Outrageous Star Trek Experience Prices

[Captain Holland 0]

I was in Las Vegas last year, and I stayed at the Hilton, and while there, like any trekkie, I visited Star Trek The Experience. I had just finished eating at Quarks, and I saw the gift shops, so... I went in and was shocked at the prices of Star Trek DVD Season sets. THEY WERE 200 BUCKS!!! You can get the same thing at Best Buy or Wal-Mart for half that; also, phaser rifle kits that were cheap plastic, which you had to assemble and paint yourself, were 300 bucks. I bought 2 half bars of Gold Pressed Latinum over the internet, which were $25 a piece. I'm all for profit, but the stars (of the show) themselves wouldn't be able to buy some of the stuff in there.

[Kor37 9]

Just like any vacation place, the stuff for sale is certainly overpriced. Just ride the rides, look at the exhibits and eat at Quarks. Buy the Trek stuff somewhere else.

[youbroughtheryouRiker 2]

Just like any place in Vegas, it's overpriced.

[Stephen of Borg 2]

I've already promised myself that at least one time in my life that I must go to the Star Trek Experience and one day I will B)

[Dark Reality 0]

OK, to be fair, the main event is pretty cool. You pay like $20 and you go on a shakebox ride (those van-sized units you get in and they have the screens and they shake like they're moving but they're not), but the whole presentation of it is awesome. You get to go on the Ent-D's bridge... I won't spoil it, but you end up flying around in a shuttle in the Star Trek universe and then take part in a battle over Vegas. And then you can go on it again for free. So that part of it is cool.

 

Trek stuff is overpriced, period. $500-$700 for the series? Damn... I thought my cousins were crazy collecting Anime series. They only put out $100-$200 for their series. Of course, Trek>Anime, but that's a lot of cash to spend on DVDs. I've looked up models of DS9, Voyager, the Ent-E, and the Ent-D, and those I found were none cheaper than $80. That's just wrong.

 

All that said, I do recommend that each and every one of you, if you get the chance, see the place and ride the ride just once. If you like Trek, it's an experience you will not forget. Especially if you like TNG.

[Kor37 9]

and don't forget that they now have 2 rides. The original and the new Borg experience. That alone would make it worth my while to go back there. I wouldn't buy anything though.........

[Dark Reality 0]

I did not know about the Borg ride. I think I was there in 2002, so it must be pretty new.

[Takara_Soong 4]

I did not know about the Borg ride. I think I was there in 2002, so it must be pretty new.

 

It only opened last year I believe. It's called Borg Invasion 4D. Kate Mulgrew, Robert Picardo and Alice Krige are in a filmed portion and then they also have actors dressed up as Borg to interact with the audience (try to assimilate them). It sounds so incredible. I want to go so badly.

 

On a disturbing note, I can remember reading recently (but can't remember where) a comment from some guy from Hilton saying that the Experience wouldn't be there forever and he implied that when the lease came up it might not get renewed.

Edited November 9, 2005 by Takara_Soong

[Stephen of Borg 2]

I thought that day may come, is the business that bad there?

[Dark Reality 0]

Well, this generation is more disillusioned with things like high prices than the previous generation; whereas our parents could go on a trip and just accept high prices as the cost of having a good time, we (most of us) complain about the prices and try to find a better value somewhere else... this isn't a good thing for theme parks and other such attractions that are more accustomed to price gouging than more honest practices. Like the price of the DVD boxes for example... there is no reason they need to be doubling the price, when the price is outrageous to begin with, when you could get it at Best Buy for half that or for free off BitTorrent.

[Takara_Soong 4]

From something I read at another site (again I can't remember what site it was) it was suggested that people were spending money at the Experience despite the high prices. It was said that people who were going to the Experience weren't spending money at the Hilton's casino and that was the problem.

Edited November 9, 2005 by Takara_Soong

[Odie 0]

Oh, so its just saying people rather spend their money on something that they can bring them back to their homes instead of wasting it by gambling.

[Kor37 9]

Just about everything in Vegas is overpriced but you expect that when you go there. Have you ever eaten breakfast in one of the hotel restaurants? Bacon and eggs with some coffee will cost you about $12.95!..

[Bethlehem 7]

Boy how times have changed when I was young food in Vegas was very cheap.

[Odie 0]

I remember hearing that the food was cheap, but cost was off-set by the gambling. Now Las Vegas going after the family so it would seems the gambling has tone done a bit. The cost of operating all the enteriment has to come somewhere.

[ddillard 2]

I would love to go to the experience at least once in my life. I am already prepared for high prices. I think that they can get away with the high prices since most people will part with the extra cash in order to have a momento from the trip, so basically they are charging extra for the centimental value.

[Kor37 9]

When you go to the Experience, bring a camera with you. There are tons of things you will want to take a picture of. If you want to take home a memento , take home a menu from Quarks. Look in the Trek shops but you would be crazy to buy anything there except for perhaps a shirt or hat that says "Star Trek Experience". Anything else they sell there can be bought somewhere else for a lot less money.

[gul_nodrog 2]

The Experience was truly incredible and I would love to go back again at least once. Hopefully, they'll keep it until our son is old enough to enjoy it with us. It was only $14 to ride it when we went, but we got a package from the hotel that included the attraction. I found Vegas to be quite reasonable ... the buffet at the Hilton was also part of our package so food was no issue. I guess you just have to shop around for the best package deal.

