Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Kennedy Space Center has been one of the most entertaining destinations thus far. This place truly captures the imagination of adults and children. While I thought the cost of tickets was a bit excessive, we found plenty of sights and activities. Atlantis being the main event, it was nothing less than stellar (pun intended). While you’ll find plenty of photos of Atlantis on the web, I can attest that nothing compares to the real thing. Imagining the shuttle going into space, the same heat tiles blasting through the atmosphere, and the rocket’s boosters creating unimaginable g-​forces was entirely captivating. They even had a big slide which simulated the flight path of the shuttle’s descent back to earth. My wife even «whooped» when she came down it so it must have been fun. :-)

My family and I had a great time. We only arrived at around 1pm, so we had to move quick to see all the cool stuff before they close at 6pm. We saw the highlights and do not miss these two main things.
1. See the Space Shuttle. Super cool to see the real thing. You will be amazed how big it is. There is a two short movies to view… before you can access the room with the Space Shuttle. The movies are excellent and get you pumped up. Do not let the long line to the movies deter you. They fit a lot of people and the line goes really fast (i.e. my family almost walked away as they thought the line would take forever… they were wrong).
2. Take the bus and see the Saturn 5 rocket (the real thing). Same thing as before, you see a short movie beforehand and then access Mission Control room. There is a cool surprise in the Mission Control room… so I will not spoil it. After Mission Control… doors open and you then see the Saturn 5 rocket. Let me just say it is amazing (a long as a football field and about ¹⁄₃ of wide as football field width. Do not let the long lines of bus deter you… the lines also goes fast.
This is all the time we had, there is other things to see… but we ran out of time. But the above are the two main highlights.
One small step for man… a giant leap for mankind.

What a fantastic place to learn about the history and future of space exploration! Two Imax space movies, a bus ride out to a Saturn V rocket and the space shuttle Atlantis are some of the highlights. We added on the extended tour to visit the launch control center. Total cost was $ 75 each for admission and the add on tour. Parking was $ 10. Less than Epcot which cost $ 100 each plus $ 20 parking and this was a better experience!

KSC was everything I could imagine. Upon entering, rockets greeted our sights. These rockets were used in the Gemini and Apollo missions. The walkway used for the Apollo 11 was there! There were several activities and on the complex, including a Mission to Mars presentation, and a IMAX type of film. My favorites by far would be the Atlantis exhibit and the Saturn V rocket tour. The Atlantis exhibit features the actual shuttle, as well as several exhibits about the space shuttle program. There is even a flight simulator. The Saturn tour takes you by several launch pads, before dropping you off where the rocket is looking located. Inside this building details about the Apollo mission are given. Really worth a look!

Came here for the first time in about 8 or 10 years and could not believe how much was added since then. Kennedy Space Center does a great job at paying tribute to all of the people who sacrificed their lives in the name of exploration, educating visitors, and inspiring new people to get involved in math and science.
The new Atlantis exhibit is breathtaking from walking under the solid rocket boosters to getting to see the shuttle up close. They also have IMAX movies and some interactive exhibits. Your admission ticket includes a guided tour but I would recommend going on one of the special tours. We went on the tour talking about the future of NASA and KSC. On this we got to see a bunch of the launch pads, the new Space X hanger, and other sights. Very interesting and the tour guide was very knowlegable
All in all a great experience! It is only a little over an hour away from the Orlando area and well worth the trip!

We made a day trip from Orlando to visit the space center. You can only see so many Mickey ears in a week. We made the trip from Orlando to Cape Canaveral, only taking about an hour but a bunch of tolls along the way. Parking is ten bucks at the space center. The lot is large & not too bad for parking. Don’t get a car wash before you come, because they’ve got a bunch of large birds that roam the lot. We got back to our car & it had about 7 large bird poops. It looked like all the cars has something on them, with birds even sitting on cars.
The entrance to the park/​center has a large water wall with a quote from John F Kennedy. There’s also a large NASA sphere that you can get a good photo op with the space shuttle in the background. We stopped at will call to get our tickets & then went through security. They’ve got metal detectors & even you empty out your pockets & they’ll check your bag. They ain’t playing.
Entering the center, you’ll notice the large rockets scraping the sky to the left. It’s a nice little walk through the rocket yard. They’ve got a lot of signage to tell you about the rockets. The sheer size of them is pretty amazing. All the the rockets outside are replicas. The only actual rockets/​shuttles from space is the Atlantis shuttle inside the Atlantis building & the Saturn V rocket at the Apollo/​Saturn V center.
We looked through the Mars building. The building as a video & a bunch of different interactive computers. You can try to land a thing onto Mars, & dock a ship to the International Space Station. I thought the computers were too advanced for me, but I saw kids playing with them. Maybe I wasn’t patience enough for them. We didn’t spend too much time in the Mars building. We didn’t experience the IMAX movie because we thought it was too long to see for us to experience the other things they’ve got.
The crown jewel of the Kennedy Space Center is the Atlantis experience. It’s a neat time. To see that large space shuttle inside is magical. Check out the page dedicated to it for more information. We stopped by the gift shop & found a neat NASA coffee cup that was blue & matte finished. Really neat. Also bought a NASA Tervis just because I need another one to my collection.
They’ve got a line forwards the entrance of the Atlantis where you can board the bus to go on a tour of the launch site & the Apollo/​Saturn V building. When getting into the line for the buses, they’ve got staff there to take your picture in front of a step & repeat. It’s a little funny & I guess you can buy the picture at the end of the tour. We did not. The bus driver we had was very friendly & went from taking about the area to showing little videos on the bus tv monitors. The bus tour drives around where the launch pads are, and shows the huge building in which the shuttle is built.
Once you’ve been on the bus tour, they’ll drop you off at the Apollo/​Saturn V center. There, you will watch a little video and then go in a theatre with the REAL control center computers. They have a simulator to experience what it was like when the Saturn V made liftoff. After that, you’ll go into a HUGE room with the Saturn V rocket displayed longways in the building. This reminds me of the Huntsville Space Center we visited this past summer.

