How to Holiday TV show - KSC best avoided?

[juliebro]

Anybody just seen the programme on ITV1? The presenter (Dominic ?) was definitely not impressed with KSC. I am a bit worried - cos we've got tickets for when we go in April.

Is it worth visiting?

I was looking forward to it - but now am not so sure.

Julie

 

[thefoxes]

you MUST visit KSC

 

[Hilary]

If you are at all interested in space exploration, then you should definitely go!

I can understand what the presenter meant about some waiting around, etc., but we didn't find it bad enough to spoil our visit.

 

[steven1105]

Ksc is a must , i cant wait to go again. I noticed dominic didnt give any real excuse to why to avoid it and i cant remember there being that many queues.

Im going to go to Ksc again in april.



steve

 

[allie5]

Didnt see the show you mentioned, but we have always enjoyed our visits to KSC. There is plenty to see and do and it makes a great day out. If you are with people who arent into the "Space thing", then a nice compromise is to do a morning at the Space Center and then move on to Cocoa Beach for the afternoon.

The only thing we DIDNT like about KSC, were the food choices, though we havent been since it was revamped a few years back. All that was available then was "fast food" consisting of very mediocre pizza / hotdogs. Other than that, we found everything to be great, especially the I-Max shows and Launch Pad tour.

Enjoy!
Allie

 

[Rooster]

We did KSC last year and, despite it being a rainy day, we thoroughly enjoyed it. We were disappointed not to be able to get closer to the Shuttle launch pads but given the events of recent years, it's understandable.

I take these sort of programs with a 'pinch of salt'. They are good for an overview of what's available but can be very biased towards the individual presenter's likes/dislikes.

I also noticed that it contradicted itself on a few items. For example the female presenter (can't remember her name) seemed to have a great time at Discovery Cove and yet at the end of the program listed it as 'to be avoided'?

I'm sure you'll enjoy KSC. If nothing else, you'll be amazed at the scale of it all.

 

[Dimplenose]

We went in August '98 and the waiting around really did spoil it for us. We were there during August when WDW had 15 minute queues at most, but KSC had us waiting 45 minutes plus for buses. It was made worse by the fact that we were on a coach trip and had to miss part of the centre just to get back in time. We had arrived at 10am but weren't allowed on a KSC bus until 1:30pm. Once we started the tour we were soon in a bottleneck of visitors from earlier busses!

There is a lot of interesting stuff there so hopefully in the past 6 years they've improved their organisation. Definitely don't go on an organised trip but drive yourself so you don't feel rushed.


Libby

PS Take plenty of water with you the fountains there make WDW water seem lovely!

 

[uksaint]

Dimplenose, we were also there in August 98 and experienced no problems with waiting at all - and I would remember 'cos I hate having to hang around.

I guess this just shows that in some respects its luck of the draw and KSC has good and bad days just like any other attraction. I absolutely enjoyed my visit, but am in no hurry to go again - at least not til the kids are a bit older to understand more about the space program.

 

[Rooster]

I agree, it's just the luck of the draw on the day. We went on a bus tour in August 2003. Didn't have to queue more than 15 minutes and had time to see everything we wanted.

 

[marv]

Hi julie

Were going in April, havn't got the tickets yet, but not so sure about it it now as i saw the programme tonight. I have left this park to last to do.I really dont know what to do now. May be someone on here could change my mind.

Marv

 

[Scottish_Maleficent]

We visited KSC in 2000 - and to be honest I didn't like it. I'm not into space that much - so maybe that's why. DH loved it though and is desperate to go back. Everyone's different!!

Cath

 

[mickg7dyd]

Hi,
Just to put things in perspective they also said Discovery Cove was best avoided too.Just goes to show what nonsense they were talking. IMHO of course.

Mick.

 

[RUSHBURY]

Hi

My DD14 and DH visited KSC in 1999 and we're all going this year - 5 of us. My DS was only 3 at the time and I felt he wouldn't enjoy it and I didn't go but am looking forward to going in October.

Helen

 

[uktigger]

hi all
i watched the program and was a bit worried too,but the kids and dh are still wanting to go i,m really not into space so i am going shopping with my 2 cousins while my dh and their dh's are taking the kids
i was a bit surprised when she said to avoid the dolphin swim i would have thought that would be a great thing to do

eve

 

[simonuk]

i have to agree with the presenter of that show re ksc i was really looking 4ward to going and thought the guides etc made it very boring and not a whole lot 2 c or do worth going once and thats it

 

[SidB]

I think that Dominic's point was that you didn't get to see enough about the Space Shuttle, and that the queues were excessive. Remember that he didn't go to the parks, so hasn't experienced REAL queues.

On the other hand Dominic did show us that there is much more to do in Florida than most of us see. After all some people aren't park people. I particularly liked the pieces about Kissimee bike meetings on Thursday evenings, and the canoe trip.

Re Discovery Cove, my impression was that the lady concerned (Julie ?) thought that it was extremely expensive. She was swimming on her own, and this experience must be better if there are more of you, after all it's difficult to remminise (SP ?) on your own.

The bottom line though was that they both enjoyed their time in Florida, and that you can have loads of fun whatever your budget.

 

[UKDEB]

Originally posted by SidB
Re Discovery Cove, my impression was that the lady concerned (Julie ?) thought that it was extremely expensive. She was swimming on her own, and this experience must be better if there are more of you, after all it's difficult to remminise (SP ?) on your own

I was confused about her comment to 'avoid' Discovery Cove as it seemed to be at odds with her assessment at the time. I'm guessing she needed to come up with something so she opted for that on cost grounds.

I was also confused about the prices she was quoting for DC. I think she mentioned £230 (not $) and she also talked about a 'single dolphin swim', so I wonder if she did the Trainer for a Day package.

 

[Hilary]

Yes, Deb, she said she was doing Trainer for a Day.

Re the original question about KSC, I don't think anyone here will be able to convince doubting potential visitors whether or not they will enjoy a trip there - everyone likes different things (fortunately). There's really only one way to find out whether it's somewhere your family will enjoy , but I think you can guess from the mix of views here that it could go either way!

 

[Sue F UK]

We went to KSC and had a surprisingly good day out. Although we did get to see the space shuttle as they were moving it on the day we went. There were also few queues as it was out of season. The Saturn rocket has to be seen to be believed, just for the sheer size of the thing.

One thing I did notice about the programme: The presenter 'Dominic' went on about the 10 minute video before you get to see the rocket and said it was 'boring' but he failed to mention the next section where you get to experience what it was like in the control room of the first space mission. A shame, as, rather than being a waste of time I thought that this gave us a real appreciation when we got into the hangar to see the rocket.

Dominic also thought a day's fishing in the rain and wind at Clearwater was a great day out!! Each to his own eh???!?

 

[vernon]

It is one ( ignorant IMHO) opinion. KSC is one of the major historical features of our era, even if one doesn't find the attractions interesting, I did enjoy the day, I think it's one of the things everyone should do at least once. I do believe the "Astronauts Hall of Fame" is a more lively part of the day, maybe the TV didn't have time to include that in their schedule.

I think the fact they also had DC as a "thing to avoid" speaks volumes.