Who's Going To Be In Florida This Weekend! ** Space Shuttle**

[DisDaydreamer]

My DW (God, I love her), just told me last night that the space shuttle is scheduled to launch on Sunday at 4:30 pm. I looked up the driving directions and Cape Canaveral is just over an 1 hour from Vero Beach and just under 1 hour from Orlando. We're arriving on Sunday at VB... guess what we're doing that afternoon. Certainly no guarantees of launch, but this is by far the greatest opportunity we have ever had to see it. Hope to see you there. I'll be wearing a lime green shirt.

 

[John VN]

I'll be in Fl. but then I live in Fl. on the west coast. Still get a good view of the shuttles going up just not the noise and rumble.

I'll be watching .

 

[thelobstershanty]

Lucky you! I do not know about seeing the shuttle from VB, but we have seen shuttles from WDW, we do not even bother driving to the cape. The view from WDW is very good. The first shuttle we ever saw was while we were standing on the boardwalk. It was incredible. I was very surprised at just how moved I was to see my first space shuttle. I have always been one that thinks we (USA) spend way, way too much money on our space program, when there are so many other areas that need our immediate attention and money. Like Global warming for instance, but that is neither here nor there.
Anywho, I have to admit I was pretty moved when I saw my first space shuttle.
Enjoy!!! I hope all goes off as scheduled and it doesn't get canceled. I am sure you will be awed.

 

[carol1231]

We were fortunate to see the space shuttle launch on July 4th from SSR. It is truly an amazing and moving experience. When we were at WDW the traffic reports for the normal 1 hour drive to Cocoa Beach from Orlando was said to be 6 hours due to all the people going to see the launch. So, make sure you leave early enough. I haven't been to VB, so not sure if the traffic will be the same. But, I certainly wouldn't want you to miss it while inroute.

Have a great vacation

 

[DisDaydreamer]

We were fortunate to see the space shuttle launch on July 4th from SSR. It is truly an amazing and moving experience. When we were at WDW the traffic reports for the normal 1 hour drive to Cocoa Beach from Orlando was said to be 6 hours due to all the people going to see the launch. So, make sure you leave early enough. I haven't been to VB, so not sure if the traffic will be the same. But, I certainly wouldn't want you to miss it while inroute.

Have a great vacation

WOW, I was so excited about the possibility, that I didn't even consider that there might be another hundred or so thousand heading to it. I hate traffic. I think maybe we will just take it in from VB. Thanks for the heads-up. One more notch for the DIS-Boards.

 

[PamOKW]

Here's a preview of what you might see from Vero -- the Ocean Grill restaurant in Vero uses a night shuttle launch on their website!

Shuttle Launch

I unexpectedly saw a launch from Epcot one year -- it's pretty thrilling and I can't imagine how much better it would be to get closer like Vero!

 

[kidsister]

I'm lucky enough to have been invited to the launch by one of the participating astronauts. We;ll be staying in Cocoa Beach the night before, so as not to have to deal with traffic. We're very excited!!!!

What you could do is drive up from Vero early in the morning and spend the early part of the day at Cocoa and watch from there. I don't think that would entail as much traffic, but of course, I could be wrong. Years ago we were at Disney and someone mentioned a early morning launch...We got up and drove over (no traffic then) and watched it from roadside...AWESOME!

 

[VrBchJ]

You will have a great view of the launch from Vero Beach. Just step out on to the sand and voila!

 

[DisDaydreamer]

I'm lucky enough to have been invited to the launch by one of the participating astronauts. We;ll be staying in Cocoa Beach the night before, so as not to have to deal with traffic. We're very excited!!!!

What you could do is drive up from Vero early in the morning and spend the early part of the day at Cocoa and watch from there. I don't think that would entail as much traffic, but of course, I could be wrong. Years ago we were at Disney and someone mentioned a early morning launch...We got up and drove over (no traffic then) and watched it from roadside...AWESOME!

