It’s always a little sad when it’s time to leave the cruise ship. While Disney didn’t quite steal our hearts as our favorite cruise line, it was still a wonderful trip filled with great memories. After grabbing breakfast at the buffet, we disembarked and made our way to the next adventure on our itinerary—the Kennedy Space Center.
Kennedy Space Center
Since we loved the Houston Space Center so much, we decided to check out the Kennedy Space Center on this trip. While Kennedy definitely has some impressive exhibits, I think I actually preferred the overall feel of the Houston one—it just felt a bit more relaxed and accessible.
At Kennedy, we had to take a bus on a 20‑minute ride out to the Apollo/Saturn V Center. We were supposed to make a stop to see one of the launch pads, but since Artemis II was there, that part of the tour was closed. The Saturn V display was still incredible, and the launch simulation really made you feel like you were part of a real mission. Still, it took a lot of effort to get there—the lines for the buses both ways were long, and it definitely tested everyone’s patience. It was cool to see the Artemis II on the launch pad in the distance!
The Space Shuttle Atlantis
The Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit was a highlight for all of us. The kids had a blast exploring the tunnels and zipping down the slide, and Cohen got to ride the simulator with Jeff—which they both loved. The only downside was that the day started to feel a bit stressful: Jeff’s phone battery was running out, the crowds were out of control with a lot of school groups, and my parents were ready to call it a day. Jeff went back to the car to charge his phone while I took the kids to the Planet Play area for about 30 minutes. They loved that time to unwind!
Wrapping Up The Day and Getting To Helios
Before leaving, we made a quick (and crowded) stop at the gift shop for some Christmas ornaments and freeze‑dried ice cream. By the time we checked out, I was definitely done for the day. We piled into the car and went to Olive Garden for dinner—it felt so nice to finally sit, eat, and relax.
From there, we headed to our next stop: the Helios Hotel at Universal Studios Orlando! Our last activity for the break was a day at Epic Universe tomorrow, so we encouraged the kids to get some sleep. Of course, that didn’t happen—they wanted to stay up to watch the fountain show from our hotel. I have to admit; it was worth it! The synchronized lights across the park were stunning, and it got us even more excited to explore the park tomorrow.
