Space Shutle launch Tickets on sale

[BobH]

FYI - Space shuttle launch tickets are on sale for the May 15 Launch. Tickets are $50 per adult, $10 shipping fee and I paid $6 for tax on 2 tickets.
My son and I are going to go. We are staying at Vero DVC. Has anyone done this? Specifically I am wondering how much time to allocate to getting across the causeway to the gate due to potential heavy traffic? Ticket information says gate will open 8hrs ahead but also that you can't arrive earlier than the time stamped on your admission paperwork. I wouldn't want to miss the launch because we were stuck in traffic. Any answers from people who have been through this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

I can't answer any of your questions but i have questions for you. Where do you get these tickets? What happens if the launch gets delayed for weather or something?

 

[dianeschlicht]

Tickets are available from the Cape Canaveral Kennedy Space center. You can buy them right up to the day before the launch if they are available. I can't remember the no launch policy. It's been a couple of years since we looked into this.

 

[BobH]

http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/ for tickets

If the launch is cancelled prior to the launch day it is my understanding your ticket is good for the next launch.

If you get there and it is cancelled before they put you on the bus for the viewing area it is my understanding you can exchange your ticket for the next launch.

If you get on the bus and the laundch is cancelled your ticket is treated as being used up and you have to buy another ticket for the next launch.

All of this is available on the KSC website.

 

[wdwstar]

last tuesday the news showed pics of the shuttle being moved slooooowly to the launch pad. i received a email invitiation to purchase tickets for the launch, i believe the email said the dates were still may 15 - june ,

"Now is the time to reserve your place at one of the most important, exciting, and profoundly significant milestones of this century!

Be here for the Return to Flight of America's Space Program as we witness and celebrate the launch of STS-114 Space Shuttle Discovery. Launch is currently targeted for May 15 with a launch window extending through June 3.

A limited number of tickets are available and will go on sale Monday, April 4, at 9 AM EST. Tickets cannot be reserved or purchased before this time. Tickets cannot be purchased or reserved via email or voicemail."

we had purchased tickets the day of the launch,only because i had called that morning and the tickets were still available. sign up at KSC and you will receive invitation and up to date info.

 

[lcsmom]

Actually, a 5am launch. I think we left POR about 1am to get there by 3am. Got there in 1.5 hrs. This was in July, 2001. We had plenty of time to get there, get on the bus, and wait around. Of course, shuttles were going up every 3-4 months then and it was pre- 9/11 security.

 

[poohj80]

I have seen many launches from the Causeway and one from the VIP viewing stands. The last launch I attended was post 9-11 and individual cars were not allowed to drive onto the causeway due to security. Everyone had to board buses at the Visitor's Center and the buses took everyone out. We had a short wait at the gate to drive to the Vistor's Center, but we arrived early (midnight for a 6 AM launch). The line of cars got longer and longer as the night went on. As said above, if the launch is rescheduled prior to boarding a bus, your ticket is good for the rescheduled date. Once you get on the bus and get to the Causeway, you will have to buy a new ticket if the launch is scrubbed.

Also, not to discourage the original poster, but I highly doubt Discovery will launch on May 15 (first date of the launch window). Just yesterday while moving Discovery to the launch pad, NASA found some missing heat tiles on the bottom of Discovery so it had to be returned to the VAB.

 

[lcsmom]

Poohj80 is correct about the delays. The Houston media is very supportive of NASA and there has been very little talk about the shuttles return to space. Makes me think the launch is expected to be delayed. Pay close attention to the delayed/rescheduled launch rules. Our original launch tickets were June, 2001. Launch was moved, we moved our vacation dates. Launch was delayed to July. We scheduled a second Disney vacation - one month after the first. I had the VIP tickets and I had wanted to see a launch in person since the Gemini days. Seeing a launch requires luck, determination, and frequent Florida vacations.

 

[poohj80]

We have been experiencing just the opposite - there have been almost daily stories in our paper regarding NASA's Return to Space. Ultimately, no one will know the exact launch date for awhile.

