Kennedy Space Center ??????

[Mogs30]

Hi everyone, Know this is not a disney question, but not sure where else to post it.

Can people give me opinions on if Kennedy space center is worth it to go, and if you went, what package-tour did you do?????. My DH has not put in any input at all on this trip, but did say he would like to do Kennedy. This will be our 1st trip to Florida and we will have a group of 9 going, youngest being 7 years. We are NOT renting a car, so would have to have yourride take us, and I think he told me about $100.00 for RT. We are going to be in Florida for 9 nights, and 2 of those days will be used at Universal and sea world. Thanks for any input anyone can give me on this.

 

[Meriweather]

It was worth doing it once (my DH really wanted to go)....but we won't go again.

It's definitely NOT Disney.
I found it kind of boring. There are some interesting things to look at. The Saturn and the Rocket Gardens and a space shuttle.
Some movies to watch. Very little hands on. I describe it as "flat".

We did the Up Close tour.....that was the best part of the day!
It is a definite must do. Very interesting.

My DH was very interested (he had interned with NASA as a college student and his father worked for NASA for many, many years), but we finished about 2:00 and headed out.

 

[MNT568]

We went to the Kennedy Space Center about 6 years ago and I thought it was great! I can't wait to take my DS when he is a little older. I don't remember the exact tour we took but I if I remember correctly there were several options. We took a bus tour that went all around the center, it took us out to see the launch pad (the shuttle was on the launch pad that day), they stop to let you out to take some pictures. There is an area where they have different types of space vehicles. There is a memorial to the Challenger crew. We also saw some animals, an Eagle (and her nest with babies in it), an alligator. I know there was also a tour that included a film and I believe there was one geared toward kids.

There is a kids video by Kid Vision called "There Goes A Spaceship" that was filmed at the Kennedy Space center, it shows a good bit of what you can see while on tour. It may help you to decide if it is worth it to you to make the trip out there. I have seen it at Blockbuster for rent.

 

[cindybear]

We went to Kennedy Space Center last summer and had a great time! We went on the UP Close tour, I recommend doing one of the tours as you get to see allot more of the space center and the bus is air conditioned. The space center is also a wild life preserve and you will see and learn about area wildlife on the tour also. We got to get as close as allowable to a shuttle on the launch pad. DH and I are a bit of space program nut and my dad build the engines for the Saturn moon missions so we found everything very interesting. Our two DD 11 and 7 had a great time there also and it was a great learning experience for them. We would go back again.
One word of caution though, DO NOT order tour tickets in advance. Those tours are subject to being canceled depending on what rockets are on the launch pad and tickets are not refundable. We were able to talk them into changing our Then and Now tour tickets to the UP Close tour but it took an hour and they really did not have to do it. I would recommend calling ahead for tour schedules then getting there before they open to purchase tickets.

 

[hmhanel]

We have gone to KSC twice in the last two years. The first time we went we did the basic admission which included the Visitors Complex (lots of displays and videos, display of rockets, space shuttle, 2 IMAX theaters, gift shop; plus the KSC Tour (a bus trip to the Apollo/Saturn V Center, LC39 Observation Gantry, and Intl Space Station Center). It was a full day and both my DW and DS (5 at the time) enjoyed it!

Last year we went to see a shuttle launch and had breakfast with an astronaut, took the KSC Tour (The ISSC is no longer part of the tour since 9/11 ) and then boarded busses to go to the launch viewing area. It was great but the launch was scrubbed at T minus 2 min. . There are no refunds if a launch gets scrubbed, so be prepared for that.

Cost of admission if $26 for adults and $16 for 3-11 y/o.

Admission and launch tickets are $51.50 for adults and $ 41.50 for 3-11 y/o. If a launch is scheduled and you want to see it, order tickets ASAP!

Here is the KSC web site; www.kennedyspacecenter.com/ (you can get more info on what's there as well as upcoming launch dates, other packages, etc)

Good luck and enjoy

 

[Mogs30]

Sounds like this is something to put on the do list. Glad everyone had great experiences with it. Also educational for kids.

 

[CanBeGrumpy]

You can get a 40% discount on a "maximum access badge" with a losing scratch-off lottery ticket called "Play Fla Usa". Details are on the site flalottery.com. Off to the right there is a section titiled "Hot Topics" Click on "Play FLA USA discount offers". Look under Central Florida and you will see 40 % off the maximum access badge. I have no idea what that particular ticket entitles you to, but 40% sounds like a good discount! I am pretty sure this is available to everyone and not just Florida residents, but I could be wrong! HTH someone!