We wouldn't have been able to get ourselves out so easily, that's for sure.
What?
Scotty doesn’t keep a miniaturized power rip-saw in his back pocket?
Just don't ask what percentage of the budget constitutes debt service now.
As requested: 6%... Down from around %12 about a decade or so back.
I leave for my vacation in 5 days!
You are wrong sir… You left this morning.
Which means that you won’t be reading this for a while.
It also means I’m 5 days late in getting back over here.
Stupid work and responsibilities…
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.
And well they should have.
Once inside, you get to see an elaborate pre-show before entering the main exhibit room itself.
Well…
Depending on what all else might just be going in the building that day.
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.
“Kids”…
Riiiiiight…
Here’s a mockup of the International Space Station you can crawl through (if, unlike me, you can fit inside comfortably).
I take it that they didn’t install the antigravity feature allowing everyone to simply float through the exhibit.
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 forgot about the bits that demonstrate the weaving motion used to slow that brick down during the unpowered descent. I suspect someone (and I ain’t mentioning any names) may have taken those at a dead run a couple times as well.
You may need to travel between floors a few times, just to make sure you understand it properly.
Yes you may, and you probably ought’a, but like I said earlier…
The opportunity to do so may depend on what all else might just be going in the building that day.
I think both the bus tour and this building are worth the price of admission by themselves.
“Copy that, Flight”
There’s also a ride here…
…Another time, perhaps.
Yes, and **a-hem** also yes.
And we explored the Rocket Garden a bit.
‘Cause they grow some mighty impressive rocket down there.
There was a full-scale
Lego model of the Mars Rover right outside the gift shop.
A tip of the hat to a nearby neighbor.
Actually much about the Visitors Center reminded me of another place in the general area.
I thought these mugs were cool, too. It also showed that NASA engineers are very familiar with the actual taste of Starbucks (sorry, Kathy):
I’m pretty sure Rocket fuel is a bit smoother with a somewhat more floral bouquet and notes of almond and coriander.
What did you think of the Kennedy Space Center, Scotty?
Sigh. Why do I even bother?
Because he loved it and will realize that later on.
Admit it… no, but realize it?
After checking underneath our car for stray alligators, we drove out of the parking lot.
See…
Y’all did learn something, didn’t ya’?
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.
Good thing…
The adventure you’re headed for now should be far less stressful than the one you just avoided.
soon we were driving barely onto the corner of Walt Disney World property to check into our hotel for the evening, the Holiday Inn at Downtown Disney.
So…
What’d ya’ think of the place?
It’s something I’m considering as part of a short low budget (well, low-ish budget) stop-over that might come to pass next spring.
she promptly informed me that the traffic around Downtown Disney, in technical engineering terms, “sucked”.
Well, that’s nothin’ new. It’s always sucked ‘round there.
‘Though I suspect that the construction had raised it to new levels of exquisite torment.
No problem for us, though—we could walk down a path from the hotel.
Score one for the Holiday Inn
I saw Disney buses pulling away and immediately felt a pang of sadness, knowing that I wouldn’t be getting on any of them.
Look away… just look away…
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.
You didn’t think that one through clearly…
What’s to prevent them from accepting the gifts on the front porch and then just slamming the door?
Kathy (KatMark) was here and we couldn’t pass up the chance for a quick hello.
Very cool!
Glad y’all were able to put together a classic Dis meet up.
We went into Earl of Sandwich for dinner.
Natually…
I went with my old standby, the Hawaiian BBQ:
And only fitting…
Scotty went way out on a limb and had a pizza sandwich.
Now there’s a surprise.
I think I'm gonna have a heart attack and die… from that surprise!
“Thanks for announcing that,” my dad said. “Maybe you should say it a little louder.”
Touché! Grand Pa-Paaa…
With that, I was off on a mission to get gifts for my poor family members left behind in boring old Delaware.
This endorsement has been brought to you in part by a grant from…
D.R.A.T! (The Delaware Roundtable on Adventure and Tourism)
I tried to scheme my way into getting new decorations for my house:
Cool!
Eeek!... Not So cool.
Well, actually they’re still cool.
They just ain’t happening.
…I was successfully allowed to re-enter the house.
Yeah, luckily for you…
they didn’t think that through either.
Look for the next TR in the DIS Dads sub-thread under DIS For Family, starting sometime in July after we return.
Wouldn’t miss it.
.