Shuttle Launch 12/07

[tawasdave]

Maybe this has been posted before...but did all you December attendees know that there is a shuttle launch currently scheduled for 12/07/2006...not sure what time...

 

[Dznefreek]

See the historic night launch of space shuttle Discovery on December 7, 2006

Space Shuttle Discovery launch date is now targeted for
December 7, 2006

Mission: STS-116 Discovery
Launch Date: December 7, 2006 (with the window extending through December 26)
Launch Time: 9:38 PM EST

It is a night launch.

 

[prestonsmomma]

Dang it they changed the date on me. It was originally scheduled to go up on the 15th (our last day there).

 

[STEAMBOAT209]

Great news, and we'll put tbis on our schedule to keep an eye on the skies for 12/7 9:38pm, don't know how much we'll be able to see,

Any locals now just how much can be seen for WDW ?

 

[Married_A_Disney_Nut]

Has anyone ever "gone" to a launch ? I've heard that you have to pay quite a bit just to get close enough to see it. Is it worth looking into ?

 

[David R]

It can be seen pretty well from just about anywhere at WDW.

I saw the 4th of July launch at Epcot. As we came out of Mission Space, we noticed people waiting for the launch so we waited there and a few seconds later we saw it flying right over the M:S building. It was great.

Another time I saw it from MGM, so yeah, as long as you are outside and without an obstructed view (ie. trees all around you and the like), you'll see it.

 

[Lila95]

We had family picures done at the ocean during our trip. We were at Jetty Park which is a little over an hour away from WDW. It is very close to Cape Canaveral and we were told it's one of the best spots to watch the launch. We only paid $5 to park. I don't know if the price goes up if there is a launch. The beach was beautiful and there is a very nice concession area as well.

 

[Tracey1974]

Poopies- we will be off the ship by then. Hopefully we can see it at MVMCP that night through all of the falling snow!

 

[jockey]

We got ma access tickets from KSC and lunch with an astronaut for $156! Can't wait to see this launch!

We saw a shuttle launch from the TTC whilst waiting for the monorail back in November 2000, again it was nightime so you could see it pretty well!

 

[eeyoreiscool]

With a night launch, you will easily be able to see the fireball as it goes up. It is pretty distinctive and could surprise you if you didn't know a launch was happening.

 

[tawasdave]

Oh Great...I leave for back home at 6:30 pm...

 

[Quinn222]

It is a night launch.

Night launches are the best. We can always see the launches from my house but the night ones are the prettiest.

 

[mickaholic4077]

Just keep in mind that the launch could be scrubbed for any reason at any time.

 

[OHIODISNEYFAMILY]

Is it wrong that I'm hoping the launch is delayed by a few days? I'd LOVE to see this, and we're not arriving until Dec. 9th! My son is hugely into space travel (went to space camp this summer and talks shop with my aeorspace engineer uncle), and I know he'd be thrilled to pieces to see this.

Laurie in OH, mom to

Alex, 11 years old
Julianne and Leah, 10 years old
Audrey, 2 years old

WDW visits in 1973, 1986, 1987, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005!
Currently planning a December 9-16, 2006 trip!

 

[Hanover]

We are embarking on the Wonder on 12/7 for a 3 night Disney cruise and really hope it goes up on time so we can see it.

 

[tpeters80]

In Epcot which way would you see if you were by Canada?

 

[Mystry62]

Night launches are great because you can see them clearly from a far distance. Even day time launches can be seen in Tampa, so you should be able to see the night launches quite well from Disney, assuming it is not extremely cloudy.

~Hannah~

 

[rie'smom]

My daughter and I saw a daytime launch several years ago right after exiting Space Mountain!! I thought that was a real coincidence. We had no idea that a launch was even scheduled for that time. It was an extra credit moment for DD as she was able to share when she went back to school.

 

[prestonsmomma]

Is it wrong that I'm hoping the launch is delayed by a few days? I'd LOVE to see this, and we're not arriving until Dec. 9th! My son is hugely into space travel (went to space camp this summer and talks shop with my aeorspace engineer uncle), and I know he'd be thrilled to pieces to see this.

If you are wrong then so am I. I'm hoping for sometime the 10th - 15th. We went to KSC last year on our way home and DS is still talking about it. Very cool place to visit.

 

[WillCAD]

In Epcot which way would you see if you were by Canada?

From Epcot's Canada, look directly across toward Mexico.

KSC is due east from WDW, so from anywhere on WDW property all you have to do is look east. The scheduled time for this launch is 9:38pm, so if it launches on time I will be at MVMCP that night, hopefully just finished watching Wishes. By that time the other parks will probably be closed or getting ready to close, but if the launch is postponed (as they are so often), who knows where we will be when it finally lifts off? With that in mind, here are some simple directions for each park so you will know which direction to face:

In MK, Tomorrowland is the eastern side of the park - the walkway from the Hub to Tomorrowland runs directly east.

In Epcot, Future World is north, World Showcase is south, so wherever you are in the park, line up with Spaceship Earth to your left and the American Adventure to your right, and you will be looking east.

MGM is more difficult, because it doesn't have a centralized hub/spoke design like the other parks, but there are two places I can think of that face due east: Stand in front of RnRC with your back to the giant guitar, and you are facing east; stand with your back to Gertie the Dinosaur, and you are facing east. The MGM entrance plaza and Hollywood Blvd face northeast, so if you are in the entrance plaza outside the gates, stand with your back to the gates and turn 45-degrees to the right, and you are facing east.

AK is laid out better, but the vegetation makes direction finding more difficult from within the park. However, you can stand with your back to Tusker House and you will be facing slightly north of east; you can stand in the entrance plaza outside the gates, with Rainforest Cafe at your back and the gates to your left, and you are facing east.

At Downtown Disney, the West Side is to the west and Rainforest Cafe is to the east, so face RFC from pretty much anywhere at DTD and you will be facing pretty much east.

There are too many resorts to list each one, but I can list a few off the top of my head:

At Pop Century, the Classic Years are all on the east side of Hourglass Lake, so stand with the lake at your back and Classic Hall in front of you and you are facing east.

At any of the All-Stars, stand at the bus stops with the building at your back and the main road in front of you, and you are facing slightly north of east.

In the Epcot resort area, stand so that Stormalong Bay is to your left, the Boardwalk is to your right, and Swan & Dolphin are at your back, and you will be facing generally east.

At the monorail resorts, stand so that MK is to your left, Poly is to your right, and GF is at your back, and you are facing east. Note: Contemporary's tower is aligned north-south, so the lake side rooms all face due east. If you are eating at California Grill during the launch, your view will be blocked; go out onto the observation deck and face right, away from MK.

At Wilderness Lodge, stand with the main building at your back and the lake in front of you, and you are facing northeast. Turn 45-degrees to the right, and you are facing east.