My last trip, I saw the Space Shuttle launch. It was one of the most amazing things I ever experienced.
We woke up at 2:30 am, and hit the road to Tutsville. It was a little over an hour drive from Old Key West. We arrived at Spaceview Park about 4:00am for a 5:00 launch.
It was already very crowded. We found a spot along the dock and were able to see the launching platform with our binoculars. I suggest to bring a radio if you have one because the launch countdown is broadcasted. Although we did not have one, there was someone else who did, and he would shout out how long to launch. From 10 sec. on the entire crowd counted down... hundreds of voices building the excitement.
Then it happened... in dead silence. NO roar, No noise, just silence... The horizon lightened, then in a blaze of glory the shuttle lifted, riding on a tail of fire. Still there was no noise except the scattered gasp of awe. Finally, the thunder of the rockets rolled across the river to our dock. By this time the shuttle was already far into the sky. We could clearly see the engine seperation, and watched the shuttle until it blended into the stars scattered through the sky. It was so beautiful that words dont do it justice.
We viewed the launch from Tutsville because we were unable to get car passes for the Kennedy Space Center. I first thought that I would be disappointed. I wasn't. The dock off the park is the closest place to see the launch off Kennedy Space Center property.
We toured Kennedy Space Center afterwards. It was fun, and interesting. (Although it is fairly expensive) They open the main buildings after the launch, so we toured them, and the bus tours (included in your admission) started around 9:30 am. There were 2 other tours for $20 each that we did not do. We had dinner reservations that night back at the Rose and Crown for Illuminations. I am just as glad we did not. As it was, we didn't finish the bus tour until 1pm, and we were on about the 10th bus out! (very long lines waited for the buses) The most interesting part of the tour for me was the last building we visited. It was the staging area for the equiptment going up into the shuttle for the International Space Station.
Alot of people skipped this part, we almost did. The first building has mock ups of the space station. But the best part (again for me a space geek) was across a foot bridge into a enclosed observatory. It overlooked the "clean room" where they staged and weighted all of the payloads. We were able to see the solar arrays, and several containers that will carry equiptment and food supplies up in the next several launches. The solar arrays were really cool. They looked like a bunch of giant Twix bars!
I would skip the tour if your trip to Disney is limited, or your first. There is alot to do at Disney, and the tour through Kennedy Space Center is just as expensive as a day at the parks. But DO NOT miss a launch if you can make one!
Below are my space links, including one with information and directions to Spaceview Park.
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