View Full Version : Kennedy Space Center
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
06-10-2003, 06:01
Just back in from the day out at KSC - we paid for the Combo Max tickets (got very carried away - cost a fortune - $55 per adult) - these are the Max ticket with the up-close extra tour included.
All I can say is it was well worth the money. The guide on the extra tour was very good and answered all my techie questions. Also you get to get a LOT nearer things than on the standard tour...you get to get our of the bus at a seaftront location between launch pads 39a and 39b - the bus then includes right up to the base of both launchpads, a photo opportunity by the shuttle assembly building, the shuttle landing facility and lots of other behind the scenes stuff like the boneyard where sections of the originbal Appollo gantry and laying rusting away.
The tour lasts 2 hours after which you join up with the normal tour at the Appollo 5 building.
The moved to the astronauts hall of fame and tied my hand at landing a Space Shuttle as KSC with their simulator...got it onto the runway first attempt but made a bad landing and crashed it...second time lucky though - not much different then landing a normal light single except much faster, very much steeper approach and a HUGE flare to land .
Fantastic day out - not enjoyed myself for so much for ages - children loved it too as they got to see loads of rockets and get inside them.
Daniel Ramsey
06-10-2003, 08:15
Thats not a bad price for an exciting educational tour, definately for me and my 9 year old son, did you have to make an advance reservation?
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
06-10-2003, 17:08
You just buy the tickets at the gate or you can upgrade an existing ticket at the gate.
You get a special tour brochure and NASA pin thrown in as part of the tour too...certainly very educational and very interesting :).
We plan to visit next year, didnt get time this year.
melfrank
14-10-2003, 21:48
KSC was a great day out.Having grown up in the '60's, the Apollo launches were a part of our lives and to see up close the exhibits and experience the command centre set me tingling.
melfrank
15-10-2003, 02:37
Can I add that the only down thing was the mosquitos. It is not like the Orlando parks who obviously spray insectiside everywhere. Make sure you have loads of repellent on.
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
15-10-2003, 23:28
Hi everyone
I would reccommend that you have a hearty breakfast before you go as the restuarant doesn't open until 11am. We are advised that before you take the fork in the road for the Space Center there are plenty of eateries but we saw none:(. Get to this attraction as early as you can as it will take all day from memory the last bus tour is about 2-30pm. The Hall of Fame (see details below opens until 6pm.
About 6 miles before you get to the Space Center there is Warbird Museum at Space Coast Regional Airport, a Police Museum and the new part of the Space Centre wit the Astronaut Hall of Fame. We did go into the latter as it was included in the price of our ticket and it was good for children but it was a little late in the day by the time we got there it is open until 6pm.
When we went on the tour there were quite a number of solo guests so if you can't persuade anyone to go with you, you shouldn't feel out of place.
Have fun
Sarah
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
15-10-2003, 23:29
Hi everyone
I would reccommend that you have a hearty breakfast before you go as the restuarant doesn't open until 11am. We are advised that before you take the fork in the road for the Space Center there are plenty of eateries but we saw none:(. Get to this attraction as early as you can as it will take all day from memory the last bus tour is about 2-30pm. The Hall of Fame (see details below opens until 6pm.
About 6 miles before you get to the Space Center there is Warbird Museum at Space Coast Regional Airport, a Police Museum and the new part of the Space Centre wit the Astronaut Hall of Fame. We did go into the latter as it was included in the price of our ticket and it was good for children but it was a little late in the day by the time we got there it is open until 6pm.
When we went on the tour there were quite a number of solo guests so if you can't persuade anyone to go with you, you shouldn't feel out of place.
Have fun
Sarah
Sarah
is that TWO breakfasts or just one :D:D:D:D
This sounds really good and as we had decided to leave buying our anniversary presents until we go to Florida this year 8 weeks tomorrow
This solves my problem on what to get for hubby I will buy tickets for this he will love it to bits from the sounds of it as he is big on techy things and anything to do with big boys toys ie rockets and shuttles
is the shuttle simulator on the tour or after as I dont remember seeing this last time we went or was I just not paying attention [:I]
wouldnt suprise me at all
Sarah
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
16-10-2003, 19:06
The shuttle simulator is in the Astonauts Hall Of Fame which is about 6 miles inland from the main Visitors Center at KSC. Admission is included in the Max ticket but not the Standard ticket.
chrizzy100
16-10-2003, 20:14
quote:Originally posted by floridadreamvilla.co.uk
The shuttle simulator is in the Astonauts Hall Of Fame which is about 6 miles inland from the main Visitors Center at KSC. Admission is included in the Max ticket but not the Standard ticket.
We went on an airboat ride before getting to KSC......the owner was a great lady who had won the State lotto which give her the money to buy the land she'd grown up on...and rised her family on....her sons did the airboat rides on the land....she had lost most of her kids in a fire at her home years before....she took great care of my son who was taken ill on the trip to KSC....so me and my hubby and daughter could still go on the ride.....he was shown gators eggs....baby gators....snakes....tons of things by her and her daughter.....he love it.....I think he was 4 at the time.....we had trouble getting him back on the bus.....
