Star Trek: The Experience
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Star Trek: The Experience is a themed attraction at the Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, based on the fictional Star Trek universe. To date the Experience has undergone one major renovation, re-opening 18 March 2004. The renovation added the "Borg Invasion 4-D" ride, which uses state-of-the-art technology to try to convince visitors that they are having an encounter with the Borg (Krutzler, 2004). Star Trek: The Experience is operated by entertainment management company Cedar Fair Entertainment Company after its June 2006 purchase of Paramount Parks from the CBS Corporation.[1][dead link] The attraction may close before the year is over.[1][2]
Contents |
[edit] The History of the Future Museum
After purchasing a ticket, which allows the purchaser to go on each ride an unlimited amount of times that day, one walks through a museum that includes numerous items from Star Trek history. It also features several video display devices and a timeline of Star Trek events. Later, there are displays for each of the major alien races, which includes the Borg, Klingons, and Ferengi.
The last section of the museum is a hallway that serves as the wait lines for each ride. The left side is for the Borg Invasion 4-D, and the right side is for The Klingon Encounter. Because the Borg ride holds about twice as many people, that line moves quicker (both shows last about 18 minutes). The Klingon Encounter can hold 27 people while the Borg Invasion 4-D holds 48 people. Each show is constructed so that those "in the back" for the first part of the show will, in turn, likely end up in the front for the second half of either show.
[edit] The Klingon Encounter
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The plot summary in this article or section is too long or detailed compared to the rest of the article. Please edit the article to focus on discussing the work rather than merely reiterating the plot. |
(Note: The exact attraction experience varies due to live performer input.)
Initially, the visitors enter a small room with a depiction of "outer space". A small television in the upper right corner of the room displays scenes from several Star Trek movies.
The group then enters a smaller, dimly lit waiting area of a traditional simulator ride. Visitors line up in rows in front of doors, as hosts direct their attention to the screens above for a safety demo for the shuttlecraft simulator ride. A few moments into the film, the televisions flicker, malfunction, and the lights go out. Its black. A variety of loud noises accompanied by hundreds of small light flashes that visually simulate the "transporter effect," along with the transporter sound effect and a rush of cold air. When the lights return, the walls and floor and ceiling have apparently disappeared and you are on a transporter pad (a room much larger than you were previously standing, without the doors you were ready to walk through!). You are now aboard theUSS Enterprise-D, transporter room as seen in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
On the transporter pad, a uniformed Starfleet officer asks for the leaders of the group and directs them away for instruction. It is explained that the visitors were beamed aboard the Starship Enterprise to "what you would call the future" and the group is then led to the bridge!
The group stands in the rear between the science stations and the tactical station. There are various busy crewmembers on the bridge, and they contact Commander Riker, who promptly appears on the main viewscreen. Riker explains that Captain Picard disappeared the moment the group beamed aboard the Enterprise and thus one member of the group must be Picard's ancestor. A nefarious rogue Klingon Commander named Korath used a hidden time-rift to abduct Picard's ancestor and erase him from the timeline. Starfleet intelligence, having learned of the plan, dispatched the Enterprise to intercept the Klingon's transporter beam and rescue the entire group. Riker directs the group to board a shuttlecraft to go escape the temporal rift, and return all guests to their original time.
While the group is in the turbolift, the Klingons attack the Enterprise and the turbolift enters a free fall. There are several jolts on the turbolift during the attack. Finally, the group arrives at the shuttle bay deck.
The group boards the shuttlecraft. The shuttle ride begins with a battle between the Enterprise and a few Klingon vessels. Then, the shuttle goes into warp and is then instructed to find and destroy a cloaking generator on the planet's surface. There are several dogfights and visual effects during this time. The shuttle then returns through the temporal rift to present-day Las Vegas (although filmed almost 10 years ago, things as the Sands Hotel tower, a sign promoting Siegfried & Roy, might lead one to believe the shuttle returned prior to their abduction). Unfortunately a Klingon ship followed, however Enterprise saves the shuttle at the last minute. The 'real' shuttle lands at the Las Vegas Hilton right next to the "motion simulators" shuttles the visitors were originally waiting to enter when they were "beamed off" at the start of the story. Before the crew of the Enterprise leaves, Captain Picard thanks the crew for "restoring his existence." He says, "While only one of you is my ancestor, each of you hold that same opportunity for the future. Guard it well."
