Tips for Shuttle Launch - Updated 7/13

[Bowen9475]

We will be in WDW when the shuttle is scheduled to be launched in early August. I see that it is scheduled for August 7th right now. We have breakfast ADRs at Donald's at 8:00 that morning. We plan to rent a car for the day. I'd like to eat, spend some time at AK and then head out, picking up the car sometime that morning or early afternoon. We would love to drive down to Titusville to watch it. Give me your tips. What time should we leave? How long is the ride? What route should we take? Where should we watch from? Any and all info is appreciated! Thanks!

 

[isla bonita]

We had plans to watch a rocket launch but it was scrapped for the next day. I would call before you rent the car and see if it is still a go.

 

[ducklite]

We will be in WDW when the shuttle is scheduled to be launched in early August. I see that it is scheduled for August 7th right now. We have breakfast ADRs at Donald's at 8:00 that morning. We plan to rent a car for the day. I'd like to eat, spend some time at AK and then head out, picking up the car sometime that morning or early afternoon. We would love to drive down to Titusville to watch it. Give me your tips. What time should we leave? How long is the ride? What route should we take? Where should we watch from? Any and all info is appreciated! Thanks!

Expect MAJOR traffic back ups. You generally can't get onto the KSC property without advance launch passes, which are probably sold out by now. They are also non-refundable if the mission is scrapped or moved to another day a week or two later, even if you are no longer in town.

I'd say that two in five launches are postponed. On a launch day you'll have to plan a good three hours travel time to get anywhere near there. Generally you'd take the Greenway (417) to the Beachline (528) and head east.

To be honest, I wouldn't try to go all the way, it's just not worth it the aggravation, unless it's a middle of the night launch, where there are a lot less people going to see it.

You might want to consider taking 417 to 408 to Route 50 (Colonial Drive) and head east towards Christmas and watch from there. You'll be about 25 miles away, it sounds like quite a distance, but it's really not. It will be a lot less congested leaving than if you go out to Titusville.

As far as the car rental, we had one time that we were headed out to see a launch and it was scrapped until the next day about two hours before launch time. We found out from a toll collector on the Beeline (now the Beach line) about 45 minutes after we left WDW.

Anne

 

[BPCooper]

There is a topic on this launch you should read through:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1486198

Perhaps we can have that pinned since a lot of people are probably to start new topics as the date approaches?

And then you can check out my guide:

http://www.launchphotography.com/Shuttle_Launch_Viewing.html

You should definitely go all the way there, and Titusville is the place to go if you don't want/couldn't get tickets for the closer causeway viewing.

Feel free to ask any questions, good luck.

 

[swilphil]

It will take a couple of hours, at least, to get to Titusville with the launch traffic and probably longer getting back.

Personally, I'd skip AK that day. I don't think Donald ADR's are too hard to come by. If they are, you really aren't missing out on much--IMHO.

 

[Bowen9475]

OP Again - We're getting closer to our trip so I thought I'd run our probable itinerary for the day by you. We are planning to keep our 8:00 breakfast ADR for Donald's, as our kids really like it. We figure we'll stay at AK until about noon, then head over to DTD to pick up our rental car from one of the nearby hotels. (Haven't booked it yet - still pricing them out) We'll swing back by our resort (BWV) to freshen up and pack drinks and snacks, then hit the road probably between 2 -2:30 heading for Spaceview Park. How does this sound? Should this plan get us to the park early enough? Thanks for the information!

 

[BPCooper]

Yes, that should be a good time for heading over there.

So far all is on schedule for August 7th.

Also (might as well mention it), don't forget (anyone) if you are there August 2, the Phoenix Mars lander is due to launch aboard a Delta 2 rocket at 5:35am August 3.
http://www.launchphotography.com/Delta_2_Launch_Viewing.html