Would you recommend Kennedy Space Center

[kathy884]

I would like to hear opinions about visiting Kennedy Space Center.

A little background: The last time I went to Kennedy Space Center was about seven years ago when my son was in second grade and we weren't too impressed with the bus tour. My son, though, on our next trip will be in 9th grade and enjoys documentaries about the International Space Station, the Hubble telescope, etc. doesn't remember visiting here before, and would like to visit. I took a quick peak at the website and it looks like the tour may be worth a shot again -- at least from the website the general admission experience looks more interesting than it was before?? It looks like a shuttle lanch experience ride is included with general admission and a mock up of the interenational space station (neigher that I remember from before). These look interesting. What did you think?

Please tell me what you thought of the general bus tour too (boring or worth doing). I'm hoping it has improved. Also does it make sense to just do general admission (That's what I was leaning toward) or are their extra activities that you would recommend be added on.

How long does the day take with general admission. It sound like the tour is two hours? But are the other things you do before or after the tour like the ride, etc.

We will have a car, and are only planning to do three theme park days during our 5 1/2 day Orlando stay, so could fit this in on our March 2011 Orlando trip.

 

[Princess&JackMom]

We were just there this past March (trying to catch a launch but it was postponed). The shuttle ride is included and it is pretty awesome. There also have more interactive things to do, cool Imax movies (one is about Hubble, I think), and replicas of the shuttle you can walk on.

We enjoyed the day, though we didn't have time to see it all and skipped the Imax movies but if your son is now into it, I would recommend it. We were there on a crowded day though (because of the canceled launch) so we had to wait for the first bus out. All in all, we were there about 7 hours.

The bus tour (included with admission) is as long as you want to make it. The bus stops at three facilities, but you don't have to do the third one. Just doing the first two (the Shuttle launch pad viewing area and Saturn 5 facility) took us several hours. There is a lot to see.

My kids were 3 and a half at the time of our visit, perhaps a little young but my son is obsessed with the shuttle and even though we missed the launch, seeing the ride (he couldn't go on it) was real enough for him. He keeps talking about going back to see another launch.

There is a behind the scenes tour that is extra. Some others here may be able to tell you about that.

There are also now regular "lunch with an astronaut" programs that might interest your son. (Those are extra, too)

I'd also suggest you check their schedule of launches. Even though the shuttle is coming to an end (the last launch is now scheduled for Feb 2011) they have other launches (satellites, etc.) that you might be able to catch, which would add to the experience.

We hope to head down in November for the next launch but if that doesn't pan out, we will visit again when our twins are older.

 

[bigmama67]

Subbing...my son will be finishing up second grade when we go next June and we think he will love this (DH went as a child but I have never been). Our friends went several years ago and loved it...they were sorry they couldn't use the second day on their tickets (I think you get the second day free?) We are looking forward to this as much as to the parks...just in a different way.

 

[williamson_ja]

I guess I'm glad I did it once, but don't think it was a good value for the money. We spent over $60 to get in. Any time I visit a park like this I remember why I think WDW is such a good value. There just isn't that much to do. The bus ride was cool I guess. The food is terrible and over priced. It made the burgers at WDW QS look gourmet. For $9 we got a premade burger that had been sitting under the heat lamp for some time. It was tiny, no lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, etc. on it.... OLD and nasty. This also wasn't the price of a meal, just the burger. We had to pay extra for a side of chips and a drink! It might be worth a visit once, but I wouldn't go again. The Saturn was cool and pretty huge!

 

[MinnieGi]

We have also gone and enjoyed KSC. Now my DS is a 5 yo space nut. We spent two days in Cocoa Beach before our cruise left and the shuttle had a launch date too so I was hoping we could see it. However it was scrubbed but we went to KSC anyway. My kids DD 9 & DS 5 enjoyed it, but the downside is that its not very shady and we were there on a sunny June day so we didn't last as long as I thought we would. However DS got to see in person the rockets, shuttle launch sites and mock up shuttle that he can tell you quite a few facts about and has read many books about so that was VERY cool!!

 

[Sadie22]

Honestly, this is not a theme park. It's great for adults and students old enough to take advantage of the shuttle launch experience. (Children younger than nine or so probably wouldn't enjoy our NASA Goddard Space Flight Center or the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, either.) There is a lot to see. There are a couple of bus tours as well as IMAX movies. This summer there is a Star Trek show. We'll be there this week and I hope we'll be able to see most of it in the day and a half we have allocated. I'm just sorry I didn't learn about requesting free tickets through our Congressman in time to get some.

 

[Pinocchio #1 Fan]

Honestly, this is not a theme park. It's great for adults and students old enough to take advantage of the shuttle launch experience. (Children younger than nine or so probably wouldn't enjoy our NASA Goddard Space Flight Center or the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, either.) There is a lot to see. There are a couple of bus tours as well as IMAX movies. This summer there is a Star Trek show. We'll be there this week and I hope we'll be able to see most of it in the day and a half we have allocated. I'm just sorry I didn't learn about requesting free tickets through our Congressman in time to get some.

Please tell me about this "requesting free tickets from my congressman" thing!

 

[Sadie22]

I learned from other Disboarders that we can request tickets to KSC through our congressional representative. Unfortunately I learned of this too late for this trip. After I contacted my congressman's office I received this reply:

"Thank you for contacting our office regarding tours. Unfortunately, NASA has consumed its monthly allocation of complimentary passes for July. Tickets may be purchased online at http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/ksc-tours.aspx or at the Visitor Center directly. Requests may be submitted up to six months in advance of requested tour date for a maximum of 4 complimentary passes."

