OT but exciting for the Aug event

[Mickey527]

This is way off topic but I thought you would all want to know.
There will be a shuttle Discovery launch on August 9th at 5:38 p.m.
I have always wanted to see a launch, this will be great. Leslie said that a great viewing site is at the Boardwalk. Does anyone else have any special place where the launch can be seen? I would love to drive closer to the actual site, but I might miss out on some pins if I do. Peggie

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

I know the California Grille is atop the Contemporary. Do they have an observation deck up there?

 

[wvrevy]

AWESOME !!!!!!!

I will find out all the info I can on the launch and post it here for my fellow astronaut wanna-be's

That is GREAT news !!!! Geez, and I thought I couldn't get more excited about the Event...lol

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

On our trip in May there was a shuttle launch at about 6:30 AM. We drove East on some toll road (might have been the Beeline), until we were about 10 miles from the Cape. At that point, lots of people were just pulling off the road on to the grassy shoulders. We got off at the last exit, went about 1-2 blocks and then pulled off on to the shoulder.

We had a clear view of the rocket going straight up (looks like a fireball), and could even (barely) see them drop the extra fuel tank.

I've never experienced an earthquake, but I imagine it feels a lot like the shaking we could feel even though we were 10 miles away.

It was all very cool.

 

[wvrevy]

Ok....As of right now, August 9th is still a "tentative" launch date, so it may happen while we're there or it may not. Mission STS-105 of Space Shuttle Discovery will be taking 2 Russians and 1 American astronaut to replace the current crew aboard the international space station, as well as carrying along a new Multi-Purpose Logistcs module to be installed on the station.

You have NO idea how much you made my day by posting this, Peggy Obviously, Matt's pretty happy about it as well, judging by all that jumping going on...lol...I found the above info on Nasa's site, so if anyone else is interested, you can get all the info there. Below is a drawing of the module they'll be taking up to attach to the station (a little taste for all you space nuts like me out there ). Here's hoping that, for once, Nasa keeps to the schedule !!!

 

[megashark]

Obi-

There is an observation area on the contemporary where you can watch the fireworks from. But I'd suggest that you check with the concierge, because I believe that the elevator is locked off from opening on that floor except when the restaurant is open.

They may change that for the launch, or on the other hand they may just let you know another way to get there, and you might have the place to yourself. (uh..and I guess the other million people reading this board....)

 

[NHMickey]

I saw one last year from in front of the BW... It was very cool...

 

[shirley 38]

Dang my little astrounaut will not be there until 9 pm that night. But we did see Sally Ride go up from the observation deck of the comtempory.
As far as it being open. At that time I should think dinner or happy hour is going on.

 

[JamesD]

Linda and I are hoping to pull ourselves away from the pin event long enough to drive to Cape Canaveral and watch the launch up close and personal. We have a parking pass to get us on the NASA Causeway, which I understand is about 3-5 miles from the launch pad. (It helps to work for NASA!) Then we have to fight the traffic to get back to WDW. I'm just afraid of how long all of that running around will take, and how many pin releases will we miss while we are gone! We've been trying to catch a shuttle launch since we started coming to WDW in 1986. I'm afraid we aren't very good luck! There's always some sort of delay or cancellation that causes us to miss the launch. We'll just have to keep are fingers crossed this time!

 

[Brise Nannie]

How exciting!!! I wish I was gonna be there to see it.

 

[Mickey527]

Oh James, you are so lucky. I am going to become your very best friend. Maybe we can rent a van for the day and take everyone. Let's see, do they sell vans that seat 5,000?
I have also wanted to see a launch for years, and the two times I have planned vacations around launches they were both scrapped. I was on the highway almost there once with the kids in the car complaining about how I had woken them up for .... blah, blah.... I tuned them out...
I am so excited about the chance to finally see a launch. I hope they allow us to purchase the pins later in the evening on that day. I am going to be outside waiting and watching.
Someone who is good with directions will have to tell me which way to look. Are there any old boy scouts out there? Peggie

 

[YodasMom]

I saw a satellite launched from the Cape from a balcony on the opposite side of the California Grill a couple of years ago at about 8:00 PM. It was a good viewing area, but of course, it was dark since it was in the winter. I'd love to see The Discovery launch, too. Gosh, there is just too much going on!!

 

[Figment2]

Will the launch still be visible considering the time?

Cyn

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

James,

We had considered using the special access pass for the March launch. However, you have to be in the special viewing area two hours before scheduled launch time. Since the March launch was set for about 6:30 AM that was out of the question for us. Two hours ahead of 5:30 PM sounds more reasonable.

I hope you enjoy the view.

 

[mickey2000]

It was very loud and neat to see! My wife and I saw it from the deck of the Disney Magic at Port Caneveral.
Here are two pics....

<img src=http://content.communities.msn.com/isapi/fetch.dll?action=view_photo&ID_Community=ebayboye&ID_Topic=2&ID_Message=95>

<img src=http://content.communities.msn.com/isapi/fetch.dll?action=view_photo&ID_Community=ebayboye&ID_Topic=2&ID_Message=94>

 

[Dom13]

Great pics Mickey 2000!!!!! It would be really cool to see one go off. Her's hoping it gets delayed a few hours, or even a day or 2. I should be on the plane at that point maybe I'll be able to see it from up there.

Peggie, if your at the Contemporary look out the back in the general direction of River Country & Fort Wilderness.

 

[BeautyLLM]

OMG Peggie!!!!!

I am just a little bit excited about this!!!!!

Watching the shuttle lift off is the coolest thing!! We will definitely be able to see it in daylight. I was at Amelia Island once when the shuttle took off. It was around 2 in the afternoon, a sunny day on the beach, and the fireball was so bright, you could hardly look at it!

This trip just keeps getting better and better!!!

YIPPEE!!! 20 days til WDW!!!!!!!

Leslie

 

[Crazytrack27]

We did the Fantasmic dinner and preferred seating package in Dec. of 1999. As we were walking the path "behind the scenes", we had a totally cool view of the launch. Amazing.

 

[Mickey7811]

We were there in February when they had a launch and we stood on the beach at the Contempary hotel.

It was a great veiwing site - we could hear it and we could see it and I think we could even smell it. It was beautiful.

The smoke from the shuttle looked like a rainbow and we could even see them dropping the stages of the rocket - or maybe the boosters - well we saw something drop off.

Everyone cheered - it was a Magical moment at Disney.

Darlene

 

[Mickey527]

Well now I am even more bummed. I hope this launch goes off as planned. I keep hearing form people who have seen a launch and I have wanted to see one for years and years and never have.
Leslie, Cynthia, Richie, , all saw launches, and I haven't. Well this time, I am going to get the best view I can and watch until the smoke clears.
do you think they will delay the pin events for a few minutes so we can all see. I don't want to miss that either.... Peggie