Can rocket launches be seen from MK?

[Ratpack]

While we are down for Spring Break, there is a rocket set to be launched on 4/10. That is the day we will be in MK all day. Do you think we will be able to see it once it is airborne while in MK?

 

[Robo]

While we are down for Spring Break, there is a rocket set to be launched on 4/10. That is the day we will be in MK all day. Do you think we will be able to see it once it is airborne while in MK?

There are very often posts about guests planning to see (and seeing) a launched rocket fly over WDW.

 

[officer tigger]

If the launch is at night you can see it. Looks like a small flame in the sky, during the day you won't see anything. We saw a space shuttle launch at night one year, pretty cool to see from the MK.

 

[scrappinginontario]

We saw a nighttime launch one time and it was amazing. Not sure you'd see a daytime launch.

 

[BrokeMack]

I've seen shuttle launches from Jacksonville so I'd think you could see a rocket from Orlando.

 

[mesaboy2]

If the launch is at night you can see it. Looks like a small flame in the sky, during the day you won't see anything. We saw a space shuttle launch at night one year, pretty cool to see from the MK.

We saw a nighttime launch one time and it was amazing. Not sure you'd see a daytime launch.

In the space shuttle era, you could absolutely see a daytime launch from MK on a clear day. However, the exhaust plume from the SRBs was relatively large compared to that of most launches of today. You would likely see one these days still if you knew where and when to look (again on a clear day).

 

[bumbershoot]

I saw the one that happened early early morning as we were walking to the start of the WDW Half this January. So cool.

 

[goofy4tink]

I've watched one during the day from the beach at the Polynesian and a night time one from the Dolphin. Both were incredible, but the night time one was just awesome.

 

[LumosQ102]

saw one totally by accident during the day. we were on the bus travelling from HS back to Wilderness Lodge when I spotted this odd shape in the sky over in the distance. it was very surreal! Never tried on purpose, but if you knew were you should be looking and its a clear day I don't see why not. Good luck!

 

[TagsMissy]

We watched a night launch in 2009. It was stunningly beautiful. We were at SSR, and it was nice and dark there so it was quite intense but I know people saw it from all over the property.

 

[McFlea]

We saw space shuttle Discovery launch completely by accident in 2011. We were on the Peoplemover and saw it launch right over Space Mountain - it was amazing!

 

[mesaboy2]

We saw space shuttle Discovery launch completely by accident in 2011. We were on the Peoplemover and saw it launch right over Space Mountain - it was amazing!

That's unusual. NASA usually plans these things ahead almost as much as we do FP+.

 

[tmoo]

I saw a SpaceX launch. I believe I was in Hollywood studios, but it may have been another park. It was not Magic Kingdom. It was a daytime launch. Even though I didn't know there was a launch that day, it was clearly a rocket launch. It looked like a really strong plane contrail. There was no sound. It was neat, but at that distance it isn't a huge deal. Fortunately, the contrail did not suddenly split in 5 directions with a boom!

 

[SnackCredit]

I saw a satellite launch from Sea World in the late 90s.

 

[CAS239]

You can see rocket launches from the other coast of Florida so certainly from Orlando should be easy

 

[ReelRedHead]

We saw a rocket launch in 2013 as we were coming out of HS. It was around 7:00pm I think. It was amazing!!