Kennedy Space Centre
- Thread starter MazdaUK
- Start date
You can buy admission before you get there - but as we found you still have to queue up at the main entrance to exchange the vouchers for real 'tickets' - so we may as well have queued and paid on the door. Not sure if anyone actually issues real 'tickets' for the KSC other than their own offices. As for busy times, we've been there 4 times now and its so spread out with buses running all the time that it never seems crowded.
The shuttle's return to flight is scheduled for 15 May, and the launch window extends to 3 June. We're going 17 May-1 June, so we might get to see a launch!
I guess it gets incredibly busy during a launch (especially the first one in two years), although I believe you can get a half-decent view in Titusville. Has anyone here visited KSC for a launch?
I guess it gets incredibly busy during a launch (especially the first one in two years), although I believe you can get a half-decent view in Titusville. Has anyone here visited KSC for a launch?
calvinjtodd
Florida Veterans since 1995
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2003
- Messages
- 100
Atraction tickets direct do Kennedy for £17, they say they issue tickets NOT vouchers. You may still have to queue as the last time we went they were really thorough on the searching, even down to showing them that your electrical equipment was real very much like the airpot only tighter.
Weve seen three launches, first one from the beach in the dead of night parked at the side of the highway with the sea lapping up around your feet! just follow the traffic.
The last time we purchased a visitors pass from the space centre two days before the launch they give you a big pink pass for your dashboard this gets you through all the road blocks. You then get on a coach at the space centre and they take U to banana river which is about 7 miles from the launch site, this is apparently the safest minimum distance should anything go wrong at launch!
We also watched the one with John Glen, the traffic was impossible and you could not get close, maybe as this next launch is the first for a couple of years it will be the same.
But all this could have changed as the space centre have really tightened up since 9/11 and some of the tour bits have even been stopped.
Whatever happens it is an experience of a lifetime and you will never forget the feeling as the sound wave hits you and the smoke trails in the sky, especially at dawn as the sun comes up and turns them bright reds.
Calvin & Anne
Weve seen three launches, first one from the beach in the dead of night parked at the side of the highway with the sea lapping up around your feet! just follow the traffic.
The last time we purchased a visitors pass from the space centre two days before the launch they give you a big pink pass for your dashboard this gets you through all the road blocks. You then get on a coach at the space centre and they take U to banana river which is about 7 miles from the launch site, this is apparently the safest minimum distance should anything go wrong at launch!
We also watched the one with John Glen, the traffic was impossible and you could not get close, maybe as this next launch is the first for a couple of years it will be the same.
But all this could have changed as the space centre have really tightened up since 9/11 and some of the tour bits have even been stopped.
Whatever happens it is an experience of a lifetime and you will never forget the feeling as the sound wave hits you and the smoke trails in the sky, especially at dawn as the sun comes up and turns them bright reds.
Calvin & Anne
Hello,
There is a launch of a Mars orbiter on Aug 10th (our last day) and am trying to get DF to go see it.
He doesnt seem to keen on the idea at the moment but am working on him! I mean are we ever ever going to see a space launch again?!?!
Ely3857
There is a launch of a Mars orbiter on Aug 10th (our last day) and am trying to get DF to go see it.
He doesnt seem to keen on the idea at the moment but am working on him! I mean are we ever ever going to see a space launch again?!?!
Ely3857
Just back from WDW. We bought out Kennedy tiockets on the door (not a very long line) and purchased a combo ticket that included admission to the Astronaut Hall of Fame for only US$7 extra each.
We met up with DS and family (DS BIL and DNeph x 3 DNce x 1) as soon as we got in - couldn't have planned it better if we'd said meet at turnstile at x o'clock! - and went round as a pack. Opinion was split by age and sex - husbands and oldest boys (both 11) loved every minute, 3 youngest boys (7, 5 and 5) spent most time chasing each other in and out of the capsule-shaped photo booths, but loved the big rockets and myself, DS and Dnce(nearly 10) were more interested in the eagles, alligators, manatees we saw along the way, and catching up on our vacation so far.
TIP: the site is huge and moves everyone around by shuttle buses similar to Disney transportation. Go ot the furthest stop first, as there are lots of buses early on but when we finished the last stop we had to wait ages to return to the base. Also, although the Space Shop at the base is the largest, some things are not available so look round the big shop first and then if you see something at the other stops then you know you can buy them without worrying there is something better at base (Dh saw a jacket and DNeph 11 a Lego set which were unavailable at base, and as it was already 4.45 too late to go back and get them).
Hall of Fame quite inspiring, and some fun activities but we skipped the film as the few minutes we saw were to sugary for us!
