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| Kennedy Space Centre |
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It is a pleasant drive the 61 mile journey from Palm Parkway, Orlando (which is not too far away from International Drive - see map) to the Kennedy Space Centre. It takes around an hour travelling at 60mph from International Drive where for the majority of the route is along the SR-528 toll Beechline Expressway. The views are really good with palm trees, plant life and occasionally animals like alligators, eagles, armadillos all around the side of the road which is not something you see every day in UK. The roads are fairly straight so it is easy driving. The toll road means that you have to pay every time you reach a toll barrier. If you don't and get caught on camera then it’s a $100 fine. It is easily done, especially if you do not know the rules of the road.
Approaching the Space centre, there was also an armoury and airfield for air force displays which both looked interesting. The causeway is really eye catching; it is one of the few connecting bridges from the mainland to the island that hosts the space port. The views are pretty stunning and more often than not you see a fisherman in his small boat holding fishing nets by the sides of the beach. As you approach the space centre, you have to turn right into the main car park. It is all clearly signposted and there are plenty of spaces quite literally for every type of vehicle. Once you have parked just head straight onto the main entrance. It can take a little bit of time because the people working at the booths are normally very helpful and will explain where to go or how much the different tours cost therefore it took us around 15 minutes to gain entry. There begins your space adventure.
Once entering the Space Centre, it strikes you immediately the sheer size of some of the space rockets in use - truly amazing. There are quite a number of different attractions, the 3D cinema experience, narrated by either Tom Cruise or Tom Hanks which were both actually quite impressive. Usually there are few people watching the movie which can create a bit of a queue but things tend to keep moving. There are a few exhibits located nearby one off to the left as you enter the centre where the rockets are standing which we will come back to shortly. The exhibit really talks about the space race between the US and Russia during the Cold War. It is a fascinating to read about the first man in space or the first man on the moon. Just looking at the sheer size of the capsules they had to fit into was quite incredible when you consider how many years ago it was.
Then there is an opportunity to take some photos, by the rockets and space modules. They must use an awful lot of jet fuel to get them off the ground! If you are doing the tour on a sunny day, it is really quite calm and relaxing. The air is clean and with the blue sky in the background, fascinating to admire the technological advancements of mankind.
Like Disney, a brilliant innovation for its time spanning all the way up to today. On the topic of Disney, the whole space race reminds me of Duck Rogers, with Donald Duck all those years back. That aside, follow us on Twitter here for the latest updates and news.
The bus tour is next and one of the best ways to see the launch pad from relatively close up!
Once on the tour bus as the driver pulled away visitors get sight of both sides of the main road as we drove out to one of the primary observation points for the Shuttle launch.
The wildlife is really pretty to see and it is true that the whole area is now one huge nature reserve compensating in a fashion for the amount of CO2 that the shuttle emits. Bald eagles could be seen all over the place and we were told by the guide about how a pair is normally monogamous and the male will leave the female for 6 months of the year and go 'on holiday' returning later that year, whilst mom goes off with the kids. It is a really fascinating story. Some of the nests are huge about the size of a bed.
So as you approach the first visitor viewing gallery, which is still quite some distance away from the launch pad, there is an opportunity to get off the bus and walk up the stairs or take the lift to the top floor. Once there it can be pretty windy although there was an indoor area. Binoculars can be hired and that is about it. The view does not really show you the whole space shuttle as it is quite far away and at an awkward angle.
Looking around behind the viewing platform you can see the huge building that assembles the Space Shuttles and this thing is massive and the crawlers that carry the Shuttles to their launch pad at 0.5mph yes, 0.5mph. Something like 35 gallons of petrol a second is consumed.
As visitors head back towards another indoor exhibit you can often come across a cute little family of wild hogs, mum, dad, and baby piglets.
Reaching the next main exhibit, a good mile away from one of the viewing areas and it is another huge building, visitors are told it was built entirely by the generosity of the public from donations. As the guide said, 'no tax dollars whatsoever'. It did take 25 years to collect the money though but impressive nonetheless!
Once entering the building visitors are shepherded into a large darkened room to watch a brief video. Then move on into the next room which was the old control room, or rebuild of it with the original equipment, to watch another video which was also quite impressive. After which there were various other exhibits within the building and a huge Apollo rocket module.
There is a fast food restaurant, albeit quite expensive, but alright. Once watered and fed visitors head on back via the shop to the bus stand for the return journey. But, beware of the little bird that likes to sit on the railings above people queuing!
The bus ride back is quick and feels almost safari like at times. Once back at the main centre there are gift shops so visitors can browse or buy presents.
The drive back to Orlando is really pleasant, the road quiet, and the sun blazing.
Everything anyone can ask for on a Walt Disney World Orlando Florida adventure.
See also: Cape Canaveral
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