JFK Space Center

[sunshinemelody]

Would KSC be a whole day experience or can one fit in enough for a half day?

 

[phinz]

You can fit enough into a half day (we did) but to get the full experience you need a full day.

 

[sunshinemelody]

You can fit enough into a half day (we did) but to get the full experience you need a full day.

Oh, OK. What time would you recommend leaving the Orlando area to reach the Space Center? We had a day planned for NASA and then the other half would be at Cocoa Beach. We would head out early to reach our 7:30pm Beaches and Cream reservation. I'm hoping that this is still a good plan, or if I just inundated us with too much.

 

[saxmangeoff]

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.

Agreed. The Atlantis exhibit is exceptionally well done.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

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.

The Saturn V / Apollo program that brings tears to my eyes. Truly.

The times, the challenge, the achievement.

 

[phinz]

Oh, OK. What time would you recommend leaving the Orlando area to reach the Space Center? We had a day planned for NASA and then the other half would be at Cocoa Beach. We would head out early to reach our 7:30pm Beaches and Cream reservation. I'm hoping that this is still a good plan, or if I just inundated us with too much.

It takes roughly 45 minutes to an hour to get to KSC or Cocoa, so figure that time in. There's always a chance of an accident on the Beeline/Beachline as well, so take that into consideration since there is no other easy way to get to or from Orlando when leaving Cocoa/Canaveral. Honestly, there's not much that excites me in Cocoa, so I would plan on spending as much time as possible at KSC and if you have time left over, head to the coast, but that's me. You guys might be more beach-type people.

 

[truck1]

It takes roughly 45 minutes to an hour to get to KSC or Cocoa, so figure that time in. There's always a chance of an accident on the Beeline/Beachline as well, so take that into consideration since there is no other easy way to get to or from Orlando when leaving Cocoa/Canaveral. Honestly, there's not much that excites me in Cocoa, so I would plan on spending as much time as possible at KSC and if you have time left over, head to the coast, but that's me. You guys might be more beach-type people.

There also doing construction work on the Beachline at Orangewood Blvd. Traffic tends to slow down there but clears right after that. From Disney to KSC Id say prob about 115 130 should be about right time wise. Depends on what the driving habits are.

 

[Capt_BJ]

stay away from 528 between I-4 and the airport

use 417

I'm a local that drives this route regularly

stay away from 528 between I-4 and the airport ESPECIALLY during 'rush hour'

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Please, please, please do no skip the Apollo / Saturn V building.
Not only is it by far the best part (WAY better than Atkantis), it is also one of the biggest parts of history the world has ever known.
If you are not familiar because you are too young, this will educate you.
If you are familiar this will enhance your knowledge.

I'm a bit concerned here on the attention on Shuttle.
It was Apollo that is the REAL thing...

For the younger people, please learn.

MG

 

[phinz]

I doubt you could tell any Astronaut who was a part of a Shuttle mission that they weren't participating in the REAL thing. smdh

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I doubt you could tell any Astronaut who was a part of a Shuttle mission that they weren't participating in the REAL thing. smdh

Sheesh... Must we take things so literal?
Apollo is really the roots of the space program. That's all I meant.

Many here only think "Shuttle", probably because most are too young to remember the spirit behind the Apollo program.

MG

 

[sunshinemelody]

It takes roughly 45 minutes to an hour to get to KSC or Cocoa, so figure that time in. There's always a chance of an accident on the Beeline/Beachline as well, so take that into consideration since there is no other easy way to get to or from Orlando when leaving Cocoa/Canaveral. Honestly, there's not much that excites me in Cocoa, so I would plan on spending as much time as possible at KSC and if you have time left over, head to the coast, but that's me. You guys might be more beach-type people.

There also doing construction work on the Beachline at Orangewood Blvd. Traffic tends to slow down there but clears right after that. From Disney to KSC Id say prob about 115 130 should be about right time wise. Depends on what the driving habits are.

stay away from 528 between I-4 and the airport

use 417

I'm a local that drives this route regularly

stay away from 528 between I-4 and the airport ESPECIALLY during 'rush hour'

Thank you all so very much!

My boyfriend is more the driving the speed limit kind of guy and I'm "Let's do 70-80!" Since he's driving, we'll probably get there in an hour and some dependent on the traffic circumstances of the day. We're really not beach people, to be fair, we just figured since we'll be in FL why not be a Floridian and beach it out for a few hours? We'd like to get there by opening before any crowds come, if any at all, and leave for Cocoa Beach around lunchtime. My best friend is the main reason we're actually going to the beach anyway since she's from JAX.

But in the meantime since KSC opens at 9AM, we'd probably find it best to leave around 8. I'll make sure we steer clear of 528 & I-4 during rush hour. Thanks again, guys!

 

[nancipants]

Both the Apollo/Saturn V center and the Atlantis exhibit are wonderful, as were both programs. No reason for there to be a competition!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Many here only think "Shuttle", probably because most are too young to remember the spirit behind the Apollo program.

MG

I do think there is a generational component here. I am more emotionally affected by the shuttle exhibit because that was innovation that occurred in my childhood. I was in 3rd grade when the Columbia first launched and it was a huge deal. I also remember very clearly the day when I was in 8th grade and we were watching the launch when the Challenger exploded. Whereas the last Apollo flight was in late 1972, just months after I was born. For me growing up, it was a given that men could orbit the earth and land on the moon. While intellectually, I understand there is huge significance to those programs and I can be awed by the exhibits, I don't feel the same emotional attachment to them as I do to the shuttle program.

 

[brewcrew]

Maybe you can see a launch also: http://spacecoastlaunches.com/