This is one of those places that’s a veritable mecca for someone like myself, a self-​proscribed space geek and NASA junkie. You get it all here — fabulous artifacts, intelligent conversation about our efforts away from our planet, and delightful views of how the US managed a feat of engineering that still boggles the mind — especially when you see the equipment and science available during the time it was used. I love this place and hope to visit it periodically until the day I die. Every time I visit it shares something new. Make sure you take in every bit of it and tour everything available. Truly an inspiration.

This was an awesome choice as a day trip during our port stop in Port Canaveral. We purchased our tickets online for $ 50/​pp and secured a rental car reservation as well.
After we docked and picked up our rental car, we headed to Kennedy Space Center, a 20 minute drive. We approached the front entrance and had to pay $ 10 for parking. The center didn’t open until 9am, and we arrived around 8:30am, so we were able to park fairly close to the entrance. As we waited at the front entrance, there was a NASA globe and a waterfall display with a quote from President Kennedy in regards to the space program. An announcement was made that the park was opening shortly and they bef an to play the Star Spangled Banner with everyone facing the flag and placing their hands over their hearts. After that, the park opened, but before we entered, there was a person in full astronaut gear walking towards the entrance and we were able to take photos with them. Awesome!
The experience was wonderful. We got a map of the grounds and proceeded to go to the Atlantis launch simulator, which was modeled after the real simulators the astronauts used. It was an awesome experience that l suggest you get on. It lasts for all of 5 minutes, but was well worth it! We viewed so many exhibits in relation to space, what it was like to be in space, the actual Atlantis space shuttle and moon rovers, equipment used, so much!
There were plenty of interactive stations thay gave a real time insight into what it was like to perform certain duties while in space. There was a hall of fame of astronauts (a building was under construction as of this review opening in late 2016), the vehicles used that the astronauts drove in to the launch pads, a memorial to the astronauts that were lost in the Challenger and Atlantis space shuttles, a giant slide that was steeper than it looked, various rockets around the complex, Imax theater shows, and the like. We went on a bus tour (included with admission) to the Saturn V tour site building, a 15 minute drive away. The tour drivers both to and from were extremely knowledgeable. On the way there, we visited actual launch pads including launch pad 39B, which is still in use and on the grounds, which by the way is a protected wildlife refuge for assorted birds and reptiles (we saw two alligators swimming down the waterways, bald eglets in a next and wild pigs, that were first imported to the area in the 15^th Century!) The Saturn V complex housed the actual space shuttle that went to the moon along with all the associated artifacts (including a real moon rock that we were able to touch!).
There was the Space Shop, the biggest store for space related items in addition to another store located at the Saturn V building, with cafes at both the main complex and the Saturn V site.
There were other tours, for an additional charge, including lunch with the astronauts.
All in all a wonderful day of educational and entertainment that l will be visiting again, due to our strict timeline in getting back to the cruise ship before sailing.

My favorite thing about this place may have to be the employees. Living in Florida and being to many touristy areas, you can tell it takes a toll on the employees usually but not here. Every single employee was genuine and passionate about this place, which i truly mean because i was taken back by it. It takes great people to not only love the STEM field but love teaching it (to guests) is something special.
Upon entering the park (??) Everything looks a bit cheesy and theme park like, which is why i assumed the employees would act in such a way. Our bus driver told us about himself and how he loves his job, showing off launch pads and rockets, and even learned some more about Florida’s wildlife.
Atlantis has the coolest exhibits of the whole place, so be sure not to miss anything there. A lot of the other things seemed pretty outdated, informative, but not what i was expecting from a place that has people that literally do rocket science as a job. Obviously not at the theme park. But after seeing the Atlantis exhibit, i feel that they can clearly do better with some other places at the park.
Very kid friendly, almost so much that it seemed they were missing out on some adult activities.

Very large and many exhibits that you can visit. There are a lot of interactive things to do here. My favorite part was Atlantis where we were able to learn more about Mars and even got to simulate a space ship take off.
We weren’t able to take the bus to their other location but I would recommend doing that early because the Line towards mid day extended further than the entrance to the line.

