Discover the wonderful Kennedy Space Center in Orlando, NASA’s official space center, which is open to visitors and is known worldwide as the “NASA park”. NASA space shuttles, rockets and satellites are launched from here, in addition to very cool exhibitions and activities. Below we explain everything about it and give several tips, but if you already want to go straight to the website where you can buy your tickets, just click here and guarantee the best price.
After reading this article, check out our tips about how to save a lot of money on your trip to Orlando. It is the most accessed article on our blog and will help you with all the trip planning. There are several unmissable tips that will save you A LOT of cash and set up your entire trip to Orlando.
Why visit Kennedy Space Center?
Located in Cape Canaveral, 1 hour drive from Orlando, Kennedy Space Center is in a more isolated area because of the rocket tests that are carried out there. For this and other reasons, going to NASA Kennedy Space Center in Orlando is a true dream for those passionate about rockets, space and universe research! Since 1967, it has been refurbished and reopened as an open complex for visitors, exhibiting replicas of space shuttles, real rockets that have been dropped at Jardim dos Foguetes and many other attractions. The Kennedy Space Center’s most recent attraction is the Shuttle Launch Experience, which is a simulation of the launch of a space shuttle into space.
NASA’s park has attractions for all ages and tastes, such as the Apollo Saturn 5, where you can see the reconstitution of the Saturn 5 rocket launch and see the restored rocket itself. You can also talk and chat with real astronauts, who are scattered around Kennedy Space Center on special days. The NASA space center also has two movie theaters that are showing films about space, and you can touch real pieces of moon rocks! Here are each of the main attractions of the NASA space center, Kennedy Space Center in Florida:
1) IMAX Cinemas at Kennedy Space Center
NASA’s Imax cinemas have two rooms with huge screens with incredible sound and image quality. It is truly a unique and different experience from the cinemas you have been to. It shows two films: Hubble 3D, and Space Station 3D. Both give visitors an incredible view of images from space, the Universe, and much of the legacy of the Hubble telescope, which was the world’s first orbiting observatory. The movies are always playing and are amazing!
2) Mission Status Briefing in Kennedy Space Center
Find out what’s going on with current NASA missions, operations at the Kennedy Space Center, and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station rocket launch activity by participating in the Mission Status Briefing attraction at Universe Theater!
3) Shuttle Launch Experience in Kennedy Space Center
The Shuttle Launch Experience is the most sought after attraction in NASA’s park. It offers visitors the experience of a vertical launch, including a tour of Earth’s orbit. This attraction was developed by NASA and the duration of the attraction is five minutes, but it is very exciting. It is one of the most popular attractions in the park and even in Orlando, and to go, children and visitors must be at least 1.11 meters.
4) Real rockets in the Heroes & Legend area
The Heroes & Legends area is home to several downtown attractions, such as the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, which shows details of the Mercury Project to the Space Shuttle Program, and pays tribute to renowned astronauts. But the coolest thing is, without a doubt, the outdoor area, where is the Rocket Garden, a garden where you stroll and see up close the giant rockets of NASA’s Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs – with guided tours!
5) Tours in NASA Kennedy Space Center in Orlando
For those who are more interested in the subject, there are tours that can be done, such as the Kennedy Space Center Tour, a tour with a guide through the NASA Space Center where you can get to know the launch pad of the space shuttle, in addition to the rocket launch platforms of the American Air Force at Cape Canaveral. Then you go to the Vehicle Assembly Building where the space shuttle is attached for launch, and where the Apollo V rockets were created. It is a good option to see the entire NASA park, seeing all the stories, missions, rockets and astronauts.
6) NASA Space Shop in Orlando
As with all Orlando parks, NASA’s space center also has hundreds of souvenirs and things you can buy and take away as souvenirs. The Space Shop is the largest store in the park and sells all kinds of products, such as t-shirts, jackets, key chains, dolls, helmets, books, toys, caps, rocket replicas and everything you can imagine.
