Kennedy Space Center strategy for visit

[CACCCCC]

We are visiting KSC this summer when I'm sure the crowds will be horrible. Is there any strategy to visiting during peak times like there are for Disneyworld? What is included in the visitor complex ticket and what are the add on tours like? Do you get a bus tour with the visitor ticket or do you need to buy that separately? What about things we should skip that aren't that interesting?

 

[cjlvsccm]

We are visiting KSC this summer when I'm sure the crowds will be horrible. Is there any strategy to visiting during peak times like there are for Disneyworld? What is included in the visitor complex ticket and what are the add on tours like? Do you get a bus tour with the visitor ticket or do you need to buy that separately? What about things we should skip that aren't that interesting?

This site ( http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/attractions.aspx ) will detail which attractions are included in admission or cost extra.

I can't really address a crowd strategy for you. We visited the complex on the day before a launch in Nov '09, and I was surprised that the crowds were not too bad. But things may be different this year, with the last launch coming.

And we're a family of space nuts, so it was all interesting to us!

There is a limited bus tour included in regular admission, which also takes you to another building where many of the exhibits are housed. The bus runs between the sites about every 15-min, so you can linger or zip through as quickly as you want.

We also did the add-on "Today and Tomorrow" tour, which takes you as close as possible to the launch site (note -- this will be limited if the shuttle is out on the pad), and to see the crawler that takes it from the VAB to the launch pad. Also took us out to the runway where the shuttle lands. It was a lot of fun to us, YMMV.

We also enjoyed the Rocket Garden, as my Dad worked on almost all of these rockets back in the day... so we got a personal tour with "insider info" from him! The Shuttle Plaza was neat to see, and the Shuttle Launch Simulator ride was COOL!! Having done that ride made going on Orange Mission Space a piece of cake! seriously But my Dad just ate that up!

We didn't take time for an Imax movie, as we have many of the same ones locally at the US Space & Rocket Ctr.

Your ticket is good for 2 days, but does not include a launch day (those are specially priced). We only had one day, so stayed from opening to closing. You may find that you want to spend a second day there. Either way, enjoy your trip, it's really something to see!!

 

[CACCCCC]

How does the Shuttle Launch Experience ride compare to Mission Space-green or other simulator rides at Disney? I get motion sickness very easily and would be taking Dramamine for sure.

 

[T1gger]

If you get motion sickness you might want to avoid it - I thought it tame but I think Mission Space quite tame too (yet RCs freak me out!)

We did one of the tours and it was really good - I think it might be the one the PP talked about - we saw TONS of wildlife and learnt loads - and it was worth it just to see close up the BIG building, the launch sites etc

We didnt find it busy at all (at a week where WDW was up to 9's) apart from getting the bus back - the tour dropped us at another building so after you are done there you need to catch another bus back -but even then it was nowhere near Disney busy

 

[dis-happy]

How does the Shuttle Launch Experience ride compare to Mission Space-green or other simulator rides at Disney? I get motion sickness very easily and would be taking Dramamine for sure.

It's really fun and not bad at all. My 7 yr. old neice went on it---she's pretty fearful and didn't have a problem with it. GL

 

[Brian_WDW74]

Since this thread isn't about the Walt Disney World theme parks, I've moved it to the Orlando Hotels and Attractions board.