You Lucky DOG! Well... it sounds like I'm close enough in VB to experience it. Thanks for the link Pam.

 

[PBB]

As it turns out I will be in Florida this weekend at VB as well. Wife and I are checking in Saturday and staying until Wed in a 1 bedroom. I will keep a look out for a lime green shirt Rob.

This will be our 3rd shuttle launch while going to a Disney Property. My wife and I saw a launch in the early 90's from the 5th floor balcony at Yacht Club. The launch was at 1:30 am and we called for a wake up call at 1:00 am. The Desk clerk called back twice to confirm it was us making the call and not some practical joke. LOL The view was spectacular as the shuttle came up over the horizon. There was wispy layer of clouds that the shuttle went thru disappeared and came out the top. The moon was lighting up the sky that morning as well. What a view !

The second time was during our first trip home to OKW. We purchased our points and went in May 98. I got a pass from our Congressman and we had to be on the cape 3 hours early. Me, my wife and 2 sons spent the day at the Astronaut Hall of Fame. Thank goodness my wife suggest we stop at Publix and fill the cooler with drinks and food before going onto the Cape there was nothing to be had while waiting. It was close to 99 degrees and they were speaking of scrubbing the launch due to the heat. They finally launched it and my youngest of course said "That was it ??" LOL......Kids... The big problem was coming back on the Beeline. It took us 45 minutes going to the Cape. It took 4 1/2 hours coming back. We had over a half of tank of gas in our van and were coasting on fumes coming into Orlando. For those new to Expressways.......There are no gas stations.

 

[dgaston]

We have tried twice to view launches -- once in July 2005, and again on July 1 this year. We might have tried for the launch on the 4th, but DH passed out at the Boardwalk entrance, and seriously injured himself. He's lost the vision in his left eye, and now has been almost completely checked out with MRIs, CAT scans, and last week a cardiac cath (passed with flying colors). They don't know why he fainted, and he spent 2 nights in Orlando hospitals rather than our Boardwalk view studio. I guess I'm just writing this to let you know you don't always get to see the shuttle launch! Luckily none of this will interfere with his teaching, and maybe someday we can watch a launch (the Vero option sounds better).

 

[LisaS]

We have tried twice to view launches -- once in July 2005, and again on July 1 this year. We might have tried for the launch on the 4th, but DH passed out at the Boardwalk entrance, and seriously injured himself. He's lost the vision in his left eye, and now has been almost completely checked out with MRIs, CAT scans, and last week a cardiac cath (passed with flying colors). They don't know why he fainted, and he spent 2 nights in Orlando hospitals rather than our Boardwalk view studio. I guess I'm just writing this to let you know you don't always get to see the shuttle launch! Luckily none of this will interfere with his teaching, and maybe someday we can watch a launch (the Vero option sounds better).

I'm so sorry to hear about this! I had seen your posts in late June about going to WDW to see the shuttle launch. I looked for your trip report about it to see if you managed to see the launch despite the delays. I had no idea until now what really happened on that trip. I'm glad to hear your DH is feeling better. I hope that at some point you do manage to see a shuttle launch -- maybe the third time's the charm?

 

[gracelrm]

My brother scheduled 3 trips to Cocoa Beach to see shuttle lift offs back in 2001 & 2002. Everytime he went - the launch was scrapped. In Oct. 2002 we went to VB for Fall Break and got to watch a launch. It was absolutely incredible. We drove up toward KSS, but couldn't get tickets to the actual launch; however people just pulled off the road and parked. We were across a body of water from the launch site and it was unbelievable the heat and the noise from lift-off. We had our camera and camcorder ready and about 2 minutes before lift-off - the camcorder had some type of Moisture Lock thing happen. We didn't get any of it on tape, but it's not something I would ever forget! Our neighbors were staying at VB at the same time and they watched it from the beach and said they had a fantastic view from the beach. So I don't guess you can go wrong either place.