JFK Space Center

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

OK, so this is a difficult question for me to ask...We are typically land and sea people when it comes to WDW and DCL, but we also have a little human that needs to see and experience the world beyond WDW (gasp ...I know I know, it's a little hard for me to accept, but he isn't tall enough to ride Mission Space....)

As we begin the planning process, I'm thinking about a day at JFK Space Center. DS will be 6-ish and loves all things (dump trucks, airplanes, boats, etc) Because I am NOT sold on NOT going to WDW for a few days then DCL, what are your experiences at the space center? Like it? Love it? Pass on it?

 

[phinz]

Love it, but I'm not 6 years old, so I can't say if it would have appealed to me at that age.

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

Love it, but I'm not 6 years old, so I can't say if it would have appealed to me at that age.

I have a big kid too so that your approval is just as important!

 

[phinz]

I have a big kid too so that your approval is just as important!

Well, Atlantis brought me to tears. I won't say anything more, but this Houston-raised big kid - who grew up drawing pictures of the Space Shuttle when it was still just Enterprise on the back of a 747 - was absolutely blown away.

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

Well then...I think the little kid will be blown away and the big kid will love it! (I will too!)

 

[PrincessNP]

Our girls love all things space and we went earlier this year the day before we boarded the Fantasy --they were 7 and 8. It was perfect! Lots of hands on things and age appropriate areas. Seeing the Atlantis space ship was awesome! They had lots of things for them to interact with at that area too. We spent 6-7 hours there. Lunch was very reasonable and they had lots of options. I would say go for it!

 

[Sytrace]

Yes. I have taken my kids there several times over the years (live in Orlando about 45 minutes from KSC) it is a wonderful experience with a lot of hands on experiences as well as a great history. Be sure to take the bus tour when you go.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I wouldn't miss KSC. It's not only a great visual & emotional treat, but it's very educational as well.

The Saturn V center is an absolute must, including the pre show.
Rent a movie or two, preferably documentaries, to learn a bit before going in. Be familiar with the different sections of the Saturn V and their function. Know a few names of the guys that made it happen.

WELL worth your time.

Documentaries to see:
-- In the Shadow of the Moon
-- Moon Machines. That's a multi part documentary on varies parts of the Apollo program. The two best IMO are "Saturn V", and "Lunar Module".

MG

 

[Capt_BJ]

if you decide to go

- it really does deserve a FULL day
- to do less than a full day costs $$ (you pay for full day)
- basic admission includes a bus tour .... (2 hours plus)
- check the web site as there are several add on options (I like the one a day tour to the 'old stuff')
- it closes at sundown (or b4)

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

Our girls love all things space and we went earlier this year the day before we boarded the Fantasy --they were 7 and 8. It was perfect! Lots of hands on things and age appropriate areas. Seeing the Atlantis space ship was awesome! They had lots of things for them to interact with at that area too. We spent 6-7 hours there. Lunch was very reasonable and they had lots of options. I would say go for it!

Thank you for this! Glad to hear there are good lunch options too!

Yes. I have taken my kids there several times over the years (live in Orlando about 45 minutes from KSC) it is a wonderful experience with a lot of hands on experiences as well as a great history. Be sure to take the bus tour when you go.

Looking below, I'll have to make sure we add the 2 hours for the bus trip! Thank you!

I wouldn't miss KSC. It's not only a great visual & emotional treat, but it's very educational as well.

The Saturn V center is an absolute must, including the pre show.
Rent a movie or two, preferably documentaries, to learn a bit before going in. Be familiar with the different sections of the Saturn V and their function. Know a few names of the guys that made it happen.

WELL worth your time.

Documentaries to see:
-- In the Shadow of the Moon
-- Moon Machines. That's a multi part documentary on varies parts of the Apollo program. The two best IMO are "Saturn V", and "Lunar Module".

MG

Thanks for the prep info. It will be a great way to get us into it before getting there!

if you decide to go

- it really does deserve a FULL day
- to do less than a full day costs $$ (you pay for full day)
- basic admission includes a bus tour .... (2 hours plus)
- check the web site as there are several add on options (I like the one a day tour to the 'old stuff')
- it closes at sundown (or b4)

Thank you for these bullet points!

 

[Crispen]

anyone do the lunch with an astronaut?
is it worth it?

 

[Maddysdaddy]

anyone do the lunch with an astronaut?
is it worth it?

