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Star Trek Portal

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, which was opened on 18 March 2004. This renovation features a new "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]

Contents 1 The History of the Future Museum 2 The Klingon Encounter 3 The Borg Invasion 4-D 4 Behind the Scenes 5 Reduced hours 6 References 7 External links

After purchasing a ticket, 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 single hallway (of considerable length) with a divider in the median. 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 much more quickly. The Klingon Encounter can hold 27 people while the Borg Invasion 4-D holds 48 people.

(Note that because this attraction features live performers, the exact experience will be somewhat different every time.)

Initially, a group of about twenty-seven visitors enter a rather confining room with a depiction of "outer space" along the left side. (The exact number of participants varies, as friends and family are unlikely to split.) Once inside the room, a small television in the upper right corner of the room displays scenes from several Star Trek movies.

The group enters the next room which is dressed as a rather small, dimly lit waiting area akin to a traditional simulator ride. Visitors line up in rows in front of doors for this supposed ride as the ride hosts direct the audiences attention to the screens above. The ride hosts will ask that phasers be set to fun, either as a command or a question. A frequent joke to the question is the answer "kill" to which another person will ask to switch lines. After a few moments into the film, the televisions begin to fliker and the lights go out. A variety of loud noises accompined by hundreds of small round flashes flicker through the darkness to simulate the "transporter effect", accompanied by the transporter sound effect and a rush of cold air. When the lights return, the walls and floor and ceiling have all changed to a transporter pad (a room much larger than the one you were once standing in, without the door you just walked through). The transporter room is supposedly on the USS Enterprise-D, and the layout is much like the usual transporter room as seen in Star Trek: The Next Generation, although the transporter platform is much bigger to have enough room for the visitors, and astute visitors may note that there is no transporter room on Deck 1 (where you would have to be to reach the bridge) on the show.

On the transporter pad, a cast member dressed as a Starfleet officer asks who are the leaders of the group. After the two ride directors acknowledge they are in charge, the Starfleet officer orders them to leave. (Currently there is only one ride director and he will make the puzzling comment about having break in five minutes.) He then explains that the visitors were beamed aboard the Starship Enterprise and are in "what you would call the future". This line is the standard line and if a person uses it, then it would mean that the person is new. New actors/actresses usually start at night. He then requests the group to follow him to the bridge.

The next two events include a visit to the bridge—which is an almost perfectly accurate replica of the one seen on Star Trek: The Next Generation and the movie Star Trek: Generations—and ride on a turbolift, which is oversized so that the entire group can be accommodated.

Led to the bridge, the group stands in the rear between the science stations and the tactical station. Although the three chairs that (from port to starboard) Counselor Deanna Troi, Picard, and Commander William Riker usually occupy are empty, this is only visible if one ventures to look over the semicircular counter that houses the tactical station. There are various crewmembers on the bridge during this time, and they contact Commander Riker, who promptly appears on the viewscreen. He 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; this was the plan of a nefarious Klingon captain named Korath: use 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 explains that the group is to board a shuttlecraft to escape the Klingons, and go through the temporal rift, which should return all guests to their original time.

While the group is in the turbolift, the Klingons attack the Enterprise. There is a malfunction and the turbolift enters a free fall (which is obviously simulated). There are several jolts on the turbolift during the attack. Finally, the group arrives at the shuttle bay deck along a large section of corridor.

The group then lines up to board the shuttlecraft. Each line corresponds to a row of seats in the shuttle, so people in the same line will sit in the same row.