You forgot to mention the really fantastic new IMAX movie in 3-D on the internationsl space station. I just saw this today and it was really awesome. 45 mins long, great 3-D, fantastic shots of the shuttle and Soyuz launches, astranauts working inside the space station and outside, and great views of the earth. I really feel like I have been there too now as the 3-D was so realistic. It is on several times a day and has relagated the old the Dream is Alive to just a couple of showings.
Other thing to report is how tight security is now. They were doing body searches, shoe searches, and wouldnt let my husband in with a digital camera with flat batteries as he couldnt switch it on to prove it was a camera not a bomb. He was escorted to the space shop tp buy new batteries whilst I was held hostage by security!!!! As well as the space stuff, we also saw a very large gator ( at least 7 foot) in shallow water near the memorial and a massive eagles nest along the road on the bus tour,
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
10-11-2003, 12:32
We didn't see that movie Julie - sounds great :).
I'd agree about the security - it's more like going through an airport than a visitors center with one of those metal detector doorways and everything. Still, no problem as they obviously have to keep the place secure.
Oh dear
Was never like that last time we went, I always have problems at Security checks, apart from
my cheeky grin :D
I still have some metal pins in my arm, I broke it badly when I was 12. Sometimes they set off
the security thingies and then I go through the same old stuff. I even have an x-ray to show
what the problem is, sometimes this works and sometimes its doesnt:(
The film was really fantastic, John. Worth going again just for that. You get it on just the standard $28 entrance fee.
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
10-11-2003, 18:01
Thanks Julie - might give that a go when we are out at Christmas and leave Sarah to the Florida Mall for the day :D
Daniel Ramsey
10-11-2003, 18:43
So John you are still in Fla? I'm starting to count days when I get to go there! even doing preliminary packing:D
Hope everything was pleasant during your stay, I won't arrive till jan 3rd so i'll miss meeting you I guess. Its no wonder the security is so tight at the cape, it would be a prime target for terrorists! gawd I hope they all get routed out soon, Fla appears to be a favorite camping spot for them.
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
10-11-2003, 18:55
No - we've been back in the UK for a few weeks now but go to Florida again on 18th December. We'll be leaving the house on 3rd January to come home but will probably miss you as we have to allow 4 hours for the cleaner to make the place spotless for your arrival :).
Well it shows you in 3D just what it is like to be an astronaut, John, and I think after Mission Space it might not be top of Sarahs list for potential career choices!!! No honestly, I said to Terry when we came out " I dont need to go up there now, I feel like I did it already!!"
Other than that, I thought Kennedy was much less relaxed than when we last went 5 years ago and you see everything through a bus window with no photo stops apart from the major stop offs and that made it less enjoyable, though of course I do understand the reasons why. Items which were on the standard tour 5 years ago are now on the close up tour for $22 extra and I guess that is to cut back on the numbers because of the security issue.
chrizzy100
10-11-2003, 20:49
quote:Originally posted by chrisj
Oh dear
Was never like that last time we went, I always have problems at Security checks, apart from
my cheeky grin :D
I still have some metal pins in my arm, I broke it badly when I was 12. Sometimes they set off
the security thingies and then I go through the same old stuff. I even have an x-ray to show
what the problem is, sometimes this works and sometimes its doesnt:(
My daughter and son have always had to remove their boots.....all the metal on them.....they have always removed them in the line and put them in the x-ray machine......
hehehe Chrizzy if I pull the pins out my arm might drop off :D:D
chrizzy100
11-11-2003, 01:27
quote:Originally posted by chrisj
hehehe Chrizzy if I pull the pins out my arm might drop off :D:D
Cool party trick.......[:o)]
hahaha
It does make me laugh when the beep thing goes off, its a case of [:0] here we go again. but
im used to it now
Daniel Ramsey
11-11-2003, 15:08
My flight won't arrive till after 5pm on the 3rd, most likely by the time I get the rental car and get there it will be after 7 or so, unless my son and I decide to stop first to pick up dinner. After 12 hours or so in the air we may just order out a pizza and call it a day, got anybody in mind that you have called before?
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
17-11-2003, 00:02
The trip to the Space Center has had a lasting imprsession on our five year old son. We have been peering into the nights sky to see Mars. We have yet to see the space station but the NASA website guides you where to look. I think we are a bit too close to the lights of Manchester for a clear view.
He's memorised the solar system and can advise on the attributes of the individual planets. I know he missed a week of school but I can honestly say he is not missing out on his education.
Sarah
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
17-11-2003, 00:05
I'm afraid not - we normally eat out.
quote:Originally posted by Daniel Ramsey
After 12 hours or so in the air we may just order out a pizza and call it a day, got anybody in mind that you have called before?