Space Shuttle Launch..staying at POP

[PLibster]

If we do decide to get up early and watch the launch, which direction would I look to see it. Granted it might be cloudy, I would hope to be able to see something. So, if I am standing let's say, in the 70's parking lot, which way should I face? Crazy question I know, but I would like to know anyways. Thanks!

 

[skelooch]

My best guess would be from the center of the 70s parking lot, you would look toward the outside corner (closet to the parking lot) of the 8000 building.
Which should be a little north of due East. By the way when is the launch?

 

[PLibster]

I am hearing Nov. 30 at 4am!

 

[lulubel88]

I was hoping they would reschedule the launch while I was at Disney but the time could be a little later in the day. I'd really like to make it to the Cape.

 

[WEDWDW]

Selfishly,I hope it gets delayed again.I don't arrive until December 3.

I have been trying to catch a Launch during my vacations at WDW since 2003.

 

[pdchris]

I am hearing Nov. 30 at 4am!

That's what I see on NASA's site. We're staying at WL and I'm contemplating whether to drive over to Titusville to see it or not. I figure we'd have to leave by midnight so it would make for a lonnnng day. We've got MCMVP tickets that day and I don't know if these ole bones can stay awake for 24 hours.

 

[RaySharpton]

If we do decide to get up early and watch the launch, which direction would I look to see it. Granted it might be cloudy, I would hope to be able to see something. So, if I am standing let's say, in the 70's parking lot, which way should I face? Crazy question I know, but I would like to know anyways. Thanks!

Hi, PLibster. I am staying at Pop Century resort, too.

And I have also been trying to find out several things about the direction that the launch will rise in the sky in relation to Pop Century resort.

I had started a DIS Meet thread about the Space Shuttle Discovery STS-133 Launch Meet at Pop Century, November 30th, 4:00 A.M.

Maybe some of this info will help you, too.

I might post this on the Theme park board to see if anyone has any photos or suggestions for Pop and if they have any photos from any other launch at WDW park or resort.

I still have questions about the direction to face to watch the Space Shuttle Discovery STS-133 Launch at Pop Century Resort if anyone can help with this.

Maybe going to a 4th floor building would give the best view. But which building and which direction for the best unobstructive view without having miss it because of other buildings or something else?

The Space Shuttle Discovery is preparing for its final planned journey into space on the mission STS-133 on November 30, 2010 at 4:02 A.M. E.S.T. for a night launch.

I am not sure if this time is affected by the recent time change

I sure hope that it will be a clear, cloudless night.

The launch window opens five minutes before the time and closes 5 to 8 minutes afterwards depending on the day.

After failing to launch during the November 1st to 8th launch windows, the STS-133 Space Shuttle Discovery must now launch by December 5th or 6th or face a delay to February 2011 next year.

The launch time gets 23 to 25 minutes earlier each day.

This will be the 39th and last flight of the orbiter Discovery.

Discovery will take to the space station Leonardo, formerly on of the two flown reusable Multipurpose Logistics Modules (MPLM) that visited the ISS on seven previous shuttle missions since 2001 and now converted into a permanent storage closet for the space station know at the Pressurized Multipurpose Module (PMM).

This will be the last United States launched module added to the space station.

If you are interested in driving closer to watch the launch, check out the article below with photos and videos and information on the different places to drive to and watch the launch.

http://hubpages.com/hub/Watch-a-Space-Shuttle-Launch

Or if you would like to learn something about the five astronauts, Astronaut Colonel Steven Lindsey, Astronaut Eric Allen Boe, Astronaut Benjamin Alvin Drew, Jr., Astronaut Michael Reed Barratt, M.D., Astronaut Colonel Timothy Lennart Kopra, and Astronaut Nicole Passonno Stott, then below is another link to an article and photos.

http://hubpages.com/hub/Last-Space-Shuttle-Mission

Below is a link that shows photos and tips on taking camera photos of a space shuttle launch during the night or day and more directions to drive closer to get photos off Disney property

http://www.lauderdalechristmas.com/nasa-shuttle-launch.htm

I would like to try and watch the tentative space shuttle launch at Pop Century resort that I am staying at.

Here is the map of Pop Century below.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/maps/PopCenturyMap.pdf

In the lower left corner of the map shows a compass with the North pointer pointing towards the right.

I guess that means that if I were standing at the Pop Century bus stop, looking East, for example, I would be looking toward the East toward the visitor's parking lot.

I believe East is the direction to look for the space shuttle launch.

Can anyone help me with the direction to look in specifically?

I was looking at the WDW map below.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/propertymap.htm

I am not so sure about the direction of every thing in this cartoon type of map.

I remember seeing three previous space shuttle launches at WDW.

One was day launch last May at Epcot's Rose and Crown Restaurant looking across the lake near China. This was definitely looking in an East direction plus or minus if you look at the map.

I wish that I had stood in front of the Mission Space building because I here that the shuttle rises from behind the building.

Another time near Magic Kingdom Mainstreet bridge looking toward the castle. And the map doesn't show the Mainstreet and castle really facing East in the cartoon picture. Maybe they didn't want to place the castle sideways in the map.

This is not my photo, but I found it with a google search.

Another time, I saw a nighttime space shuttle launch standing on the bridge connecting the Yacht Resort toward the Boardwalk/Swan Resort. I was facing the Epcot Eiffel Tower and the whole sky lit up like a TV movie atomic explosion with super bright arch of light surrounded by darkness. About a minute later, I saw the flame from the shuttle. It was an amazing site on a very clear, cloudless night in December.

