I just got back home and boy was it worth the trip. I did the KSC tour and it left me wanting to go back and do the more extensive tours along with the Shuttle Training Experience (STX.)
If I had to guess, there were far more people than normal at the visitors center, due to the launch. This made it difficult to see everything I wanted to see because everyone else had the same desire. Since the payload was largely the Kibo Laboratory, there were thousands of Japanese visitors. I spoke to people from Austria, Germany, Australia, Japan, Belgium and Costa Rica. It was really crowded.
If you plan to get the most out of a visit the space center I would suggest going when there isn't a launch as it might be less crowded. I plan to go back this winter when there is no launch and do the extended tours and the STX.
If you're going for a launch, be prepared to wait in very long lines and not see everything. Traffic is also a nightmare.
As far as the scanning went, it didn't. They don't allow scanners inside any area where you have to pass through a security checkpoint. For some crazy reason it was acceptable for me to take in my VX-5R HT. Go figure. I listened to the 146.940 machine a couple hours prior to launch and got better information than was provided at KSC.
I listened to the scanner in the truck and nothing worked for me either. They must have changed something since everyone had similar problems.
It was a fabulous trip and the launch is breathtaking.
73 de K4KW
...-.-
