On my most recent trip to Orlando, I was able to do something totally new and different for me – I took the Kennedy Space Center Explore Tour!
Kennedy Space Center Explore Tour
I’ve been wanting to visit KSC for a few years now, but never could make it fit my schedule. Then, I decided that I would make it fit on this solo trip. That way, if it wasn’t worth giving up a theme park day, it didn’t impact my family who doesn’t go as often. I hope to make a separate post on visiting the Space Center at a later date. Today, I want to focus on the Add-On Enhancement: Kennedy Space Center Explore Tour!
Now, I will preface this by pointing out that everyone who visits can take a bus ride to view different areas of the complex. However, this bus ride takes you to additional spots that the other bus doesn’t go. Additionally, you get to actually get off of the bus to take photos where the other bus can’t. So, I will highlight the differences in this post to help you decide if this tour is worth the added cost.
The Gantry at LC-39
The first stop on this tour is the same stop everyone else gets to make. It’s the Gantry at LC-39. It features a four story gantry with a full-scale model of a rocket engine. You can take the stairs or an elevator to view the launch sites and Florida grounds. There’s also information on how rockets are built and launched. There’s even a simulated static test fire. Finally, there’s also information about the wildlife in the area that they must care for. Overall, it’s a neat stop and I can see why everyone gets to experience it.
Following The Gantry, the regular tour bus takes visitors over to the Apollo/Saturn V Center. The Explore Tour rides over to the Launch Sites.
Launch Sites
Following the Gantry, we rode the bus over to the launch sites for shuttles and rockets. It was so cool to see where countless historic launches have occurred. Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to get off of the bus at the launch sites, but the bus did stop to allow us to stand up and take photos from inside the bus.
Next, we rode over to a private beach that is government owned. We were allowed to get off of the bus here to take photos of the Atlantic Ocean and of the launch sites. We couldn’t walk right onto the beach, but we could still see the ocean. It was a neat experience that I wasn’t expecting on this tour.
Vehicle Assembly Building
The last unique stop for the Explore Tour is the Vehicle Assembly Building. The other buses drive by it, but the Explore Tour allows you to get off of the bus and take photos! This is where they assemble shuttles and other large space vehicles. It’s also commonly used in imagery for NASA and is an icon in its own right. It was really cool to be able to get a photo in front of the building. We also got to walk across the Orbiter Access Control Arm and White Room at this stop.
Following the VAB stop, the tour ends at the Apollo/Saturn V Center, just like the regular bus tours.
Pros
- Access to reserved areas – The Explore Tour allows you to view launch sites more closely, see a private beach, and take photos at the Vehicle Assembly Building. You can’t get those things on the regular tour.
- You can learn more – Our tour guide was knowledgeable and I’m sure we learned more about space and the launches on this tour in comparison to the other one.
- Feels historic – If you are coming to the complex to see historic things, this tour gets you closer to the actual launch sites than the other tour.
Cons
- Costs more – If you are on a budget, you may not want to pay an extra $24-30/person.
- Takes more time – There’s so much to see and do at Kennedy Space Center. This Explore Tour can take up to two hours (mine took 1.5 hours). So, you may have to skip other things you wanted to see if you book this tour.
- Limited time slots – This tour is only offered at 10 AM and 2 PM. It’s very likely it will take place during an astronaut talk or some other activity you may wish to see.
Is the Kennedy Space Center Explore Tour worth it?
The KSC Explore Tour costs an additional $30 plus tax for adults and $24 plus tax for children. Personally, I felt like it was worth it because I can’t imagine traveling that far and not seeing the actual launch sites or getting photos in front of the VAB. I feel like that’s where the history is made and I want to see it in person. So, I thought it was worth it. However, it is an added cost that can eat up your budget. It also takes up a good chunk of your day. If other activities are of a higher priority, you may want to skip this one. Have you taken the Kennedy Space Center Explore Tour?