KSC hints/before cruise advise

[rae519]

Since we will be driving this cruise, we are planning a side trip to Kennedy Space Center before our cruise. Any hints or suggestions from those who have been there before?

Thanks in advance!
Rae

(P.S. - I would have posted this on the Community Board, but with it's proximity to the Port - I felt more cruisers would have gone there and been able to answer the question for me)

 

[NCRedding]

We did KSC after our cruise in 2002. I would recommend that you get there early, buy your tickets in advance if possible (we waited in line for tickets over 25 minutes). If you plan on seeing an IMAX movie, get in line at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the movie. We didn't do the indepth tour, which I think is $20 per person extra, because it wasn't offered that day. I have heard that this is worth the extra money. A funny note, we were not happy by the time we finally got into the space center, after waiting for tickets and the one security guard working, so when they took our picture, none of us looked very pleasant. Imagine our surprise when we saw they were using our pic on computer screens in all the stores in the center--my only guess is that NONE of the other pic taken that day turned out or they wouldn't have used ours.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

Ditto what NCRedding has said - Get there early! We did KSC after our cruise and arrived just shortly after they opened. We went straight to the busses and did the tour then came back to the Imax. By the time we were done with the Imax the lines were REALLY long for everything - but we just had a leisurely lunch and were on our way!

 

[CRB#33]

We went the end of June last year after our cruise. We were there a bit before opening. It really wasn't that crowded that day. It was a Friday. I would imagine that during the school year, you would run into many class trips.

We did one of the IMAX shows in the morning, the kids show, walked around.

When we purchased our tickets, they asked if we wanted to pay extra and have a buffet lunch with an astronaut. We decided to do this. With two boys, ages 11 and 12, we thought it would be a hit. The food was okay, but the experience was a good idea. The astronaut (I forget his name) was the first European (French, not Russian) Cosmonaut. He spoke for a while and then answered many questions. You could then get your picture taken with him. It was pretty neat, but it takes up several hours in the middle of the day.

We did the bus tour after that which we really enjoyed (hint--look for alligators and other wildlife on the sides of the road on the tour) KSC is on a protected wildlife reserve.

What we never saw was the space shuttle and the wall of remembrance of the astronauts that have perished. By the time the bus tour was over, we just didn't have time to get there.

It was a very nice day. I'm so glad we did it.

 

[outahere]

My best advice is to get there early and allow for plenty of time. We didn't get there until late morning, and didn't have time to see everything before they closed. With all of the displays, movies and the bus tour, there is a lot to see. I don't remember the admission price, but it was not cheap, so you may as well spend as much time as you can, to get your money's worth.

 

[abitjaded]

Dave's site has a lot of good NASA links. If you should be going on a launch date, expect huge crowds and closures. Click on NASA on the left side bar.

http://www.dcltribute.com/links/

Carla

 

[AnnMorin]

Rae try posting on the orlando board, they have lots of info about florida attactions.. hey didn't you just go a while ago? Are you giving Barb a run for the title of "cruise queen"

 

[rae519]

Barb is Queen of the Wonder - I'm think I'm in the running for Princess of the Magic...there has to be someone else out there with more Magic time than I have!!!!

Ann - I only left Orlando on August 9 - come on! Give me a break!
Do you really expect me to be in Hoosierville this long and not have at least one escape planned?
Hey, they shot down Daylight Savings AGAIN in Indiana - go figure we will all be different times again this fall and don't ask me what counties - half are one and half are the other -

Thanks for the info on NASA - we are going to be there early on a Thursday, hopefully we will get everything in except lunch with the astronaut (takes too much time and I don't have any intelligent questions to ask one).

Looking forward to being there also - and THINKING of driving through Alligator Alley - any ideas there? (Besides, don't try to pee in the tall brush)

Rae

 

[AnnMorin]

How about gatorland?