Itinerary recommended by the NASA center
- Enjoy Heroes & Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame (described in item 4) – 1 hour
- Stroll through the Rocket Garden (described in item 4), where the original NASA rockets are, as well as the famous John F. Kennedy fountain and NASA’s historic countdown clock – 15 minutes
- Watching movies at the IMAX Theater Space Film (described in item 1) – 1 hour
- See NASA Now, presentation on the future of NASA – 15 minutes
- Journey to Mars: Explorers wanted – 30 minutes
- Meal and shopping – 1 hour
- Universe Theater Presentations: Mission Status Briefing or Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo (described in item 2) – 1 hour
- Space Shuttle Atlantis and Shuttle Launch Experience (described in item 3) – 1 hour
- See the Space Mirror astronaut memorial – 10 minutes
Where to eat at NASA’s park in Orlando?
Kennedy Space Center is a smaller park compared to the others in Orlando, so the options for eating there are also not many. Our tip is the Orbit Cafe, the largest snack bar in the park. There you will find traditional American cuisine options, such as cheeseburgers, hotdog, salads and various sandwiches, accompanied by fries and soft drinks. Prices are average and worth it because the snacks are well served. There is also a Food Truck and a small ice cream shop in the area.
Other information about NASA Kennedy Space Center
Address: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Space Commerce Way, Merritt Island
Opening hours: 10 am to 4 pm, with the last entry time being 3 pm
Values: US$ 57 for adults and US $ 47 for children aged 3 to 11 (children under 3 do not pay to enter). The 3-hour guided tour costs US$ 20 extra, and includes a snack.
Parking: US$ 5 for motorcycles, US$ 10 for cars. The parking lot opens half an hour before the park opens.
Where is the cheapest place to buy Orlando tickets?
Many people don’t know where (and even when) to buy Disney and Orlando tickets. We’ve done a lot of research and find out where is the cheapest place to buy Orlando parks tickets. We always buy our tickets there! It’s where you’ll find the best prices and where you can buy all the tickets, for all the parks and attractions at once, in the same place.
Tips to make the most of your trip to Orlando
Now that you’ve seen everything about NASA Kennedy Space Center in Orlando, a great tip that makes the difference on your trip is to choose the location of your hotel. Orlando is a big city, and it’s so much better to stay in a region close to the main tourist spots. See our article best areas to stay in your trip to Orlando to learn about the best regions to stay there and how to get a great hotel for an excellent price (and find good deals). You will stay in the best region, close to the parks and outlets, and enjoy even more your trip!
Orlando’s parks, outlets and tourist spots are very far apart, which is why the tourists always choose to rent a car in the city. With a car, you will be able to enjoy your trip even more, visiting everywhere and shopping with peace of mind. If you want, see our article how to rent a great and cheap car in Orlando, where we give you every information that you need to know about this subject, with tips about how to find unique prices using comparators. It ‘s much cheaper than people think, and it is worth it because Orlando is definitively a city to explore by car.
How can I use my phone in Orlando?
Being able to use your cell phone on your trip is something extremely useful. With it working, you can search about all the spots, access the discount coupons and park apps, check the weather and even use the GPS, saving the rent of this equipment for the car. Besides, of course, being connected to the various social networks!
We have selected the best tips about how to use your phone in Orlando, in which we indicate the cheapest way to use it all day long and anywhere in the entire country. With the mobile internet, you can search everything about NASA Kennedy Space Center in Orlando!
Don’t forget about the Travel Insurance for Orlando!
A very important tip is to have an International Travel Insurance before traveling to Orlando. No one should travel without it, so you can avoid major problems abroad! It ends up being cheaper than people think, and in our article of International Travel Insurance for Orlando you check everything you need to know about it: which are the best insurance companies, and tips for hiring excellent coverage for a lower price, saving a lot.
Must-see articles from Orlando:
- Best things to do in Orlando: must-see places and sights in Orlando.
- Best places to go shopping in Orlando: a complete guide to shopping in Orlando.
- Orlando’s Best Parks: all the main parks in Orlando.
- Walt Disney World Parks in Orlando: the incredible parks of Disney World.
