Shuttle launch viewing

[Battleship Bob]

Latest word I've seen is that NASA is considering re-starting shuttle launches sometime in March, 2004.

We're locked in at BCV for the second week of March (renting pts.---we've since joined at SSR) and then we're headed to Cocoa Beach for 4 nights at the Holiday Inn-Oceanside (part of our Honeymoon was spent there 7 yrs. ago).

I know it's a long shot, but how well can you see launches from WDW? I think it would be too cool if they went up during our time down there.

Have any of you watched a launch from WDW or maybe even headed towards the Cape for an up close and personel view?

 

[DebbieB]

If the weather is clear, you can see it from the boardwalk, standing next to ESPN, facing the open area towards Epcot. I saw it one morning around sunrise from our villa at OKW in building 26, facing the fairway towards Downtown Disney.

 

[kathleena]

I have seen two shuttle launches.

One was from room 1510 at OKW at 6:30am. We had the TV on, so we knew when it would take off and it took a little while, but eventually it appeared over the trees. We were watching from the porch and the room was on the right side facing the building.

The second time was when we were waiting for Fantasmic. It was just getting dark and we were sitting in the Mickey section. We could see the people over to our right pointing to the sky (we didn't know there was a launch). Soon, the shuttle appeared up behind the mountain. It was awesome.

 

[John VN]

We have seen the shuttle launch from CR and it is a beautiful site as it rises above the lake. Wife is going to start making res. for next year (FW once a month) and we're are hoping that we luck out some more. We thought about driving over to the Cape for a closer look and to feel the rumble but just never got around to doing it.
We were at WDW on Feb. 1 this past year for a quick one day stay before we drove over on Sun. for the Member Cruise. We checked in, went and had breakfast and as we headed back to our room the wife mentions that we should be hearing the sonic boom but we didn't. Figured they were doing another orbit so we turned on the TV as soon as we got back and the first thing we saw was the exodus from the landing viewing area and then heard the confirmation of the tragedy. We got a bus to Epcot and went to Mission Space just to contemplate the morning events and offer a few prayers. From there we went to Innovations East to look at the space display and I got a real shocker. The caption they had with the photo of Columbia lifting off ironically refered to Columbia in the past tense ( ... Columbia "was" the first reusable spacecraft ...). I don't think there was enough time for the caption to have been changed since we were there within 1 hour of the loss.
Because there is always a chance of a delay in a launch I think that if we are lucky enough to be at WDW during another launch we will just view it from CR.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I saw a gorgeous evening launch in MGM waiting for the tram tour (can't think of the name of that ride). Everything was just right to make the contrail beautiful shades of pastels and white. It actually made the evening news.

I guess the answer to your question is that you can see it anywhere at Disney with a clear view to the east.

 

[Halle]

We saw the launch from outside Wolfgang Puck's and a friend saw one from the pool at the Grand Floridian.

 

[RobDoc]

We've viewed about 8 shuttle launches from various locations around WDW. While each has been stimulating, the night launches are most spectacular, as they really light up the sky.

We did see the Columbia launch this past January from our room at OKW.

<img width="640" src="http://disneydoc.homestead.com/files/WDWJan03_066.jpg">

 

[JimC]

Watched a night launch of the shuttle from DI. I agree with Doc, it is quite a show.

We were at Epcot one morning when it returned. The sonic boom occurs over WDW and is quite loud.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) We drove from WDW to the cape to watch a night-time launch.
2) We saw Endeavour, STS-88 (12/4/98, approx 3:35am).
3) We stopped on the causeway, not the tourist route.
4) Fully worth missing sleep.

5) UNBELIEVABLE experience !!!

 

[chris1gill]

We watched a shuttle go up last November from our standard view room at the BWV's... it was an AWESOME view... Many people stopped at the sidewalk out front of the standard view rooms to watch....

 

[BriarRose59]

We watched last November from the beach at BCV. It was awesome!

