Is This America’s Best Museum/Amusement Park Complex?
by Jeffrey Guard
Kennedy Space Center: A Shrine To American Greatness
Disney and Universal Studios receive the lion’s share of attention when discussing amazing places to visit in Florida, but what if I told you there was something even better?
The Kennedy Space Center complex is by far the best museum complex in the US. It’s a much better time than Disney or Universal, and it’s only 1 hour away from Orlando.
Check out why I loved this massively underrated place so much!
I’ll be honest, initially in looking to do things that were not Disney or Amusement Park Things, I wasn’t too thrilled to be going to The Kennedy Space Center. I thought it was far from Orlando, would be dull and loaded with wonky stuff, and did I really want to be around swarms of kids and families?
My attitude changed when I drove into the parking lot and saw the rockets.
The drive was also pleasantly fast and easy! From The Walt Disney Swan to the Kennedy Space Center parking lot was one hour and 6 minutes! There were a few switches, but it was more or less a straight shot for the longest part of the drive.
Sitting in the parking lot getting all my gear together, the little kid in me exploded with excitement. Staring wide-eyed at these incredible rockets that took us into space, all I could think was, “We, man, did this!” They were HUGE, they were like towering skyscrapers that we managed to send into space.
NOW, I was curious. There were all kinds of little eruptions happening across my brain. I have never experienced this kind of thrill, curiosity, and excitement before in visiting a museum or amusement park. Wait—what is the Kennedy Space Center exactly?
It’s equal parts: museum, a collection of the history of America’s space program, and a showcase of its future ambitions; and it’s also part learning center masked with amusement park flourishes. It feels exciting like an amusement park because you are fully immersed in exploring the space program with physical interactions, digital interactions, movies, and so much more. They call it The Complex.
Little did I know that I was going to be experiencing what I now consider to be The US’s best amusement/museum hybrid experience. The Kennedy Space Center is truly a magnificent and wildly exhilarating shrine to American Greatness.
America’s Space Program: First Impressions
The best time to arrive is when it opens at 9:00 AM.
This was a recommendation that other travel vlogs suggested and one that I highly recommend. The “complex” as they refer to it is only open from 9-5 (sometimes until 6:00 PM), and this is an experience that will take the entire open-to-close period, so getting here when it opens in how to maximize your experience.
Despite the fac that the parking lot gets filled up fast, if you are here when it opens, you will get a decent parking spot.
Another benefit to coming early is that the weather is pleasant (The Florida Sun is no joke!) and the crowds are not overwhelming.
Don’t Miss The Countdown Clock
It was impressive and reminded me that it’s not just an amusement park, it’s an active launch facility. You can literally see how much time is left before another launch. For me, the time shown was gearing up for the launch of the Boeing Starliner.
Tickets: Use Self-Service Kiosk
Getting tickets was a breeze when I used the self-service kiosks. There was zero waiting. The instructions were clear and on an easy-to-use touchscreen. I paid with a credit card and was finished in less than 2 minutes.
The human line was long and filled with people asking all kinds of questions (think post office line). What I noticed was that the human line had large groups (school field trips, large families), perhaps they were in that line for bulk purchase requests that kiosks cannot handle. You definitely want to avoid it if possible.
The Iconic NASA Globe
The iconic NASA globe is a very popular spot, pro-tip—avoid the morning because it was bombarded by families all trying to get that iconic family photo. Instead, get it on your way out—towards the close around 3:00 or 4:00 I had it all to myself!
Also, there are actually two globes! If the one by the entrance is packed, go directly into the complex, and you’ll see a second one by The Orbit Cafe.
Heroes and Legends
Heroes and Legends is the exhibition that honors the astronauts and crew who made the Space Program the success it has been. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see it on account of the food poisoning, but I’m guessing if you are looking for even more inspiration and motivation that this is a phenomenal exhibition on themes of perseverance, grit, and fortitude!
First Exhibition: Bus Ride to Apollo/Saturn V Center
Taking the bus to the Apollo/ Saturn V Center center should absolutely be the first place you go as it’s packed with some of the museum park’s most impressive exhibitions and history!
