So let me start by saying that I love Mission: SPACE. I say that so you will understand my full meaning when I say that the Keneddy Space Center's first E-Ticket attraction, the Shuttle Launch Experience is pretty amazing. Firstoff, KSC is a pretty cool place. Not only do you get to see some amazing Modern Marvels, you also get to see the amazing Apollo/Saturn V center. The "Firing Room Theatre" they show you there gives me goosebumps! Along with the great Space Shop, and the cool Rocket Garden, it's a pretty good park, and I suggest you visit. If that's still not enough to make you drive up there, the Shuttle Launch Experience is. I actully enjoyed it as much, if not better than Mission: Space! It has a very cool pre-show, and a very awesome ride. After you stow your belongings into the free lockers, here's a short overview of what to expect...
WARNING-Space Spoilers ahead!
-Queue
The Queue is a large ramp infront of the large hanger-like building. It's got some neat views to the top, a few signs about the shuttle, and closer to the top, a few TV screens showing Astronauts describing what a Space Shuttle Launch feels like.
-Pre-Show
At the top of the ramp you enter into a large pre-show room. There are three large screens, and two plasma screen TVs attached to KUKA robot arms. While the pre-show room is being filled, Astronauts on the screen tell us what they thought of the ride, a neat touch. The Pre-show describes the hours before Launch, and what happens during launch. (the Astronaut that serves as our host does a great job, and there are some pretty funny moments throughout the pre-show and ride.) The launch portion of the pre-show is fun, as fog fills the room, and the floor below you starts to shake. After that, the doors ahead of us open, and we file into the Loading hallway.
-Loading
As in Mission Space, we can see Tower. I like how this ride is also supposed to be a simulation, but only much more open about it than Mission Space is. It's alot more honest than Mission: Space is, that's for sure. Once you get loaded into a row, there's another short pre-show. Safety stuff this time. If you want to opt out, now's the time. I heard that they take you into a room and let you watch not only the video, but also a video feed of the cabin inside, and outside. So you can watch the rest of your party riding!
-Ride
The cabin is great. It's themed as a cabin that could be inside the Shuttle's Payload bay. The ride is a hoot! I thought it was actully MORE like the real deal than Mission: Space's Launch. You feel every bump along the way, and it does an amazing job of giving you those jolts. In Mission to Mars fashion, the seats are designed to help the sim's feelings of positive G's and zero G's. Once the shaking stops, and they somehow give you a great feeling of zero-G, the payload bay doors open, and give you an amazing view of Earth. It's a great effect, and feels very real!
-Post-show
After exiting, you find yourself in a HUGE open space filled with stars. Below is a view of earth. You then walk down a large spiral ramp flanked with little signs for each Space Shuttle Mission.
-Gift Shop
A rather snazzy gift-shop, with some very nice Shuttle Launch Experience gifts.
That's about all I can say about it, and I hope you enjoyed the overview! Now some links...
This first one is my pictures from the evening, but since no cameras were let on the ride, it's all from the outside. Still some great pictures though! Enjoy!
http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=4359471&a=32530081&p=75571731
This next link is a great article about the ride, with some great pictures from inside the ride...
http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-051107a.html
And last but not least, KSC's home page for those of you who are now intrested in visting sometime! I suggest everyone who dosen't mind the drive down there go! Plus, admission is pretty cheap. I think about only $30 online.
http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/visitKSC/index.asp
Well, that's about it. I hope you enjoyed this break from Disney, and trust me, being a die-hard Disney fan dosen't mean you can't have fun at other parks too! Thank's for joining me, and I hope to see you again for another update soon!
"What do you think, Sirs?"
-Joel
WARNING-Space Spoilers ahead!
-Queue
The Queue is a large ramp infront of the large hanger-like building. It's got some neat views to the top, a few signs about the shuttle, and closer to the top, a few TV screens showing Astronauts describing what a Space Shuttle Launch feels like.
-Pre-Show
At the top of the ramp you enter into a large pre-show room. There are three large screens, and two plasma screen TVs attached to KUKA robot arms. While the pre-show room is being filled, Astronauts on the screen tell us what they thought of the ride, a neat touch. The Pre-show describes the hours before Launch, and what happens during launch. (the Astronaut that serves as our host does a great job, and there are some pretty funny moments throughout the pre-show and ride.) The launch portion of the pre-show is fun, as fog fills the room, and the floor below you starts to shake. After that, the doors ahead of us open, and we file into the Loading hallway.
-Loading
As in Mission Space, we can see Tower. I like how this ride is also supposed to be a simulation, but only much more open about it than Mission Space is. It's alot more honest than Mission: Space is, that's for sure. Once you get loaded into a row, there's another short pre-show. Safety stuff this time. If you want to opt out, now's the time. I heard that they take you into a room and let you watch not only the video, but also a video feed of the cabin inside, and outside. So you can watch the rest of your party riding!
-Ride
The cabin is great. It's themed as a cabin that could be inside the Shuttle's Payload bay. The ride is a hoot! I thought it was actully MORE like the real deal than Mission: Space's Launch. You feel every bump along the way, and it does an amazing job of giving you those jolts. In Mission to Mars fashion, the seats are designed to help the sim's feelings of positive G's and zero G's. Once the shaking stops, and they somehow give you a great feeling of zero-G, the payload bay doors open, and give you an amazing view of Earth. It's a great effect, and feels very real!
-Post-show
After exiting, you find yourself in a HUGE open space filled with stars. Below is a view of earth. You then walk down a large spiral ramp flanked with little signs for each Space Shuttle Mission.
-Gift Shop
A rather snazzy gift-shop, with some very nice Shuttle Launch Experience gifts.
That's about all I can say about it, and I hope you enjoyed the overview! Now some links...
This first one is my pictures from the evening, but since no cameras were let on the ride, it's all from the outside. Still some great pictures though! Enjoy!
http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=4359471&a=32530081&p=75571731
This next link is a great article about the ride, with some great pictures from inside the ride...
http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-051107a.html
And last but not least, KSC's home page for those of you who are now intrested in visting sometime! I suggest everyone who dosen't mind the drive down there go! Plus, admission is pretty cheap. I think about only $30 online.
http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/visitKSC/index.asp
Well, that's about it. I hope you enjoyed this break from Disney, and trust me, being a die-hard Disney fan dosen't mean you can't have fun at other parks too! Thank's for joining me, and I hope to see you again for another update soon!
"What do you think, Sirs?"
-Joel
