Can you see the sapce shuttle launch from WDW?

[D L and K's Mom]

Has anyone ever been there for a shuttle launch? We were told you can see it form WDW. Any idea where? There should be (if there are no delays ) a launch during our trip! I woudl love for DS, DD and DS to see it....I am not a space kind of person although our little DD was named Kennedy for the Space Center (Daddy is the Space Freak). I was thinking mayb ethe contemporary?

 

[BeckWhy]

I used to live in Melborne, FL (this was many many many years ago). And during that time they only launched a rocket. And I saw it perfectly clear from outside (then walked inside and it was on tv, I was like 3 it was a big deal to me). But Melborne is right next to Cape Caniveral. Where as Orlando is a hop, skip, and a jump away. I will say, on a clear day, yes you probably can see it. But from my knowledge of spacecraft, it will just look like an airplane. The jet stream may be larger, but I'm not sure.

But the important thing is, I do not think you will be in Epcot and all of a sudden... OMG THERE'S THE SPACE SHUTTLE. I think it will just look like a plane.

 

[D L and K's Mom]

At least DH can say HE saw the space shuttle even if it is a small speck in the sky so small it looks like dust he can still say HE saw it.....hee hee. We did get to see one pretty close when we were in Port Canaveral for the Disney Cruise. DD and DH both got up to see it and tape it. Unfortunatly for them it was very humid and the cam corder didnt tape it just stuck the lens open and would not tape. They did get to see the launch though and DH was so happy .....he named our new baby Kennedy! I think the 4 high points in his life were the 3 kids births and the launch of the rocket. I would love for him to be able to see it again.....but this time no baby .............I mean it no more. There will be no baby named Discovery 13.

 

[Nite0wl71]

We saw it from Ariel's Grotto and it is small but it doesn't look like a plane. The CM's were telling people where to view it and alot of people were watching and video taping. We took pics but they aren't on the comp or I would post one.

 

[justloveit]

We watched the Columbia take off in Jan 2003 from the bridge between Yacht and Beach Club and Boardwalk. We had rented bicycles and the cast members were out watching. We looked over toward Epcot and saw it perfectly until it was a tiny speck in the sky. It was incredible. Sadly, it disintegrated upon reentry.

 

[Bird-Mom]

We have seen it twice, both times at Typhoon Lagoon. It was very obvious that it was the shuttle. The cms were directing people where to look over the PA system.

 

[wfloyd]

It is a nice fire streak with the smoke trail left behind. I don't think you can actually see the shuttle itself or if you can it will be fairly small. But with the fire and smoke added to the CM's telling you where to look, you will definately know it is the shuttle.

 

[kelscross]

Did I hear right that it is scheduled for the 13th for take off? I hope so we'll be down there.

 

[YCFAN]

We had been in Daytona Beach all week in July 1999 and there was suppose to be a space shuttle launch during that time. It kept getting postponed and did not take off until we were in WDW later that trip. We saw it perferctly (at night) from the All Stars Sports. It was a huge trail of fire and you couldn't miss it. Quite an experience. Everyone was standing on the balconies watching. That was also the week JFK, Jr. was missing and later found after he crashed his plane. I remember thinking we were paying alot of attention to the news while on vacation which I usually have a habit of not doing.

 

[Denmark]

The spaceshuttle is scheduled to take off: July 13th at 3:51 p.m. EDT.

Most launch viewing tickets are sold out, but you could drive to Titusville and whatch from the beach. (take about 1 hour 30 minutes from WDW).

If you dont have a car while your in WDW, you could rent a car at National car rental inside WDW.

The best thing is to be as close as possible to the launch area. But regular people can only get into a distance of about 6 miles from launchpad 39B.

 

[ksc37]

I've seen it twice, too. We saw the Columbia in 1993 from Dixie Landings, and we saw Atlantis in 1999 from the All Star Movies. Even though the shuttle is fairly small, it is still a very cool thing to see (especially for those of us who live nowhere near the Space Center). Like the others have said, you can see a tiny space shuttle, followed by a long plume of smoke trailing out behind (I don't think you'd mistake it for a plane, since the trail of smoke starts out at the ground).

