Just Watched the Shuttle launch from OKW

[RobDoc]

It was spectacular, as are all night launches. We could see the orange glow from the main rocket thru the trees and then a few seconds after rising above the trees, the 2nd stage kicked in and the ship looked like a large moving star in the sky.

We have now seen 8 launches over the years - about 50/50 daytime/nighttime. Sad to think this will likely be our last opportunity to view a launch from WDW. There are only 3 more launches (5/14, 7/29, 9/16) before the shuttle program is phased out for good.

The sky is beginning to lighten for dawn and it looks like another beautiful day coming. Off to MK again today with 3 granddaughters for lunch at CRT and then on to AK for the evening.

 

[edk35]

Ahhhh how nice. I bet that is so cool to watch. Lucky you!! Enjoy CRT and MK with your granddaughters.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We had the honor of seeing both a night and a day shuttle launch from WDW as well, and we too are sad to see them go by the wayside.

Rob, I think you chose a better time to travel than we did. At least you have been warmer than we were two weeks ago.

 

[SusieBea]

Funny - As I watched the launch on TV, I was wondering if you were down there and able to see it. We saw one launch from the lounge at O'hanna's years ago. It was a memorable experience.

Enjoy your time w/ your grandchildren. It's like seeing the Magic Kingdom for the first time all over again.

 

[DizGirl20]

Oh that is so cool!

That is something that I have always wanted to see in my lifetime but not so sure I will now. We will be at the Beach Club arriving May 15th... maybe the next launch will be postponed and we will get to see it.

Enjoy your day with your granddaughters. Looks like terrific weather down there

 

[edk35]

Dang we will miss the July one by a couple of days. We leave for home on the 27th from Vero.

 

[iwrbnd]

We are hoping to see the July launch!!!

 

[jekjones1558]

We watched on TV this morning and it sure was nothing like being there! Thanks for posting, Doc. I hope that all went well for tink fan, who was bringing her kids to the causeway to see it. I am watching for her post to report back. I think they were driving home right after the launch so it probably will be a day or so before we hear from her. Glad for all of you who got to see this amazing sight! Have fun at CRT, Doc!

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

I am so glad you were able to experience this thrill again. We too experienced a launch back in November. We didn't even know it was to occur, but when we walked out of the American pavilion at Epcot it was directly in front of us! It was a surreal moment--everyone stopped and watched it in awe. Truly a fantastic experience that we will never forget.

 

[DenLo]

Another regret I have that we did not purchase our DVC membership before last May, is that we will never get to see a shuttle launch live. Being of the the Star Trek generation somehow the ending of the space shuttle missions really saddens me. Somehow it makes me think that in my live time live missions will never happen again.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

 

[alexandmaddie]

We had just gotten off a cruise in 2006 and we were headed for the airport. Traffic was at a standstill in Cape Canaveral because there was a launch that morning. We pulled over, got out of our car and were able to watch the space shuttle launch from across the water. It was one of the neatest things that I have ever seen. We just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

 

[dis-happy]

We drove down from HH so we could be in Titusville watching this morning! Fantastic!!!! Have seen a few launches but this was my first night launch. So glad that moved the time back to when it was still dark. The contrails that were lit up by the rising sun were spectacular; if the pictures came out I'll try to post one (my ds was shooting as I was driving).

 

[Ronald Duck]

Here is a link to two great pics (Cinderella Castle and shuttle) that can be found on the Disney Parks Blog:

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...-over-cinderella-castle-at-walt-disney-world/

 

[cpdwiz]

Do you know the time of the may 14th launch? We will be there

 

[jekjones1558]

Do you know the time of the may 14th launch? We will be there

Currently 2:28 PM, EDT. Here is a link so you can follow any changes to the schedule:
http://www.nasa.gov/missions/highlights/schedule.html

 

[Checkers]

So cool! We will be there for the 5/14 launch and hopefully it won't be postponed because we are leaving 5/16. Enjoy the rest of your stay at one of our favorite resorts!

 

[5forDiz]

Wow !! What an absolutely priceless day...CRT with your 3 ~and~ space shuttle launch ! Enjoy !!

 

[famsen]

We watched this morning (our first ever) from the marina at Wilderness Lodge. We didn 't stay on points this trip. I am so glad we got up early to watch.
That orange glow from the shuttle behind the trees was like a sunrise.
It was so beautiful. Did any of you see the International Space Station pass overhead from south to north just 15 minutes before the launch?
I knew it was going to pass overhead and I had seen it before from my home in Chicago, but this time the space station was so bright and it was so bright for so long.
Then the amazingly beautiful rainbow colored trail the shuttle left for an hour afterward was fantastic. This was a great day for me!

 

[MiaSRN62]

Pretty terrific Doc. We've seen a nighttime launch once before from OKW. Hope you continue to have a great time in WDW

Thanks for that link Ronald Duck

Maria

 

[MommaSnowwhite]

Hey famsen we are at the Villas at Wilderness!

We left our wonderful villa last night at 10 pm to watch the launch from the causeway (via Kennedy Space Center). It was spectacular! The drive back, however was 4 hours . We got back to our villa around noon today.

Seeing the launch close was a bucket list item for my DH.