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Star Trek: The Experience
Viva Las Vegas!
Hello. I take it that since you are reading this that you are interested in Star Trek, or at least Las Vegas. That is where the Star Trek Experience is located. It’s in the Hilton Hotel & Casino, to be more specific.
Let us start this at the beginning of my trip to the Hilton. There it was, for every passerby to see, right on the Hilton’s sign, and in big letters: Star Trek: The Experience. (I wonder if it was a hit with all of the cowboys and cowgirls that were in town for the rodeo championships? Oh well…)
We parked the rental car in the free parking garage for the Hilton (there is valet parking available) and proceeded into the hotel. We found that we were about an hour early, so we walked around for a little bit, then I decided to play a video game to kill a few minutes. After that we ate a late breakfast at the Pizza Hut/TCBY/Bakery that was located not too far from ST: TE.
Finally, it was opening time. Two tickets and a little less money later, we were on our way. As you turn the corner from the ticket counter, you see two entrances; one for ST: TE and one for the "promenade" (Quark's Bar and the stores) area. Above them both you see the Enterprise and Enterprise D, Voyager, and a Klingon Warbird.
There also is a Federation flag hanging on the wall, right next to a huge screen showing various clips from all of the ST television shows. After getting our tickets torn, we proceeded into The Experience.
To the left started there is what turned out to be an extensive timeline, starting off with early history of space exploration. To the right, various pieces of that history, including a moon rock (I am uncertain if it was real. Probably not). We proceeded along the timeline, seeing when various parts of Star Trek history took place in the timeline (do you know when and where Picard was born?), when we started to see uniforms and such from the shows and movies. There it was: Zephram Cockran’s flight suit. Other historic pieces on hand were a Vulcan Robe (from First Contact, I think), a Vulcan Ceremonial Robe, various pieces of equipment, Nomad, Klingon Handcuffs, Picard Family Album, more uniforms, and even Kurlan Naiskos, one of the artifacts from the ST: TNG series, even a Borg skin graft.
After this display there is another featuring weapons, then further down a row of panels featuring star ships, including the Phoenix (ST:FC), the original Enterprise 1701, shuttlecraft, and a certain space station.
Continuing along the path, we find displays showing some of the races in Star Trek, starting with Vulcans (earth’s first alien contact). There is a big panel that shows, I think, all races that have been encountered. There are not displays for every race though. The Klingon display was the largest, including (of course) weapons such as daggers, spears, and even the Sword of Kahless.
The Ferengi display included such items as a Ferengi ear comb and a tooth sharpener! (These were not for sale in the gift shops, unfortunately). Rounding out the displays that were dedicated to a race in particular was one for the Borg, containing three samples of Borg. I didn’t get their names. In the Borg display was also a monitor with various Borg from the television shows and other treats. This is where the line for the ride was forming, and lucky for us we were first. Up ahead I could make out another display that featured a Khazon, a Trill Symbiot, and other various items.
After a long wait (something was wrong with the ride) we were finally led ahead to another area that had a monitor hanging over in the corner. We all filed in (about 25-30 people) and the monitor sprung to life telling us that if we are pregnant, easily sickened, dying, etc. that this ride may not be for us. I had to laugh, and I am not sure if anyone else caught it, but it showed a pregnant woman and her husband(?) about to board the ride then finding out that she couldn’t ride. So he kisses her goodbye and proceeds into the ride while she gets escorted away. I thought that was funny…
Finally the doors open up, and we are led ahead to another area. We are lined up in four (maybe five?) rows, and there is another monitor, more rules into the ride. This is where things get interesting, and if you don’t think that you will ever go to Vegas to see the sights and experience this wonderful city or the Star Trek: The Experience, then proceed to click here below.
We had some problems with the ride, but eventually it started. The screen showed a sort of split image, and I knew that right away that something was wrong. After a few minutes, the hydraulics went out and things stopped, and eventually the door opened up and we were told that they had some problems and they would take us to another shuttle. Eventually we were taken to another simulator.
The ride was sort of nice, but I feel that it was short. I am not a big fan of rides, but with the whole world of Star Trek, I feel that they could have done a little more with the ride. There are some nice touches, though. Part of the problem may have been my disappointment with the delay in actually starting the ride.
After the ride you are directed around the corridor right to the ST shops. There are 5 specialty shops in the "promenade" area. Also in this area is Quark’s bar. Quark is not there (he’s on DSN! That’s a long way from Las Vegas!) Make sure that you hit the shops, though, if you remembered to save some money. Maybe make sure that ST: TE is an early stop in your trip to Vegas.
At one of the shops, I found some extremely collectible ST items. Items such as: one Borg Armature for $1500; a Borg Drone head for $1500; and a Compression Phaser Rifle for $3000, among other things. Klikngon hockey jerseys signed by Micheal Dorn were to be had for 125 big ones. There were coins, plates, and even the toys that you can find in Kmart. Check this out – they even had a chair that was hand made. A replica of the captain’s chair from the original series WITH Captain Kirk as part of the chair! You can actually sit on the chair if you want to sit on a painted Cpt. Kirk’s lap! The price - $3,300.
Looking for some Klingon Blood Wine? Pick up a few bottles here, even some Trill wine! If you don’t want to buy a bottle, single glasses are for sale in Quark’s.
Speaking of Quark’s, after we shopped, we had to check out the menu. Some of the items sounded very interesting. But after eating at the International Buffet at the Rio Hotel and Casino the night before, we weren’t too hungry yet, plus we did have a doughnut each for breakfast. We (my girlfriend and I) did get a drink each, and we decided to share a seafood pizza (small one). Some of the items on the menu were Isolinear Chips & Dip, Salad of Kahless (legend has it that he spent 12 days and 12 nights in the kitchen coming up with this one), Wrap of Kahn, and get this, a Hamborger (hamBORGer). You can get one of these with cheese. Other items were Keiko O’Briens Garden Pasta, and even the BBQ Continuum Pizza. The Cadet Menu (kids) included a Hugh Borger.
Of course you cannot leave without dessert! Try Jake’s Shakes, or even Frozen Gagh! (The Gagh is really Gummy Worms, but DO NOT tell the Klingons!).
Prices were $14.95 for tickets to the whole experience: The History of the Future Exhibit, and the 22 minute (is seemed shorter) Voyage Through Space. If you have the ST Master Card you can get in for $13.45 (if you use it, I think). Hours are 11am through 11pm.
I am sure that if we didn’t have the breakdown in the motion simulator ride, I am sure that I would have enjoyed it better. I definitely would not make a special trip out to Las Vegas just for this, unless you don’t live too far away. But if you are going out there to experience Las Vegas in all of it’s glory, DO check out Star Trek: The Experience!
One thing to note about Las Vegas – it is now more family oriented than ever before. Even my girlfriend was impressed on how much has been cleaned up since she was out there a few years ago (this was my first trip). I really enjoyed Las Vegas. There is definitely more to do in Vegas than gamble. (We did this a little bit, though). Make the trip, check out Star Trek: The Experience, and make sure you have enough time set aside for all of the extra’s that Vegas has to offer. Hey , what can I say? Viva Las Vegas!
Contributed by Gene Vogel
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