Gay Travelers Magazine Visits The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
This article first appeared in Gay Travelers Magazine
By Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong
The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is a place that everyone should visit. Learn about the exciting “space race,” climb inside space capsules and a Space Shuttle, watch IMAX movies, dine on-site, eat with an astronaut or watch an actual thundering, ground shaking rocket launch.
Each year, more than 1.5 million guests from around the world experience their very own space adventure by exploring the exciting past, present and future of America’s space program at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Built in 1967, today the Visitor Complex is one of Central Florida’s most popular tourist destinations.
SUGGESTED ITINERARIES
ONE DAY VISITS
One Day Visit: Family with Children Under 10 Years of Age
- Heroes & Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame® presented by Boeing® – 1 hour
- Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour including Apollo/Saturn V Center – 2 hours
- Space Shuttle Atlantis® with Shuttle Launch Experience® – 2 hours
- Journey To Mars: Explorers Wanted – 30 minutes
- Children’s Playdome for Junior Astronauts – 30 minutes
- Dining and shopping – 1 hour
One Day Visit: Family with Children Over 10 Years of Age
- Heroes & Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame presented by Boeing – 1 hour
- Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour including Apollo/Saturn V Center – 2 hours
- Space Shuttle Atlantis with Shuttle Launch Experience – 2 hours
- Dine With An Astronaut Add-on Enhancement – 90 minutes
- Alternative: Dining and shopping – 1 hour
- Journey To Mars: Explorers Wanted – 30 minutes
- Cosmic Quest Add-on Enhancement – 1 hour
- Alternative: IMAX® Theater 3D Space Film – 1 hour
One Day Visit: Adult Couple
- Kennedy Space Center Explore Bus Tour Add-on Enhancement, including Apollo/Saturn V Center – 3 hours
- Alternative:
- Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour including Apollo/Saturn V Center – 2 hours
- Journey to Mars: Explorers Wanted – 30 minutes
- NASA Now – 20 minutes
- Heroes & Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame presented by Boeing – 1 hour
- Space Shuttle Atlantis with Shuttle Launch Experience – 2 hours
- Astronaut Encounter – 40 minutes
- Rocket Garden tour – 20 minutes
- Dining and shopping – 1 hour
One Day Visit: Space Enthusiast
- Cape Canaveral Early Space Special Interest Bus Tour Add-on Enhancement, including Apollo/Saturn V Center – 4 hours
- Alternative:
- Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour including Apollo/Saturn V Center – 2 hours
- IMAX Theater 3D Space Film – 1 hour
- NASA Now – 20 minutes
- Astronaut Encounter – 40 minutes
- Heroes & Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame presented by Boeing – 1 hour
- Space Shuttle Atlantis with Shuttle Launch Experience – 2 hours
- Dining and shopping – 1 hour
TWO DAY VISITS:
Two Day Visit: Family with Children Under 10 Years of Age
Day One
- Heroes & Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame presented by Boeing – 1 hour
- Rocket Garden tour – 20 minutes
- Children’s Playdome for Junior Astronauts – 30 minutes
- Space Shuttle Atlantis with Shuttle Launch Experience – 2 hours
- Science on a Sphere – 30 minutes
- Dining and shopping – 1 hour
Day Two
- Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour including Apollo/Saturn V Center – 2 hours
- Journey To Mars: Explorers Wanted – 30 minutes
- Children’s Playdome for Junior Astronauts – 30 minutes
- IMAX Theater 3D Space Film – 1 hour
- NASA Now – 20 minutes
- Dining and shopping – 1 hour
Two Day Visit: Family with Children Over 10 Years of Age
Day One
- Kennedy Space Center Explore Special Interest Bus Tour Add-on Enhancement, including Apollo/Saturn V Center – 3 hours
- Heroes & Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame presented by Boeing – 1 hour
- Cosmic Quest Add-on Enhancement – 1 hour
- Astronaut Encounter – 40 minutes
- NASA Now – 20 minutes
- IMAX Theater 3D Space Film – 1 hour
- Dining and shopping – 1 hour
Day Two
- Space Shuttle Atlantis with Shuttle Launch Experience – 2 hours
- Cosmic Quest Add-on Enhancement – 1 hour
- Journey To Mars: Explorers Wanted – 30 minutes
- Rocket Garden tour – 20 minutes
- Eyes on the Universe: NASA’s Space Telescopes – 30 minutes
- Science on a Sphere – 30 minutes
- Dining and shopping – 1 hour
Two Day Visit: Adult Couple
Day One
- Kennedy Space Center Explore Special Interest Bus Tour Add-on Enhancement, including Apollo/Saturn V Center – 3 hours
- Heroes & Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame presented by Boeing – 1 hour
- Rocket Garden tour – 20 minutes