There are very few places on Earth where one can visit to reminisce the past, embrace the present, and preview the future.
The Kennedy Space Center will take you from the pre-​Apollo days to our first landing on the moon. It will take you to a journey from the birth of the space shuttle program through its conclusion — documenting both its successes as well as its tragedies. It will inspire you with today’s new generation of SpaceX Falcon rockets and the aspirations of a human flight to Mars in the future.
To get the most comprehensive experience of the Kennedy Space Center, plan to arrive early when it opens and allow an entire day there. Here are some of the highlights of our visit:
SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS: If you arrive at the center early right when it opens, I highly recommend that you go here first (while almost everybody takes the bus tour first), as this complex can get very crowded later on. Be sure to allow about 2 hours for this complex, which starts with a guided tour, a documentary on the concept and eventual birth of the space shuttle, as well as numerous exhibits.
The real Atlantis shuttle is showcased here, together with a model of the Hubble Telescope. It’s a large complex so numerous shuttle-​related items as well as interactive games for kids are also on display. On the lower level, there’s a memorial for the crew of the Challenger and Columbia.
I suggest that you take the simulator experience early before the long line begins to form. The ride gives you the experience of a space shuttle launch (all bags and loose items need to be stored in a locker). There was a lot of violent shaking and a brief moment of weightlessness when I took it, but it was not one bit scary and didn’t come close to the thrill of a roller coaster. So it’s not a thrill ride, but a simulator.
THE BUS TOUR: This is a must-​see and it takes you through many landmarks in the entire Kennedy Space Center property, which is like the size of a small city. You will see the actual launch pads used in the Apollo era as well as the space shuttle programs. Some launch pads are now converted for use by the SpaceX program — in fact, the day we were there, they were preparing for the launch of the Falcon 9 rocket (which was successfully launched and landed 2 days after our visit on 12/​21/​2015).
THE APOLLO CENTER: The bus tour will drop you off here and you can enjoy the center at your own pace and board another bus to return to the main complex.
Here you’ll see how it all began: How a dream became a reality through unyielding determination and relentless hard work — how every success usually begins with a failure!
Be sure to watch the video presentation as it is quite enlightening to see how the first moon landing (Neil Armstrong) was successful albeit every move on the approach did not go as planned. In fact, at one time, Houston actually thought that they had lost the crew!
Check out the real rockets — especially the huge Saturn V. Take a picture of its 5 rocket firing engines. Touch a real moon rock. Check out a space suit used in an Apollo mission. View the actual moon dust.
3D IMAX Theater: The 2 films that were shown when we were there were «Hubble 3D» and «Journey to Space». Both documentaries were educational, entertaining and inspirational. I highly recommend seeing both of them. Once you get there, be sure to get a map and a schedule so you can coordinate the show times with your other activities. Take into consideration that the bus tour plus the Apollo visit will take at least 2 hours.
OTHERS: There are just too many attractions to list individually, but a few that I could remember include the rocket garden, Astronaut Encounter, Exploration Space, etc. Also be sure to stop by one of the 2 gift shops to purchase some souvenirs.
Or if you are a hopeless geek like me, go buy a NASA jacket!
And if you are indeed a hopeless geek like me, you will remember the opening sequence of the original Star Trek TV series:
«Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-​year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.»

Had a great experience here at the KSC Visitor Complex. The last time I came here was over 20 yrs when I was in middle school for a field trip. I didn’t know what to expect, but I didn’t have much of an expectation other than the tour having included a trip to the moon and back since the tickets were $ 50 a piece for adults (This is the only reason I gave it 4 stars). I would say that the tickets are worth atleast $ 30 ea for adults for this type of experience.
Nevertheless, this whole is experience is packed with information and history of the Space Program. A bus tour, museums, 3d imax movies, exhibit of the actual Atlantis space shuttle, rockets, and more. Must say I was impressed how well the complex kept the flow of things going which caused everyone to be spread out. So it looked like there wasn’t a lot of people there, but it was. I was shocked to see how many foreigners were there. Possibly less than 2% were locals.
I would definately come back… there is just soooo much information that is poured into you… so much that I felt like an astronaut when I left. I would highly suggest to add this experience to your list of things to do when traveling to the Orlando area.

Whether you’re a history nut, a science nerd, a rocket geek or just looking for a Florida attraction that doesn’t involve a Mouse, a killer whale or Harry Potter, Kennedy Space Center has something for everyone. Our family paid a visit before sailing out of Port Canaveral on a Disney cruise, and were blown away by how much there was to do.
We started with a stroll through the impressive Rocket Garden, where our kids loved climbing into cramped space capsule replicas, staring up at towering missiles, and dashing across the actual gantries used by astronauts headed to the Moon. Then, we hurdled more than six decades into the future through the ‘Journey to Mars’ exhibit, which described NASA’s next great mission to the Red Planet, still more than 10 years away.
The bus tour of the launch pads and Vehicle Assembly Building was a little long for our small kids, who started to get fidgety about 30 minutes into the hourlong ride. But the incredible Apollo Launch Center, with its overwhelming collection of rockets, capsules, spacesuits and moon rocks, made up for the long journey. And the experience of sitting in the original Mission Control room during a recreation of an Apollo launch is both riveting and unforgettable.
But the highlight of the visit was the opportunity to see the shuttle Atlantis, displayed in all its patriotic splendor in an fascinating exhibit devoted to the history of the STS program. Atlantis is dramatically showcased in a setting that lets visitors examine every inch of the craft’s exterior, from almost every angle, in exactly the same condition in which it returned from its final mission. The experience is absolutely intoxicating, but don’t let it keep you from getting to the hands-​on exhibits further along in the building, including the exhilarating Shuttle Launch Experience, which recreates the initial minutes of a shuttle launch in a vertical ride simulator that isn’t for the faint of heart.
Sure, the ticket price is steep — but Kennedy Space Center is an experience like no other, and one that will leave you and your family with a lifetime of indelible memories.

