View of Shuttle Launch from WL

[Amy]

I figured this picture needed its own thread. We arrived at WDW around noon, Fri., June 8. I'd read that the space shuttle was due to launch that night, but figured it would be delayed so I didn't plan anything around trying to see the launch. As usual, the things you DON'T plan for usually work out the best.

We had ADR's at Whispering Canyon for 7:10; the table they gave us was out on the "porch" in the lobby, right above the pin cart. At first I was disappointed since we were outside of the main dining room and would miss all the fun (like asking for ketchup). Then around 7:38 pm, one of the servers came running by, yelling that he was taking his break to watch the shuttle lift-off. So then everybody went running outside to watch. What a sight! You could see the shuttle glowing gold for a little while; by the time I got my camera out, this is the view of the Space Shuttle Atlantis from the WL pool area:

Way cool! Our waitress at Whispering Canyon told us that her aunt works at the space center, and she remembers when she was in school how they'd have field trips to the space center to go behind the scenes; unfortunately, since 9/11, those field trips have ended.

This was another one of those "once-in-a-lifetime" things we got to do this vacation. So thrilling to see the lift-off; I can only imagine what it would be like to be closer to the space center (WDW is about 60 miles away).

 

[DVC Jen]

VERY cool!


We knew it was lifting off, but didn't pay much attention to it. Now I wish we had.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

I was on the back of one of the Friendship boats at the BC launch.

It was a cool sight I have a few pictures from my Cell but that it . I called DW at the room but she didn't make it out to get any good shots with the camera.

 

[Virgo10]

Years ago I saw a rocket launch at EPCOT, not the shuttle though.

Here's what shuttle looked like from the area we live in. We're about 100 miles from KSC.

That's the 3rd or 4th launch we've seen since we moved here. I don't think I will ever get bored with seeing them. When they come back this week there's a chance the flight plan will come right over my house. Although you don't see anything, the sonic booms (there's two of them in quick succession) are the ultimate sound effects!