Alien Encounter?

[homeschooler]

We have been to DW multiple times and have never been in Alien Encounter. My DD has decided that she really wants to try. DH says he won't. DS says no way. SOOOOO. Tell me what I am to expect. Is there a 'ride'? If I close my eyes, will most of the effect be eliminated? I really don't care if the encounter is less that a surprise. I want to know if I can handle this.

 

[raidermatt]

You walk through a sort of pre-show, where you find out you will be witnessing a demonstration of a new teleportation device. You see a brief demonstration in the pre-show, using animatronics. This demonstration goes wrong, with the cute, furry alien subject getting fried. But the host blows it off.

Then you go into a big room with rows of seats encircling a teleportation chamber in the middle of the room. I believe you have an over the shoulder restraint on. Somehow, instead of a friendly scientist being teleported to the room, a vicious alien is teleported. The lights go out, and you hear a lot of screaming. There's little air vents and speakers on the back of your seat to make you think the alien is right behind you sometimes.

The alien also slashes somebody, which of course you cannot see because its dark, but water is squirted on you to make you think its blood.

Eventually, they get rid of the alien, and you leave.

How this will affect you all depends on how "into" the experience you get. Some find it simply terrifying, while others think its just a bunch of hokey air blasts and water effects.

 

[mike-n-jen]

Without meaning to minimize the attraction and effect, it's largely dependent on your imagination, which is far scarier than anything they could conjure. You sit in a stationary seat, and a harness (like a coaster) settles on your shoulder, resulting in the placement of speakers very near your head. Throughout much of the attraction, the setting is darkness, with the speakers and the feeling of confinement giving you the impression that a monster is loose in the room. The seat does not move at all, as I recall Again, not trying to oversimplify the ride, just explain the general feel.

Mike

 

[pintrader]

with many life experiences and this one is just to intense for me. I don't like the vibrations I hate the hot breath on my neck. I simply won't eve do it again. It is like something I would avoid ever wanting to happen to me in real life. In other words the Imagineers did an excellent job.

 

[The Sybah Shelstah]

I think I would LOVE this... but for the getting something sprayed on me part. That's the only thing I didn't like about the 3-D shows we went to on our last trip- being sprayed with water or misted with water (sometimes quite a bit even soaking my camcorder!) were not my cup of tea. I wish they warned you if you were going to get wet.
LOL

 

[TreeOfLife]

The first time I went to that attraction I said to myself :"This is the sickest Disney ever got, I am not returning".

Then I struggled with letting my son go by himself, he came out smiling! Then the little one had a blast and now we all go together and take it for what it is: A make believe thrill that should give you nothing else but a chuckle at the end.

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm one of the people that was left with the 'that's it?' feeling. Many around us were screaming, but I just didn't get it. I have a really over-active imagination at most times. But this attraction just left me cold. Only two attractions in WDW did this for me...Alien Encounter and Dinosaur. Dino was just too loud. However others have loved them both. Now, if we were to talk about RnRC.....well....now that's an attraction!!!
I say go and try AE. Remember that it is after all, Disney. Not great Disney in my opinion, but Disney!

 

[cleo]

Be aware that much of this attraction is in total darkness and with the shoulder restraints on you will not be able to comfort DD (or her, you!) or get up and leave, should it get too intense. I don't know how old she is but this truly is one intense attraction and many children are terrified by it.

It's very well done, but the overall point is to make your imagination work overtime. There's nothing friendly about it, and really no feeling of a 'happy ending' (though the alien doesn't eat everyone, so that's a plus. Just that one guy, when you hear the bones crunching). The special effects are terrific, but they do their job very well and Disney gives you plenty of time in pitch blackness to think about things.

 

[stinkerbelle]

The first and last time I went on this "ride" was when I was 22, and it freaked the heck out of me. Once my boyfriend told me what was going to happen, I made sure I leaned forward alot while the restraint was coming down. (this way, I didn't get the 'full effect' of the hot air and such.)

I'm also not a fan of Dinosaur...I just don't like things in the dark like that...however the Haunted mansion/peter pan/snow white/etc don't freak me out too much, even though it's in darkness.

I've been on things that I'd never go on myself - like RNRC and TOT...one year I liked TOT, the next visit, I didn't so much. (but I think I may have to check out TOT4!) Yes, I live through them...but doesn't mean I have to like them.

I'll be on Winne the Pooh if anyone needs me!

 

[CJK]

Dh and I like AE, but it's not one of our favourites. When I hear people wondering whether they should go on the ride or not, I always feel that I need to tell them one thing. When you get into the final room where you get the shoulder restraints, it LOOKS like a room that spins. You know those old carnival rides that spin?? I've heard murmours from people saying that they were afraid they'd get sick. Well, there is NO spinning. You remain in your seat and the room doesn't move. Once I realized this, I was able to sit back and enjoy the show.

