KSC Bus Tour

[Leigh123]

I only have about 5 hours to tour KSC, I think I read the bus tour takes up 2 1/2 hours of it, is it worth it? Someone told me there is only 2 stops and you are on the tour for over 2 hours????

Can anyone shed any light? Thanks in advance!

 

[Hockeychic]

but I wanted to know the answer to this also. My DH and DS will be going there while my DD and myself hang around the beach..... and he doesn;t know which tour to take.

Thanks

 

[spiceycat]

we went to space center - once - I had been to the one in Huntsville already and I thought the KSC would be similar - wrong - the planes, space shuttles, and other stuff at Huntsville you could actually touch and get in - but KSC - they have guards around it - now Huntsville might have changed since 9/11 - but it was alot more fun!!!

we took the shuttle - it was okay - they took you to the old places that are shut down now and you saw alot - but most of it was on the bus. they also took you a very good view of the shuttle take off - don't know about the new security - this might not be possible now.

 

[propchick]

Yes, the bus tour really is 2.5 hours long.

The poopy thing now is that ALL tickets into KSC include the bus tour and the IMAX movies, so your cheapest ticket is going to like $33.00, no matter what you see or don't see.

If you've got children who aren't space buffs with you, I'd plan on skipping the bus tour. You might try to do the Dinner With An Astronaut thing instead. There's really not a whole lot to see at the Visitor's Center, since they've created the Apollo center that you visit halfway through the bus tour.

I come from a very science-buff-heavy family, and we only managed to spend 3 hours there, including lunch and an hour in the gift shop.

 

[LKS]

We did the bus tour when our kids were 8, 6 and 3 and they were kind of bored. Still, it's a good way to see a lot over a lot of territory. They did like the exhibits more.

 

[theycallmewinnie]

We went to KSC a month ago and loved it! My boys who are 7 and 9 thought it was very interesting even after doing Universal, an airboat ride, a boat ride through Wakulla Springs, beaches, etc. The bus tour is definitely a must.

We did it first thing in the morning and were well ahead of the crowds. It took us right past the vehicle assembly building where we could see the fuel booster waiting for the shuttle. It goes right over the road they move the shuttle over and we saw the vehicles they use to move it. The Apollo control building is also a driveby. One of the cool things on the bus tour is that they put the Apollo control room into a theatre and they stage a liftoff. The bus tour also brings you to viewing areas so that you can see the launch pads and has a place to touch a moonrock. We did just one of the IMAX movies, the bus tour, about 3/4 of the other presentations/displays and the nearby museum (which was very cool) in about 6 hours. The nearby museum has about 5 simulators at the end of it - very intense!

The ticket price was inclusive. Security was strict upon entering (they had metal detectors and looked through all of our bags, examined cameras, etc.) but there was no other "guarding" of things. Have a great time - Kennedy was one of the highlights of our trip and is still something my 9 year old speaks in awe of.

 

[safetymom]

I recommend the tour. When you hop off to look at something you can take the next bus that comes along. If you find yourself running out of time just stay on the bus and you will get back to the starting point.

 

[Leigh123]

Okay now I am confused...is the bus tour not a guided tour? It just takes you from point to point and you tour those sections on your own?

 

[safetymom]

You can jump on and off the bus. They talk about the area on each bus but if you don't want to stop and see an area you can just stay on the bus. They tell you there is a bus every 10 mins. or so.