 

[bigmama67]

(Children younger than nine or so probably wouldn't enjoy our NASA Goddard Space Flight Center or the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, either.)

Well, that depends on the kid. My DS had a blast at the ASM last September (he was 6 and 3/4) and he will be 8 1/2 when we go to KSC and I'm sure he'll love it. We'll tie it in with our telescope viewings at home and that sort of thing. DD will be 2 and I'll have to keep tabs on her, but it should be great (and a nice break).

I'll have to look into the Congressman thing...that's an AWESOME piece of info!

 

[pattibehan]

We are going in three weeks, so I will let you know. We are at WDW for 2 weeks and are doing the space center as an extra!! We have a 13yo sonand a 14yo son and are taking their BFF, another 14yo boy. Basedon the comments, I expect to have a great day!

 

[Sadie22]

Well, that depends on the kid. My DS had a blast at the ASM last September (he was 6 and 3/4) and he will be 8 1/2 when we go to KSC and I'm sure he'll love it. We'll tie it in with our telescope viewings at home and that sort of thing. DD will be 2 and I'll have to keep tabs on her, but it should be great (and a nice break).

I'll have to look into the Congressman thing...that's an AWESOME piece of info!

Perhaps it depends even more on the parents.

I've heard many say that the exhibits in Epcot Future World mostly provide a place to cool off and there's nothing to do there.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Perhaps it depends even more on the parents.

I've heard many say that the exhibits in Epcot Future World mostly provide a place to cool off and there's nothing to do there.

so true. we are going thus year and am looking forward to it. ds has never been, and I was last there in 1976....our family was able to get our name in some "buried cylinder thingy)

 

[kathy884]

Thanks for all the reponses. I really appreciate the information / opinions. I'm adding it to our agenda.

We'll reserve day for this, get the general admission, sleep in a little that day, plan to spend a few hours there (won't see everything, probably just highlights, but that will be fine for us.) My 14 year old son enjoys science museums, planatariums, etc., definately understands that this isn't an amusement park, so I can't imagine him not enjoying this too. I had him read the posts, and he definately wants to go.

What he'd really love to do is see a launch sometime. I saw that they have one scheduled for Nov. 25th, 2011 -- Wow! -- It's not summer (I'm not a fan of the hot/humid summer Oralndo weather), and it's a school Thanksgiving break. I may just have to look into a mini trip, if cheap airfares are available. I'm thinking if we'd fly back Saturday airfares might not be too bad. (It doesn't take much to get me thinking about squeezing another Orlando trip in -- too much fun.)

 

[pta-mom]

Thanks OP for posting this question as I was wondering about it too. It does seem pretty pricey for a family of four for one day!! But, this is a one time thing so I guess we'll give it a try.

Question though....as the food is overpriced and yucky, can we leave for an hour and go to a local restaurant for lunch? Is that possible?

Or, could we leave a cooler in our vehicle and go back to eat at lunch time? Is there any picnic tables available?

 

[Princess&JackMom]

If you sign up for e-mails from Kennedy's Web site, they occasionally send out coupons (for like $5 off admission).

I don't think there are a lot of restaurants close by to Kennedy, but it's easy enough to pack a cooler and leave it in your car (or in a stroller) and eat in the park. I can't remember if there were picnic benches outside. They check bags but we brought in a water bottle and snacks for the kids without issue.

They had many tables outside to sit (in the rocket garden) so you could do your own lunch to save money. It is very expensive to eat there, more so than Disney (but then they are saving up to get one of the shuttles when they retire and that's going to cost them about $39 million!).

I had thought the Congressional request was only for launches, I didn't know it was for general admission alone as well.

 

[Kanda]

If you get the mousesavers newletter, there is a link to buy KSC tickets and it's about 9.00 cheaper, per person. We bought our through that link and received them in 2 days. We also booked the lunch w/ an astronaut. I'll be sure to come back here next week and let you guys know if that was a good or bad idea : )

 

[kathy884]

Do post. I'd love to hear about your day.

 

[Aristocath]

I had thought the Congressional request was only for launches, I didn't know it was for general admission alone as well.

I called my congresswoman's office and that is what I was told. I got our tickets from Undercover Tourist and the Mousesaver's link.
We are going to KSC the first week of August and my three sons are looking forward to it but my husband is excited about it. But they all enjoyed the Smithsonian Air & Space so I'm thinking even my seven year old will like NASA.

 

[safetymom]

http://www.disunplugged.com/2010/06/21/day-trips-from-walt-disney-world-u-s-astronaut-hall-of-fame/

http://www.disunplugged.com/2010/03/12/kennedy-space-center-offers-several-up-close-tours/

http://www.disunplugged.com/2009/07/17/kennedy-space-center-celebrates-apollo-40th-anniversary/

 

[mrebuck]

I had thought the Congressional request was only for launches, I didn't know it was for general admission alone as well.

I was able to get 4 tickets from my Congressman for our August trip. I emailed him in March. At first, he responded that he could only get us launch tickets - that they didn't give out admission tickets. Then, a couple of weeks later, he emailed back with a letter telling me that 4 admission tickets would be waiting for us at the will call window. So yes, you can get admission tickets - you just have to ask well in advance of your visit and tell them the day you will be visiting (the tickets will only be available for you that day, although I think the tickets will get you in 2 consecutive days).

Good luck!