Kennedy Space Centre - Experience please

[fairytale]

Hiya All.

I am planning on taking a trip to KSC this coming October.

We have never been before and therefore I have no knowledge of the area, distance, opening times etc..

From past experience how long has it taken you to drive there in the past?, is it a full day or maybe say 3/4 ?, are there decent places to eat or are you best eating a good breakfast before hand and then eating a good dinner once you've left? Are there any nice restaurants in the surrounding area?

So many questions, thank you x

Annette

 

[Disneymadhouse]

I've only beent o KSC on a coach and think it was about an hour away from WDW. it is a good day out and they have updated the things on offer to do there. The food options are a bit limited so maybe a good breakfast would be a good idea. Do check their website though to see if there any shuttle or rocket launches otherwise you will be amongst huge crowds!
Sorry I can't help about other restaurants nearby as we just got taken there and back!

Have a good trip

Claire

 

[mcarthur205]

We visited KSC in September 2010, we had been there before but our last visit was 1993 so a lot had changed LOL. Its about an hour from WDW and very easy to find. Food options are ok, nothing special. Eat a good breakfast before you go and then you only need a snack there.

Be aware that if you want to do either of the bus tours (extra payment required) you have to have your passport with you. We didn't know this and didn't have ours. DH complained at guest services and after a lot of discussion they let us on one of the tours (we paid of course). It wasn't the one DH wanted though, as that one was sold out by the time they decided to let us go. It was also a very wet day with very poor visibility (the only wet day of our holiday) and this meant we weren't allowed to get off the bus at the viewing spots to take pics, we had to take them through the bus window and they didn't turn out very well. We're going to visit again in June (with our passports this time) so that we can do the tour we wanted last time.

There's plenty to keep you busy all day though. Enjoy your day.

 

[MarkF0wle]

We've been across to KSC on almost every vacation we've had to Disney, my best estimates is to leave an hour for travel if you are travelling yourself. Last year we booked a coach tour which meant we left earlier due to pick-ups but they knew exactly the timings required. The only problem is they scheduled the day, and we found we were clock watching too much.

The standard tour is included in the price but if you want to do the up-close tour then extra payment is required. I have done both & the up-close tour is better although if you get unlucky & there is bad weather you won't be allowed off the bus & could spoil it slightly. I would suggest if you want this tour book upfront before your trip.

One draw back of a coach tour is they will usually take you to the Hall of Fame as standard, and I think you can skip this in my opinion unless you are a HUGE space fan. Although the positive is that we did combine the KSC trip with a air-boat trip around the area. Good fun.

The food is average, but I have a picky eater with me & she found it horrible. So eat a big breakfast. Be sure not to take your life with you as they will security check everything at entry, check the website before you go as some phones (for example with GPS) are not allowed.

I'm not sure about the passport, I was there in August 2010 & I didn't need a passport. Although it's not to say they haven't changed this rule.

The two launches are in February & March so just avoid the dates & you'll be fine.

 

[Dollyrar]

I have to disagree with all of you guys about the food. We ate breakfast and lunch at Kennedy in October 2010, and they were both delicious! Breakfast was especially nice, with the coffee being to die for!

 

[CoachZ]

Although I have not been to KSC since 2003, the one thing I remember very vividly is the mosquitoes! There were swarms of them everywhere! It was raining the day I was there. Luckily an employee let me borrow her bug spray. However they did sell it at the gift shop, for 2-3 times Walmart/Target price.

As far as distance from WDW, it was about an hour. I drove to KSC from the Seaworld area. I was only at KSC about 1/2 a day. I believe I had a snack at the KSC snack bar.

After KSC I drove to Tampa and arrived before sunset.

My best advice about KSC, bring bug spray!!!

 

[mcarthur205]

I'm not sure about the passport, I was there in August 2010 & I didn't need a passport. Although it's not to say they haven't changed this rule.

They had just changed the passport rule when we went in September 2010. They said that the information was on their website but we hadn't looked there before we went. I looked recently and it does state that passports are required from non-US citizens who want to do the additional tours.

 

[disneyholic family]

KSC is much more than a day visit for us....
we were there a full day and there was so much more we could have seen - and wanted to see, but there wasn't time...

it takes about an hour to get there..
we drove and arrived just before opening....which is a good thing to do to get you a bit in front of the hordes of people who visit (we were there in the summer)..

as for food, i remember us eating sandwiches or something like that....just a quick meal.....and also snacks...nothing special, just fuel to keep your body going...

it was also very hot going between buildings since it was the summer...