I came to Kennedy Space Center with one burning question in mind:
How do you poop in space?
Seriously, don’t even pretend like you weren’t thinking the same thing. You’ve seen the commercials and movies with people in space opening bottles of Coke and food and without gravity you get little droplets of liquid floating everywhere or a hot dog just floating around.
SAME IDEA WITH BODILY FUNCTIONS. Seriously, how do you go to the bathroom in space without it turning into some kind of intergalactic R Kelly Golden Shower spectacle?
From my visit I learned the following:
First you strap yourself in, then position yourself using a camera aimed at the strategic area, then like Salt-​N– Pepa says «push it real good» (remember zero gravity, you gotta work), they also suggest you wiggle a bit to get things in motion, and you activate a vacuum flush system.
Mystery solved.
I hope you weren’t eating lunch.
I spent a whole day here not only learning about the hygiene habits of astronauts, but about all our past and future space missions. I am a sucker to aviation/​space history, so this is basically me at the Kennedy Space Center: READ ALL THINGS, TOUCH ALL THE THINGS, SEE ALL THE MOVIES. I actually fly planes better than I can drive, so that might explain my fascination. The Kennedy Space Center is like DC’s Air and Space Museum on some crack.
DId you love the movie or book «The Martian»? Then you’ll love it here cause some of the IMAX movies and facts about Mars make the movie/​book startlingly accurate. The accuracy of the travel time between Earth and Mars, nailed it. The concerns over long term exposure to radiation in space? Nailed it too.
Some people might balk at the price of $ 50 and call it Disney NASA but I thought it was money well spent. I am pretty sure I spent about $ 300 of NASA’s money just repeatedly going on the Shuttle Launch Simulator.
So if you want to enjoy this place as much as I did here are some tips:
1-​Come early, I thought I was gonna spend half a day here and I ended up spending a whole day. There are not as many attractions, but if you spend time reading the exhibits or watching movies, it’s surprising how fast time flies by.
2-​Take the bus tour (ends at 4pm) that comes with general admission. It takes you around to multiple launch sites and since this area is protected wildlife refuge your driver will point out all the fun wildlife. Large bald eagle nests. Manatees. There are lots of alligators, in fact there are so many they need to clear runways of gators before launches.
3-​The read the reviews where people say the Atlantis area is mainly for kids. I have no kids and spent a majority of the day here. Maybe that speaks to my maturity level. RIDE ALL THE THINGS!
4-​Meet an astronaut if you can. You either have lunch with them or go to a signing. Their stories are always interesting. Also you’ll note that they don’t seem to age, and they live longer lives than average. Something worth looking into.
Now some cons:
1-​Parking is $ 10 be ready for it
2-​As with every other park or attraction, the food is expensive and just meh.
3-​The only space ice cream offerings are chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. This is why I can’t be an astronaut.

TIPS:
–Be prepared to pay $ 10 for parking your car. It may be a bit of a walk to the complex too.
–Plan out your day ahead of time. You can easily spend the whole 9AM to 6PM here in the park and not run out of things to do. If you want the most «bang for your buck», come directly here at 9AM and have a general game plan in mind. Since your entrance fee expires at the 6PM closing, you’ll want to have gotten as much out of that fee as possible.
–The BIG time-​eaters are going to be the Atlantis Exhibit and Bus Tour. I’d plan for roughly 3 hours for each one. The bus tour has you in a bus for a while, so I’d save that for mid-​day when your feet are wanting a break. Bus tours depart every 15 minutes or so. The rest will take a lot less time. These two are the «big» attractions too, so if you miss them, you’re really going to miss a lot of the KSC experience.
–Atlantis area has the most attractions and things geared towards younger children.
–Lines will seem long. Most of the time, they let in 50+ people in spurts, so long lines turn into «no lines» very quickly. Just be patient.
–Would recommend the «realistic takeoff experience» in the Atlantis area as long as you and your family enjoy rollercoasters. It isn’t a rollercoaster, but it provides a similar sensation and lets you «experience» a takeoff.
Pros:
–I learned a lot. I’m not super educated about aerospace, and I really learned quite a bit about the space programs.
–Lots of interactive stuff. This isn’t the standard «stare at things on a wall» experience. Tablets will have interactive things to read. There are real-​life replicas of lots of things. There are lots of artifacts, movies, and interactive experiences to keep your attention.
–The «memorial to fallen shuttles» area in Atlantis was nice and quiet. I like that they placed it away from children’s areas, and it honestly felt like a memorial with a moment of silence. Very much appreciated.
–Definitely geared towards kids. Not a pro on my scale, but for most families, you’re going to find stuff for kids of every age level. More of the museum and information stuff will start to appeal to older kids while younger kids are going to love the slides, spaceship playgrounds, and other interactive things.
–Time and effort was clearly put into presentation. The KSC clearly wants to wow you — and they do. You’ll see what I mean when you go.
–All of the attractions were in good repair and looked neat and clean. No garbage anywhere, display cases were spotless, all of the informative tablets worked great, etc. I’m really surprised. I actually can’t think of a single thing that wasn’t working properly — even though most of the museum was high-​tech including tablets, speakers, spaceship toys, etc.
–Staff was friendly. I didn’t have a lot of interactions with them, but they seemed knowledgeable enough.
Cons:
–The website really makes it seem like there’s more to do here than there really is. There is a lot of commercialism, and at some points, you’ll feel like there’s more shops and food stores than actual attractions. However, on the attractions they do have, you’ll spend quite a bit of time exploring the area.
–There were lots and lots of time where I felt like cattle. You’d wait in line, be ushered into a room with a group of people, watch a movie, get ushered into the next room, watch another movie, another room, another movie, and then let to explore a bit of the museum. I really did feel like uncared-​for cattle a lot of the time.
–Revisit value is pretty low. While there’s lot of great educational things, I can’t think of a reason I’d want to revisit now that I’ve gone there. I’ve learned what they have to present, and it doesn’t seem like the KSC does a lot of rotating programs. It might even be worth it to regularly come back to listen to a new astronaut speak at Lunch with an Astronaut, but since it requires museum entrance, that turns into a $ 90+ adventure just for lunch, so it doesn’t work so well.
–Tickets feel expensive. $ 50 a person adds up pretty fast for a family. Try to come at opening to get the most out of your money. You can always leave early if you explore everything, but you can’t extend the park hours if you don’t.
–Getting there is a pain. Remember to program your GPS to the «VISITOR’S CENTER». Seriously. Or you’ll go into restricted areas. Lots of signs are around to help you navigate, though. Be aware: there are lots of police in the area, so go the speed limit!