We met up with DS and family (DS BIL and DNeph x 3 DNce x 1) as soon as we got in - couldn't have planned it better if we'd said meet at turnstile at x o'clock! - and went round as a pack. Opinion was split by age and sex - husbands and oldest boys (both 11) loved every minute, 3 youngest boys (7, 5 and 5) spent most time chasing each other in and out of the capsule-shaped photo booths, but loved the big rockets and myself, DS and Dnce(nearly 10) were more interested in the eagles, alligators, manatees we saw along the way, and catching up on our vacation so far.
TIP: the site is huge and moves everyone around by shuttle buses similar to Disney transportation. Go ot the furthest stop first, as there are lots of buses early on but when we finished the last stop we had to wait ages to return to the base. Also, although the Space Shop at the base is the largest, some things are not available so look round the big shop first and then if you see something at the other stops then you know you can buy them without worrying there is something better at base (Dh saw a jacket and DNeph 11 a Lego set which were unavailable at base, and as it was already 4.45 too late to go back and get them).
Hall of Fame quite inspiring, and some fun activities but we skipped the film as the few minutes we saw were to sugary for us!
We looked at their we-site and booked our 'Lunch with an astronaut' there and I think it asked us what ticket etc. and we just handed over credit card at the ticket kiosk - all in all only took a couple on mins. We did enjoy the lunch, especially the children although did not think that much of the food!
Obi Wan Kenobi
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2004
- Messages
- 3,938
One time, doing the "keys to the Kingdom" tour of WDW, the party stopped to see the launch from the backstage area at magic Kingdom. Quiet a fantastic sight to see the vapour and flame trail going over the top of Cinderellas castle!
yes, you can see it from MK!
yes, you can see it from MK!
You can register and apply for launch tickets at the Kennedy Space Center 's website. Don't hold your breath though as I'm told these go very quickly.
In 2002 went just outside Titusville to a place called Veterans cove ( about 8 miles from the cape) where yhey have a memorial to the austronauts who have died and hand prints in concrete of living ones. This was organised by Gator tours. I don't know what time the shuttle is due for launch but IMO it pays to have someone know how to avoid the queues that are bound to occur and one last thing - get there early - very early to get a good spot.
Have fun and enjoy.
Eric
In 2002 went just outside Titusville to a place called Veterans cove ( about 8 miles from the cape) where yhey have a memorial to the austronauts who have died and hand prints in concrete of living ones. This was organised by Gator tours. I don't know what time the shuttle is due for launch but IMO it pays to have someone know how to avoid the queues that are bound to occur and one last thing - get there early - very early to get a good spot.
Have fun and enjoy.
Eric
Oh my gosh! how could I have forgotten, quite by chance a few years ago we stood in Seaworld carpark and watched a shuttle launch, the children thought it was fantastic. You really only see a red blob (very technical description) and lots of vapour, I wouldn't think that you would see that much more closer up though it was a great experience everyone was just standing around clapping and cheering!
rosiejo
<marquee><font color=orange>Wonky Chick</marquee><
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carl_w said:
I've seen a couple but not from KSC - can't remember where we watched from but the photos are quite cool a burning blob of light!
We must have done Kennedy a few days before as I have pics of the shuttle close up coming out of the VAB on that massive shuttle carrier thing.
We also caught a landing too - think we were at Belz - but not sure might be wrong - there were crowds of people and they had the radio on and then this little speck appeared in the sky and everyone cheered! Great atmosphere, pity they won't happen as often now.
Daniel&family
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2004
- Messages
- 94
In answer to the OP's question, I disagree with other posters.
The prices at the gate are adult $37, Child $27 and even at a favourable exchange rate of $1.90 to £1 it would equate to £19.47(adult)/£14.21(child).
Attraction Tickets Direct sell them at £17(adult)/£12(child) and they are actual tickets not vouchers. I have recently bought these tickets and received them within a week.
n.b. these are Maxim Access tickets, but they also do Dine with an Astronaut etc.
Yours
Daniel
The prices at the gate are adult $37, Child $27 and even at a favourable exchange rate of $1.90 to £1 it would equate to £19.47(adult)/£14.21(child).
Attraction Tickets Direct sell them at £17(adult)/£12(child) and they are actual tickets not vouchers. I have recently bought these tickets and received them within a week.
n.b. these are Maxim Access tickets, but they also do Dine with an Astronaut etc.
Yours
Daniel
christi said:
See my earlier post on this thread. Most hotels on I-drive etc will have an organised trip. We booked through Virgin and it was one of their coaches who took us there.
For the shuttle launch I booked with Gator Tours who again organised a coach to collect and return us.
Eric
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