WDW and KSC ?

[KYCruiseCrazy]

ok, how many have made trips to WDW and while there went to KSC? was it worth it? what i basicly trying to say is, is it worth losing some WDW time to visit KSC? the launch date is Oct 17 2007(yes i'll be there in FL) any one get close to the shuttle launch pads on a tour? was the shuttle there? did you get any photos or video? thanks in advance

 

[Fionasmommy]

We went to KSC in October and had such a great time! It's an amazing place - history is everywhere. We also did Lunch with an Astronaut there which was very cool and DD still talks about meeting a real astronaut. We didn't have time to do the Hall of Fame, so we're planning to go back in May.

If we had the chance to go for a launch, well, it wouldn't even be a question! I'm not sure how the seating works for launches, but you can buy tickets on the KSC website so I'm sure it explains it there.

 

[MEK]

We just went to KSC over Thanksgiving (left our Disney vacation to do so). This was my 6th trip to Orlando and I am sorry I didn't go sooner. It was really interesting. I was concerned, because I read some "not so great" reviews on trip advisor, but it was extremely interesting and I am not a space nut.

One word of advice - Leave Orlando EARLY! It took us over a hour to drive there. We didn't have a map, so I'm sure we did not go the most direct route. Still, I am certain we did not drive that far out of our way. If you get there early, you will have less congestion in the lines to get in.

I bought vouchers from AAA, but we still had to stand in a 1/2 hour line with people with all different types of reservations. It was incredibly disorganized and I think they really need to do a better job of getting people in there (this was at 10:40 am). There is also a smaller wait to have your bag searched. You can't take any type of food or beverage in there.

Once we were in, we watched both IMAX films. They were excellent and the one about the space station gave me a whole new appreciation for the space program. Films are 1hr 15minutes total between the two. They are in different theaters at different times.

We only got through 2/3rds of the bus tour before we had to leave to return to a 6pm ADR (which we were very late for). So - if you have an ADR at Disney that night, make it later.

The bus tour was interesting. The saturn rocket was interesting. We saw the shuttle on the launch pad. We missed the Astronauts Hall of Fame and several other attractions because of lack of time. They did allow people to come back a second day if they had their ticket validated. But you had to return the NEXT day.

By the time you visit, they will have some type of shuttle simulator ride completed. I suspect it will be similar in principle to Mission Space.

It was a great day. My only regret was that I did not allow enough time for my visit. But do keep in mind that I was there the Friday after Thansgiving so I am sure it was maximum crowds. Still, the only annoying line was to get in. Oh yeah - the lines in the gift shop were 20 -30 deep. Visit early!

 

[pepe of ohio]

When we used to drive to Disney, I always drove straight through and to unwind after 1200 miles of traffic, we always stayed on the ocean the first day and night. Kids got to see the ocean, play in the sand and dad got some rest, we also did KSC at that time. We were close to the center and once in Disney, there's too much to see and do let alone leave and drive out to the coast and no one wanted to leave Disney. We did this a few years and now that the children are grown and gone, we have no yen to see the coast anymore, Disney is our haven and has all we require while on vacation.

 

[LukenDC]

In 2005 I took a guided day trip to KSC while staying at WDW. The company that provided the trip to KSC was lacking in a number of areas, but KSC itself was terrific and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to visit. I recommend it to anyone interested in science and/or history.

 

[disnut8]

We did Kennedy Space Center a few years ago and my one word of advice is to plan an entire day there. We got there around 11:00 AM and were finally eating dinner (offsite) in Kissimmee around 7:30. We were exhausted. It really is a good tour although my husband and son knew most of the stuff there. We did the bus tour first and the thing we liked about that was there were three different stops and at each stop, you could stay for as long or for as little as you wanted (or not even get off the bus which would be a shame since each stop is interesting). The buses run continually so you just wait for the next one and get on that one. You don't follow a tour guide and aren't in a specific group for the whole time.

We saved the IMAX films and the walk around the visitors center (THAT is NOT to be missed) for after the tour. We only did one IMAX film because we were running out of time. The gift shop, as mentioned, always was mobbed and had lines of at least 30 people waiting to check out.

If you are going more towards a launch date, you might not get to see everything on the tour. For security reasons. I'd call the center before you decide on going and find out just what might be restricted. On a launch date, I'm sure the roads around the Center will be almost impassible with cars parked and people wanted to see the launch.

The routes from Disney World to the Center are toll roads so make sure you have plenty of ones and lots of quarters.

We enjoyed it and were quite surprised it was as draining for us as a day at Disney World. Based on that, I'd say it's well worth the day away from Disney World.

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

wow thanks everyone. i hope to hear from a few more. trying to find people that got to get photos of the shuttle launch pads. if you got out to take pics by the launch pads how did it happen. thanks

 

[WDWCPAlumni]

I love KSC, however look into the details if there will be a launch.
There was one time that we were there and there was a launch, from what I remember you had to have special passes to even get on property. We ended up parking across the water from it and watching it from the hood of the car.......which was fun, but I am sure not what you are thinking.

Just be sure to do your homework. Start now, in case it is hard to come by. I have no idea.

 

[disnut8]

If the shuttle is on the launch pad, you won't get near it. The best place for pictures would be the first stop on the bus tour and that's going to be quite a ways. There's a metal tower you climb and can see all the launch pads (quite a few more than just for the shuttle).

BTW KyCruiseCrazy - love the Boogity, boogity thing in your sig. Only one more month to go.