This place is the cure for apathetic patriotism!
We allowed for an afternoon but I really wish that we had allowed for more time. The bus tour and the simulated launch that follows are definite must dos. The simulated shuttle launch, well that could be skipped, but the kids seem to like it (we don’t have kids, so it was more the case where we had to listen to other people’s children enjoy it).
The shear amount of displays is amazing. It forces you to wonder, «Has NASA ever thrown anything out?». The size of the

Kennedy Space Center has so much American history and our space age is one for the books. I think this would be a great addition to explore more in elementary school. I feel like the space age is the under dog of school subjects but the history is so vast and interesting that it really should be included in our countries schools and with more flare.
On that note I’ve been to Kennedy Space Center twice and each time I had a great time, they have a very fascinating bus tour that leads to the launching sites with some amazing photograph moments– Bry and I had a blast. I gave KSC three stars because they’re really needing to step up the actual main park, if they want to retain people there.
There needs to be a little more involvement besides shows and the bus tour. After a while, show after show becomes stale. They all lead into gift shops or back out into the sun near restaurants. This place could use a bit more TLC– though very clean, I feel like it has such opportunities to draw in more visitors and children alike.
Let’s bring Florida into something amazing because the space age really is. Overall I always enjoy myself coming here and Bry had a blast with the engineering logistics and looking at the visual presentations– I just wished there was more.

We had high hopes for our visit here. While the history and many of the displays were excellent, the overall experience was just OK. I’m happy we came here to say we visited… but it felt very touristy rather than historical.
We came on a weekday in late September. $ 10 to park in a fairly empty lot. $ 50 per person to get in. Really? Did I accidentally stop in Orlando and end up at Disney? After our bags we searched we headed to the info center where a very nice lady explained the layout and the bus tours.
The early space exploration exhibit was closed, we we looked at the rockets outside. They had someone narrating over the speakers while we explored, so that was interesting.
We walked around the complex a bit and noticed how many eateries there were; cafeterias, sit down places, ice cream, snacks. Excuse the pun, but it left a bit of a bad taste. Seemed a bit commercialized.
We opted to do the bus tour. This was an interesting experience. Of course, we ended up with loud foreign guy on our bus. The driver had to ask him about a half dozen times to be quiet so others could hear. He pretended not to understand. Amazing. The tour itself was neat with facts on the launches and the facilities. It is a somewhat odd mix of videos on the bus and a narration by the driver. Our driver had a pretty thick accent, so he could be difficult to understand at times, He did his best though.
At the facility, you watch a short movie before seeing a simulated launch. That was cool. You then can walk around an area and see one of the rockets they have which is just massive. Very impressive. They have various displays to look at. And surprise, surprise… a cafeteria!
Another 15 – 20 minute bus ride takes you back to the main area. We went to see the Atlantis display, but the line was really long.
Overall, an amazing history of our space program. But it’s a bit of a letdown with the way it’s setup; more of a theme park environment.

Haven’t been here since I was about 5 years old and only remembered bits and pieces and a little blurry, but I was impressed and loved to come back many more times. My fiancé and I bought the annual pass which was less than $ 90 each. You get your picture taken for an ID pass and lanyard. You get 10% off purchases and food and free parking. The only annoying thing about wearing these passes is that almost every tourist person will come up to you asking questions as if you’re an employee. Other than that, you get treated a bit better than others.
Love the different rockets that are displayed and the history behind each. Very informative and educational. There’s an IMAX theater that has 2 different shows that runs all day. About and hour long each.
The shops are nice and cool. The food area is pretty cool and it looks like they grow their own veggies and fruits.
There are good memorials for the ones that were lost but never forgotten.
There is a simulator that you can experience, but you need to be a certain height so it may be difficult to have younger children ride this simulator. We didn’t get a chance to ride on it because we had our niece who was under the required height, but next time we’ll ride it.
We really liked it and it was very educational. Younger children will love it because it’s about Space, astronauts, the universe, etc. Around that age, it’s a good age to be interested.

Muy recomendable.
El simulador de despegue es una pasada.
En el tour te llevan a ver (desde el autobús) las lanzaderas y donde se ensamblan los cohetes.
en el cine Imax se pueden ver documentales 3d sobre el Hubble por ejemplo.
Puedes tocar trozos «reales» de la luna y ver los robots que caminaron por Marte durante mas de 90 minutos.
Puedes incluso hablar con Astronautas veteranos (en inglés) y resolverán tus dudas.

My first visit to KSC was years ago when I was a little kid. I don’t remember much but I know there is a lot more going on then there was even a few years ago.
I was in town for a NASA Social launch (google it and keep an eye out for events, they’re held not just in FL but all over the country) and because of a delayed launch, got a ticket for the day (the tickets we were given did not include the bus tour as part of the event is tours).
I arrived around 10:30 am on a Thursday and the place was already crawling with people. There are tons of great photo opportunities everywhere but, not unlike Disney or Sea World, they’re a bit difficult since people are posing and walking all around you.
After walking through the Rocket Garden (which I’d seen before) I headed straight towards Atlantis. The exhibit is incredible and an absolute must see. Next I headed to the Astronaut Memorial. I was the only one in that area (it’s a little bit hidden, even though it’s on all of the maps) and I’m glad I checked it out.
Near the entrance there is an exhibit called «Nature and Technology.» It would be easy to skip (it’s small and a little tucked away) but I actually really liked it. It incorporates the history and wildlife in the area with NASA. Whether you’re a Floridian who is likely familiar with the history and wildlife or someone who has no local knowledge, you can learn something. Also near the front is «Early Space Exploration,» which walks you through how the space program got to where it is today.
I skipped the IMAX movies because the times just didn’t work for me but there are two different IMAX films you can see (as part of your ticket). They also just opened (the day before I’m posting this, in fact) an exhibit with never before public artifacts honoring the astronauts who lost their lives in the Challenger and Columbia disasters. I have heard it is absolutely amazing.
Parking costs $ 10 (for a car) and the tickets aren’t cheap but if you’re into space and history, Kennedy Space Center is a must visit (if only for the incredible Atlantis exhibit).