 

[Richyams]

Another accidentel sighting. I was walking near the pool at OKW and saw a bunch of people looking into the sky. They said that the shuttle would be appearing in a minute, it did. It was likt the highest, fastest moving plane I ever saw. It was day time, so there was no real glow, but it was incredibely fast.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

We saw a daytime launch while riding the boat from BW to MGM, along the canal between the S/D and MGM. Everyone on the boat moved to the left side to look through the windows. This was an Endeavor flight in June of 2002.

Ralph

 

[floridafam]

We saw a launch once from VB.

Unbelievable! We all cried. It was very moving. It was at night and just looked amazing-it went through the clouds and left a huge hole of "daylight" in the sky that my children loved.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Yep, as long as you know where to look. Last January, we went up to the top of the Contemporary and watched it over the lake. It was a great view, but I like Doc's picture better than ours. The wierd thing is that, as we waited, I had a premonition that this shuttle was going to explode. When it went off without a hitch, I felt much better!! Of course, when it didn't come down, the same way, I got the willies!

One December, we were there when the shuttle returned, and heard the big sonic boom when it broke through.

 

[dbond]

If you have the time to spare, it's an awesome site to see if you drive out to Titusville. There are great viewing spots along the Indian River in Titusville. You can see the pad off in the distance. Even though you're about 7 miles away, you can hear the roar and seeing the launch leave the ground is amazing. Take binoculars and your view is even more spectacular. We saw an unmanned Delta rocket take off this past summer from the MK. We were standing on the walkway just north of the rose garden with Spectromagic cruising by on our right and the Delta rocket streaking through the sky up over Space Mountain on our left. It was awesome! We knew about the launch and were waiting for it. Check the Nasa.gov or space.com website before you go and you might get lucky.

 

[Caskbill]

If by any chance you're planning a day-trip to Sea World while you're there, you might plan to do it on the scheduled launch day.

You can sit in the Shamu stadium which faces almost directly toward the Pad. They have a hook up feed they get from NASA for the launch, not the regular TV feed. They show that on the big screen at the stadium before the launch.

When the shuttle goes up, you can watch the launch on the big TV screen, and about 10 seconds later you'll see it live in the distance as it clears from behind the treetops.

It's really a fantastic sight.

I understand SW does this for all the launches.

 

[dbond]

Caskbill, that's great info. I will definitely remember that. We've never been to SW in FL, we have one in Texas so we've never bothered when in FL. What a great way to spend the day and see a launch from a new perspective. Thanks!

 

[NancyDVC]

We saw a night launch during our stay in 1993. We had read about it in the newspapers and we asked for directions from the (then DVC) OKW front desk. We had made sandwiches, took a cooler and drove to the Indian River area. After having read about bad traffic jams at launch times in the Cocoa Beach/Titusville area we opted to drive along the west side of the Indian River. We found a quiet little public park and parked the car to wait. The group consisted of my sister, her 3 kids (then ages 14, 11 and 7), my best friend and myself.
The launch was scheduled for 10:00 PM and we got there about 8:00 to avoid the rush. We ate our sandwiches and played some games. We noticed some other 'visitors' to the same area. Much to our surprise it turned out to be a local 'lovers lane'. Try to explain why that car was bouncing next to us to 3 youngsters! We had the radio on and as launch time approached we noticed other cars stopping to watch the launch. If you live in the area you don't go to a good viewing spot until the last minute. The countdown held at "T-15" for the longest time and then the launch was scrubbed. The folks that we met while waiting were vry nice and we had a great time. The launch was rescheduled for several days later and after some debate we decided to try again. Somehow we managed to find that same park (no 'lovers' that time) and met some of the same folks we had seen before.
That tiem the launch went off without a hitch! What a sight! The sky was lit up like daylight!
It was worth the trip. Of course I drove back to WDW with everyone else sleeping. The next day we read in the newspapers about a bad accident on the causeway/bridge over the Indian River that backed up the traffic that cosisted mostly of lauch watchers for several hours. Our quiet little spot turned out to be a great location because we saw the launch and missed all that traffic!

 

[DVC-LEROY]

We were on a boat from the Contemp to the WL when our captain stopped the boat and steered us sideways for a viewing - unfortunately it was too cloudy to see the launch that day. Maybe next time.