Has anyone done Disney and a Shuttle launch?

[msmama]

How'd it work?

I know a lot of times launches get postponed so do you just try your luck and do something else that day if the launch gets scrapped? Should I plan the "launch date" as the first day of the trip and then if they change it we can just change around our plans?

I've tentatively got DH to agree to a Florida trip - and we can't go all the way to Florida without going to Disney, right?

My DS desperately needs a haircut and I want his first one to be at the Main Street Barber shop, lol!!

 

[princess051102]

We did Disney and a shuttle launch last year! It worked out great. We stayed on property. We knew what day the launch was going to be so we drove to Cocoa beach. It was an excellent spot to see the launch. We got excellent pictures and it was a great experience for our son who was 22 months! Only about a one hour drive from Disney. If the launch is cancelled you still can spend the day at the beach. If you wont have a car u can rent one onsite at the car care center for about 40.00.

 

[DaniB]

How do you find out when a shuttle is going to be launched?

 

[msmama]

DaniB - check out the NASA website. The next one is scheduled for May 14.

Princess - Thanks for the info. My guy will be 2 so I'm glad to hear your LO liked it!

 

[GrumpyGoofy]

We tried last June. Had tickets to the launch. Had a hotel at Cocoa. We got to KSC at 1AM for the 7AM launch only to have it scrubbed. Bummer. Went back to Cocoa to sleep. Since the launch tickets give you admission to KSC, we went back in the morning to tour the center. The launch was rescheduled 4 days later, that too was scrubbed. (we did not attempt to go). They ended up launching a month later. So in the end, we "wasted" about 10 bucks a ticket. It would have been so cool. My 4 year would have loved it...

I am hoping the May launch gets scrubbed a month....for my June trip.

 

[ferrytale]

DH & I did a launch on our first trip together to WDW. My uncle happened to be in FL too(he lives near us) and we all drove out to Cocoa together - I think we left at like 4 or 5, and just made it there. It was really cool, and definitely doable. You can either spend the day at the beach or drive back to WDW, which we did. We took a nap and headed to the park later that day. It would be nice if we could plan that again, now that we have DS who is 5, I think he would really enjoy that.

 

[DaniB]

DaniB - check out the NASA website. The next one is scheduled for May 14.

Thanks!

 

[dis-happy]

Tip: if you are planning to drive from Orlando to Cocoa Beach/Titusville/KSC to see the launch, stop by Publix and pick up the SunPass Mini (or order it online). It will save you ooodles of time going through the toll booths.

We've managed to catch 5 launches and are looking forward to our 6th during our Disney trip in May!!!

 

[Deesknee]

We had tickets to a launch several years ago that got scrubbed. We were very disappointed as it was one of the crews last flight before retiring (A neighbor of my families growing up). Unfortunately, the launch didn't happen until we were home. We had a GREAT time touring the facility. We found it amazing. Our 9 year olds all really, really enjoyed it. One of our DS' wanted tobe an astronaut after that, then he found out he had to take science ALOT. lol He switched his game plan.

I'd say plan it at the beginning of your trip & hopefully you will eventually see one. But keep in mind, it is not unusual for them to get scrubbed more than once per launch. Good luck.

 

[doclegler]

We had planned our trip around a launch a few years ago (I have a son who LOVES space "stuff") Needless to say, after waiting HOURS in a jam-packed field, freezing cold...the launch was scrubbed at 2 seconds from take-off. I had 2 very disappointed boys, and I was in tears! (we were all REALLY looking forward to it!) The facility was so packed that we didn't even get to tour it...just sat in our spot for hours to wait for the launch.
After thinking the worst was over, we had to drive bumper to bumper back to the Orlando area! We didn't get back to our hotel until 3am which really put a damper on the next morning's Disney park.
Sadly, we actually caught the launch 2 days later while boarding the boat back to the TTC at MK. We have the bright, flaming ball on video. NOT the same.
Good luck if you decide to go, and remember its not a sure thing.

 

[msmama]

Thanks so much for all the advice! Just booked my May trip!

I've got my fingers crossed that it'll work, but honestly I'm just so excited to get 2 days at Disney out of the whole thing I don't really care about the shuttle, lol!!

 

[ferrytale]

Tip: if you are planning to drive from Orlando to Cocoa Beach/Titusville/KSC to see the launch, stop by Publix and pick up the SunPass Mini (or order it online). It will save you ooodles of time going through the toll booths.

We've managed to catch 5 launches and are looking forward to our 6th during our Disney trip in May!!!

When we went they had all the tolls open and were just waving people thru!