Can you see the Space Shuttle from WDW?

[cascarlet]

Since we will be there while the launch is occuring (maybe!), we were hoping we could see it from WDW...maybe bring binoculars or something.

OR are we too far to see anything. I would hate to take a whole day to go to the coast to see it, but it really is a once in a lifetime thing, for us anyways. I did see the Columbia land in Ca. WAY back in 81 or 82.

THANKS!

 

[disneyholic family]

Since we will be there while the launch is occuring (maybe!), we were hoping we could see it from WDW...maybe bring binoculars or something.

OR are we too far to see anything. I would hate to take a whole day to go to the coast to see it, but it really is a once in a lifetime thing, for us anyways. I did see the Columbia land in Ca. WAY back in 81 or 82.

THANKS!

I've never heard anyone say that it could be seen. WDW is a full hour's drive from Kennedy Space Center. You need to be nearby to see it.
And you're right. The chances of it actually going when they now say it will (also when we're there) are pretty low. I wouldn't get your hopes up if I were you. The weather alone can be the cause of lots of delays (unless they do something stupid and send it up again, when the weather isn't appropriate).

 

[Nite0wl71]

We were in MK in April 2001 and we could see the launch. It was very tiny but you could see the trail of smoke. The cm's were telling people where to watch it. The best place was by Ariel's Grotto looking west of course. There were alot of people waiting for the launch and some even video taped it.

 

[johnatthebar]

most def at night (as I can see it at night in the miami area) and during the day really depends on weather if I recall. though I can tell you that the sonic boom from a shuttle launch made my hotel door swing open (was unlatched) in the wdw area years ago.

im planning on doing my best to hit the launch site then wdw when the date is announced. so far I think they narrowed it to 7/13-7/30.

I have seen a few launches up close, its very impressive and worth it IMO, but it is a gamble based on weather.

 

[IanBond]

I saw it in 96 from I4 near Universal got some stunning pics of the trail of smoke it looked incredible..

 

[safetymom]

You can see the trail of smoke when they launch rockets from the coast in the WDW area.

 

[Uncleromulus]

The smoke trail and maybe a small ball of light from the rocket is about it--.
So I guess you could claim you "saw" a Shuttle launch--

 

[wfloyd]

You are able to see the shuttle go up. It is very small and usually all you see is a small flame and the smoke trail.

If you are able to drive closer to the coast, I would recommend it. It is a great sight to see and we look forward to each one going up.

 

[Bobbysdog]

One of my favorite WDW memories ever was being in the TL wave pool in 2000 when the PA system suddenly announced to look to a certain direction over the entrance. The bright orange flame and plume of smoke was unmistakable as I watched the shuttle go up...it was clearly visible for a couple of minutes in a clear sky. I won't say that you could see the shuttle itself clearly, but if you have a good unobstructed view of the sky and a clear day, you'll have no problems at all!

Now. just make sure you position yourself in the wave pool during the launch in order to get the full effect!

Enjoy! It's a great sight!!!!!!!!!

 

[BAST]

We were at WDW in 1993 (I think it was that year) and they did a night launch of the shuttle. You could see the engine burn very clearly.

 

[kona-kraft]

I used to live near Universal (off of Kirkman Road-near I4), and we could watch the launches from our verandah. VERY COOL to see in person.

 

[mac3013]

We saw the trail of smoke and the light shining off of the shuttle back in '97. We were over at DTD and as we were walking out of one of the stores DH said I wonder if we'll see the shuttle , it should be right over there and as he pointed there it was. It was very cool even though we weren't actually in the vicinity. The CM at WDW who we talked to said that if we wanted to go we should leave the night before and as we get closer to Kennedy pull over to the side of the road. We nixed that idea and just hoped that we would see it from Disney.


We leave tomorrow.....

 

[lillygator]

you should be able to see it just fine...I can remember watching the Challenger (??) launch in Lakeland which is 45 min away from Orlando and we could see it very clearly... it took a minute or two to register what happened and then our teachers shooed us back into our classrooms....

 

[melk]

We got off Thunder Mountain one night a few years ago and saw it. It was a small ball of light moving really really fast. It was neat to see though.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Yes. Without binoculars from our room at OKW - Bldg 25!

 

[kidd_freeper]

I have read that the launch date is July 13.

Does anyone know the time of the launch?

 

[jazznms]

Very sad day for my DH he was working at Marriott World Center the day the Challenger crew died The story goes some like this (it if very moving when he tells it I don't do it justice) He was working an am party for some Japanese tourist in the morning feeding them breakfast before they took the buss over to watch launch from the space coast he fed them there usual fare of Broiled fish and miso soup with some regular American choice, the group was small and he got to talking and telling these tourist how proud we (Americans) where of the shuttle. well the group leaves for the coast and DH heads to the roof to watch as he tells it this is the 4th of 5th time they have done this as they arrive on the roof they see on TV the shuttle has just launched and knew it would be a second before they could see it the shuttle challenger cleared the trees and it look perfect to them nice color u could see the gleam off challenger Then boom.
they all knew but didn't believe it ran for the tv.
Well we still have a job to do (as he tells it) they started on the dinner for the Tour group this was there big dinner the most expense the party after the experience of a shuttle launch... Whole carved tenderloins, T-bones cook on an open pit for them lots of fresh veggie and salads as dh puts it 5000$ worth of fruit (40ppl in tour group) ice carving and enough chocolate deserts an extreme party for them.
8pm the party doors open one or two couples waiting to get in the rest trickle in a few minutes late the band starts to play very mellow but no one wants that they want the TV turned on. the tv comes on and the tour group is standing in rows watching and listing a few translator are mumbling to those who could not understand and then the TV starts showing the pictures of the crew everyone of those tourist got down on there knees and prayed for those lost and the family of the lost ones the party went on not for party sake just so they could get something to eat and the tv stayed on. During deserter the table was set up very nice DH had carved a flower vase out of ice and carved the word Challenger on it (as he puts it the dinner must go on) as they got up to get there deserts instead of taken one they left a picture of the crew and other pictures of the the ship and the the class of sally's around the table and then all bowed at the table and left at once.

That the story he tells when ask can u see the shuttle launch from DW
make me cry every time

 

[golfgal]

We saw a nighttime launch from our hotel in DTD in 1996. For whomever asked, I don't know the exact time of the launch but they did say it would be a daytime launch to watch for ice chips falling again (they haven't announced the exact time yet as of a couple days ago). They will have that info on the NASA website when it becomes available.

 

[Suzanne74]

we saw a launch in May of this year. Not a person filled space shuttle, I am not sure what it was but we were on the Poly beach and everyone was out there watching it - it was awesome!!!

 

[lovethattink]

I've never heard anyone say that it could be seen. WDW is a full hour's drive from Kennedy Space Center. You need to be nearby to see it.
And you're right. The chances of it actually going when they now say it will (also when we're there) are pretty low. I wouldn't get your hopes up if I were you. The weather alone can be the cause of lots of delays (unless they do something stupid and send it up again, when the weather isn't appropriate).

We live 45 miles southwest of WDW and we can see the shuttle. Upon return, all of our items in the cupboard rattle from the sonic boom.