Typically a custodian leads the group to an elevator and then out to the Deep Space Nine Promenade and Quark's Bar. On the way to the elevators, riders may be invited to stop for a moment and watch on an overhead TV monitor "the local breaking news" from Nellis Air Force Base. "But what about the eyewitness accounts Colonel?" The official then stops, turns around and replies to the reporter by saying, "...Sunspots." The "newscast" features actual anchors from Las Vegas NBC affiliate, KVBC Channel 3.
[edit] The Borg Invasion 4-D
(Note: as this attraction features live performers, the exact experience will vary.)
This experience takes groups of about forty people. They enter a Starfleet science station room with a large viewscreen in front, beyond a podium with several Starfleet personnel. A Starfleet officer is on the opposite side of the room. On the screen, the holographic doctor from the USS Voyager appears and greets the group. He explains that the group has been selected to undergo medical testing because some of the members are immune to Borg nanotechnology (which he "detected" when the group entered the room). During his presentation, the Doctor is interrupted by a station administrator. She states they've detected a ship approaching at high warp. As it doesn't respond to communications, the station goes to yellow alert (you see the lights dim.) The administrator says that they will postpone the medical testing until they deal with this possible threat.
When the tactical officer of the station has a visual, the administrator says, "Let's see it." In all its grim glory, it is a full size Borg Cube that slowly and ominously approaches the station. The officers in the room and the Doctor all share the same grim expression. The station goes to Red Alert The lights around now flashing red. The administrator orders to open fire and you feel the ground shake beneath you as you hear phasers and quantum torpedoes thunderously launch. The Cube sustains heavy damage, but it fires a projectile, and all the lights go dark; you hear a large amount of static. Then the Borg speak. "We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is Futile."
The viewscreen comes back online, and the Doctor checks in with a young security officer. When the Doctor asks if he's alright, the officer says, "For now. There's an extraordinary amount of damage down here. Sir, the Borg have entered the facility. The station's being overrun." The Doctor then tells all the guests to get to the nearest escape shuttle while there's still time. As he is about to end the transmission, you see a group of Drones enter behind him. The Doctor proceeds to fire a phaser, you see one of the medical technicians injected with Borg nanites as his skin turns white, and his veins turn black.
Meanwhile a security officer enters your groups room, and leads the group to the next room: a corridor that looks severely damaged. As the group is in the corridor, a Borg drone appears to move toward the group, but turns instead to examine a computer panel. The security officer explains that he poses no threat at the moment, and orders the first officer to hold fire. The group is then led to the opposite end of the room, to an officer at an elevated station. This officer warns the others that there are Borg on the catwalks overhead (though visitors can see only conduits in the ceiling, there is indeed a Borg drone visible overhead from where the officer is standing). Firing a phaser rifle into the ceiling neutralizes the threat of that drone, but now alerts the remaining drones to attack. The officer at the elevated station proceeds to try and open the next door, but instead has to shoot out the control panel, as the drone that was examining the computer console moves toward the group. Unfortunately, destroying the panel has only opened the door halfway. At that moment, the officer with the phaser rifle is grabbed from above by a drone (only its hand is visible) and dragged screaming through the ceiling above. The first officer you met is now attempting to force the door entirely open, while the security officer tries to hold off the approaching drone with a hand phaser. The beam that he fires hits the drone, but with no effect: they have adapted their protective shields. At long last, the door is opened and the group is ushered through.
