What should change about the possible new Star Trek Experience?

[Warp Coil]

Since the Experience is being dismantled and re-built somewhere else, now is the time to do some house-cleaning and improve/change whatever they can afford to. As a Trek fan, I appreciate the idea of building the experience around things like the promenade and Quark's bar. But DS9 wasn't all that popular with casual fans or the general public, and I don't know how familiar it is to them. I never went on any of the rides (Klingon or Borg) so I don't know how good/entertaining they really are. It might be time to replace one or both.

I think invoking a little more TOS or ST'09 into the experience would be a good thing. Kirk and Spock are still the two most recognizable characters in all of Trek. The 24th century is over - we won't see it again on-screen. It died with NEM back in 2002. Moving away from the 24th century theme wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing.

 

[CaptainHawk1]

I think they could keep quarks AND get a 10-forward restaurant in there. In STTOE they had the Quarks (bar) side and the Federation (restaurant) side; what if they kept Quarks and changed the Federation side to 10-Forward. I know it would be strange to have it set up, because the original idea was a full replica of the Promenade and Quarks fit right in, but if they decide to remove the whole ds9 aspect they could use both, otherwise I really don't see how they could keep it believable, unless they did them as two seperate entities; maybe the Captains Lounge could be 10-Forward instead.

http://www.lvrj.com/business/31156144.html

Here's the deal: Neonopolis has been a drain on Downtown since its inception but it is a great property with a crapload more space. What they need to do is to make a 10 forward style lounge and Quark's Bar.

There needs to be more than 2 attractions even if they are smaller attractions.

There needs to be far more merchandise in the shops and far less ass-raping.

There needs to be Trek theaters with live shows and events and one for episode and Movie viewing - in 3-D!

There needs to be a real friggin' museum as opposed to this nonsense of a bunch of glass cases while standing in line for the ride. That's the equivalent of the candy aisle in the grocery store while checking out.

There needs to be age appropriate entertainment for kids of all ages and adults.

There needs to be cool entertainment for he Non-Trek fan (e.g., my wife) that makes them want to come back.

To sum up, it needs to be like a real theme park.

 

[Biggshow]

Reading between the lines, here is what I think is happening.

They are reinstalling Quark's (hopefully back to its two story origins) and the retail first. Whether this will have a DS9 look or be more like a Fedration style station (with Quark's being a "franchise" restaurant) is up grabs. They are also busy installing the History of the Future Museum which will probably contain everything from the original STTE (given that's what they have ready access to) plus items from the new movie.

It also seems like they are reinstalling the Klingon Encounter. While they are shooting new footage, I also hope they update the projection system. One of the things that constantly annoyed me while I worked there was that the film kept going out of focus due to the constant vibration in the theatre. A locked down digital projector would go a long way towards solving that problem. It also looks like they're keeping the Borg Invasion, again due to ready access and the relative simplicity of installation.

What I hope ultimately happens, if the movie and this new location are a success, is that they use the upper level around Quark's as a sort of "holosuite" area, as some have mentioned before. A place that can represent all Trek eras. I would also love it if the financially strapped ST: The Exhibition were to move some of its properties into this new space. I think that would be the Best of ALL Worlds.

 

[CaptainHawk1]

Biggshow, you worked at ST:TE didn't you? Were you a cast member?

Also-- and I'm not doubting you, I'm just curious -- where did you get your inside information from regarding the new direction. Is there docyumetnation on this like another article or something or do you just have your connections. Either way, it's cool, I was just curious as to where the buzz is being generated.

BTW, I like all of your ideas.

-Shawn

 

[MattJC]

Anyone know how far the Neonopolis is from the Vegas Hilton?
I'll be going there for convention again and if it's open when I get there I'll probably want to visit it.

 

[Dale]

Not far... a couple of miles/a couple of minutes away from the LV Hilton (may it be forever cursed). It's located at the near end of Fremont Street immediately adjacent to the Fremont Street Experience (the massive television monitor/lightshow canopy that extends the length of Fremont Street).

If you are without a vehicle while in Vegas you can take a cab or a small bus known as "the Deuce."

Be warned, you are likely to encounter mention and/or representation of Abrams' new Star Trek film both at the convention and at the new STTE. I know that makes you queasy and/or angry. Brace yourself.

 

[MattJC]

Not far... a couple of miles/a couple of minutes away from the LV Hilton (may it be forever cursed). It's located at the near end of Fremont Street immediately adjacent to the Fremont Street Experience (the massive television monitor/lightshow canopy that extends the length of Fremont Street).

If you are without a vehicle while in Vegas you can take a cab or a small bus known as "the Deuce."

Be warned, you are likely to encounter mention and/or representation of the new Star Trek film both at the convention at at the new STTE. I know that makes you queasy and/or angry. Brace yourself.

I'm starting to warm up to the new movie, after talking to Roberto Orci over at DonMurphy.net, though I'm not quite excited about it just yet, like everyone else.

 

[Dale]

Well that's a surprise, but it's a pleasant one. I look forward to hearing your thoughts after we've all seen the trailer.