Another bonus to do it if you come first thing in the morning is that the crowds are relatively manageable. I think when the museum park swells the bus trips will take longer as the lines to get on will be longer and this can eat up valuable time. The bus ride itself is a moving exhibition space that explains a great deal of the campus history, and interesting sites like the vehicle assembly building and the jaw-dropping technology that they use (I don’t want to spoil it for you—trust me, you’ll be impressed!)
The Apollo/Saturn V Center is where the United States’s Space Program begins and it is another reason to start here.
The introduction into the center is a mix of movies, a simulated Launch Control room that showcases what those last few minutes before and during launch were like. To describe it as thrilling is an understatement. Do not be surprised if your stomach snaps with electricity and if you feel that speechless, wondrous amazement like you did when you were a child.
The showroom will leave you breathless as you walk in and see the Saturn V Rocket in all its glory, it’s components, size and scale! It’s enormous and the closer you look you see even more complexity, the elegant tangle of wires arranged in a pattern with other smaller mechanized components all synchronized to do one of the several thousand needed in order to launch the rocket into space.
Just under the Saturn V rocket at its nose is the Lunar Module Eagle in all its glory. It is a much larger and far more complex spacecraft, looking at it in person versus a photograph or on a screen. You can do a 360 walk around the craft and for comparison. There are astronaut mannequins in a space suits that also provide scale and size comparisons.
The Lunar Theater adds to the magic by giving you a three-dimensional, multi-sensory impression of how the Lunar Module Eagle Craft descended and landed on the moon. This is a must-see!
The Apollo Exhibition is a great example of what the entire complex is like in that it details the space program with a variety of specific stories, explanations, and physical exhibits, like uniforms and space capsules.
Second Exhibition: Atlantis
Atlantis is the exhibition which I recommend to do AFTER the Apollo program goes into great detail about the Space Shuttle Program. There are all kinds of exciting and stimulating things to enjoy, just like the Apollo exhibition. It begins with a movie that gives a big picture of the Space Shuttle Program and the roll of the Atlantis shuttle before the screen gives way to the bug reveal the actual shuttle!
It’s another jaw-dropping moment that’s in line with several more jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring moments that just makes you marvel at what we as humans have carried out.
What I LOVE about the Kennedy space center is that they create such an immersive experience that literally places you as close to the astronauts as you can be without going into space.
In Atlantis, you get to explore the cockpit and control panel. You get to touch the buttons and twist the knobs. It’s wild when you realize how small the spacecraft is, and that almost every square inch of that cockpit area is covered in buttons, knobs and screens—all of which the astronauts needed to know before going up into space!
There’s an immersive screen that allows you to explore the guts of the engine that powered Atlantis. I’m telling you, as a person with ADHD, I kept hyper-fixating because the exhibitions were so amazing! I must have spent twenty minutes exploring the engine, completely captivated by the human genius that developed this.
Again, every single corner brought new and wonderful surprises. One of them was getting to explore how the astronauts slept and essentially kept home in the Atlantis. How did they stay sane!? When you explore it, you will walk away with such a profound respect for the men and women who go into space and do all of this incredible work.
I’m telling you, these exhibitions will fire you and your kids up! Everywhere I turned, everyone was excited, curious, and eagerly absorbing what they saw in front of them—even the teenagers who acted too cool for school…they too eventually broke their act and were just as immersed as everyone else.
Third Exhibition: Journey To Mars
This was about where NASA was headed into the future. The Journey to Mars exhibition shares their vision for future Mars missions, what they already have carried out like the rovers and the data its picking up.
Towards the entrance is a timed lecture and movie that provides context to the exhibition. What I found most fascinating was the vehicles used to explore and research the surface of Mars. In real life they are so much larger than how they look in photos. The larger scale really took me by surprise as many of these vehicles were the size of small compact cars or even mid-size sedans.