The group then enters a room that purports to be an escape vessel. Everyone picks up 3-D goggles ("safety glasses") and sits down. While the shuttle is preparing to take off, guests can watch the security officer be grabbed by the drone and dragged away for assimilation. The shuttle takes off from the station, but is pulled inside the Borg Cube. The front of the shuttle is blown open (utilizing 3d effects) and small Borg probes enter the shuttle and spray the group with nanites. You feel them in your skin (by way of motion prods under your seats) as the Borg Queen appears. She begins lecturing about the perfection of the collective and tells you to surrender your inhibitions and join the hive mind. At that moment, the Doctor projects himself into the hallucination, telling the group to fight it. "You are resistant to assimilation! Fight it! We're coming for you, Help is on the..." He then cuts out. The group, now out of the hallucination, listens to The Queen as she reiterates the futility of resisting her power. Then, another communication enters the ship and a female voice says, "Maybe it's time we even the sides." The Queen looks abashed. "Janeway!" She screams.
Admiral Kathryn Janeway appears on two side viewscreens as we see the USS Voyager burst through the far side of the Cube as the shuttle's force field activates around the blown off area of the front. Janeway exchanges quips with the Queen. "Stand aside, I've come to take these people home." "You're a fool Janeway, there will always be more drones!" The Queen yells. "Soon, this ship, and everything in it will be destroyed!" "Don't bet on it." Janeway says, as Voyager fires phasers on the Queen's position. She appears to beam out before she could be destroyed. Janeway then orders, "Fire Quantum Torpedoes!" Voyager obliges, and leaves the cube in shambles as she locks her tractor beam on the group's shuttle, and we are then treated to the magnificent explosion of the Borg Cube as it is defeated by the Federation.
As the shuttle docks back at the original station, Janeway says to the group, and we quote, "Congratulations. You've defeated the Borg with one thing the Queen can never assimilate: the human spirit. As long as we have that, resistance will never be futile." The theme to the Voyager television show then plays, and you are directed to exit at your right.
Effects include droplets of water, wind bursts, minor motion, and jabbing of the occupants—in the back and under the legs—through their chairs. (Though mild, the sensation can be startling.)
[edit] Behind the Scenes
Star Trek The Experience Secrets Unveiled: Is a paid fully guided behind the scenes look at the various Experience productions. Offered daily at limited times so as not to interfere with the working tours (and occasionally paused midway to allow the production to execute) participants wear wireless headsets, and see how the many special effects are executed, the walk around promenade and production characters costumes, make up and character histories are developed. Upon completion a customized certificate is presented to attendees.
[edit] Reduced hours
The hours for the ride have varied in recent years. According to the staff, the ride and museum continue to be popular, but the decision to reduce the hours came from the owners. During the off-season, the rides operate from 12:00 noon until 8:30, with Borg Invasion and Klingon Encounter performances switching back and forth for an hour at a time (with a few hours of simultaneous operation at the beginning and end of the day). During the Summer season, both rides operate simultaneously until 10:30pm (last ride starting at 10:10pm). Call or visit the website for current times
[edit] Notes
- ^ Simon Fowles (2008-05-07). Axe looms for Star Trek attraction. InterGameOnline.com. InterGame Ltd. Retrieved on 2008-05-10. “The future of the Star Trek: The Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton, US, is in doubt and it could close at the end of the year, according to the trekmovie.com website.”
- ^ Anthony Pascale (2008-05-02). Future of ‘Star Trek: The Experience’ In Doubt. TrekMovie.com. SciFanatic Network. Retrieved on 2008-05-10. “The contract between CBS and Cedar Fair (current owners of The Experience) ends December 31st, and a spokesperson for Cedar Fair tells TrekMovie “there are currently no plans to renew” it.”
[edit] References
- Krutzler, S. (2004). Vegas Borg Invasion date set, plus console game Shattered Universe finally arriving. Retrieved January 11, 2004 from http://trekweb.com/articles/2004/01/11/4001568b3063b.shtml
[edit] External links
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