 

[Biggshow]

Biggshow, you worked at ST:TE didn't you? Were you a cast member?

Also-- and I'm not doubting you, I'm just curious -- where did you get your inside information from regarding the new direction. Is there docyumetnation on this like another article or something or do you just have your connections. Either way, it's cool, I was just curious as to where the buzz is being generated.

BTW, I like all of your ideas.

-Shawn

I did work there when we first opened through the summer of 2001 and then seasonally for a couple of years after that. My last official walk was convention week 2003. I started out as one of the Blue Loaders at the beginning of the ride ("I was going to goon break in 5 minutes."), quickly got promoted to Operations Lead (roughly analogous to Asst. Stage Manager) and took a pay cut to join the Alien Ambassador Group as Kralk, son of T'Nek (no prize for anyone who finds the hidden joke in that name). Kralk can be seen briefly in a couple of episodes of "A Wedding Story" and in Rod Roddenbery's upcoming documentary, "Trek Nation".

So far as inside info is concerned, at this point I'm really just kind of speculating based on the current news articles and knowing who some of the behind the scenes people are. I've gotten no new info from any of my friends like K'stran or T'Pril on any current job offers but I hope to see them next month so I may have more then. OTOH, they swore me to silence about some of the goings on for the final days so I don't know how much I'd feel comfortable about revealing here. I do know that two of our former GMs are now connected to The Fremont Street Experience and they were both onhand for the final days looking at what could be easily transported (so to speak) to the new location. That's what most of my speculation about what the Next Experience is likely to be comes from.

 

[Dale]

...took a pay cut to join the Alien Ambassador Group as Kralk, son of T'Nek (no prize for anyone who finds the hidden joke in that name).

Clark Kent. Never caught that before, and I must've read the name dozens of times.

 

[Biggshow]

...took a pay cut to join the Alien Ambassador Group as Kralk, son of T'Nek (no prize for anyone who finds the hidden joke in that name).

Clark Kent. Never caught that before, and I must've read the name dozens of times.

Heh. What can I say; I'm doubly geeky. Well, triply when you consider that The Hilton was used as the Whyte House in Diamonds Are Forever.

 

[loaloa]

Beautiful high-res artwork of the now extinct Star Trek experience attraction in Las Vegas is available here:

http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2008/11/star-trex-experience-tribute-original.html

Enjoy !

 

[RoJoHen]

The only thing that should change is that this time, I'll be able to visit!

 

[azebelys]

Does anybody have any new information on this yet? news seems to have dried up over the last few days.

Also, realistically, can they actually rebuild this place? it cost 77 million dollers to build the original, and with the worldwide financial crisis, inflation, and the retrofitting of neonopolis, the price would be at least double the original cost. Realistically, it will probably cost nearer to $200,000,000 - especially if this talk of 'serious upgrades' is true.

They are going to have to charge a fortune to get that money back! they must be extremely confident of it being successfull to plough that kind of money into the place

 

[Dale]

You've got a good point but keep in mind that the "creative costs" are mitigated by the fact that they can relocate a lot of the existing stuff rather than creating it new.

 

[Biggshow]

You've got a good point but keep in mind that the "creative costs" are mitigated by the fact that they can relocate a lot of the existing stuff rather than creating it new.

Plus the actual structure of Neonopolis already exists. They had to build the entire structure for the Experience at the Hilton. As I've said before, I'm guessing this will be a "quick-and-dirty" reinstallation of a lot of the existing Experience beginning with the easiest to relocate; Quark's, retail and the museum. After those, the Borg Invasion and then the redone Klingon Encounter. This will also allow them to rehire staff as needed. For me, as long as Quark's and the walk-around aliens live again, I'm happy.

 

[Dale]

You've got a good point but keep in mind that the "creative costs" are mitigated by the fact that they can relocate a lot of the existing stuff rather than creating it new.

Plus the actual structure of Neonopolis already exists. They had to build the entire structure for the Experience at the Hilton. As I've said before, I'm guessing this will be a "quick-and-dirty" reinstallation of a lot of the existing Experience beginning with the easiest to relocate; Quark's, retail and the museum. After those, the Borg Invasion and then the redone Klingon Encounter. This will also allow them to rehire staff as needed. For me, as long as Quark's and the walk-around aliens live again, I'm happy.

QFT, my friend. I would have no reservations about repeatedly visiting a new STTE that included only Quark's, or Quark's and retail, or Quark's, retail and the museum, as long as my old Klingon, Ferengi, Vulcan and Andorian friends were still there making it all real...

 

[Herkimer Jitty]

Throttle back on the price for the rides and some of the merch... seriously

 

[Good Will Riker]

If they reopen Quark's, I hope that the restaurant is more expansive and they add a second level like the one on the TV show.

The food and the atmosphere is great!

This could give them the opportunity to make it even cooler.

 

[Herkimer Jitty]

For a second I thought you said more expensive...

But yeah, a larger version of Quarks would be pretty sweet.