Trying to budget time - ?? on Kennedy Space Center

[Leigha]

It looks like we'll be going to the Kennedy Space Center since we have just purchased the Fun in the Sun tickets with admission to this included. The brochure included said it's a 45 minute trip from Orlando. Is this correct? How long did it take you to see everything? Is the IMAX film worth seeing? Is there anything else interesting to see on the way? Any good restaurants on the coast nearby?? Thanks!

 

[HollyJoy]

We plan to stop by Kennedy on our way home. I think that 45 min sounds right. DH works for NASA, so my girls are thrilled to go! When DH and I went on our honeymoon, we stopped by and spent about 2 hours there. Didn't watch any films, just roamed around. I'm sure the IMAX movie is worth it though!

 

[shelleybell]

We went in 02 and spent a good part of the day there. The IMAX was worth it IMHO. We also were fortunate enough to be on NASA property to watch the shuttle Endeavour take off. You think you get tears from cindy's castle, just watch a launch. What was funny was my DS9 (at the time) was bored and tired from all the waiting. I had to explain to him how fortunate he was to actually witness it!

I dont remember any eating places on the way. We went to Cocoa Beach afterwards. It is a short drive, but a nice trip. You get to see the port and all the big cruise ships. Might be worth the side trip.

shelleybell & scar11

 

[Letsbgoofy]

We spent about 3 hours there before our cruise and we didn't get a chance to see it all. The bus ride around the property is quite long (but worth it) and the IMAX movie we saw was excellent.

 

[Leigha]

Thanks for the input! We were going to do Seaworld but with this being free as part of the FITS tickets, I hate to pass it up!! I'm just not sure we'll regret not doing Seaworld. I told the kids we'd do it on our next trip - we're doing Universal on this one too. If it only takes maybe 3 hours, we might be able to do it on our way to Vero. Has anyone done this?? How close is Vero Beach to KSC?? Thanks!

 

[leebee]

IMO, the best part of KSC is the bus tour. It takes you out to a viewing tower where you can see launching pads from Mercury, Gemini and Apollo missions as well as the shuttle launch pads. You also drive by the vehicle assembly building and learn all kinds of cool info from the in-bus tour video (FYI, the flag on the side of the VAB is bigger than a football field!). You also go to the Saturn Rocket exhibit, where ther are a couple of cool exhibits with movies and of COURSE the full-sized saturn rocket hanging from the ceiling, as well as the capsule and the lunar module, etc. Sometimes you also get to tour the space station center, but we've never had this happen. These are all part of the bus tour, and you could fill your entire three hours with just this. That means you won't get to explore the visitors center exhibits, see the IMAX film, walk thru a shuttle, see the astronaut memorial garden, or go to the Astronaut Hall of Fame (separate admission, I think). We LOVE KSC (DD is going to space camp there in June), but I'm not sure that 3 hours on-site there will give you enough time to see everything. DO NOT skip the bus tour! While you might regret not doing SeaWorld, I don't think you'll regret going to KSC! Can't really *recommend* any of the restaurants in Cocao Beach...everyplace we've been along A1A is pretty run-of-the-mill, food wise. Not bad, just nothing special. There is a Mexican place on the west side of A!A, and a pretty OK restaurant right out on Cocoa Beach Pier, which juts out over the water, that my DD though was "neat, mom"!

BTW, go to southwest airlines and sign up for their rapid rewards program, and print out the membership card. You'll get a 20% discount at Sea World (now you can do both KSC and SeaWorld, just what you need, more decisions, LOL!)