The shuttle ride begins with a battle between the Enterprise and a few Klingon vessels. Then, the shuttle goes into warp for three seconds and drops out in the rings of a planet. The shuttle is then instructed to find a cloaking generator on the planet's surface, which it does. There are several dogfights during this time. The shuttle then returns through the temporal rift to present-day Las Vegas (although the appearance of several anachronisms, such as the Sands Hotel tower and a sign promoting Siegfried & Roy, might lead one to believe the shuttle returned many years earlier than when the guests were abducted). A Klingon ship also follows, but the Enterprise saves the shuttle at the last minute. Then, the shuttle lands at the Las Vegas Hilton and the ride ends, right next to the "motion simulators" the visitors were supposedly waiting to enter when they were "beamed off" while waiting in line, at the start of the story. Before the crew of the Enterprise leaves, Captain Picard thanks the crew for "restoring his existence." He says, quote, "While only one of you is my ancestor, each of you hold that same opportunity for the future. Guard it well."

Usually, this signals the end of the experience, and you will be welcomed back to the 21st century by either a staff member or the Starfleet officer who escorted you to the shuttle. Currently, the staff member will send you to the elevator. The staff will then make a joke about turning to your right, with the ending being that it will take you on either a whole other trip, a different ride, or you'll run into the wall. The original ending to the experience, which is somewhat more elaborate, is still occasionally performed as follows: The shuttle door opens, and there is a custodian behind it. He explains that the shuttle fell through the floor and that the group is in a restricted area, and they must leave immediately. The 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 "the news" on an overhead TV monitor. The "newscast" contains an interview with an official from Nellis Air Force Base. When asked about reports of UFOs in the area, he replies, "No comment." The "newscast" features actual anchors from Las Vegas NBC affiliate, KVBC Channel 3. Occasionally, the custodian will converse with people about the ride that, so far as the custodian knows, they just experienced. The custodian has a high opinion of the experience, raving about the section where, "William Shatner's singin' his solo." This interaction tends to vary depending on the actor/actors working this "unload" area.

Originally, there were two sets through which visitors could be taken through the Klingon Encounter, complete with two transporter rooms, two bridges, and two motion theaters (each with two shuttlecraft). With the introduction of the Borg Invasion attraction, the duplicate Klingon Encounter set was converted into the corridors and shuttlebay of Copernicus Station, leaving only the duplicate Enterprise bridge intact. This duplicate bridge is used for photo opportunities and weddings, and visitors must be led across one of the Borg Invasion corridors to reach it.

(Note that because this attraction features live performers, the exact experience will be somewhat different every time.)

This ride takes groups of about forty people at a time. They enter a Starfleet science station room that has a large viewscreen in the front beyond a podium upon which several Starfleet personnel stand. There is also a Starfleet officer 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). In the middle of his presentation to the guests, the Doctor is interrupted by one of the station administrators. She says that they've detected a ship approaching the station at high warp. Since it doesn't respond to communications, the station goes to yellow alert (as you see the lights dim around you.) The administrator says that they will postpone the medical testing until this possible threat is dealt with.

When the tactical officer of the station has a visual, the administrator says, "Let's see it." Lo and behold, 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, knowing that difficult times are ahead. The station goes to Red Alert (with the lights around you now flashing red) and the administrator orders to open fire on the cube, as you feel the ground shake beneath you and as you hear phasers and quantum torpedoes thunderously leave the station. The Cube looks to sustain heavy damage, but it fires a projectile, and all the lights go dark, not before hearing a large amount of static. Then, all speaking as one, 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, and you see one of the medical technicians injected with Borg nanites as his skin turns white, and his veins turn black. A security officer enters the 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 groups 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.)

A specialty tour is also available for visitors. This smaller tour takes visitors through the areas seen in the rides — plus backstage areas like wardrobe and makeup. Since there's no plotline to be followed, visitors are free to explore areas like the replica USS Enterprise-D bridge in greater detail.

Photography isn't allowed on the tour, but visitors do sign a guestbook and get a certificate after the tour is over.

Unlike the rides, there are only 4 to 5 backstage tours on a given day. The tour has a separate admission fee.

The hours for the ride have suffered some fluctuations in recent years. According to the staff, the ride and museum continue to be popular, but the decision to reduce the hours came from Paramount Parks. 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).

• 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

• http://www.startrekexp.com/
• http://www.vegas.com/attractions/on_the_strip/startrek.html