- Astronaut Encounter – 40 minutes
- Mission Status Briefing – 20 minutes
- Eyes on the Universe: NASA’s Space Telescopes – 20 minutes
- Dining and shopping – 1 hour
Day Two
- Space Shuttle Atlantis with Shuttle Launch Experience – 2 hours
- Dine With An Astronaut Add-on Enhancement – 90 minutes
- Journey To Mars: Explorers Wanted – 30 minutes
- IMAX Theater 3D Space Film – 1 hour
- Science on a Sphere – 30 minutes
- NASA Now – 20 minutes
- Space Mirror Memorial – 10 minutes
- Dining and shopping – 1 hour
Two Day Visit: Space Enthusiast
Day One
- Cape Canaveral Early Space Special Interest Bus Tour Add-on Enhancement, including Apollo/Saturn V Center – 4 hours
- Heroes & Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame presented by Boeing – 1 hour
- Space Shuttle Atlantis and Shuttle Launch Experience – 2 hours
- Dining and shopping – 1 hour
Day Two
- Astronaut Training Experience (ATX) ® Center Exploring with Lockheed Martin Add-on Enhancement – 5 hours
INSIDER TIPS
It is not recommended to take the Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour and a Special Interest Tour on the same day. Special Interest Tours are enhanced bus tours with various stops behind NASA’s gates. All bus tours drop visitors off at the Apollo/Saturn V Center
Dine With An Astronaut features an extended and more interactive live presentation from the astronaut of the day. Guests attending Dine With An Astronaut are not advised to also watch an Astronaut Encounter on the same day.
We recommend that Dine With An Astronaut attendees take the bus tour after lunch to ensure you are back to the main visitor complex on time.
Itineraries are not placed in a specific order. Check the Daily Schedule for the day’s show and tour times.
Download Space Chase! Explore & Learn, the mobile learning experience for young space explorers before, during and after their trip to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Download at the Apple Store and Google Play.
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is open year-round, seven days per week. The Visitor Complex opens at 9 am and closing time varies per season.DIRECTIONS
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is located just east of Orlando on State Road 405, six miles inside the Kennedy Space Center entrance. From Orlando, take State Road 528 east and follow the signs to Kennedy Space Center. From Interstate 95, take exit 212 northbound or exit 215 southbound. From Merritt Island or Cocoa Beach, take State Road 3.
ADMISSION
Admission is $57 + tax for adults and $47 + tax for children ages 3-11. Includes the KSC Tour, Space Shuttle Atlantis®, Apollo/Saturn V Center, Shuttle Launch Experience, Journey To Mars: Explorers Wanted, IMAX space films, Astroanut Encounter, and all attractions and exhibits. For group reservations for 15 or more, call 877-313-2610.
ANNUAL PASS
Annual Passholders have year-round passage to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, along with additional benefits. Annual Passes start at $82 + tax for adults and $67 + tax for children ages 3-11, less than the price of two visits to Kennedy Space Center. Annual passes can be purchased at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, by telephone at 877-313-2610 or on the web at www.KennedySpaceCenter.com.
SERVICES
Wheelchairs and strollers are available inside the main entrance and all exhibits and tours are wheelchair accessible. The Visitor Complex offers complimentary parking and use of pet kennels. First aid, automated teller machine and bus parking are available.
SHOPPING
The Space Shop is the largest retail store in the world devoted to space-themed merchandise with more than 40,000 items. Guests may also order items by telephone at 1-800-621-9826 or on the web at www.thespaceshop.com.
DINING
Guests may choose from numerous self-service restaurants and specialty food locations with a wide variety of menu options. Lunch With an Astronaut is available daily at 12:00 p.m. and includes a delicious lunch, a briefing and Q & A with a NASA astronaut.
EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex offers youth programs and kid-friendly vacations for many grades and interests, including Camp Kennedy Space Center®, Overnight Adventures, field trips and Salute to Science. For more information, call 877-313-2610.
Space View Park in Titusville offers the Space Walk of Fame honoring the space program with monuments, mission plaques and bronze hand prints of six of the original seven astronauts and those who contributed their time and talents in the Space Program such as Thomas (Tom) Routzong. For more information, visit http://spacewalkoffame.org/monuments
Article and photos by Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong
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