space shuttle

[HERSEY]

Does anyone know if you can see the shuttle launch from WDW? I just found out there is one scheduled while we are there.

 

[peter11435]

Yes. You cen get a great view of the launch from WDW. However don't plan to much around the launch as most of the time they end up being delayed or cancelled.

 

[HERSEY]

Can you see it from anywhere? or is one park better? Thank for the information.

 

[peter11435]

Can you see it from anywhere? or is one park better? Thank for the information.

You can see it from anywhere as long as you have a clear view to the East. IMO the best place to watch from is from the WL. If you go down by the water or on the dock you can watch the shuttle launch in the distance over Bay Lake.

 

[isyt]

Last june we were standing in MGM and asked a cm which way was east so as not to miss the launch. It took them a few minutes to figure out but us and another family were standing around staring up in the sky for about 10 minutes and a cm told us the launch was cancelled. We certainly felt like a bunch of idiots. Its still something we laugh about.

Point being that last year I had started a thread about this and alot of people had said yes you can see the launch but I don't think any park was better than another. Have a great trip!!

 

[Mecha Figment]

I've never actualy seen a launch but i got to see the Columbia returning on the big Boeing Jet at Cape Canaveral several years ago.

 

[MNRMommy]

Oh my goodnes. If you ever get a chance to see it do. It is so cool. We were coming back into Port Canaveral eons ago and they announced on board that if we got early and went to the front of the ship we could seee the shuttle. We got up went outside and froze but I wouldn't trade that moment for anything. WAY COOL!!!!!

 

[Sylvester McBean]

when the launches are given a go ahead, they take my daughter's school outside to watch the launch in the distance. if you ever have a chance to brave the traffic and get close to the KSC, it's amazing to watch.

 

[DeterminedOne]

I can't remember exactly what year it was but I know it was 2001 or 2002. Got nice space shuttle video from Downtown Disney, PI area. I don't know what it's called when the shuttle separates into pieces but that was the coolest part of it all.

 

[Lisacope]

When is the launch scheduled?

 

[marc1477]

It would be very hard to miss. Just find a nice spot and look towards the East. Hope you get to see one.

 

[makinorlando]

It is an awesome thing to witness. I can see it very clearly from my front yard. When the shuttle finally went back up in July, there was a whole group of us gathered in the circle watching, waiting and hoping that all went well! I hope to one day brave the crowds, and see the launch up close.

 

[TXMommy]

Don't count on it going when scheduled - they rarely do. It is awesome to see, tho!

 

[DisMN]

I hope you get to see one..they really are pretty cool!
For visibility we've seen a launch from Downtown Disney, lakeside in front of the big Disney store. We've seen a launch from Caribbean Beach Resort and another from the Boardwalk Resort. All have wow'd us with the Downtown one being the most spectacular because it was in the evening.

Fingers crossed for you!!

Here are several pics that might help you figure out which way to look from the Boardwalk area...for some reason I was expecting it to be in the sky over the lake but it came up over the roof of the Villas!
Sadly, these were pictures of the one that didn't make it back in one piece.

The plume it left behind....

.

 

[Lcm2108]

You can basically see it from anywhere on the WDW grounds. We saw it twice from the parks and during the past year, we saw it twice from our front yard about 70 miles away.

Lisa

 

[ScarletFire]

We saw it last summer while in MK and it was amazing. We were standing on the bridge by Spash Mountain looking towards the castle. I could not believe our luck because of the many delays. The CM's were alerting people in the area about the direction and estimated time. I was so enthralled that I neglected to take a picture. There was no mistaking what it was. I kept track of that voyage on the NASA channel and watched the landing live on TV.

 

[DisneyDadFaNaTic]

I also am interested in the scheduled date of the launch?

Any ideas when?

 

[ReggieB]

Discovery is due to go up July 1st
Atlantis is due to go Aug 28th

Please bear in mind that these are when the launch windows open. They can be delayed by days, weeks and sometimes even a month or so. Here is a link to Nasa's launch page.

http://www.nasa.gov/missions/highlights/schedule.html

 

[jwfla422]

I agree, an amazing site to see, I had an opportunity to see one years ago and it gave me goose bumps watching it!!

Most of the time when it does go up they televise it locally as well. But, the many times we were in WDW when there was a scheduled launch it was cancelled.

The one time I saw it was from a hotel by Altamonte Springs by I-4 and the launch was directly to the east.Thanks for posting the photos DISMN (Great ones too!!) --now I know where to look when we're at the S/D. I always thought to look by the EPCOT area but now I know different. And, wow, you've seen so many launches, what good timing you have!!!

 

[Mecha Figment]

to be honest the space shuttles shouldn't be used anymore. they are now death traps and are years beyond their shelf life. I'mglad to hear theyare being retired soon.