Kennedy Space Center

[Donald is #1]

Hi everyone! I am planning on going to Kennedy Space Center during my up coming WDW trip (1.5 weeks away ). I was looking at the KSC website and I think that I would like to do Nasa Up Close Tour. So here are my questions:

1) Have you done the tour & is it awesome?

2) Am I better off trying to get an early tour (10:30 or so) or the last tour of the day (1:50)? I will probably leave WDW about 8 AM to drive to KSC. I guess I am trying to figure out if I am better off doing the tour first and then watching the IMAX movies, etc or doing the movies & other things first.

Thanks!

 

[DisneyDreamn]

yes, I have done it. It is awesome! I would try to go early and that way you won't have to feel rushed for anything else! Also sitting in the theater watching a movie is a great break in the afternoon! We were just there last month for Homeschool Day and the IMAX movies are AWESOME!
Hugs,
Reba

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We did the Up Close tour last May. It was great. I didn't really want the extra tour but my parents came along too and they wanted to. I'm so glad we did. The place is just huge (larger than all of WDW property) and it was so nice to just board a comfy bus with A/C and have them take us everywhere.
We were able to get as close as allowable to the launch pads, the Vehicle Assembly Bldg, the runway for returning, the observation area where hundreds of high def camera take multiple pictures of take off. It dropped us off at the Apollo center to finish the day on our own. A shuttle takes you back to the main visitor ctr.
There really is so much to see, we didn't even get to see the whole visitor center let alone go back across the bay to the Astronaut Hall of Fame.
We did an early tour then went on our own. We didn't want to have to worry about being in the middle of something and having to rush to get to the tour.
Have a great time!
ps. In May there were a ZILLION love bugs.

 

[englishteacha]

We went to KSC last year and had a great day. We didn't take any of the special tours, but we still didn't have time to do and see everything there was to see! Have a great time! It is HUGE.

Oh, one thing that surprised us was that food was very expensive. Plan accordingly!

 

[Donald is #1]

Thanks for the help everyone. I ordered my tickets today and I requested an early Up Close tour!

 

[Freyja]

We didn´t do it but decided to do it next time. We kind of missed it, although we hadn´t been on it before. Gets great reviews. Have fun!

 

[mom0104]

Don't miss out on the Astronaut Hall of Fame. It was my son's favorite part of visiting the Kennedy Space Center. Lots of hands on opportunities for the kids. I really enjoyed it as well.

 

[I Run Long]

We want to do KSC as well. We'll be at WDW from Sept 2-11 and will take one day to drive out there. Being Pacific northwesters, one of the deciding factors for us in choosing the extra expense of going to WDW over DL was to see KSC. I can still remember the news as a kid and watching the first moon landing! I'm dating myself now. So we'll rent a car and make the trek. I know there are toll highways there (not something we see here) - can anyone tell me the cost of the tolls? Also to anyone who has been - which tour at Kenndy would you recommend? Want to do one but not both.

 

[Donald is #1]

We want to do KSC as well. We'll be at WDW from Sept 2-11 and will take one day to drive out there. Being Pacific northwesters, one of the deciding factors for us in choosing the extra expense of going to WDW over DL was to see KSC. I can still remember the news as a kid and watching the first moon landing! I'm dating myself now. So we'll rent a car and make the trek. I know there are toll highways there (not something we see here) - can anyone tell me the cost of the tolls? Also to anyone who has been - which tour at Kenndy would you recommend? Want to do one but not both.

I will be going to KSC the week after next. So, I'll try to remember what the tolls are and then post ot for you.

 

[I Run Long]

Thanks Donald is #1! Have a great trip!!!

 

[DB&KS]

I was thinking of also booking the Up Close Tour, will I also have to buy regular adimission for the other stuff like the Imax theater?

 

[Donald is #1]

I was thinking of also booking the Up Close Tour, will I also have to buy regular adimission for the other stuff like the Imax theater?

I believe that the regular admission incuding the IMAX movies are included in the cost of the Up Close Tour.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We took the Up Close tour last May. The regular admission includes the IMAX theaters but the up close tour was an extra $20 or so. It was really worth it.

 

[keishashadow]

I enjoyed this far more than I thought I would.

Glad we took the 1st tour of the day, allowed us to take out time at the exhibits.

Never did make it to the IMAX or hall of fame; lots to keep you occupied.