 

[Missus Toad]

I saw it from the Poly beach when I was a kid.

 

[dalcn]

I think we'll be at sea coming back from Castaway cay. Not sure of the times though.

 

[TN Traveler]

In '89 before DH & I had our girls, we were in Daytona Beach and heard of a shuttle launch. The Columbia was scheduled to take off early one morning so we drove down to Titusville the night before and got up really to make sure we wouldn't miss it. People were parked all along this park sitting on the hood of their cars, in lawn chairs just laid back watching the sky. There were several people that had radios so we could hear the count down. When it took off we could hear it long before we saw it. I had my Dad's camera w/his tele lens on it and used up almost 2 rolls of film just shooting different angles and the smoke trail. Was pretty cool. The one thing I remember the most is right after it took off, everyone started singing "God Bless America" and waving flags, clapping and cheering. It was awesome and left me w/a tear in my eye. I get real emotional when it concerns patriotic stuff! The next day we went for a tour through NASA. Was very interesting. I'd love to go back next time we make it down on that side of FL.

A friend of mine used to live in Plantation and she said it was so common to see the shuttle go up, people acted like it was nothing after a while. Can't imagine that!

Karen

 

[WDWDennis]

I had tickets to go see a launch a few years ago. It wound up being really cloudy that day and they said that lauch probability was very slim, so we canceled. Later that day, we were at Typhoon Lagoon and started talk to some people in line for a slide. Apparently, it had launched about 10 minutes earlier and everyone saw it but us!! Needless to say, we were pretty bummed about it.

 

[snowbunny]

Saw it a couple of years ago from the Contemporary, outside Chef Mickey's. Actually my sister and my niece saw it and said it was spectacular, I was running up to the room with my son so he could use "our" bathroom

 

[freakylick]

I know that a car rental may not be in the budget for some folks, but if you get the chance, drive to Cocoa Beach or Titusville or even Melbourne to see it. A company that I used to work for had a client in Cocoa Beach and I would spend about 10 wks a year down there (not a bad gig, eh). Well during my many visits I was lucky enough to catch 3 different launches from three different area's in Cocoa (twice from the beaches) and they are experiences that I will never forget.

But if you can't make to one of those nearby area's, do make sure that you catch what you can. Ask CM's at the beginning of the day where good viewing spots might be so that you can be sure to be in the right spot at the right time. Be sure to follow weather reports as well as the weather can change when they do the launch.

P.S. - Don't just watch it on tv...tv doesn't do the experience justice.

 

[budbeerlady]

If it looks like a good launch day, make the trip to titusville!!! We did this when I was in high school, we talked a friends Dad into driving us over from Olrando, the first time was scraped but we went back a couple of days later for a dark launch (cant remeber if it was late night or early am but it doesnt matter) its the most amazing thing I have ever seen!!!! We had a perfect view out over the water to see the shuttle and it was brighter than daylight, your whole body shakes when it is lifting off. I hope one day to take my dd to see it, I have seen alot in this world but few things compared to that!!!!

 

[LibertyLover]

About 10 years ago I took my niece to WDW for a visit and stayed at BC. We were told that from Stormalong Bay we would be able to watch the scheduled shuttle launch. Unfortunately the launch was scrubbed so I did not see it, but talked to several other guests who had been there for previous launches and they said you could see the launch. As others have indicated, it will be small, but still visable.

 

[Denmark]

If it looks like a good launch day, make the trip to titusville!!! We did this when I was in high school, we talked a friends Dad into driving us over from Olrando, the first time was scraped but we went back a couple of days later for a dark launch (cant remeber if it was late night or early am but it doesnt matter) its the most amazing thing I have ever seen!!!! We had a perfect view out over the water to see the shuttle and it was brighter than daylight, your whole body shakes when it is lifting off. I hope one day to take my dd to see it, I have seen alot in this world but few things compared to that!!!!

Dont wait too long, the current fleet of shuttles will be retired from service in 2010. The next generation should enter service in 2015. Some sources says that they want a replacement by 2010, but i highly doubt that.