PJ

 

[BobH]

I realize that there will likely be dalays etc. but if you don't buy a ticket you can't get in. At leas a ticket to the first launch gives you some small odds that you may have the right to a ticket for a subsequent launch. I guess you just take a chance with the whole deal.

 

[poohj80]

Very true and I think it is very wise to purchase passes early as long as you realize your travel plans may need to stay flexible. For our last launch we booked our flights on Southwest specifically because they don't charge a penalty for changing dates.

 

[Pluto4Pres]

On my DS's 5th birthday in 1992 we made the trip over to watch a Shuttle launch. We had tickets to get on the causeway, but opted not to go that far. I didn't want to get tied up in traffic for hours and have a 5YO miss the rest of the day at WDW. The launch was scheduled for 9am and I think the actual liftoff was about 10:30. I believe we were about 10 mi. from the launch. We stopped along the highway in an area where a lot of local cars were stopping. I think we were on I-95 at the bridge for the Challenger Memorial Highway (Rte. #?) or vice versa.

Anyway, the launch was an awesome sight. I can't imagine it could be that much better on-site. Remember, by the time you count to 15 it is only a little dot in the sky. I'm glad we didn't have to fight that traffic getting out of there. Allthough, I might want to see it once from the causeway before the Shuttle is retired.

I remember that the launch was delayed a couple of days, but we were lucky enough to still be in FL for the actual flight. That was another reason we didn't want to go all the way in, there was a good chance that we would have done all that for nothing. It is not unusual for a launch to be delayed or postponed an hour or so before the scheduled liftoff.

In recent years I've discovered that the Shuttle is visible in CT 7 minutes after launch. (I'd like a 7 minute ride to FL) If it is an ISS mission and the conditions are right, (not in broad daylight), I look to the southwest sky and it first appears as a plane. Then it speeds up like mad travelling SW to SE and the rocket plume is visible going on and off. It always amazes me.

You can also see the ISS and other satellites passing overhead during certain times at dusk or dawn. Here is a great website that gives you the times and coordinates for skywatching:

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/cities/index.cgi

 

[Tinseltown Trauma]

A dvc friend of mine on the board forwarded this thread to me (since I never go to the dvc forums), as I’ve been in quite a quandary about the upcoming shuttle event. Well, happy to say, I got an optimum solution! Here’s what I learned from a rep in KSC’s sales dept, as of this a.m., which may answer many of your questions:

* It appears BobH bought Admission (aka "Maximum Access") + Launch Transpo tickets (this was also offered with ‘Dining With An Astronaut’ options). All of the packages that involve Launch Transpo are sold out (yesterday). There are, however, still tickets remaining for options that, from what I understand, were never offered in the past: Admission + Launch Viewing from the KSC compound (i.e., there is no transport to a viewing site), and the same + ‘Dining With an Astronaut’. These tickets are $37 (this is the normal cost of the regular general admission Maximum Access ticket) and $57 respectively. Earlier the online link showed the remaining quantity KSC had to sell, but it appears this info has been “deleted” from the site, nonetheless it is not indicating “sold out.”

* Tax and shipping will be added to your order. The shipping and the fee for it is mandatory. For security reasons, tracking purposes and to avoid a mad crush of “will call,” they will ONLY ship tickets for ANY of the aforementioned options.

* The poster who said you can buy these through the day of launch is incorrect. Aside from the fact that they will undoubtedly sell out in the next 6 weeks, they will only ‘ship to’ and everyone seeking to park must display a placard for admittance to the lot (that is sent along with your tickets).

* For anyone with a package including Transpo, there are very strict caveats relating to what constitutes “used” vs. “not used,” and because of the unpredictable nature of space launch schedules, this is clearly a “buyer beware” scenario, especially for a visitor with limited time in the area, or for anyone expressly planning a trip around this launch. Bottom line, there will be no refunds.

* If the launch is re-set "with prior knowledge," all attendees will have the option of waiting for that re-scheduled date, or to go ahead and use the Admission (Max Acs) on the original date, or either one day before it or one day after it.

