Captain_Oblivious
DIS Dad #257, Galactic Salad Dodger
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2008
I hang my head in shame.
Good thing there aren't any meaningless points involved.
I hang my head in shame.
There are all sorts of computer screens giving you more information about the shuttle than you could ever possibly remember. There’s a mockup of the cockpit for the kids to try out as well.
I leave for my vacation in 5 days!
We had one more attraction that we absolutely didn’t want to miss.
Right at the door is a full-scale model of the shuttle’s rocket boosters and auxiliary fuel tank.
I can’t imagine the design that went into the structure they have in place to support the weight of the Atlantis, but it makes for a really cool exhibit.
There’s a mockup of the cockpit for the kids to try out as well.
There are models (I think they’re models) of the Hubble Space Telescope and Canadarm (the robotic arm used for moving payloads from the shuttle),
I thought this display was cool
Here’s a mockup of the International Space Station you can crawl through (if, unlike me, you can fit inside comfortably).
Traveling down a floor is great fun, as there is a slide simulating the angle of descent the shuttle takes back into the earth’s atmosphere. You may need to travel between floors a few times, just to make sure you understand it properly.
I think both the bus tour and this building are worth the price of admission by themselves.
There’s also a ride here, the Shuttle Launch Experience, which is a simulator that allows you to feel what a shuttle launch might be like (although probably dialed down a bit from the real thing).
And we explored the Rocket Garden a bit.
There was a full-scale Lego model of the Mars Rover right outside the gift shop.
I really, really wanted to get this for Baby Drew, but all of them were too small.
Sigh. Why do I even bother?
After checking underneath our car for stray alligators,
Sorry to disappoint all of you who were hoping I’d end up pushing the car somewhere along the way.
No problem for us, though—we could walk down a path from the hotel.
I saw Disney buses pulling away and immediately felt a pang of sadness, knowing that I wouldn’t be getting on any of them.
In fact, the whole purpose of being at DTD was to buy peace offerings so those who didn’t get to come to Florida would let me back into the house.
Kathy (KatMark) was here and we couldn’t pass up the chance for a quick hello.
She has met Scotty and David before, but never the other, smarter, more fun members of my family. And unfortunately, that’s still the case.
Maybe they weren’t sure about this whole “friend I met on a message board” thing.
I went with my old standby, the Hawaiian BBQ:
Scotty went way out on a limb and had a pizza sandwich.
Dinner was delicious and fairly uneventful, except for Scotty proclaiming at one point, “I haven’t pooped yet today.”
But at $150 a pop, that wasn’t going to happen.
Thanks for hanging with me on the bonus mini-TR! Now it’s time to pack up for the next adventure. It won’t be long! Look for the next TR in the DIS Dads sub-thread under DIS For Family, starting sometime in July after we return.
I got Julie one of these ornaments
And a bonus Scotty photo, because we all love it when Scotty happens.
Haha. Peace offerings. Nah, I use to do that, now I just bring food.
Happy travels on your next adventure. I get to sweat the streets of DC next week, as it was a promise to older teen who is a huge history fan. Younger teen once again reminded that museums are boing.
So where's the picture of you??? Aren't you (like all us guys) just a big kid? I know I'd have jumped at the chance to have a seat in the cockpit!
I had forgotten that they got one of the shuttles there. It's so cool seeing them up close. We got the Endeavor, they still haven't finished the cool new building to house it yet. Right now it's still in temporary display housing.
Nice you didn't run out of gas and that you made it to DTD for a meet and dinner at the Earl.
Have a great time on your next trip! Looking forward to reading all about it!
That is neat that they have one of the space shuttles. I can't believe, however, that the "big" kid didn't get in the cockpit.
Nice shout - out with the hat photo, Scotty.
I'm glad I forewarned you of the traffic and that you were able to walk to DTD.
I'm so glad we got to see each other...if only briefly (I apologize for that...my friend was anxious to get going).
Don't worry about your parents...I can understand why they might worry.
Here's my photo which is a bit clearer
And then Scotty happened...I love that kid.
Whoa! Coming up fast!
D'oh! In my excitement of all the other stuff at Kennedy, I didn't even notice the lack of Shuttle stuff!
So cool! Those things are big!
Very little. It's been in space so it's weightless, right?
Cool. Move over Scotty, I wanna play too.
I think just about everyone in Canada know about the Canadarm.
My God. That's impressive.
Awesome picture.
Amazing how much heat comes out and yet doesn't melt the rocket.
<sigh> Reminds me of having to fetch various children from McDonalds play structures.
Sounds like it! But everything is so amazing!
Might not be.
Apparently a shuttle launch will give you only 3 g while RNRC gives you 4.5.
That's cool too.
Love it!
You think it was a model.
Dang. Too bad.
Did you check under the hood?
Shoot.
Oh, well. Maybe next time.
Man. That must've been tough.
You got to meet Kathy!!!
"Hmph. Who's this hussy who's been having an online affair with our boy?"
Looks good!