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

I love KSC, however look into the details if there will be a launch.
There was one time that we were there and there was a launch, from what I remember you had to have special passes to even get on property. We ended up parking across the water from it and watching it from the hood of the car.......which was fun, but I am sure not what you are thinking.

Just be sure to do your homework. Start now, in case it is hard to come by. I have no idea.

im just trying to get close enough to see and feel the launch without going broke. LOL i know that if the launch is in the afternoon it might get cancelled due to weather. if its a launch before noon it is best. (homework, there is nothing like it) im getting a new hard drive camcorder and im just trying to get close to video. boy will the kids get mad LOL

 

[fla4fun]

The only way I know of to get into the Space Center complex on a launch day is to book one of the sightseeing tours, that includes admission and transportation. If you don't want to go to that expense, just to have the launch delayed, you can drive over to Jetty Park near Port Canaveral, and get a good view. There are also some good viewing spots along US1 heading from the Beachline Expressway north to Titusville. Even if you book the sightseeing tour, you won't be "up close". In fact, you're not that much closer than most of the Titusville watching spots. They don't want visitors too close in case something goes wrong (and I can't say that I blame them!)

If you want a really loud rumbly launch, you should be here for one of the Delta rockets. If you watch one of those from Jetty Park, the noise is outrageous and you may feel that rumble under your feet.

 

[Fionasmommy]

Launch tickets are separate from KSC visitor tickets, so just admission won't cover you to view the launch even if you're already there. In fact, if you do go to KSC on the day of a launch, you might not even get to to the tour at all. Their website says:

All prices and exhibits are subject to change and tour routes may be altered or closed due to operational requirements or launch preparation. On launch day, the KSC tour may not be operational. Please call one week prior to launch for exact operating hours.

Also, what I heard on the tour was that all of the viewing areas are atleast 3 miles away from the launch pad. This is because if something would go seriously wrong with the shuttle it would be the equivilant of a bomb exploding, and 3 miles is what their engineers determined to be the closest you could be to that and not be seriously injured.

You get to see the VIP/dignitary viewing area on the tour, which is cool if you're like me and you grew up seeing that on television and in movies. It does look to be about 3 miles away, but it's a clear, unobstructed view (the same view you'd see on a television broadcast because they also set up there) so it still looks really neat. I wish we could be there on launch day!

 

[bubba73]

I have done the KSC trip from WDW a couple of times and to me it is worth it. But I love the Space Program as much as I love Disney. (Please, no flames.) I do recommend trying to go during a Launch. I was able to go last year during a Rocket Launch. It wasn't a Shuttle Launch but you couldn't tell me any difference. What a great day for me! I am wanting to get back for a Shuttle Launch, too. But I would recommend the trip. It's awesome!

 

[GalindawithaGa]

My family and I went this past December, the day before the scheduled launch. We've gone several times before and took the regular bus tour but this time took the "NASA: Up Close and Personal" tour. It was about an extra $30 but well worth it. We got within a ½ mile of the launch pad, 39B and right up next to 39A. We also stopped across from the rockets, the International Space Station Building, the Apollo/Saturn building, at the landing strip, and right in front of the Vehicle Assembly Building. The regular NASA tour that we’ve taken before drives by many of the things but does not stop at most. You can see the shuttle on the pad but you’re I believe 3 or 4 miles away whereas with this tour we were incredibly close. We went on a Wednesday and the shuttle was supposed to launch Thursday night. The guide told us that there would be some regular tours on Thursday but no “Up Close” ones because of the danger with the liquid oxygen. The passes for any of the tours are good for 2 consecutive days. We were told that if we arrived at the NASA Visitor Complex by 5pm (launch was scheduled at 8pm) with our passes from the day before we’d be shuttled on a bus to the bleachers. We didn't look into that though so I really couldn't tell you much. But nobody was clear on what happened if the launch was scrubbed, which it was. We ended up watching it from our resort, the Pop Century. It was spectacular the whole sky turned orange and the shuttle was a huge orange ball. So if you wanted to watch from Disney property just face east and you can easily see it. In my opinion NASA is well worth the money. I’ll post some pictures so you can see part of the tour.

Discovery on the pad...about 1/2 a mile away. There was a road then that hill seperating the tour from the shuttle and that's about it.

This is the shuttle launch from the Pop Century.

Oh I almost forgot. We were allowed to take video throughout the tour. I hope that helps

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

GalindawithaGa thanks for the tip. it was what i was looking for. yes for both video and close to shuttle pad. thanks everyone.

 

[OKW Lover]

I love the space program - grew up with it from the Mercury 7 days. So a trip to KSC is nice. But to be truthful, its nothing compared to anything at WDW. I'd suggest doing this first and then going to WDW. The other way around and you'll be left wondering why you bothered.

 

[Samsma]

We also took time out from WDW after a few days to go to KSC. We went over in June and the shuttle was on the launch pad. The people at the tourism bureau said that if you want to leave WDW on the actual launch day to get anywhere near Titusville or Cape Canaveral, plan to leave WDW at least 4 or 5 hours ahead of time so you won't get stuck on the highway and miss it. Better to waste a little time looking around than in a traffic jam. We even thought about staying an extra day to see the launch, but it actually was postponed several days. So I wouldn't get your hopes up too high. I would love to see a launch one day, but you could wait around forever if conditions aren't right.

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

this is great. anyone else have pics or links to pics? im trying to get an idea of the up close tour and what to expect. DW thinks i over plan but we have yet to be left in the cold(you know a rainy day back up plan) so if you have photos of this trip i ask you to please post them so i can get a better idea to the DW. thanks again