En arrivant à Cap Canaveral, on a l’impression de vivre le rêve américain de l’exploration spatiale.
Contrairement à des parcs d’attractions traditionnels, le Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex associe la partie récréative avec des simulateurs de vol, des reproductions grandeur nature à explorer, des cinémas et autre jeux à la réalité: le vrai centre spatial avec les vraies fusées, les vraies navettes, les vrais centres de tirs qu’on peut tous voir de près.
Une belle réussite, à faire absolument lorsqu’on est en Floride.

das war superinteressant und kurzweilig. erst dachte ich: wo sind die events? aber einfach gleich mit der bustour beginnen und dann gehts los!
alle facilities waren in super zustand und top gepflegt. 5 sterne für den park!

Früh waren wir am Kennedy Space Center und haben uns Tickets für einen Tagesbesuch besorgt.
Ohne Anstehen zu müssen, stiegen wir direkt in die Bustour zum Saturn-​V Center ein.
Unterwegs kamen wir an der riesigen raupenhaften Startplattform (Crawler) vorbei, fuhren an verschiedenen Startrampen für Mond, All etc vorbei und hielten am Saturn –V Komplex. Saturn V, mit denen die Monderkundungen durchgeführt wurden.
Man wird erst vor zwei interaktiven Räumen abgesetzt, die einen in die Zeit der bemannte Mondflüge zurückversetzen soll, auch den tödlich verunglückten Astronauten der Apollo-​Serie gedachten, bevor es in einen Verkleinerten Nachbau des Kontrollzentrum ging. Hier wurde mit ohrenbetäubenden Lärm ein Start simuliert.
Sichtlich imponiert wurden wir danach in die Halle gelassen.
Da lag sie, dieses Ungetüm, mit seinen Raketenturbinen vor uns.
Und dahinter lag der Tank der Stufe 1 des Raketenantrieb, den sie in 2,5 Minuten leergeblasen haben.
Es wurden alle, immer kleiner werdenden Module gezeigt, bis hin zur kleinen Landekapsel und der Mondfähre.
Nach langem Aufenthalt sind wir zurück zum Visitor Center gefahren, und haben uns «Atlantis» angeschaut.
Das Gute am Reisemonat Juli in Florida ist, dass es faktisch keine Warterei durch Schlangestehen gibt.
Auch hier kamen wir direkt zu zwei interaktiven Räumen, die uns auf Entstehung und Geschichte der Raumgleiter eingestimmt haben.
Im zweiten Raum standen wir dabei in einem Kinotunnel, in dem Ausschnitte aus dem Space Shuttle Programm vor uns, über uns, neben uns gezeigt wurden, sodass die Bilder um uns herum flogen, und die Gleichgewichtsorgane anfingen zu taumeln, wie bei einem Flug.
Dann hoben sie hinter der vorderen Leinwand die schwere Metalltür und man sah durch die Kinoleinwand die Atlantis dort in einem dunklen Raum quasi vor sich schweben.
Das war so beeindruckend, dass tosender Applaus aufbrandete.
Wir begutachteten die Atlantis noch ausführlich, machten viele Bilder, trainierten an Simulatoren viele Manöver und ich habe jedes Shuttle beim Landemanöver tüchtig geschreddert.
Tief begeistert haben wir das Center am Nachmittag verlassen.
Ein Besuch ist auf jeden Fall ein Muß. Als Mindestdauer sollte man schon acht Stunden einplanen. Ein Aufenthalt kann auch auf zwei Tage ausgedehnt werden.
Hier sind unglaublich viele und tolle Bilder gespeichert, ein Durchklicken lohnt sich.

Haben aufgrund von Coupons 90 $ für zwei Personen gezahlt (inclusive tax) was für das, was man geboten bekommt, völlig in Ordnung ist. Bustour war erstens sehr informativ und zweitens sehr nah an allem dran, zB ist man die Strecke bis zur Abschussrampe permanent neben der Straße für den Crawler gefahren. Den Busfahrern hast man angemerkt, wie stolz sie auf die Leistungen ihres Landes waren, der Enthusiasmus war ansteckend!
Haben leider nicht alles geschafft, man kann sich dort einen ganzen Tag beschäftigen und sollte genügend Zeit einplanen, damit man alles ansehen kann, da dies wirklich eine Menge ist.
Für Kinder gibt es eine angry birds Attraktion, der originale letzte Orbiter (Atlantis) ist auch recht neu…

Le Kennedy Space center, on né se rend pas compte, mais on arrive là ou ils balancent des hommes dans l’espace. Des fusées des années soixante, et avec, on peut pénétrer dans les capsules, qui sont si minuscules qu’on se demande ou se situe le matériel de bord et les bonbonnes à oxygèné. Plus loin il faut prendre le bus pour se rendre dans la zone spatiale, et on arrive dans le musée Apollon; avec la fusée complète allongée, plusieurs capsules, beaucoup d’explications, et une cantine ou l’on mange moyennement. Il y a une boutique évidement, ils vendent des glaces sèches pour espace. Une magnifique expérience.

Sehr informativ z.B. die Atlantis live zu sehen. Ich hätte nicht Gedacht das die Oberfläche eines Space Shuttels aussieht wie von einem schlechten Pappmaschee Modell und das es in den Raumkapseln so furchtbar eng ist. Für Kinder gibt es zur Abwechslung viele nette Bereiche wie einen Angry Birds Pavillion, die Möglichkeit seinen Hintern mittels Videokamera und Monitor passgenau auf einem Weltraumklo zu Positionieren, durch ISS Röhren zu kriechen oder die Landung einer Raumfähre auf einer Rutsche genießen. Beim Shuttelstart im Simulator wird viel Show aufgebaut und das Ergebnis ist dann auch ganz eindrucksvoll.