 

[MarkF0wle]

They had just changed the passport rule when we went in September 2010. They said that the information was on their website but we hadn't looked there before we went. I looked recently and it does state that passports are required from non-US citizens who want to do the additional tours.

Marvellous, we are set to be going again this year so thanks for the tip!

 

[mikki.young]

Unless it has changed your entry ticket also includes Astronaut Hall of Fame (which is on the left a couple of miles down the road on the way back to Orlando) and that is worth visiting.

That passport rule is weird, wonder what made them do that?

 

[tinkandonaldfans]

So for those of you who booked the coach trip, who did you go with?

 

[LoodlesNoodles]

So for those of you who booked the coach trip, who did you go with?

We booked through Florida Dolphin Tours, they were absolutely lovely and I wouldn't hesitate to book through them again.

Food was IMO awful at KSC, worst food of our trip and most expensive, I think. Eat a really good breakfast if you can.

 

[MarkF0wle]

We also booked through Florida Dolphin Tours, and I would absolutely recommend them. Our driver was fantastic & pointed out much we didn't know about Florida/Disney/KSC on our trip there & back.

 

[Boodle]

Hiya All.

I am planning on taking a trip to KSC this coming October.

We have never been before and therefore I have no knowledge of the area, distance, opening times etc..

From past experience how long has it taken you to drive there in the past?, is it a full day or maybe say 3/4 ?, are there decent places to eat or are you best eating a good breakfast before hand and then eating a good dinner once you've left? Are there any nice restaurants in the surrounding area?

So many questions, thank you x

Annette

At least an hour each way to drive and then a good day's worth of stuff to see - young kids may not appreciate all the fab exhibits because they don't know who neil Armstrong is! Shuttle launch simulator was really good.

 

[wmah]

Went there today. Last time we went was a few years ago before shuttle launch experience was there. That was very enjoyable.

To me food is a hit or miss. If you get there too late for lunch hour the hot items may be undesirable. Cold items are not too bad but unlike Disney some of them looked like they might have been prepped the previous day. To me price for food seems a bit more than Disney.

drive time for us from I-4/192 Kissimmee was just over an hour.

 

[Louisebshp]

I agree about the food not being great - the cafe/coffee shop in the Saturn 5 hall was about the best place to grab something.

 

[Elise79]

Takes a little an hour from a Disney hotel - nice drive though.

We arrived about 10.30 and left a bit before 4 - would of left later but DD wouldn't nap in the stroller and was getting difficult.

The shuttle launch experience is good but takes around 30 mins - not great when you have 2 adults to ride and an under height child. You can do the walk through with under height children.

We actually enjoyed the food. We ate at the main CS restaurant last May and there was lots of selection. It is more expensive than Disney but not much. Previously when we have been we have eaten at the Saturn V building.

I think we will be going back this year as I want to do the Shuttle launch experience and have a proper look at the Apollo 40th Anniversary display (DD was not co-operating by that point!)

 

[Old Swan]

We went on our last day - a great end to the holiday!

I could have done two days here easily. The rest of the family had had enough after 3 hours. It was our last day and I think we were a tad theme parked out by then!

One other thing to mention in addition to the exhibits is the wildlife. We nearly ran over a pancake tortoise that had parked itself in the middle of the road. On the coach trip around the facility we spotted manatees and on the way back, there were hundreds of crocs swimming in the river next to the road. Focused the driving seeing them all there for sure

 

[fairytale]

Takes a little an hour from a Disney hotel - nice drive though.

We arrived about 10.30 and left a bit before 4 - would of left later but DD wouldn't nap in the stroller and was getting difficult.

The shuttle launch experience is good but takes around 30 mins - not great when you have 2 adults to ride and an under height child. You can do the walk through with under height children.

We actually enjoyed the food. We ate at the main CS restaurant last May and there was lots of selection. It is more expensive than Disney but not much. Previously when we have been we have eaten at the Saturn V building.

I think we will be going back this year as I want to do the Shuttle launch experience and have a proper look at the Apollo 40th Anniversary display (DD was not co-operating by that point!)

We also have children and it will be our first time at KSC. I'm quite nervous TBH about taking the children as I'm not sure if they'll really "get it".

Anyone else take children and if so how old were they?, did they enjoy it