Space shuttle launch

[doombuqqy]

I know alot of people will be at FW during Halloween and I just want to remind everyone the shuttle launch is still scheduled for Nov 1ST at 4:42pm. Normally we would be at home for Halloween ( big deal at home) but with the shuttle launch changing from 9-16 to 11-1 it put us here YEAH for Halloween. I wanted to do it for my 40TH Bday which was 2 days before the original scheduled date so my wonderful husband desperatly started a phone and letter wtitting campagn to get VIP tickets. Well he managed and we are so excited. We saw the Feb launch this year and it was INCREDIBLE . We did not have tickets but we parked on the side of the road and had a great view. I want to also remind everyone this is the second to last lauch of the program ( was to be the last but the July launch was moved to 2-2011) after this there is one in Feb and then the program ENDS. So if you are able to go I highly suggest it. There are some areas of the parks you can see the smoke as it goes up( tried it last year too cloudy and couldn't see a thing) but it is nothing compared to feeling it to (tickets are sold out for the lauch but you can google great areas to see it for free)

 

[clkelley]

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[kazlac4]

We are going to miss it by 3 days. We were hoping to be able to start our vacation a few days early but that doesn't look possible due to work schedules. Our only hope to see it would be for a postponement.

 

[TAKitty]

I was picked to do a NASA tweet up and get the see the launch with the media. I can't wait! Our events actually start with behind the scenes stuff on Oct. 31. It is my first launch.

 

[Solamom]

We are checking out that day from the Ft. but may leave the camper in the parking lot and drive over for it.

We saw the pre-dawn launch back in April...camped on the side of the road in the back of our Suburban but the launch was amazing!

I have seen 4 so far in my life - over in Titusville - never get tired of it!!!! And so sad they will be ending.

 

[doombuqqy]

We are going to miss it by 3 days. We were hoping to be able to start our vacation a few days early but that doesn't look possible due to work schedules. Our only hope to see it would be for a postponement.

I am sorry, I hope it all works out for you.

I was picked to do a NASA tweet up and get the see the launch with the media. I can't wait! Our events actually start with behind the scenes stuff on Oct. 31. It is my first launch.

That is sooo exciting! I am not sure what a tweet up is ( I assume it has something to do with twitter) but I hope you have a great time.

We are checking out that day from the Ft. but may leave the camper in the parking lot and drive over for it.

We saw the pre-dawn launch back in April...camped on the side of the road in the back of our Suburban but the launch was amazing!

I have seen 4 so far in my life - over in Titusville - never get tired of it!!!! And so sad they will be ending.

I hope you decide to watch it, I wish I had taken more time to see them. Living in Florida you think " I have plenty of time to see one". We have been in the area for many but never saw them other than the one at AK that was too cloudy. It is very sad they are ending the program. My son is a Marine and he will be able to join us so all of our kids will be there. This will be their 1ST launch!

 

[bxtx]

I can highly recommend the rooftop of the Contemporary Hotel too - we saw the March 15 2009 launch as the sunset across Bay Lake. Something I will never forget.

 

[clkelley]

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[clkelley]

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[MandMLUVMMandDVC]

Carol, they are Eastern/local time. I'm hoping for a 2 day delay! I would much rather be home for the launch than at FW & I know the traffic getting to Tville will be horrible. If it's on the 2nd I'll be dealing with that traffic.

 

[clkelley]

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[bxtx]

Unfortunately, that area is controlled by the California Grill and you can't even get up there unless you have a reservation.

We did have ressies - it was my friend (who had flown over from England)'s birthday and her husband is a NASA nut and really wanted to see a launch. If it had not been her birthday he would have been down at Ft Lauderdale. This way, it was a big win-win all round! And because the restaurant got backed up as all the diners left to watch the launch, we were still there to see the fireworks

That was a magical day!

 

[doombuqqy]

Just keep an eye on the website , they keep adjusting the time by a few minutes. I will try and do updates as I get them, I get text updates on the launches. Current launch time is 4:39 now lol.

