Star Trek: The Experience - The Klingon Encounter

This was everything I dreamed of and more. Having just visited Disneyland the weekend before going to Las Vegas, I was primed by the quality that Disney puts into all of its attractions, and I was not disappointed.

The first part of the experience is a long pathway you follow. On your left is the Star Trek universe timeline, from around the beginning of spaceflight through to the events of "Insurrection," giving important dates involving characters, episodes, etc. On your right is a display of series and movie replicas, from the original uniforms, to Khan's necklace, to the Voyager comm badges. Following this are displays on several different races, including Klingon, Bajoran and Borg. All along you are treated to video clips and montages from all incarnations of the ST universe.

Finally, you board the ride. When we first entered, the impression is that it will be a "Back to the Future" or "Star Tours"-type ride (as in you "ride" in a room full of seats with a movie screen projecting the action in front of you).

Then it all changed...

I won't tell you how they do it (as I couldn't figure it out anyway), but you get transported aboard the Enterprise-D, go to the bridge, take a turbolift ride, and end up riding a shuttlecraft (which actually is the ride part of the experience), all the while being guided by Starfleet personnel and some of the bridge crew. (See the IMDB summary for the plot of why, exactly, you're there.)

I was most taken with the detail - the transporter effect, the control panels, and especially the staff. I could believe they were actually serving on a ship, right down to seeing a few loading and unloading cargo in the shuttlebay as we stepped onboard - we went by them so fast, they could easily have done without them, but the point is, they didn't, and it added a sense of realism for me.

Finally, once you leave the shuttlecraft, you're let out onto a replica of the Promenade from DS9, including gift shops and Quark's Bar and restaurant.

All in all, I spent about 4 hours there, including eating lunch, and the $15 was *well* worth it - I know I'll go back again and again any time I'm in Las Vegas.

When Star Trek: Nemesis was being filmed I was fortunate enough to get to tour several of the sets. As you watch the TV series and movies, you'll notice that there are numbered panels all over the ships. If you watch carefully, you can see a few characters large enough to read that represent the panel number and smaller writing that presumably describes what's behind the panel. My guide pointed out to me that the smaller writing on the panel lables had funny comments printed on them. For example, said "Warning, no user servicable parts inside. They fight and bite. They bite and fight. They fight, fight, fight, bite, bite, bite. The Itchy and Scratchy show." Another had the lyrics to Somewhere Over The Rainbow.

The last time I went to the Exp. at the Hilton, I looked at some of the bridge labels and sure enough, they had funny sayings.

I hope the new Voyager Experience keeps up this tradition.

I saw the Experience shortly after it first opened. I thought that the museum was nice and the ride with the film was nice. The ride was lame in my opinion; and I'm not big on carnival type rides. I also thought that the price was a little steep for the ride and show. Nevertheless it was a good attempt to recreate the image of being on one of the Starships.

I visited the Star Trek Experience in 1999 and was TOTALLY blown away by the ride! I loved the experience and still wonder how all of the trip was possible (maybe it's best not to know). Too bad it's pretty much gone, but I am glad to have had the pleasure of taking the trip! To this day, I don't know how it was done. The plot of the ride is that one of the members of the group is a distant relative of Capt. Picard and that in order to prevent a change in the time line, the group members must take off in a shuttle to avoid the Klingons. The ride has the members flying through space and over present day Las Vegas. Cameos by Jonathan Frakes and LeVar Burton.

Unfortunately we did not know beforehand that our tickets would allow us admission the whole day, so we came in the afternoon. So, if You are a fan, go in the morning and stay all day, it is worth it!

The gallery with the timeline and the original artifacts from the series' and movies alone can keep You busy for hours. The ride itself is full of surprises and fun details. We especially enjoyed the room cleaner that showed up after we crashlanded in the Hilton Hotel and complained about us landing on her spare lightbulbs and that noone gambles any more in Vegas, instead everyone enjoys the family attractions. Our main reason for this USA-trip was to visit Star Trek - the Experience (yes, some people are THAT crazy) and we were not disappointed.

By the way - we managed top find out how the floor works: It has a transparent layer, so they can change what is beneath.