Das war und ist das Zentrum der bemannten und unbemannten Raumfahrt in der restlichen Welt. Das ausgemusterte Space Shuttle mag zwar in Speyer stehen aber von hier ist es gestartet.
Alle bemannten Apollo-​Missionen ab der Nummer 9 gingen von hier ins All. Hier atmet Geschichte.
Ja, früher wurden von hier Amerikaner auf den Mond geschossen. Das machen sie heute leider nicht mehr.
Die Preise sind USA üblich.

Un endroit à visiter pour tous les voyageurs de passage dans la région, il y a le musée avec plusieurs fusées à l’extérieur et plusieurs modules à l’intérieur, aussi un film en 3D présenté par Léonardo Di Caprio, beaucoup d’interactivité, mais le sujet principal, c’est le voyage en bus, en pénètre dans le space center, un tour autour du bâtiment de construction des navettes, et enfin on s’arrête dans le batiment ou est exposé la fusée Appollo. Magnifique, beaucoup d’images, beaucoup de vitrines, la fusée en entier et le parc pour faire des photos de l’endroit.

ein unbedintes Muss für den Florida Urlaub. Tolle Führung, sehr informatiev und kurzweilig. Aber nicht vergessen: ein Mittel gegen Mückenstiche mitzunehmen.

Ja, das Kennedy-​Space-​Center oder besser die Touren und der Visitor Complex. Sie sind definitiv ein muss für jeden der sich für die Weltraumfahrt interessiert.
Zugegeben, die Shuttle-​Starts sind seit 2011 Geschichte (ich war beim letzten Start dabei), aber gleichwohl hat das Gelände seinen Besuchern sehr viel zu bieten. Die Tour dahin sollte genau geplant sein, denn der schnellste Weg führt über eine Toll-​Road. Außerdem sollte man möglichst früh da sein, da es zumeist im Laufe des Tages unangenehm voll wird.
Sicher gibt es sehr viel zu sehen, aber ich will mich auf das wesentlichste beschränken:
IMAX-​Kinos:
Immernoch ein absolutes Muss aber bringt euch eine leichte Jacke mit, denn wie überall läuft die Klimaanlage auf Hochtouren und sonst hat man schnell etwas sich eingefangen.
Die Touren:
KSC bietet diverse Touren an und ich kann nur jeden interessierten raten: Nutzt die Chance. Es ist dabei übrigens nicht zwingend notwendig, dass alle aus der Gruppe/​Familie mitfahren, denn alle Touren enden am Saturn V Complex, so dass man sich hier mit seiner Gruppe wiedertreffen kann.
Saturn V Complex:
Ja, es ist groß, ja es ist sehr beeindruckend. Selbst meine Frau die nicht so weltraumverrückt ist, war mehr als überwältigt von der gewaltigen Größe.
Es gibt noch soviel mehr zu sehen aber glaubt mir es lohnt sich für jeden. Allein die Chance mal mit Buzz Alrend oder Jon Glen zu sprechen war damals einen Besuch wert.
Tipp:
Besorgt ec

Wirklich ein Muss für den Floridabesucher.
IMAX Film Spacestation 3D war super gemacht. Und auf der Bustour, die schon im Basispreis inbegriffen ist, ist das Apollo /​Saturn V Center der Höhepunkt für mich.
Die Shuttle Launch Experience ist nett gemacht, vor allem wie die Spannung bis zum Besteigen des «Raumschiffes» ständig gesteigert wird. Der Start selber war spektakulär, laut, schüttelnd, aber Angstmomente erfährt man nicht ;-)
Es waren heute fast keine Leute da. Anstehen? Überhaupt nicht.

Sollte man unbedingt besuchen, wenn man in Florida ist. Die weitläufige Natur ist sehr schön (wir haben bei der Rundfahrt Delfine, Weißkopfadler und Seekühe gesehen).
Unbedingt empfehlenswert sind die IMAX Filme, der Raketenpark mit der Originalbrücke, welche u. a. Armstrong vor dem Flug zum Mond überschritten hat und eine Rundfahrt zu den Startrampen etc.
2008 hießen die Touren noch anders als heute, empfehlen würde ich die ausführliche (und längere) Tour. Wir bekamen Einblick in den Bau der ISS Bauteile, wir sahen das Vehicle, welches die Shuttles zu den Launchpads bringt (sogar in Aktion), die gigantische Montagehalle der Shuttles (nur von außen), die Apollo in ihren Einzelteilen (an der Decke aufgehängt– Wahnsinn, wie groß und lang das Ding ist /​war). Wir konnten leider nicht zu den Launchpads fahren, da zu diesem Zeitpunkt beide zu besichtigende belegt waren (dafür ein super seltener Anblick, da eigentlich nur ein Shuttle am Launchpad steht). Vom Aussichtsturm konnte man aber trotzdem etwas sehen.

Ein einmaliges Erlebnis der Sonderklasse. Waren eingeladen zur Besichtigung auch der Montagehallen und im «Innern» der Anlage incl. Startrampe.
Einfahc SUPERSPITZENKLASSE und unbedingt empfehlenswert auch die Ausstellung der einzelnen Raketentypen im Freiglände.

Wer in Florida ist sollte den Besuch des Space Centers auf dem Programm haben. Beeindruckend. Vor allem der Space Shuttle Simulator ist super!!!

Ist definitv zu empfehlen. ein super erlebnis, mal in einem spaceshuttle zu sein, oder eine Apollo-​Rakete live zu sehen. sehr interessant!!!