Night space shuttle launches are so cool.

So...does anyone know how to make a map of WDW in relation to the Space Shuttle Discovery STS-133 Launch site.

An aerial view would be cool.

Even though that we may be looking East, I would really like to know if it is a little or a lot East or East South East so that we can choose the best place to view the Space Shuttle Discovery STS-133 Launch.

Any one interested meeting together?

Any one interested in helping me clarify the correct direction at Pop Century Resort to watch the launch?

Any one interested helping me make a directional map?

 

[skipperkim]

Thanks for the pics Ray.

 

[RaySharpton]

Thanks for the pics Ray.

You're welcome, Skipperkim.

I wish that I could take such good photos like that.

I always wanted to see a Space Launch Shuttle in person.

But I never could manage to get a lucky change to buy a NASA ticket when they came out.

I signed up for the email to receive a chance to be put in a lottery of people to receive a change to buy tickets to see a launch.

I got lucky one time and waited in an online waiting room for over an hour before the mad rush began to purchase tickets.

All of the tickets were sold in less than five minutes.

I guess that I or my computer was not fast enough.

I sure would like to see other photos of a WDW launch.

Especially the one that I saw at night years ago on a very clear, dark night when the sky lit up and it took over a minute for the actual shuttle firey flame to appear on the horizon over the Epcot eiffel tower.

Anyone else plan to watch the shuttle launch or have past photos or experiences?

 

[lulubel88]

I will be at POP also and was thinking of going to the bridge to try and catch a glimps if I don't talk myself into going to the coast. I'm not sure about watching from a 4th floor unless it was in one of those rooms. I wouldn't want to disturb anyone who would be more intrested in getting some sleep.

 

[RaySharpton]

I will be at POP also and was thinking of going to the bridge to try and catch a glimps if I don't talk myself into going to the coast. I'm not sure about watching from a 4th floor unless it was in one of those rooms. I wouldn't want to disturb anyone who would be more intrested in getting some sleep.

Hello, Lulubel88. You have a good point about possibly disturbing guests outside their room if we were on the balcony.

And the more I think about it, the shuttle is launching from the coast so being four stories higher won't make much difference.

I bet the bridge might be a good spot to watch the launch.

If we took pictures the Pop Century would be in the background since the bridge is located to the West and we would be facing East looking directly at the Pop Century Resort.

 

[Polydweller]

As of 5 minutes ago, NASA has not posted an actual launch schedule for STS133. The November 30 date is flagged as 'no earlier' so its not an actual launch date or time. Another crack was found today so not sure when fixes will be completed. The OP will need to keep checking for an actual launch time before making firm plans.

 

[stitch34]

Soooo would LOVE to see this! We leave on Dec 1st....
We, too, would be at Pop for a 30th launch... crossing fingers here that it happens!!

 

[RaySharpton]

As of 5 minutes ago, NASA has not posted an actual launch schedule for STS133. The November 30 date is flagged as 'no earlier' so its not an actual launch date or time. Another crack was found today so not sure when fixes will be completed. The OP will need to keep checking for an actual launch time before making firm plans.

Hello, Polydweller. Thank you for the update.

As long as I stay at WDW, whatever hours or days will be fine with me.

I guess the time gets earlier with each day later for the launch is scheduled.

Have you been to a Space Shuttle Launch?

Do you know what the people at Kennedy Space Center do when they have sold tickets for the original date and then the dates change.

I imagine if you lived nearby it wouldn't be a problem as long as it didn't interfere with work or family.

But what about those that bought tickets that live out of state?

Do you know if those people that bought tickets and live out of state and can no longer attend the launch just stuck with the tickets or is there a clearing house where these unused ticket can be sold to people that can use them?

I was just curious.

 

[lulubel88]

In the words of Whitney Houston, "crack is whack". I missed a launch in 2006 because of rain so I guess I shouldn't get my hopes up this time.

 

[bouncycat]

Not with them finding cracks left and right!!! It is a cool sight, and if you can come to titusville area, then you get to FEEL it too. For us, it shakes our house, and scares the dogs!!! With them finding the other crack, they may not be able to launch on the 30th, they just gotta get to work to fix it, then when they fix it, they can re-do the launch date and time. If I hear anything here, I'll let ya'll know.

 

[1971DBday]

We will be staying at the Poly and would love to know more about the shuttle launch!!! I will keep my fingers crossed, since this is not something we have ever had a chance to see in Illinois! Subscribing to keep updated and would love more information as to which direction to watch from.

 

[bouncycat]

News 13 had a little stint on this morning saying they'll have a sitrep meeting monday, to see if it's still go for the 30th. The night launches, or early morning launches are the BEST, so if you can see it.....do it. It's AWESOME!!!!

 

[CarrieR]

Ray -- have you thought to look at Google Earth to see if you can get a better bearing on everything's "true" direction? Not sure how a compass feature would work on that, but it's sure to be a lot more accurate re: scale and relative direction within Disney than the cartoonesque maps.

 

[Sandy Mouse]

Sadly, I won't be there until March, but I looked at a map for those of you who will be there. Titusville is just about east northeast of Pop Century. If you can back away from trees (get to the western-most part of a parking lot) or on the fourth floor you should have a good view.