Flordia Vacation Day 5

We had to put our bags out the night before we were to leave so they could get them down to the dock for us to pick up.  We got around and packed up our carry ons and went down to breakfast about 7:30.  Disembarkation was really easy and we got our car back with no troubles.  We weren't even sure we would recognize it but we did.  We were off to the Cape Kennedy Space Center for the day.  I was driving today and we ran in and out of rain most of the way there.  Was also pretty windy. We got there around 11 and I think it was my favorite thing of all the vacation!  I don't know if it was because I lived through it or if it is just so amazing  

This is what they call the rocket garden.  I think there were 8 of the rockets all together.  This picture was from a distance and they don't look all that imposing.  But up close.  WOW!

 They are huge! 

They have several of the capsules and I was just getting ready to take a picture when these 3 little boys climbed in the capsule.  They look like they have lots of room but imagine 3 grown men in there. I guess all ages enjoy the KSC.

Here I am in one of the capsules.  Two men rode for 14 days in this little thing.

Next we boarded a bus that took us to the observation gantry to see launch pad #39.  where all the rockets take off.  It was pretty impressive.

Then we went to the Apollo Center.  You can see in this picture the scale.  The people look so small.  This thing was ginormous.

We got to touch a moon rock. It had been sanitized.  We ate lunch at the Moon Rock Cafe.  

These are some of the exhibits.  There were lots.  This is an early space suit.  Looks like a knights armour doesn't it?

This is a newer suit.  Looks more like what I remember.

This building was were they assembled the rockets.  He told us it took 47 minutes for the doors all to open.

This isn't a very good picture but from one gravel area to the other is like an 8 lane highway.  This is how they transported the rockets after they were assembled to the launch pad.  It took a long time and the mover thingys only got like 2 miles to the gallon.

This was probably one of the neatest things. They have set up the control room just like it was for the Apollo launch.  All the controls  even down to the lab coats hanging on the back of the cahirs.  They do a simulation of the last three minutes countdown.  What all the engineers said to each other and they show the rocket on a screen.  Then you hear the noise and then (get this)  the seats start to shake!.  It was so awesome!  Can you tell I really enjoyed KSC?                                                                                                                      

This is a 9 ton constellation Sphere that floats on water.  It was pretty cool too.  There was so much we didn't get to see and do but we wanted to get to our hotel in Orlando before it got dark so we left around 3:00 and headed for Orlando.   We didn't have any trouble finding the hotel (thanks to Becky) but when we went to the Welcome Center we were met with the news that we would have to attend another time share talk in the morning.  We threw a hissy fit and I felt sorry for the lady behind the counter.  It wasn't her fault but she felt sorry for us and upgraded our hotel to the one we were at (which was one mile from Epcot) instead of having to drive 12 miles away.  She also agreed to have us picked up and taken to the presentation instead of having to drive ourselves and gave us $50.00 to use at one of the parks.     We reluctantly agreed because they wouldn't pay for anything if we didn't and went to our room.