The Beast Goes To Orlando
 

Is anyone heading down early? We will be arriving Tuesday and we will visit Universal Studios. It's our first year down there, any suggestions on fun things to do besides Disney and Universal and any suggestions on where to eat? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! :)

Re: The Beast Goes To Orlando
 

This may be somewhat beyond your sense of "reasonable", but in Orlando, on the southeast corner of where Route 4 crosses over Fairbanks Ave,. is a surplus place called Skycraft. They sell all kinds of strange stuff, lost of electronics, and lots and lots of stuff that would work well on a robot. And generally inexpensive.

As a geek, there is no better place in all Florida to visit.

Re: The Beast Goes To Orlando
 

What about the Kennedy space center in Kissimmee, FL?

Re: The Beast Goes To Orlando
 

Its in Kissimmee??? Man, this place over on the coast has been ripping people off for decades. Try heading over to the Space Center though, you might be able to still get a tour of the Vehicle Assembly Building or can go see the Shuttle Atlantis and the Visitor's Center.

Re: The Beast Goes To Orlando
 

I don't think they moved KSC recently. Kissimmee is in the center of Florida, and the Kennedy Space Center is on the Atlantic coast about an hour's drive away. (I also don't think you can buy inexpensive surplus rockets there.)

Re: The Beast Goes To Orlando
 

For restaurants in Orlando, I like the Rain Forest Cafe. It's located in the Disney village. Great food.

Re: The Beast Goes To Orlando
 

Psh, why not? It's not like NASA's using them... I think I could get some use out of some old rocket they've got laying around.

Re: The Beast Goes To Orlando
 

Kissimmee has some great things. From resteraunts to 1065s build space its a good place to go. I find that yelp is your friend for resteraunts.

As for KSC its a cool place to go. Lots of rockets including a saturn V.

Re: The Beast Goes To Orlando
 

Thank you everyone for the great intel. Being a NASA sponsored team we are definitely excited to be touring KSC. Our good friends from Team 2080, Team 1912, and Team 456 will be joining us on the tour as well. Are there any other teams planning on a tour of KSC?

The Skycraft place sounds awesome, we will definitely check it out if we have any time. My brother remembers joining the PIoneers as Curie Finalist in 2010 and says you were a great team. He says he thinks you had a great pit design. We are wondering if you or any other team has a relatively simple pit design idea that we could pull together before Orlando. We would like to have all of our materials organized so a few students could easily pull it in Wednesday night.

Thanks again for your help!

Re: The Beast Goes To Orlando
 

I started laughing at this, then I realized just how sadly true this is. NASA is one of the pinnacles of human achievement and the fact they have been tied up by indecisive policy-making in Washington as well as poor funding is just a tragedy.
My family visited KSC shortly after the Atlantis Shuttle exhibit was opened, and as amazing as it was, I couldn't help crying a little bit because such a feat of human achievement would never fly again. Massive props to all those who are still keeping NASA alive, I just wonder when people will realize that our future as a species lies beyond Earth.

*gets off soap-box*

If you do have the time I would second visiting Kennedy Space Center and seeing Atlantis, I can think of no more inspiring place for kids interested in science and technology.

Re: The Beast Goes To Orlando
 

LMAO! Im sorry that really made me laugh considering that I live in Kissimmee. KSC is in Melbourne, FL about an hour away. I hope you have a good time at the Orlando Regional and make sure to stop by at 1065 The Moose's pit and say "Hi". :)

As far as your tourist inquiry, your best bet is going to International Drive down the road from Universal. There's more restaurants there than you will know what to do with. Also, Downtown Disney is great place to hang, has a movie theater among other things.

Have a good time.

Re: The Beast Goes To Orlando
 

KSC is in Titusville, not Melbourne.

Re: The Beast Goes To Orlando
 

yes, that's right. But definitely not Kissimmee. haha

Re: The Beast Goes To Orlando
 

This place looks awesome....wish we had something similar

Re: The Beast Goes To Orlando
 

What is with all the confusion? It is not a food truck, it is a space center! :P

Re: The Beast Goes To Orlando
 

We had a great time visiting KSC today. One of our mentors arranged a visit to the Orion Fabrication facility. We were able to see hardware scheduled to fly in September. It was so awesome! And we were able to have Team 2080, Team 456, and Team 1912 and a few members from Team 233 (Team Pink) along for the tour.

Our NASA sponsor also arranged a tour of the VAB - what a humongous building. Of course, we also went to the visitors center and saw the Atlantis. We had a great tour and a great visit!

Re: The Beast Goes To Orlando
 

Anna, your group received a very special KSC tour. There are people who work at KSC who would never get to see what your group got to see.

I hope that you enjoy the rest of your stay in Orlando and your time at the Orlando Regional.

and
Technically, KSC is not in Titusville either. ;-)