That's hysterical! Perfect comeback by your Dad.
Sounds good! Thanks for this bonus mini-TR! With the space part thrown in, it was a great little bonus!
Which exact one?
2 days now! And I haven't packed yet!
I didn't know you did that?
Definitely LOVE me some Rocket Garden. I don't think we saw any of the Shuttle stuff, maybe a trip back there would be fun for our kids someday!
Pizza sandwich! Oooooh, Scotty.
I've been hoping to meet Kathy for a while now. I really hope that can happen in October, 2016 (happy, @GoofyFan1515 ?!)
Have a wonderful time. You should think about an extra oxygen tank... unless you're in better shape than I am.
Oh! I missed your update, sorry. Words can't describe the scale of the rocket? How about REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, I mean REALLY big? No? Okay - Scotty did a good job of framing that one. Oh, and alligators trying to get to the moon? Who would have thought. Nice update.
ETA: Read it all now - nice ending. I love the artwork you almost bought - maybe next time. It's great you got to meet up with Kathy! Scotty is a charmer for sure.
2 days now! And I haven't packed yet!
Um...sure. I think that's how it works.
Seriously. How come he gets all the good stuff?
I recently read Chris Hadfield's book and he seemed quite proud about that robot arm and his place in Canada's space history.
I never thought of that! He was probably eating the hamster.
Gives me an excuse to go back.
I think maybe they needed food. Low blood sugar.
But you enjoyed the golf parts just as much, right?
Clear glass with multi-color shades, toward the upper-right, smart guy.
That looks awesome! It would definitely be worth a trip to KSC to see this.When the Space Shuttle program was retired, the remaining space shuttles were sent to be permanently housed in various museums around the country. The Kennedy Space Center was chosen to be the home of the Space Shuttle Atlantis. An entire exhibit building was constructed to house the shuttle.
That'll boil some antifreeze.I thought this display was cool. It runs from the liquid rocket fuel temperature all the way up through the temperature of that same rocket fuel burning in the engine.
For science!Traveling down a floor is great fun, as there is a slide simulating the angle of descent the shuttle takes back into the earth’s atmosphere. You may need to travel between floors a few times, just to make sure you understand it properly.
That's too bad. I like it!And, of course, we had to wander the shop for a few minutes. I really, really wanted to get this for Baby Drew, but all of them were too small.
I approve of this comment.It also showed that NASA engineers are very familiar with the actual taste of Starbucks (sorry, Kathy):
Man, no alligators under the car and you didn't run out of gas. This TR is no fun!!!Anyway, from there, we were back on the road. After checking underneath our car for stray alligators, we drove out of the parking lot. The fuel light was still on. Fortunately, we made our way back over the causeway and found a station right by the turn-off for the Beachline Expressway. Sorry to disappoint all of you who were hoping I’d end up pushing the car somewhere along the way.
I'm sorry your parents weren't in the mood for a Dismeet. But I totally get where they're coming from, too. But at least you had a chance to visit DTD and see Kathy for a minutes~Another quick phone call, and the DIS Meet happened. Kathy (KatMark) was here and we couldn’t pass up the chance for a quick hello. She has met Scotty and David before, but never the other, smarter, more fun members of my family. And unfortunately, that’s still the case. We exchanged hugs and then I introduced her to my parents, who kind of gave her the cold shoulder. I’m sorry about that, Kathy—maybe they needed some carbs or something. Maybe they weren’t sure about this whole “friend I met on a message board” thing. In any case, I was glad to see her, even if it was just a brief meeting.
But it was still good enough to tell who was there.Scotty took care of the documentation for us. I discovered later that somehow the image stabilization on my camera got turned off. Sigh.
Well that pizza sandwich might help with that later, Scotty.Dinner was delicious and fairly uneventful, except for Scotty proclaiming at one point, “I haven’t pooped yet today.”
Those signs are awesome. But I get it. You might not have had a house to hang them in if you got them. I think you chose wisely.But at $150 a pop, that wasn’t going to happen. In the end, I think everyone was happy with my choices. Julie got a Mickey skirt and a glass Mickey head Christmas ornament, Sarah got Mickey earrings, an Epcot pin and an Expedition Everest pin, David got a ball cap and yardage guide from the Players Championship, and Drew got a pop-up book with Mickey characters. And I was successfully allowed to re-enter the house.
I look forward to the next great Oblivious family adventure! Have a great time!Thanks for hanging with me on the bonus mini-TR! Now it’s time to pack up for the next adventure. It won’t be long! Look for the next TR in the DIS Dads sub-thread under DIS For Family, starting sometime in July after we return.
And a bonus Scotty photo, because we all love it when Scotty happens.
I'm sorry your parents weren't in the mood for a Dismeet. But I totally get where they're coming from, too. But at least you had a chance to visit DTD and see Kathy for a minutes~
But it was still good enough to tell who was there.
And I can even see what @KatMark is holding in her hand.
Shocking, isn't it?
And a bonus Scotty photo, because we all love it when Scotty happens.