Un des endroits à visiter absolument si vous séjournez quelques jours à Orlando ou dans sa région :
Créé au début des années 60, ce complexe de lancement spatial établi par la NASA est composé de plusieurs zones de lancement réparties sur la presqu’île de Cap Canaveral, et est notamment utilisée pour lancer les nombreuses navettes spaciales.
Depuis, l’activité spatiale existe toujours, et a été complétée par une activité touristique.
Vous pourrez ainsi observer des reconstitutions des nombreuses fusées utilisées au fil de l’histoire par la NASA, mais également visionner des films retraçant les conquêtes spatiales.
Ajouter à cela une visite en cars qui vous permettra de découvrir les différents pas de lancement répartis sur toute la zone… et avec un peu de chance, vous pourrez même assister au lancement d’une vraie fusée !!! (ce fut mon cas le jour de la visite !)
En bref une visite mémorable, inoubliable. et que je conseille à tout le monde !

Wir haben das Spacecenter gerade im Mai 2010 mal wieder besucht und waren begeistert von den Neuerungen und der kinderfreundlichen Anlage, die es mittlerweile gibt. Es ist wirklich einiges investiert worden im Vergleich zu unserem letzten Besuch vor 5 Jahren. Der Rocketlaunch, bei dem ein Raketenstart simuliert wird ist gut gemacht aber keine Sorge, das steht wirklich jeder durch, es wird viel Wind darum gemacht und dann ist man fast ein bisschen enttäuscht, dass der Simulator nicht noch heftiger ist.
Die Tour war spitze und wir bekamen auch so Karten vor Ort. Die IMAX Filme vorallem Hubble waren einfach der Knaller — für alle Weltraumbegeisterten einfach sensationell. Der Preis ist völlig ok und damit 5 Sterne von mir. Wir werden bestimmt wieder kommen. Ich habe ein Bild mir den aktuellen Preisen hochgeladen für alle interessierten. Das Essen im Space Café sollte man besser lassen, das ist einfach schlechtes Kantinenessen, und die Bedienungen sind zwar nett, aber jede Fast Food Kette ist besser — schade.
Doch das fliesst nicht in die Bewertung ein, da man ja nicht zum Essen hingeht.

Echt stark gemacht … Mit tollen Shows und nem super imax3d Film … Unbedigt die Launch Experience mitmachen :)

Die Raumfahrtgeschichte mit allen Höhen und Tiefen der USA. Eine Führung die seines Gleichen sucht. Als technikbegeisteter fühlt man sich gleich wieder in seine Kindheit zurückversetzt wo man dieses nur am Bildschirm beobachten konnte. Weltklasse!

Das Kennedy Space Center ist der Wahnsinn. Nie kommt man dem ganzen Treiben um die Raumfahrt näher als hier. Es empfiehlt sich die Tour durch den gesperrten Bereich, bei dem man dem Assembling Building und den Startrampen sehr nahe kommt.
Von der Panorama Plattform kann man dann aus sicherer Entfernung die Launch Pads 1 und 2 bestaunen. Hier starten die Shuttles.
Auch das Museum im Aussenbereich und die Hall of Fame sind zwar typisch heroisch amerikanisch aber dennoch sehr schön und interessant.

Absolut unglaublich, total klasse. Für technikinteressierte ist es der absolute Wahnsinn.
Super interessant, klasse Aufmachung, es ist total spannend dass man sogar eine Rakete in Originalgröße sehen kann.
Es laufen 2 IMAX Kinos die einen total verzaubern.
Es ist sehr faszinierend, dass die Natur dort trotz des Eingriffs der Menschheit noch so perfekt intakt ist. Habe beim Besuch dort sogar einen großen Alligator neben dem IMAX Kino gesehen und viele verschiedene Vogelarten.

Man sollte schon einen Tag dafür einplanen denn es gibt so viel zu sehen. Es ist einfach gigantisch zu sehen was da in den Weltraum fliegt. Höhepunkt fand ich die Fahrt über einen Teil des Nasa Geländes.
Sehr toll ist es auch das man sehen kann wie die Module für die Weltraumstation gebaut werden.

Sollte man in Florida sein, dann ist ein Besuch am Cap Canaveral im Kennedy Space Center echt empfehlenswert.
Ich hatte das Glück, dort die Landung eines Shuttels mitzuerleben, das war natürlich ein besonderer Moment.
Worauf man sich einstellen sollte: Lange Schlangen an den Kassen, –natürlich– die Sicherheitskontrollen (nicht ganz so wie bei der Einreise in die USA), Warteschlangen an den Bussen zur Aussichtsplattform.
Was gibts zu sehen? Raumkapseln, Spaceshuttels, interessante Tafeln zum Lesen, die größte handgemalte Flagge der Welt (!!!) Fotos Für Gänsehaut sorgten die Lautsprecher, die den Funkkontakt mit dem landenden Spaceshuttle life übertrugen.

Einer meiner großen Kindheitsträume: Mal einen Space-​Shuttle Start live erleben. Ganz hats nicht gereicht dazu, bisher, ich habe das Space Shuttle nur auf der Rampe stehen gesehen — aber immerhin.
Es stimmt, wenn sich ein Shuttle-​Start nähert wird das Gelände abgesperrt, aber man kommt trotzdem rein, nämlich wenn man sich eine der (begehrten) Eintrittskarten ergattert. Dann kann man auf speziell ausgewiesenen Plätzen innerhalb des Geländes aber in sicherer Entfernung den Start beobachten.
Der nächste Start ist für Anfang Oktober geplant, also stehen bald wieder die Atlantis und die Endeavour auf dem beiden Launch Pads