* In addition, if all systems are go for the original date, but the bus tour portion of the KSC experience (that includes the Apollo Center, the Observation tower) is not operational on the day of the launch (this is still not decided, but they expect to have some prior knowledge), you can go one day earlier or one day later to get this feature in.

* Thumbnail analysis is that KSC Site Viewers do not have the possibility of losing any $ (as their tickets are the same cost as if they were paying general admission) and they are not subject to any “use” vs. “non-use” factors as are the Transpo Viewers.

* Traffic will indeed be terrible (based upon the rep’s description, if you live in L.A., it would be like going to work in the morning). All Transpo Viewers must plan for this as there are strict parameters for check-in for the bus transport (e.g., check-in time, plus the transfer occurs at least 3 hours prior to launch time, etc.). Arrival time/time to enjoy the attractions prior to the launch is not as essential for KSC Site Viewers.

* The launch is currently scheduled for 3:50 p.m. Govt. (I think it was the Commission's recomm.) has mandated that this launch occur only during daylight hours.

* For those who continually project that the 5/15 date is unlikely, the spin is not relevant, this is not like “before.” 5/15 is the specific date NASA is targeting. Targeting. In other words, this is not just a launch window (nor is KSC selling to a window). It is the date, unless something substantive occurs to delay. I don’t think anyone here is stupid enough to believe that NASA would allow any undue jeopardy, especially on this mission. On the other hand, they’ve made it very clear as to why this target date continues to prevail.


I bought my ticket and that’s all I know!

TT

 

[Plus4206]

Fox news just had a piece about the upcoming launch: It might be delayed. NASA has a 20 day window in which to launch.

There is a state park just south of Cape Canaveral - it's right on the inlet that the cruise ships use to get to the ocean - that is very popular for viewing launches espacially after the restrictions imposed after 9/11. Couple years ago a liftoff just happened to coincide with a WDW trip we already had planned so we decided to venture over and watch. The liftoff kept geting pushed back an hour at a time due to weather but finally it looked like a GO. The count down was at 5 minutes when they scrubbed it because it was raining - not at CC but at an emergency landing strip somewhere the shuttle could use if something went wrong shortly after liftoff. Couple days later we were on the boat from MK returning to VWL & the boat captain told us they were getting ready to launch and where to look and we got to see the launch from there.

 

[poohj80]

I definitely agree that a Shuttle launch is an awesome sight and highly recommend anyone who can take the time to see one from wherever you can. The Causeway tickets are definitely worth the cost even with some timing risks. There is quite a bit of difference between being only 6 miles away vs. 10 miles (I have the pix to prove it ). The most dramatic launch I have seen was just before dawn. The sky was still dark as night when the Shuttle lifted off. The engines igniting lit up the sky as if it was high noon. As the Shuttle continued to climb, the sun started to rise. As the sunlight hit the plume following the Shuttle's path it began to change every color of the rainbow. AWESOME sight!

 

[BobH]

Tinseltown Trauma - thanks for taking all the time to make your very informative post on these boards. The package I got just after 9am Monday when tickets went on sale is the: STS-114 Launch Transportation and Maximum Access Admission pass that is supposed to be mailed out UPS with a Placard for the car. Hopefully it all works out. I will arrive early but it appears to be all gueswork as to how long it will take to drive the last couple of miles by car to the gate. Thanks again for posting.

 

[poohj80]

Just to update those hoping to attend the Return to Flight Shuttle launch on May 15, it has officially been slipped to May 22 (great day...my b-day!) with the window still open into June.

 

[barbarabee]

I'm hoping it gets moved to sometime after the 27th, to correspond with our trip, but that's totally selfish! What a fun thing to get to see!!!

 

[poohj80]

If the launch goes on May 22nd, the launch time is set for 1:03 PM EST with a 5 minute launch window.

 

[poohj80]

Just thought I'd let you know that NASA has postponed the launch again to no sooner than July 13th.