 

[WDW2010]

Hello, we are not staying at The Fort but hope you don't mind me butting in. We are visiting from overseas and not hiring a car for the whole trip but if the launch looks set to go ahead will arrange a 24 hour hire for this day and drive out towards one of the suggested sites on the Space Centre website. I expect the traffic will be very heavy on this day! How long roughly should we leave to head towards say Titusville to arrive in good time and if anyone has any specific good spots to recommend that would be much appreciated as we have no idea of this area at all or do folk just head off in that general direction and then pullover somewhere/anywhere or are there specific places to park up?
Also I was over here looking at your Halloween information, is it OK for our children to come around and look at your decorated sites if we are not staying here or no? Very many thanks.

 

[doombuqqy]

I would google sites to view the launch. We did this in Feb...3am launch UGH and it was freezing, we ended up just parking when we came upon a bunch of parked vehicles (pitch black outside and you could'nt see anything) when the launch happened it lit up the sky and was a fabulous view. I think anywhere on the water there is a great view. I would def give yourself several hours, KSC is 50 min away + the time it takes for toll booths on top of the traffic that day. As far as the Decorations at FW everyone is welcome you just have to ride the internal buses or walk to get around.

 

[MandMLUVMMandDVC]

Hello, we are not staying at The Fort but hope you don't mind me butting in. We are visiting from overseas and not hiring a car for the whole trip but if the launch looks set to go ahead will arrange a 24 hour hire for this day and drive out towards one of the suggested sites on the Space Centre website. I expect the traffic will be very heavy on this day! How long roughly should we leave to head towards say Titusville to arrive in good time and if anyone has any specific good spots to recommend that would be much appreciated as we have no idea of this area at all or do folk just head off in that general direction and then pullover somewhere/anywhere or are there specific places to park up?
Also I was over here looking at your Halloween information, is it OK for our children to come around and look at your decorated sites if we are not staying here or no? Very many thanks.

You want to leave about 6 hours for traveling. You can park along US 1 (and the Indian River Lagoon Estuary) in Titusville for about $20 per vehicle. No bathrooms (except for port-a-potty). If you park close to McDonalds or Dogs 'R Us they will allow you use of their restrooms if you are a paying customer. There is another area to park on Highway 50 about 1/4 mile west of US 1 for $5 less. It is just behind Walgreens and Riverside Bank. It is run by the city. There is a park downtown called SpaceView Park, also along the river, just follow signs to the historic area. They not only have parking for around $10, but they have restrooms and vendors set up food/drink/souvenir stands. There used to be a place on US1 just south of Hwy 50 that was a Clarion Inn that just recently (4 months ago) was sold to a religious group as a retreat location. This will be the 1st launch since they completely took over the location, so I don't know if they will follow the old hotels launch services (parking/restrooms/food/souvenirs).

 

[WDW2010]

Thank you for the information doombuggy and MandMLUVMMandDVC, it is much appreciated. We will be hoping this goes ahead - we will surely never have a chance to see a rocket launch again, what an experience for the DS's. Caution first-timers alert! Are there in-room radios in WDW or do the room TV channels carry whichever channel/programme we would need to check for cancellations/delays? Alternatively I guess concierge would know/could check for us.
Thank you.

 

[doombuqqy]

I recieved a message today that the replacement of the internal fuel line on Discovery is going well. Officials will announce Monday if the launch date will change that Nov. 1ST is still possible. I will post on Monday as soon as I know. ( They are going to mess up my Halloween at the Fort if they change it)

 

[Magicbus]

Ho hum, another shuttle launch. What's on TV? Just kidding. I make a point of watching all the shuttle launches. I'm lucky to have seen most of them from my front yard. The best one though was when John Glenn went up. I was working at the GF at the time and the whole place shut down. We all went out by the lake and watched it go up. It was a mild, sunny, clear day and hundreds, if not thousands, of guests and CMs were out there watching it. What a memory.

 

[Solamom]

I recieved a message today that the replacement of the internal fuel line on Discovery is going well. Officials will announce Monday if the launch date will change that Nov. 1ST is still possible. I will post on Monday as soon as I know. ( They are going to mess up my Halloween at the Fort if they change it)

Keep us posted (I will check too)...we are still undecided about trying to see it and trying to get the camper back this way. I can actually see it from my back yard but it isn't anything like in person!!