I had no idea what I was in for
Written: Nov 29 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: very scary, fantastic effects
Cons: very loud
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| hamburgerman's Full Review: The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter |
“A voracious alien has gotten loose in the darkened room, and, judging by the hot breath you feel on your neck, he's a bit hungry!” (From the Disney World website)
I went to Disney World this past September 2000. I had never even heard of the ExtraTERRORESTRIAL Alien Encounter before. I happened to stumble upon it while looking for the Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin. What a killer discovery to find the Alien Encounter!
I had no idea what I was in for when I finally decided to check out this attraction. There wasn’t really a line; everyone was corralled into a holding area until it was time for us to go inside. We waited in this cramped, crowded area full of sweaty, smelly people. Finally the door opened and we were admitted into another holding area. At least this one was air-conditioned.
This attraction is a must-see, but not for small children or kids that are easily (or not so easily) scared. I can easily see this being a terrifying experience for children. The effects are very realistic. I am 32, and at moments I found myself scared to death!
If you want to be completely surprised, stop reading here. There are possible spoilers ahead.
After watching a few looped videos while waiting, we moved on to the next stage. The doors opened and the crowed split into three rows. You will want to work your way into the middle of this room to best see the demonstration. On the stage, a very cool-looking robot comes to life, welcoming us. Although he is animatronic (are these things still called animatronic?), his movements were VERY human-like. He is a very friendly being, and gives us a light-hearted demonstration of the latest teleportation technology. The technology works very much like the device in Jeff Goldblum’s THE FLY movie in the 80s. The are two giant glass tubes, one on each side of the stage. A cute, fuzzy yellow creature appears in one tube. The robot starts the demonstration, the tubes fill with smoke, and our fuzzy little friend appears in the other tube, except something has gone wrong. He has been mutated, and is not so cute and friendly anymore. The robot tells us not to worry as the doors open for the next part. Oh yeah, one lucky person will be chosen to participate in the actual teleportation in the next chamber.
Definite spoilers ahead.
Keep in mind I had no idea what I was in for when I got in line for Alien Encounter. We entered the final room. It is a round chamber for four or five rows of seats in a circle with a giant column up the middle of the room. Part of the column is a huge glass container, much like the tubes in the demonstration in the previous room. We chose to sit in the first row. I was concerned that this was a spinning ride, but the kid next to me assured me that it was not. He wouldn’t tell me anything more. The seats are equipped with strong over-the-shoulder harnesses, which made me wonder “if the room doesn’t spin, exactly what DOES happen?” I will soon see. I also noticed tiny splashes of water in most of the seats. Hmmm..
Once everyone is seated, the “leader” appears on the monitors above, advising us that instead of one of use being teleported to him, he will teleport to us. He gets into his device and his assistants prepare the teleportation. Smoke fill the tube. Something goes horribly wrong! A hideous monster appears in the tube! Our lights go out! The glass breaks and the creature escapes, only we don’t know where he is!
What happens next could be the most terrifying make-believe situation you will ever find yourself in, especially if you are able to free your imagination. You WILL believe the monster is standing right behind you. The special effects are phenomenal, and most of it you never see! Shortly you will learn what the seat harnesses are for. I believe they prevent people from panicking and trying to run out. You will also learn what the water is once the rescue team appears overhead.
You must not miss this attraction! Five stars all the way!
From the Disney Website:
“Brace yourself for a sensory thrill hatched from the imaginations of Disney and the one and only George Lucas. An experiment goes dangerously awry when an Alien is accidentally teleported into the room, in the dark. So if you feel its hot breath on your neck, try not to make any sudden moves.”
Category:
Thrills
Height Requirements:
44'' minimum
Additional Information:
attraction may be too intense for children and some adults, this is wheel chair accessible, guests using electronic medical devices that may be affected, by Electromagnetic Fields, should not enter this attraction.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
hamburgerman
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Member: Brazil (Joe) Grisaffi
Location: Houston, TX
Reviews written: 38
Trusted by: 26 members
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