Shuttle Launch Question

[Dziadzi]

We will be at DisneyWorld on December 6th when the Space Shuttle will be launched. Has anyone ever seen a launch from anywhere at the resorts or parks. Right now the launch is scheduled for around 4:30 P.M. on the 6th. It would be great for the grandchildren to see it in the skies instead of on T.V. Right now our plans are to be a the Merry Mixer at that time ! Any info about sightings in the past would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[goofy4tink]

Last year, while at MVMCP, we were hoping to catch the shuttle launch, but at the last minute they postponed it. It did go off on our last night though.
If you're at the Merry Mixer, it may be hard to see. We watched it from the walkway between the Swan and Dolphin. It literally lifted off over Epcot..so look to the east, towards Epcot. It will be a bright spot, with a tail of smoke behind it.
Hoping to catch it before our LTT seating.

 

[BroganMc]

Oh, we saw it last year. Night of a Spectro at Magic Kingdom. We saw it on the walkway from Liberty Island toward the castle circle. It was like an inflamed plane or falling star shooting over Cinderella's. Quite a sight too. The crowd was knee-deep and yet everyone suddenly halted to look up.

Wish I had been quicker with my camera though. I was too busy watching to snap a photo.

Keep in mind, they're notorious about canceling and rescheduling these things. My guide made plans to dine at Cali Grill so he could watch it. But his plans were for the night before it actually took off. My viewing was purely chance.

 

[Tamar]

It's much more impressive at night than during the day. We saw it last December when it took off at about 6pm. We were on the walkway between Future World and World Showcase, and it took off over Test Track...quite spectacular.

Last month we saw the 11:30ish am launch, and it looked just like a distant plane with a thin white smoke trail.

 

[mjy]

We will be at DisneyWorld on December 6th when the Space Shuttle will be launched. Has anyone ever seen a launch from anywhere at the resorts or parks. Right now the launch is scheduled for around 4:30 P.M. on the 6th. It would be great for the grandchildren to see it in the skies instead of on T.V. Right now our plans are to be a the Merry Mixer at that time ! Any info about sightings in the past would be appreciated. Thanks.

I did a quick search and found this NASA Discovery launch taken from the pier at the Yacht and Beach Club posted on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CG1nZk-fyOI

Enjoy . . .

 

[danky1234]

We saw the shuttle launch when we were eating at the Villas at Wilderness Lodge restauraunt. it was a great view through the large glass windows and then everyone ran outside to see it streak towards space. i forgot the name of the restaraunt , the one where they serve the salmon on wood planks , having a senior moment i guess....

 

[Dziadzi]

Thanks for the tips....we'll be watching the skies....if it goes off as planned...Thanks again.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We saw it last summer in the MK. We happened to arrive just before the shuttle launch and were in the square near the train station just before Main Street. I asked a CM which direction was east and just then someone saw it rising between Tony's and the Confectionary. It was a large white plume, really exhilarating to see it fly. I had a friend from school who lost her husband in the Challenger explosion, so this was quite a thrill for me.

I can't ride Big Thunder Mt because I get motion sick, but I would give anything to be able to be an astronaut.

 

[OneMoreTry]

I remember seeing one from Gainesville years ago during the daytime. It was quite impressive -- much more prominent than a plane as I recall. It has a characteristic smoke trail that to me is different from a plane's. It also has a different trajectory.

 

[Inkmahm]

We were there last December when the delayed shuttle finally was launched. We had a pontoon reserved to see Illuminations and we were just leaving the pier as the shuttle launched from the Yacht Club about 8:30 pm. We had a great view from the water.

 

[Caskbill]

We've seen several launches, and each one can be different, depending on time of day, weather conditions, etc.

Remember, you're still 60 miles away. It's very difficult to see the actual shuttle itself as it's barely a dot in the sky. You will clearly see the bright flame. In the day the smoke trail it leaves behind is really something.

Are you by any chance planning a Sea World day during your trip? I don't know if they still do it, but they use to televise the launch on their big screen at Shamu stadium. This helps the waiting time as you have something to see, and can watch the countdown. Then when the launch actually takes place, you can look to the right of the big screen, and see the real thing off in the distance.

If you watch from WDW, just be sure to find a place with open ground between you and the East. Even at that it will be a little time after liftoff before you'll be able to see it, as it has to get pretty high before it's visible 60 miles away.

Warning, if it's a low overcast day, you may not see anything as the shuttle may disappear into the clouds before it gets high enough to be seen from the WDW area.

 

[jimmacmn]

A few years ago we saw a daytime launch from the 7th fairway on the Palm Golf course. Pretty awesome sight.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We have seen two shuttle launches from WDW. The first one was the one that didn't make it home because it broke up on re-entry. We watched that one from the observation deck on top of the Contemporary resort. The second one was a year or so ago and was a night launch. We took our laptop and aircard to MK and watched it between the Spectro Magic parade and Wishes! We used the laptop to track the countdown. As I recall, Disney announced it as well. We were sitting in the circle area near the Walt/Mickey statue in front of the castle, and we saw the launch over to the left of space Mountain. REALLY COOL!!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

I forgot about the night launch that we saw once. We were on the bus leaving Epcot going back to OKW. We had just driven up the bridge heading over to Bonnet Creek Parkway (right next to OKW) and we were the only family on the bus. As we neared the peak of the bridge, the bus driver pointed out the bright light and smoke trail right straight ahead of us and stopped the bus on the peak of the bridge (no one was behind us). It was very neat.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Deb, I'll bet that was the same one we saw, because I think it was the only shuttle night launch.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

I am sooo jealous of you all. We have had a few occasions at VB when the launch was scheduled, but every occasion it was delayed.... Still hoping to catch our first one this coming June.

 

[mjy]

I can't ride Big Thunder Mt because I get motion sick, but I would give anything to be able to be an astronaut.

Well, we know that you wish won't go very far without major pixie dust then, right? After all, the Big Thunder Mountain ride is like the Small World boat ride compared to riding in a shuttle!

And, I share your queasiness with coasters. I, too, would sure like to "go up there" some day though.

Oh well. "Faith, trust, and pixie dust. Faith, trust, and pixie dust. Faith, trust..."

 

[BPCooper]

I encourage you and anyone to make the effort to get closer (Titusville). It is well worth it as many will tell you

For you guys above who were wondering, the night shuttle launch (the only one since Columbia so far) was 8:47pm on Dec. 9 2006.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I encourage you and anyone to make the effort to get closer (Titusville). It is well worth it as many will tell you

For you guys above who were wondering, the night shuttle launch (the only one since Columbia so far) was 8:47pm on Dec. 9 2006.

Thanks! I knew it was in Dec. 2006, but couldn't remember the date, and I also knew it was the first one ever, so figured it was also the only one.

 

[OneMoreTry]

I encourage you and anyone to make the effort to get closer (Titusville). It is well worth it as many will tell you

....

I wholeheartedly agree with this. I saw 2 Apollos and 2 shuttles from the cape. We had a friend working at NASA who got us passes to get fairly close -- I'm not sure how far, maybe 3-5 miles. Maybe more. The sheer power is unbelievable. The ground rumbles tremendously. To see that huge structure slowly lift straight upward and then veer precisely under control is something to behold.