The museum had some re-touches to expand upon the timeline of the Enterprise crew. As it had opened almost 10 years ago, the Experience has spanned DS9, Voyager and Enterprise, so the exhibits needed some updating to keep them relevant as new "history" was being created with every episode.  The Klingon Encounter ride is still operational, with folks still enjoying thier time travel through space to save Jean-Luc Picard and bewilder the Las Vegas authorities.  With the Borg Invasion 4D, you still work with the Doctor and Admiral Janeway to save the universe and Copernicus Station from the Borg's clutches.  They're still both good rides from start to finish. 

However, the highlight of the day was the Backstage Tour.  This new feature, released about a year ago, brings you backstage to see just how Star Trek: The Experience works.  Our tour guide, one of the original characters from the opening of the attraction, took us through the museum, rides and back stage areas to show us just "how things work on a starship."  From trivia about Jeri Ryan's hissy fit over the giant photo of the cast that didn't reflect her (yes, she went back to make sure it was changed) to the original plans for the rides and layouts, it was quite the show.  We got to spend more time on the sets, including the Enterprise's bridge and the Shuttlebay so that we could get up close and personal with the details that went into making the rides seem real.  We learned just how they "beam" you aboard the Enterprise during the Klingon Encounter ride and how they wrote the scripts to the rides.  

Backstage, they show you the offices, mess hall and makeup areas.  You also get to see how the motion simulators for the Klingon Encounter ride work.  Finally, you end above Quark's, to sign your name in the book to immortalize your visit to the Experience.  After the tour, we headed downstairs for a late lunch at Quark's and some photos in the Borg Chamber and on the Enterprise's bridge.  The photos are kind of fun because they let you poke around for a while on the bridge and play with the panels, and such.  As I relaxed in the center seat, most folks headed up around the tactical and aft stations.  Really, a cool feature well worth the cost of the photos.

On the flip side, probably the two biggest disappointments was the lack of characters roming Quark's and the Promenade and the shops on the promenade.  When I had visited the attraction in the past, there were Ferengi, Borg, Klingons and Vulcans walking around and interacting with the guests.  This time, there were two Ferengi and not much else.  Even the Borg for the Borg Encounter were not in abundance, taking the ride from a level of being a little scary and knocking it downward to being a little hokey.  One borg per ride wasn't what I would consider to be intimidating.  The shopping has also become a little less targeted towards fans and more targeted towards the casual guest.  There's a distinct lack of any uniforms for sale, as well as less of a merchandise selection. 

All in all, it was a great trip and good time at the Experience.  After about 6 hours of fun in the 24th Century, we headed back to our 21st century room for a nice soak in the hot tub.  Time travel kinda takes it out of you.  🙂

Although there are rumors abounding about the closure of the Experience, it's been 10 years and nearly 100 million dollars invested so I doubt it'll happen any time soon.  Hopefully the next time we head out there, there will be a new and even better addition to the attractions.  I for one, can't wait.

We're here to have fun, but there are rules in place. These rules are meant to protect all members. A membership handbook is available once you join, but the main rule is to treat other members with respect at all times.

Challenger's fiction is long, but flexible enough to enjoy. If you enjoy writing, you may want to take a crack at creating a Challenger Chronicle. More information on this is available in the handbook.