Grande Lakes Orlando, the 500-acre resort destination nestled at the headwaters of the Florida Everglades—anchored by The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes and JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes—has introduced a new experience for guests: the Kennedy Space Center Helicopter Tour.
This one-day experience begins from the Grande Lakes Orlando property, in an EC-130 helicopter, and takes guests to the Kennedy Space Center on Florida’s space coast. This concierge-led expedition by Galactic Medallion, a space tour experience company, accommodates a group of four guests and includes the excitement of exploring the cosmos at the space center.
Each excursion is tailored to the preferences of the group. The journey begins with an aerial tour over the Kennedy Space Center, the Vehicle Assembly Building, Shuttle Landing Strip and then south to view Port Canaveral before touching down. Upon arrival, guests are met by their personal guide to visit NASA’s facilities where they will learn about the past, present and future of space exploration and America’s space program. Tour highlights include the Apollo-Saturn V venue, Shuttle Launch Experience, Atlantis Orbiter, Gateway Pavilion, Astronaut Hall of Fame and more. For an additional cost, guests can elevate their experience with various upgrades such as a private bus tour, guided by a NASA Shuttle-era Astronaut; or a visit to the Shuttle Pavilion and the Atlantis Orbiter, led by Mike Leinbach, former launch director of the Shuttle Program.
Guests will then be treated to a late lunch at a rooftop venue with vistas of the Indian River and Kennedy Space Center. This setting also offers the opportunity to engage personally with a distinguished guest speaker. The day’s adventure ends with a celebratory champagne toast, prior to lifting-off for the return journey back to Grande Lakes Orlando by sunset.
In addition to this tour, Grande Lakes Orlando will host a series of on-property activities and events over the Labor Day Weekend in partnership with Galactic Medallion, and other space-related entities. Ritz Kids, the resort’s kids club, will offer a “Galactic Space Week” program featuring Dr. Kirby Runyon, a planetary geologist and research scientist at the Planetary Science Institute. Runyon’s expertise is in the study of rocky, geologic landforms particularly on our Moon, and Mars. He will provide an array of educational experiences for guests.
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