 

[TRAPPED-PARENT]

I love AE!!! It is intense, but I just spend my time alternating between screaming and laughing!!!

It's great fun!

 

[loriandmatt]

As other posters have mentioned, most of AE's action is in total darkness so closing your eyes won't take much away from how you will tolerate the attraction.

Personally for me, i was left with a "that's what all the hub-bub is about" feeling. It was OK, but not as bad as i had heard about. The most disturbing thing was all of the poor children who's parents are either idiots or just had no idea what they were bringing them into. Poor child of about 3 screaming his head off thru the enitre thing - they can't stop it once it starts. The CM did the best he could to comfort the child with a flashlight and kind words. When it was over, his family even had the guts to laugh at him as he exited the ride covered in his own tears and snot. My DH wanted to tell them what butt-heads they were, but that woudn't have helped that poor child.

The attraction is designed to give your imagination a trip. If you or your child has a vivid imagination that could run wild with the stimulation described in this thread, pass it up. Some folks like to be psyched out, others don't.

-lori

 

[bridgettesmom]

I am a coward !!! Now, that I got that out of the way let me tell you that it is not that bad. The "smell" of the bug 3D show at AK made me sick ..but, the "blood" at Alien Encounter made me laugh..maybe I'm just weird.
Seriously,now that you know what to expect ..give it a try!!

 

[donna in Oz]

If you were at DW prior to AE, you might remember "Mission to Mars".

It's the same seats . . . and the same round theater. But they've added the shoulder restraints (mostly just to make you feel like you're really in for something terrible . . . . ) !!!

It's worth a try but if being in total (and I mean total) darkness freaks you out . . . you might not enjoy this.

 

[TOWERCK]

I have enjoyed AE, however I have seen many very unhappy children, and a few adults. If being restrained is upsetting don't go! Still trying to get my 40 yr old sister to go on with me!

 

[MHopkins2]

Tip for those (like me) who don't like getting spritzed in the face: Once the lights go out, hold out one of your hands in approximately "talk to the hand" position. You'll block the schmutz from getting on your face, and it's so dark no one will be able to see how silly you look!

 

[Puffy2]

When I went on this thing I knew so much about the "ride" from these boards that I thought it was a " nothing". My friend was really spooked (but thought it was great - she enjoyed the thrill).
My husband also loved this attraction - said it was really scary.

But like I said, since I knew so much about it prior to going, it was really no big deal to me.

If you sit up very straight in the chair, when the "restraint" comes down it won't be tight when you relax. You might find it less frightening this way.

Also, went on this ride with a 10 year old and a 7 year old. THe 7 year old was scared before she even went in so I asked an attendent for a back way out- and they helped us leave. The 10 year old went on with her dad and thought it was great.

 

[Eric Julie and Hailey]

IMHO, Alien Encounter is the pits. It is the most un-Disney attraction at WDW. Think about it -- you're restained -- not necessarily for safety, but to scare the bejeebees out of you. Then, the monster is "released" - and actually hurts "people". "Blood" squirts on you, etc. It's really awful.

Walt would have NEVER approved of this attraction for The Happiest Place on Earth.

 

[tinkerbellwdw2000]

The first time I went it in was with my friend. Our DH's had already gone in earlier that day. We didn't take our 8yr DD's. Anyway, my friend ended up on the isle seat. I told her "you won't believe what DH said happened when you sit on the end of an isle". She was terrified. She screamed so loud the ENTIRE time and just about squeezed my hand off! I, on the other hand, was laughing so hard that I didn't "feel" most of the stuff. She was so worried about something "extra" happening to her. It was the funniest thing.

As far as kids, I seen lots of kids come out terrified and others thought it was a blast. There is a fright warning. I think it was more scary than the Dino ride since it has COMPLETE darkness while the alien escapes. There is no way I would take my 11yr DD on this, but her friend really wants to go. It really depends on the child.

 

[epcotfan]

Originally posted by Eric, Julie and Hailey
IMHO, Alien Encounter is the pits. It is the most un-Disney attraction at WDW. Think about it -- you're restained -- not necessarily for safety, but to scare the bejeebees out of you. Then, the monster is "released" - and actually hurts "people". "Blood" squirts on you, etc. It's really awful.

Walt would have NEVER approved of this attraction for The Happiest Place on Earth.

I disagree. I think this is Disney Imagineering at its finest. The theming is great from the preshow to the actual attraction. Unless Walt was still with us today no one knows exactly what he would think.