I was consumed by how heavy that must have been to launch into space…and how do you bring them back!? I guess you don’t…or we haven’t figured out how to launch from Mars back to Earth. You see, these are the questions and the curiosity that gets ignited when you are touring these fabulous exhibitions!
Fourth Exhibition: Gateway
Gateway is an even deeper look into the future of America’s space program. It was exciting to see and to interact with the Boeing Starline, Blue Origin, Space X, and Lockheed Martin. While obviously, the very best technology is not going to be on display, what they showcase is impressive and gives you a sign of where we’re headed.
I think what I find most impressive is the fact that in the 1960s and for a very long time, all we had was NASA, but now the space industry has blossomed into a full-fledged area with multiple companies all competing and advancing the cause of space exploration and colonization.
Unfortunately, I was only able to have about 20 minutes or so at Gateway before I realized I needed to leave, to go back to the hotel because the food poisoning was starting to get even worse.
Lunch…and Food Poisoning at Orbit Cafe
By the time I finished with Apollo and Atlantis, it was almost 2:00, and I needed to eat. I headed over to the central part of the complex to Orbit Cafe and paid $28.00 for a Coke, cheeseburger, and fries. Unfortunately, the food prices are very similar to Universal and Disney in that way, so plan accordingly.
Worse than the price was the fact that I got food poisoning. I think I got sick from the condiments. I was stupid. There are kids everywhere in this place, little kids like 6, 7, and 8 all running around doing what kids do, getting into things. I didn’t stop to consider that the condiment tray, which was out in the open was a prime target for dirty little fingers to pick at and touch. I put a bunch of pickles on my burger from the condiment tray and a few pumps of ketchup.
I cannot say conclusively say what caused it. What I can share is that after finishing my meal, in about an hour, I became violently ill with explosive diarrhea, and about two hours later vomiting and diarrhea.
Maybe it wasn’t dirty hands touching the food, maybe something had been left out, but whatever it was would leave me violently sick for almost two weeks.
As a traveler, I’m no stranger to food poisoning always carry a travel toiletry bag with me wherever I go when I travel. I was able to take some Pepto tablets which bought me precious time on the drive back from Kennedy Space Center to the hotel.
Final Verdict: I Want To Come Back!
I was truly saddened to have to leave the Space Center at around 3:00 because I fell sick. I would have loved to spend the remaining time exploring the Hall of Fame and the IMAX movie. This was truly one of the most amazing experiences I’ve had.
The Kennedy Space Center is a brilliant place to feel alive with inspiration and motivation. I have found myself thinking about this incredible place over and over again. Now, with the center opening even more attractions, it’s just more reasons to come back!
I get why people make annual visits here. It is a pilgrimage to be steeped in this kind of greatness; there’s so much to explore, to contemplate, and to consider. Of course, there’s also the launches which I can only imagine take the excitement up even further.
If you are in central Florida, this is hands down the best place to visit!
Recommendations
🚗From the Walt Disney Swan hotel in Orlando, it took 1 hour and 6 minutes to reach the parking lot, door to door. You’re exiting Orlando, so you’ll be going in the reverse of traffic, and it’s only a few connections and mostly a straight shot for the longest leg. Google Maps works perfectly.
⏰Get there right when it opens at 9:00 AM to get a good parking spot. You only have 8 hours to enjoy the complex, and you will want every minute to see and do as much as you can.
⏳Sadly, 8 hours will not be enough time to see and do everything. Having a game plan can help maximize your time. Visit the website and review “Explore Attractions” tab to review.
➡️Here’s the order that I recommend: 1) Take the Bus Tour to the Apollo/Saturn Exhibition 2) Atlantis 3) Lunch 4) Spaceport 5) Journey to Mars (or Meet an Astronaut) 6) Journey to Mars (Shuttle Launch Experience) 7) Gateway 8) Rocket Garden and Heros and Legends (Close at 5:00) The Complex offers additional recommendations
📸To save time, avoid taking a photo with the NASA Globe in the morning. It’s what everyone does, creating lines and draining time. Instead, go around 3 or 4:00, it will be completely empty, and you’ll have the iconic statue all to yourself.