My daughter was 'almost' 9 when we went to KSC and had lunch with an astronaut (Jerry Ross) back in 2013 - at the time, he held the record for most space walks (I think it's now been broken). The lunch was marginal banquet food, but listening to him speak/answer questions and see his photos and videos from space, was a neat experience (for me) and my daughter seemed to enjoy it as well. A photo op (with the photo included) was part of the package, and when we went back to the gift shop at the end of the day to pick up the picture, he was there signing copies of his book, which allowed my daughter to have a little one on one time with him.

Maybe I was being naive or sentimental, but I've always tried to teach my daughter to "dream big", and I felt that meeting an astronaut and hearing his stories about being in space, was certainly something that fit that bill. I don't know if that's what she took from the experience, but she still has the photo and book on the bookshelf in her bedroom, so maybe...

 

[truck1]

Been there several times, and want to go back again. Have done several of the tours there and want to do several more. Some they no longer offer. I would do it and stay the full day like posted above.

The basic admission there offers a lot to see that is free, and a lot of history. Just to name a few things, on the tour is the Launch observation platform where you can see both former shuttle pads. The tour goes around the VAB and you can see the old shuttle platforms that used to take the shuttles out to the pads, and also the crawlers. The Saturn 5 bldg., has one of about 3 Saturn 5s left in existence on its side in its stages where you can walk under it, and look. Theres several mock ups of different capsules kids can sit in like an astronaut does, and the same walkway that came from the pad that Neil Armstrong and several other astronauts walked on to get to there ships. Theres a couple of Imax movies, plus the Shuttle experience. That's a cool ride. Then theres the Atlantis bldg. I haven't seen her in the new bldg. yet. Last time I saw her, they had pulled her into the bldg., and let people get within about 25 feet to take pictures and look while she was still on the ground. I would definitely try and do at least 2 days and do a couple the add on tours, like Cape Canaveral then and now, or the Launch Control center tour, where they take you to the firing room where most of the shuttle launches were worked from, until they cleared the tower, and Johson took over. I did that tour with my kids and its a gret piece of history.

 

[phinz]

on the tour is the Launch observation platform where you can see both former shuttle pads.

They've dismantled 39-B now.

 

[truck1]

They've dismantled 39-B now.

Last time I was there, they took down 1 and had 3 or 4 antennas around the perimeter. Is the other one gone now also?

 

[phinz]

Last time I was there, they took down 1 and had 3 or 4 antennas around the perimeter. Is the other one gone now also?

They've kept 39-A and Space X is using it. B is where they installed the new lightning rods to repurpose the launch site for the new Space Launch System after they dismantled the Shuttle facility.

 

[truck1]

They've kept 39-A and Space X is using it. B is where they installed the new lightning rods to repurpose the launch site for the new Space Launch System after they dismantled the Shuttle facility.

Ok, so it hasn't changed.since I saw it last. Had me scared and.annoyed for a minute.

 

[nancipants]

I used to work there. It's an amazing place and everyone (especially kids) should visit at least once. The Atlantis reveal literally took my breath away, and still makes me cry every time I see it. And the firing room show at the Saturn V center, while almost 20 years old now, is still powerful.

 

[remlap]

Assuming you have a science museum near you that you can watch IMAX movies in, you can do both the "Then and Now" tour (name is always changing but covers the eary Mercury and Gemini launches and stops at the air force museum) and the standard tour plus the exhibits in one full day.
Or do lunch with astronaut plus imax movies and skip early tour.

The Atlantis Display is amazing and is the best of all four shuttle displays.

While I live in Calif I have gone to KSC several times. I personally think currently visiting is a bit "sad" as we currently don't launch astronauts into space and therefore some of the commentary causes a few eye rolls with adults.

As for OP original question, yes you should go and your child will love it. I disagree with posters that say spend two days. There is so much to do in central florida I can't see a second day there. That said adding a second day at KSC is far cheaper than adding a day at Disney.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Well, Atlantis brought me to tears. I won't say anything more, but this Houston-raised big kid - who grew up drawing pictures of the Space Shuttle when it was still just Enterprise on the back of a 747 - was absolutely blown away.

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one that has had tears in my eyes at the Atlantis exhibit. My DD couldn't figure it out even as I was trying to explain to her the significance of the shuttle program and how it felt watching Columbia take off for the first time, and then land for the first time.

To the OP, I think 6 years old is a fine age to visit KSC. There are so many things to do that we couldn't get through it all even with a full day.