Watching Kennedy launch from WDW???

[bizeemom4]

I just saw that Kennedy is launching a shuttle on 5/22! We were planning to go to Sea World that day. Can you see the launch from Sea world or any of the Disney parks and/or hotels?

How cool that we're coming for Star Wars weekend and we may get to see a launch into outer space!

 

[boucheresq]

I don't know about Seaworld, but seven years ago, in December on our honeymoon, my dh and I were eating at Fulton Crabhouse and we got to see the shuttle go off - obviously, you can't see the takeoff itself, but you can see it in the air. It's something my dh and I will never forget.

 

[kycat]

We could see the shuttle once from Epcot....it was pretty cool as everyone just stopped in their tracks and gazed and pointed to the sky. We were hoping to see it on the 15th...I hope the date works out for you.

 

[OhMari]

You are approximately 55 miles from the space center, so you will probably just see the shuttle very high in the sky.

I saw Appollo 13 from Tampa-St. Petersburg Florida in 1969- I was 8 years old-my great uncle pointed it out to me and told me he wouldn't want to ride in #13. Scary huh!

 

[plutospup]

Another great viewing spot is at the CR marina. Look straight out over the lake. You will see it as it clears the tree line.

 

[Worfthedog]

I saw a website the other day with a video taken from EPCOT, even during the day it was obviously the shuttle and looked excellent. I'll try and find you the link.

Let's hope the launch isn't delayed again (we were hoping to visit Kennedy on the 1st day of the original launch window, then it was moved to the 15th so no luck there - we leave on the 14th, now it has moved again), keeping our fingers crossed for you!

Paul.

 

[bigcrit]

Does anyone know the time of the launch? We are leaving WDW around 2 - 3 pm that day. I couldn't think of a better way to end a vacation.

 

[Gary M]

About 4 years ago in Feb. we saw the shuttle from MGM. It was just after 6 pm (almost dark) and the I'll never forget the sight.

 

[joe1946]

We saw a shuttle launch a few years back, from Blizzard Beach -- it was the one with John Glenn. Actually, we only saw a tiny speck in the sky and if there hadn't have been an announcement telling us where to look, we wouldn't have noticed it at all. But it was still very cool!

-- Joe

 

[TSWJan78]

We went and saw the shuttle launch about 15 years ago... We drove down and it was not far of a drive.. It was an experience I will never forget and was able to tell all the kids at school and turn it into a school project.... Just a little warning.. watch where you sit... we were on a small banking and my mom sat down and saved me a place to sit on the grass... it was right on a red ant hill... good thing we got there early cause we spend 10 min brushing off red ants.. a little OT I know but a day I will never forget!! The launches are usually in the AM so you may be able to make it back to SW with time to spare… or use this as a long day.. It is defiantly worth the hour drive!!

 

[LisaBi]

We saw one from the top of the parking structure at Universal. We were going to drive to the cape, and just decided not to, and then just happened to be going to our car at the right time. You couldn't see any detail - just a bright light really.

LisaB

 

[WEDWDW]

The targeted launch time is 01:03:49 PM EST.

 

[JamesD]

I wouldn't get your hopes up about a May 22nd shuttle launch. They're going to be very cautious about launching (they better be!) and I'd be surprised if it even launched before the end of May.

 

[jpeltier]

My DD and I were in Tomorrowland several years ago and the loudspeaker came on and announced if we looked up we could see the shuttle. It made me think of Walt Disney and how he would have loved it!!!

 

[GIOny]

We saw one several years ago right from our room at the Contemporary. It knd of looked like a huge ball of fire. Very impressive!!

 

[domestic goddess]

We were at MVMCP in 2000 and saw the launch from Fantasyland. It was during the fireworks and they stopped them and made an announcement about the shuttle and after it was mostly out of sight they started the fireworks again. It was at night and was really cool! My DH videotaped it and we have watched it a few times since. What was even cooler about it was that we had gone to Kennedy that week before and had seen the shuttle on the launch pad. Something we won't soon forget!

Hope you get to see it! The view from WDW should be good. From what I have been told, it is a mess to try to get close to Kennedy for a launch and traffic is lining the roads all around there for miles.