 

[Moosysmom]

Rae,
Haven't been to KSC since 2000, but I'm going to hop over there after everyone gets to port on Saturday. I'm going to invest in Resident Pass #2, KSC. I know there is a bus tour, that is the best, altho because of 9-11, there are some area's they are not allowing people into anymore. Their web site is the best, and I did see many alligators and Eagle nests driving around on the but tour. The bus tour does the Apollo area (they have one of the remaining Saturn 5 rockets there, I think there is only 1 other, and you can touch a moon rocket), then to the area where you can see the Main Launch pad's for the shuttle, and the final area is to the Internation Space Station, which is very interesting. As I was growing up during Apollo, I am a KSC nut. The tour is an on and off tour so you can spend as much time as you want in each area. There is another tour that spends more time at Canaveral and shows where alot of the rockets go up. I haven't done that tour yet, but I will now. I figure, but the time I wander around KSC (no tours this time), I will have enough time to get back to port and watch the Magic leave. I want to hear the whistle again.
Let me know if I can check something out for you while I am there.
Lynn

 

[rae519]

Wow Lynn - THANKS!

A KSC rep wrote that she would send me some information, so MAYBE I will be covered. Let me know how long a drive it is from the Port to KSC, okay? I will be checking into the Rad, Thursday 10/23 and going on 10/24. If you have some time and it's not too long a drive for you, maybe we could get together Thursday night. Keep it in mind!

Rae

 

[rae519]

Originally posted by AnnMorin
How about gatorland?

Gatorland? Is there such a place? Or are you chewing on my leg?

Rae

 

[cruisnfamily]

Rae,

Yes, there is such a place as Gatorland. I've never been but I've heard it's pretty good. I tried to access their website but it kept telling me I wasn't authorized. The website is www.gatorland.com maybe you will have better luck.

As for Alligator Alley, it's just a road, don't waste your time. It's a long boring drive from one coast to the other in So Fl and you may see some gators on the side of the road(but probably not).

KSC is minutes from the Port, maybe 15-20. Very close by. We did this the day before our cruise last year. It was very expensive but worth it I think. We did the "up close" tour and were pleased with that. We really didn't have time to do it all before DD & DS began to lose interest mid afternoon. DH could have spent days there.

Hope this helps.

 

[roelongo]

We were thinking of doing KSC the day we come off the ship. Our plane leaves at 3:30 and since we have to be off the ship so early we thought we might be able to squeeze it in. Do you think we'll have enough time?

 

[Doctor P]

No, I would not waste my time if your flight is at 3:30 pm. We did KSC after our cruise and got their pretty quickly and stayed till after 4:00 pm and were only able to scratch the surface. We had to wait in line nearly an hour to get on the bus tour, the bus tour takes about 2 hours (minimum), and there are lots of exhibits to see. It's a great place, but you need a little more time to do it justice, I think.

The International Space Station center is now closed to the tour. The tour makes two stops--the launch pad complex and the Apollo Saturn V center.

BTW, getting your "tickets" in advance is a joke--the way they have set up the system, you have to go to one of two lines out of the 10 or so lines. The problem is that they don't kick people out of those lines who are just buying tickets and so these lines end up being the longest lines and taking the longest to get through. ONE person ahead of me took more than fifteen minutes to buy their tickets. I waited 45 minutes and the line only moved three groups of people through. I was livid, since I had had to go get our car repaired and DW and DSD were inside at the Astronaut Encounter waiting for me to come in. I ended up getting there just in time because they pulled a few of us who were getting angry into another area to process us. When I complained about the system, the guest relations person said "please write a letter and tell them that--we have been complaining for a while and it's just falling on deaf ears."

Once we got inside, the day was fantastic and I would recommend KSC to all who can make the time and take the trip.

 

[AnnMorin]

yes Rae there really is a gatorland! We are going there after our cruise in december

 

[snelsonbrown]

Hello Rae,
First if you are interested, there is special rates for residence - I can go and get them for you then mail them to you - if not I do have discount tickets which will save on your tickets - the lines can be very long, but since the Columbia loss, it seems it has slowed down out there.
Just drop me a note at snelsonbrown@aol.com
Luv ya gal
Always
Shirley

 

[Moosysmom]

Rae,
I would love to meet up with you,
My hours are 4pm to Midnight, and it's about a 1 1/2 hour drive from where I am now. Let me know about the times in October and I'll see what I can do.
Lynn

 

[rae519]

Thanks Shirley - you are always there for us! I've e-mailed you the information!


Most excellent, Lynn~!!!!!!!
Then we can compare "Roger" stories!!
I'll pm you with details as they come available!

Rae