launch...
Sorry my memory is not that helpful, but I can tell you I remember the goosebumps I got watching the shuttle go up...
I hope you enjoy it!!

 

[kimkatmom]

Christye:

I'm so glad to see your post. How on earth did you get tickets to watch the launch? I would sell my front seat in "you know where." As background -- John Glenn orbited the earth on my brother's birthday. The walk on the moon was on my birthday!! I'm anxious to see what kind of responses you get to this thread.

Leslye

 

[christyewhite]

MomWith2 - thank you for sharing your experience! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

KimKatmom - When I found out they had a launch scheduled while we were going to be in Orlando, I signed up on Kennedy Space Center's website for launch updates. They sent me an e-mail telling me when the launch tickets would go on sale. So that morning, I got on their site and kept refreshing until the tickets were available. Then I very quickly filled out my information, hit submit, and I got the tickets! I was so excited, because they sell out very quickly, sometimes within ten minutes. I even typed my credit card number in Word and copied it, so all I would have to do is paste it when I filled out the form. We are very excited, and we just hope we will be able to actually see it launch (they delay them so often). Just FYI - the tickets are $52 each and include the launch transportation ticket (bus to the causeway), as well as a maximum access ticket to the space center. The space center also has other ticket options like having lunch with an astronaut on launch day, but those are more expensive.

I would appreciate any more advice if anyone out there has any for me!
Thank you!!

 

[Makua]

We've never watched from KSC but go to Cocoa Beach to watch whenever we can. It is an awesome sight! The ground shakes and it sounds like one really long thunder roll! I've only seen one night launch and was actually in Clermont (about 20 miles west of Orlando) at the time. If I didn't know what was happening I'd of been thinking the world was ending! The entire sky lit up! And we were pretty far away! We also hear the sonic booms when they land. Now for the part you probably don't want to hear. It may take you 3-4 hours to get back to Disney. 528,50,192, it doesn't matter, they all back up. 528 is the most direct route and you can get on 417 from there and it will take you right into Disney. Just be prepared to move an inch and sit move an inch and sit! You'll also want to go over early to avoid the back up getting there. One good thing is that it's a school night, it's worse on the weekend launches. It is still very much worth going. Have fun!

 

[christyewhite]

Thank you Makua! That's a big help! Please send some pixie dust that we'll get to catch it at Kennedy!

 

[JLN]

Has anyone ever seen it from Disney. Would you be able to hear it from that far away?

 

[mom2dzb]

My husband and I have tickets to watch the Dec 7th launch from the causeway at Kennedy.

Lucky!

If I had pixie dust I'd send you some for no changes to the launch schedule.

Kennedy Space Center will be fun. My boys loved it!

 

[connie1042]

If we left at 6 am to go to cocoa beach (my brother in law lives there) would we be able to get there in time. We will watch it from Cocoa Beach. Thanks. If not what time should we leave?

 

[Sunny Soph]

Well i havent been to one but there was one about 1 week after we left, Sorry no advice here

 

[kimkatmom]

My daughter was able to see the launch in September from WDW. She has a picture of it, albeit rather small.

We will be at the Christmas party that night -- should be quite a show!