Shuttle Launch

[cmehling]

I'm going home for the first time to BCV on Nov 10th. Very excited. I've also noticed there is a potential Shuttle Launch that night. Since it is a night launch, I've been told that one can see the plume from the launch (weather permitting) all the way to Orlando. Has anyone seen this before?

And if so, is there a good viewing point from the Boardwalk/BCV area?

Thanks for the help!

 

[sheryl0521]

We once saw a shuttle launch from WS in Epcot. It was beautiful. It was during the day, and we could see the plume of smoke streak through the sky. It was early Nov. of last year.

Have fun!

 

[Pluto4President]

I haven't seen it from the BW but have seen it from the MK a couple of years ago during the MVMCP fireworks. Very awesome sight....

 

[Regina]

We saw a shuttle from the Hospitality House bus stop at OKW on 12/19/99.

It was the evening, we had just arrived shortly before that, and were waiting for the Epcot bus. All of a sudden, there was this amazing stream of light that lit up the sky.

Everyone was oohing and ahhing, except for one lady who kept saying "I can't see it, I can't see it."

I don't know what the heck she thought it was, but we finally got her to realize that it wasn't a shooting star.

 

[DebbieB]

I heard a good spot on the BW is next to ESPN facing the grassy area towards Epcot (you can see the Eifel Tower). There was a shuttle launch scheduled last December when we were there, a bunch of people gathered there. We waited and waited until a manager from ESPN came out and said it was scrubbed at the last minute. We waited the next day and it went off but there was too much cloud cover to see it.

I saw it one morning from building 26 at OKW, it was around 6:00am, right after sunrise. I could see the smoke trail.

 

[Doctor P]

We watched a night launch from atop the Contemporary hotel in December 1999 and it was one of the most spectacular things I have ever witnessed. I could not have imagined how clearly we would be able to see the launch.

 

[gmboy95]

I dont want to be the cynical one here....but i bet if you went out on your balcony at OKW or any of the other resorts at night...you could take a ciggarette lighter out oy your pocket, light it, and then slowly lift your hand up in front of your face and slowly move it above your head....i would say that may be a similar experience, and there is no chance of the launch being scrubbed

 

[anniet]

LOL @ gmboy95!

We got tickets for a launch one time when we were down there, but it got scrubbed.....I wasn't too heartbroken though, it was scheduled for something like 2:00a.m.!

 

[Pluto4President]

 

[ilovebwv]

Living where we do, we have seen many shuttle launches and I still find them amazing. I am sad though for some of my friends that just take them for granted and do not even bother to go outside to watch a shuttle launch, such a shame! If you are in the area when a shuttle is scheduled to go up, go see it, you will NOT be disappointed.

 

[Caskbill]

Nothing wrong with watching a launch from Disney, but if by chance you have any plans on going to Sea World during your trip, then that might be a good day for it.

Assuming (1) the launch is scheduled for a time when the SW park would still be open. (Don't know what their hours are right now)

(2) The launch isn't scrubbed.

At Sea World they play NASA's closed circuit TV broadcast on the giant screen at Shamu Stadium. The seats in the stadium also face directly toward the Cape. You'll see the shuttle countdown on the screen, and watch the liftoff from the pad. Then after just a few seconds you'll clearly see it live in the sky as it goes up. It's a fantastic sight.

Last time we saw it that way we got to the stadium about 20 minutes before liftoff. All in all it only took about 1/2 hour out of our park stay.

Anyway, that's another suggestion for you.

 

[anniet]

LOL @ gmboy95!

We got tickets for a launch one time when we were down there, but it got scrubbed.....I wasn't too heartbroken though, it was scheduled for something like 2:00a.m.!

 

[Deb & Bill]

For the Dec 19, 1999 flight, we were also at OKW. We were just returning to OKW from Epcot and the bus was just driving on the overpass that goes over Bonnet Creek parkway just before you get to Community Drive and we saw it take off. It was really neat. When we got back to OKW a few minutes later, we could still see it in the sky it was so bright. We got off at the first bus stop at Peninsular Drive, so not very much time had elapsed.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Viewing from WDW is OK, but not satisfying.
2) We drove to the Cape from WDW to see a launch.
3) We parked off of the causeway to the beach.
4) It was a 4:00am darkness launch of Endeavour.

5) Boy, it still brings goosebumps when I think of the launch!!!
6) A WDW view is nice, but there is NOTHING like close-up.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Any one see it from Vero?

A shuttle launch is on my todo list for a trip to Vero.

 

[vbfamily]

We saw it the first time we were in Vero Beach.

UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In terms of a shuttle, VB is not that far south of the launch-so it seemed like we were right there.

We were walking to dinner and all the CM's said hurry, go outside the shuttle is taking off and we all stood there in amazement.

When it broke through the clouds there was a huge open spot of daylight in the dark sky and our kids thought that was really cool.

I cried and I still get chills when I think about it. I hope sometime we get to see another one. They don't post the schedules anymore because of 9/11 so it's hard to plan a stay around a possible launch.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

I know you can see it, my inlaws live in Vero and they go all the time. But said its even more amazing going up to canaveral for it. But they sit right on the city beach or boardwalk to watch in Vero, since its launched from the eastern most part of the Us, no problem seeing it. WE saw it in its stand at Cape Canaveral once and it is truly amazing, maybe one of these days we will make it for a launch!!!

 

[gracelrm]

We drove from Vero to Cocoa Beach in October to see a launch. We've always wanted to see one, but have never arranged a trip around a launch because they get scubbed so often. This time, the launch got postponed until we were there. We were thrilled. We couldn't get tickets to watch it at Cape Canaveral so we were somewhere between Cocoa and Titusville and people just started pulling off to the side of the road. Even tour busses. We pulled over too and saw the launch from what I considered to be pretty close. It was amazing. I would love to see a night launch. Maybe when working is no longer a concern - we'll just go and stay at Vero until we see one!!!!!! A woman can always dream can't she!

 

[cmehling]

Thanks for all the great info! I'm going to keep an eye on the schedule and maybe take a drive closer to the coast.