kennedy space center tips

[sammcg]

We are being collected from all stars. Does anyone know how long it takes to get there and back... is it one bus there and back.

bit worried by daughter might not like it, on looking at the website, it looks as if there might be some sort of launch on the 1st july.. is this the best day to go?


ie are we back so we could go into the parks to see the fireworks.. etc.

[Michael UK]

I know when we went we drove ourselves so its obviously different to you. It took us about an hour to get there so add a bit to the journey for the coach. When we were there we didn't see everything in a day. There's several Imax Cinemas, a show where 2 girls who seemed to me to of eaten way to many M & M's theta went off to Mars and screamed there way around the solar system (avoid unless you have children - they loved it!!) But the coach tours take several hours. You do stop and get out at the 2 locations however and then you que for the next available bus to take you back. However. If there is a launch on, I think that the whole system is different. The place may even close to visitors for the day. And someone will correct me but I thought launches were generally very very early in the morning? 5am - ish?

Anyway, by the time we got home we were all totally exhausted and only fit for bed!

[Kevin]

When we went by Car it took about an hour from Kissimmee, it may take a little longer by bus depending on how many pickups it has to make, someone may be around soon who has been by bus and give you more accurate info.
We went on a launch day, but as we had not paid to see the launch we had to leave around 4.00 pm. We stopped on the highway close by where locals had all parked up to view the launch - it was amazing we had the ocean behind us with Dolphins swimming close by and a view of the launch all for free

[Michael UK]

So i take it then Kev not all launches are in the early hours? The way you saw it sounds better than if you had paid!

[Whitequeen]

We saw one of the rockets heading for Space as we left MGM one night in Nov. 2002.(about 8pm)
OK, we didn't see the actual launch, but it was still something!! :thumbs:

[Kevin]

So i take it then Kev not all launches are in the early hours? The way you saw it sounds better than if you had paid!
We did have a good time, lots of locals were parked up and we enjoyed talking to them. We turned on the car radio to hear the countdown, and having the dolphins swiming so close by in their natural environment was something else. http://www.wdisneyw.com/forums/images/smilies2004/woohoo.gifI expect if you watch the launch at kennedy you get a closer look at the rocket, but we were close enogh to track it with the naked eye

[Isafari]

Kevin - sounds like the place we stopped at to watch the launch - everyone counting down etc. Was it the January 2003 launch?

[Kevin]

Kevin - sounds like the place we stopped at to watch the launch - everyone counting down etc. Was it the January 2003 launch?
No Isafari it was 1998, but I expect it was the same place as it was a popular place to see the launch just outside Kennedy

[EmmaJayne]

So is there going to be a launch on 1st July? And will you be able to see it from Kissimee? (not the actual launch but the rocket!)

[mediman]

Hi Sammcg, we got picked up from AllStars in 2002 and it is only one coach, no transfers, but you will probably find that there are a number of stops at different hotels, journey time is about an hour some of it over a very long bridge ( it is an interesting ride, plenty to see out of the windows ).
If there is a rocket launch when you are there, go to the Astronauts Memorial, this is one of the best places to view a launch, we watched the launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavour from the Memorial it was awsome.

[wrtinch]

Been doing my research on KSC. Just to advise interested parties that there is an unmanned launch at KCS on Monday, 2nd August at 2.17 am. (That is very late on the Sunday to me). It would appear that tickets are available from kstickets.com - adult $47.50 child $37.50. These allow entrance and bussing to a viewing site (no cover or seating) about 5 miles from the lauch pad. I can't make it but I wonder if its worth paying for entry or if you would get as good a view from outside the Centre? Anyway, I've told you about it.

[Keith]

I wasn't amazed at the normal viewing spot they bussed us to.. if I were going to do it again, I wouldn't bother, I'd just go somewhere outside the centre.

[victorlowe]

Keith is right again :yawn:
Of course, what do I know?

I am sure the price is not worth it, especially since there is no shelter of any kind, although many people will pay it.

I wish I was collecting the ticket money.

[Keith]

It's a field at the side of a lake from what I remember... miles away (of course) from any take of. Everyone kinda crowds into this field and waits hours... and maybe it'll take off, maybe it won't.

If it takes off, fine, the view is ok but nothing special.

If it doesn't take off, there's a massive feeling of doom and gloom and it's a horrible bus journey back.

On one of the days we went, the shuttle was due to take off and after everything, we waited about 2 hours in a bus before we could leave to go back to KSC. YAWN!