 

[leanne11]

we waited until it was sort of a rainy day and the problem is the shows are timed, so the imax is about 1 1/2 hours, and then you have to have 2 hours to do the bus tour and then when you get back another show starts and that was it, that's all we fit in you need much more time to see it all, you could do soooooo much we skipped over so much it needs the whole day, my 8ds was thrilled to see it out on the tarmak,
my tip.... when you leave their is a little stand and a helper assists you with restaurants nearby, we did this because the food was really high and was not worth it...wait till you see the astronauts in full uniform walking around to take a pix, they are great

 

[Donald is #1]

We want to do KSC as well. We'll be at WDW from Sept 2-11 and will take one day to drive out there. Being Pacific northwesters, one of the deciding factors for us in choosing the extra expense of going to WDW over DL was to see KSC. I can still remember the news as a kid and watching the first moon landing! I'm dating myself now. So we'll rent a car and make the trek. I know there are toll highways there (not something we see here) - can anyone tell me the cost of the tolls? Also to anyone who has been - which tour at Kenndy would you recommend? Want to do one but not both.

I used 2 different paths for my trip out & back. I was staying at the AKL and used the I-4 path going to KSC and the 417 path on the way back. It took me about 1 hour 10 minutes for the trip to KSC. I got there just at 9 AM. I forgot to check the time on the way back but it may have been a little shorter.

Tolls:
I-4 & Beeline = $2.75 each way ( 2 $0.75 tolls plus a $1.25)

417 & Beeline (to AKL) = $3.75 (4 tolls: $1.25, $1, $1, $.50) where the $0.50 toll was exact change only.

By the way, I loved the up close tour. They ended up moving the shuttle to the pad on the day of my tour and luckily enough it was almost on the pad when I tour was near the pads so we got a really good view of the shuttle!

 

[Donald is #1]

Update to everyone who offered advice:

First of all Thank you!!! I really enjoyed the Up Close tour & KSC in general. I can't believe how much it has changed since my last visit. (20 years ago .. I shouldn't be surprised at the changes! ).

I left AKL at 7:50 and pulled into the parking lot at KSC at just about 9 AM. I had ordered my tickets on line with pick up at will call since it was only a few days before my trip. When I got to the ticket window to get my tickets, I was able to move my Up Close tour up to the first tour of the day (9:50). I lucked out that day because they decided to move the shuttle (Atlantis - 6/8 expected launch) to the pad that morning & it was almost all the way on the pad!). So we got an excellent view of the shuttle on the pad. I also enjoyed the Apollo/Saturn exhibit and the Internation Space Station exhibit. I only had time for one of the 3-D IMAX shows so I went to the one on the International Space Station.

Overall, an awesome day!

 

[I Run Long]

I used 2 different paths for my trip out & back. I was staying at the AKL and used the I-4 path going to KSC and the 417 path on the way back. It took me about 1 hour 10 minutes for the trip to KSC. I got there just at 9 AM. I forgot to check the time on the way back but it may have been a little shorter.

Tolls:
I-4 & Beeline = $2.75 each way ( 2 $0.75 tolls plus a $1.25)

417 & Beeline (to AKL) = $3.75 (4 tolls: $1.25, $1, $1, $.50) where the $0.50 toll was exact change only.

By the way, I loved the up close tour. They ended up moving the shuttle to the pad on the day of my tour and luckily enough it was almost on the pad when I tour was near the pads so we got a really good view of the shuttle!

Thanks Donald is #1. That is fabulous! I am so grateful for the information. I'm glad you had a great trip out to KSC. I'm really looking forward to it. We're going to do the Up Close tour as well. I hope I luck out like you did and get to see the Shuttle. How was the drive in terms of signposting going out to KSC and returning to AKL? Was it well marked out?

 

[Donald is #1]

I Run Long, yes, everything was very well signed. I printed out the directions from the KSC website, but in reality I didn't use them much. From AKL, I followed the signs for I-4 East (all well marked) and once I got to the Beeline, the signs for KSC were very good. I basically just followed the signs. Coming back was also well signed but I think in the future, I will come back via I-4.

Within WDW itself, I found everything well signed. I used the WDW buses to go to the parks but I used my rental car to go between hotels for dinner a few nights and didn't have any problems. At SSR, I asked for a map at the conceirge desk (i.e. guest services) and I kept that in the car, but I mostly just followed the signs.

 

[2angelsinheaven]

Not sure of it's name but I do know it was on the local news last week that the AHF is adding a Mission Space type ride made by the same folks who worked on the one at WDW.