Kennedy Space Center

[Hayduke]

First time Disney Cruise coming up (yay!) out of Port Canaveral. We decided to travel down the day before for a leisurely start, and we’re also hoping to get in a trip to Kennedy Space Center.

im realizing our timing might be a little tight so I was hoping someone who has done a basic tour could shed some insight. We’re landing in Melbourne at 11am, I figure with bags and transport we probably won’t get to our hotel (Homewood Suites) until ~1pm. Drop bags, grab a quick bite then head to the space center. Realistically I cant see us getting there before 2pm, but it could be later. Is that going to be enough time? We will have 7-year olds so they probably won’t have the stamina for an extended tour but the ticket prices are kinda steep. Just not sure if it’s all going to be worth it or should we just hit the pool and go some other time.

 

[Marc D]

KSC closes much earlier than the Orlando parks (around 6PM), and a visit is a very full-day or a two-days affair. The main attraction is a bus tour that is a few hours long, plus plenty of other things to experience. I don’t think you’ll have enough time to do anything.

We visited on disembarkation day. We arrived around 9 and left around 5PM. There was still plenty to do.

 

[Jess_S]

If you skip the bus tour, you would have time to enjoy most of the other exhibits before close. When we went, we skipped the bus tour because the wait was ridiculous and we still had a nice day.

To save time, consider buying your tickets in advance and know that there is a separate ticket booth for picking up prepaid tickets. We wasted time in the regular line before figuring that out.

 

[remlap]

First time Disney Cruise coming up (yay!) out of Port Canaveral. We decided to travel down the day before for a leisurely start, and we’re also hoping to get in a trip to Kennedy Space Center.

im realizing our timing might be a little tight so I was hoping someone who has done a basic tour could shed some insight. We’re landing in Melbourne at 11am, I figure with bags and transport we probably won’t get to our hotel (Homewood Suites) until ~1pm. Drop bags, grab a quick bite then head to the space center. Realistically I cant see us getting there before 2pm, but it could be later. Is that going to be enough time? We will have 7-year olds so they probably won’t have the stamina for an extended tour but the ticket prices are kinda steep. Just not sure if it’s all going to be worth it or should we just hit the pool and go some other time.

Personally I would vote to skip and enjoy the pool. However we did a KSC one morning before our cruise. We hit a Atlantis and the bus ride in like 3 hours. A long way to saw you can see parts of it in your timeframe. I just wouldn’t recommend it. Lol

 

[Hayduke]

Thanks for the advice everyone!

Wow, I’m really glad I just double checked our dates and times because I see that I screwed up our air and we’re actually getting to Port Canaveral a full day before the cruise! So it looks like we’ll be able to have a pool day AND a KSC day.

 

[Jess_S]

That's good news. We actually really enjoyed our predays in the cocoa beach area. I hope you do too.

If you go to KSC in the morning, I would recommend either going right when it opens or waiting until mid morning. Otherwise you wind up hitting the entrance right as all the tour groups arrive and the security queue is really long.

 

[Dug720]

Thanks for the advice everyone!

Wow, I’m really glad I just double checked our dates and times because I see that I screwed up our air and we’re actually getting to Port Canaveral a full day before the cruise! So it looks like we’ll be able to have a pool day AND a KSC day.

Getting in a full day early is hardly a bad thing!

 

[Hayduke]

Getting in a full day early is hardly a bad thing!

True! Though my wife and I will need to take off an extra day of work and pull the kids out of school a day early.

 

[Hayduke]

That's good news. We actually really enjoyed our predays in the cocoa beach area. I hope you do too.

Thanks! Besides KSC, what else is there to do in the cocoa beach area? I was thinking about hitting the beach, if that’s logistically possible.

 

[Marc D]

Thanks! Besides KSC, what else is there to do in the cocoa beach area? I was thinking about hitting the beach, if that’s logistically possible.

Not much. Eating at Fishlips when the ships depart is a classic pure-cruise ritual.

 

[Hayduke]

How feasible is it to get to the beach? We’re staying at Homewood Suites. I was hoping they’d have a shuttle but I guess we can always Uber/Lyft.

 

[Dug720]

True! Though my wife and I will need to take off an extra day of work and pull the kids out of school a day early.

Understood.

BUT you never know. The flight to Miami that just left (I'm as per usual at the airport very early) was offering $1200 vouchers for 2 seats - one guaranteed seat on a later flight today (I think there are only 3 left today, mine is the next to last one - unless there is a later one than 6-something) and one tomorrow morning. Sadly, since there is only one (perhaps 2 and the other is just not on the boards yet) after mine and the Edge departs at 3:30pm, I will not be able to jump at such an offer. However, had I flown last night and was offered a flight today I would have jumped at it in a heartbeat! Sometimes that earlier flight is beneficial in more than one way.

 

[Jess_S]

If you are staying in Cocoa Beach, a beach day should be easy. Our hotel was near the beach, so we could walk. But Uber is a good option and many of the hotels have shuttles to various sights. We rented a car to be able to get to KSC and elsewhere.

In addition to KSC, there are nature reserves, the exploration tower in port Canaveral, the beach, lots of dining options, etc.

 

[fredandkell]

You can always rent a car for the day as well to get to/from the beach. There's dropoffs right by the cruise pier with shuttles to/from. But I would not do Kennedy unless you have a full day.

 

[auntrenae]

I loved KSC! A couple of highlights you don't want to miss and one warning:
1. The Saturn rocket will wow your kids! It's so huge that even the most jaded person will have their chin on the floor.
2. The rocket garden outside the exit door is really gorgeous. We left just at sunset, and got some amazing photos.
3. Warning, Do NOT eat in the 'restaurant'. The food is awful! I don't remember if it's supposed to be what they feed astronauts or not, but it's terrible, and way, way overpriced!... Also, they have 'space food' in the merchandise location, which is just freeze dried, and except for the ice cream, which is pretty cool, you can get the same thing much cheaper at Dollar Tree!