 

We're no gamblers, so there was no expense there. And of course we weren't trying to buy big ticket items in the gift shop.

 

Quite frankly, I'm surprised that the Hilton has kept the attraction for as long as it has ... With the ending of DS9, Voyager, TNG and Enterprise as television series, the recent not-so-spectacular performance of the feature films, and the general malais of the fan base, who could really blame Hilton for not wanting to renew the lease?

 

Of course, the entire Experience really belongs somewhere other than Vegas anyway ... an amusement park or something like it.

 

You know what I find most aggravating? We have a local amusement park OWNED by Paramount and there is not one attraction, ride, restaurant, etc. that has thing one to do with Star Trek.

 

They've got a ride for Tomb Raider.

 

They've got a rollercoaster for TOP GUN.

 

They even had a ride featuring some 007 movie.

 

Now they've got some crazy car ride for that "The Italian Job" movie ... an o.k. movie, but nothing to write home about.

 

Now please, can anyone explain how PARAMOUNT could possibly have overlooked the OBVIOUS rollercoaster/thrill ride tie-in possibility that is Star Trek?

 

I just wonder how much crack they must be smokin' up there in the Paramount corporate offices to be missing the boat this way.

[3 of 7 0]

On a disturbing note, I can remember reading recently (but can't remember where) a comment from some guy from Hilton saying that the Experience wouldn't be there forever and he implied that when the lease came up it might not get renewed.

 

NO! I really want to go there! If it has to go down, please let that be in, say, a 50 years from now!

 

It's called Borg Invasion 4D. Kate Mulgrew, Robert Picardo and Alice Krige are in a filmed portion and then they also have actors dressed up as Borg to interact with the audience (try to assimilate them). It sounds so incredible. I want to go so badly.

 

Me too! :lol: I really are looking forward to go on the Borg ride. I hope I can get there soon.

 

:lol:

Edited November 10, 2005 by 3 of 7

[Mike 5]

Certainly the prices in the Star Trek shops at 'The Experience' are expensive. I wasn't at all surprised.. They are there to try to make money after all. If they are too expensive don't buy anything there, just go on the rides and eat at Quarks..Oh and make sure you get your pic taken on the Enterprise Bridge..I hope that you all can make it to 'The Experience' at least once before the lease is up. It is certainly worth the trip..I've gone twice already and am going back in August of 06..That should tell you what I think of 'The Experience'. :lol:

[Kor37 9]

I'm certain that if the Hilton decides not to renew the lease, Paramount will just move the attraction somewhere else.

[Stephen of Borg 2]

I really hope so. It'll be at least five years until I'll have a chance to go and the lease will be up way before then. They should have a Trek Experience on the West and East coast. They have a amusement park owned by Paramount close to where I live and they have a Borg roller coaster, but I hate roller coasters

[Takara_Soong 4]

From what I read at one of those sites I was at the original lease is for 15 years. If I could remember what year the Experience opened then I would have a better idea of when the lease is up. Does anyone remember what year it was?

[MANVERU 0]

When I go there I really want to get a uniform.

 

Either from the original series or the New version's as we saw in the last 3 movies.

 

How much are they?

 

And also, do they sell COMM badges? How much are they also?

 

Thanks

[Takara_Soong 4]

When I go there I really want to get a uniform.

 

Either from the original series or the New version's as we saw in the last 3 movies.

 

How much are they?

 

And also, do they sell COMM badges? How much are they also?

 

Thanks

 

Here is a link to the Star Trek: The Experience website. They have an online store that sells combadges for about $10 (look under Pins or Costume Jewelry & Insignia Pins sections). I've bought a number of items, including a TNG communicator pin and a Bajoran earring (also $10), from the site and haven't had any problems. Right now they only have TNG command uniforms (authentic Paramount costumes) listed for sale (for $300).

 

Roddenberry.com's store sells patterns for various Starfleet uniforms if you decide to have one made.

[Kor37 9]

When I go there I really want to get a uniform.

 

Either from the original series or the New version's as we saw in the last 3 movies.

 

How much are they?

 

And also, do they sell COMM badges? How much are they also?

 

Thanks

 

 

There are plenty of places where you can get that stuff a lot cheaper than the Experience. Go there to enjoy the Experience. Buy Trek stuff somewhere else.

[Takara_Soong 4]

There are plenty of places where you can get that stuff a lot cheaper than the Experience. Go there to enjoy the Experience. Buy Trek stuff somewhere else.

 

You're right there are plenty of place to get things cheaper but for some things (like the comm badge) buying them cheaper usually means cheaper quality. The $10 comm badge from The Experience is really nice and it's metal - not plastic. It looks just like the "real" thing. I agree stuff like the DVDs are overpriced and should not be bought there.

[gul_nodrog 2]

From what I read at one of those sites I was at the original lease is for 15 years. If I could remember what year the Experience opened then I would have a better idea of when the lease is up. Does anyone remember what year it was?

 

We were there in the spring of 1998 and I think it had just opened a few months earlier, so we're talking either late 1997 or early 1998. I remember seeing an advertisement for it at the theater when we saw "First Contact."

 

So I guess 15 years puts us as 2012 or 2013.

[Dark Reality 0]

Here's something that might convince some of you who haven't been, to go, that it's worth it. When I went, I got two glasses. The shotglass you see on the left, and the tall glass you see on the right. The one in the middle, my girlfriend got me... It's something else. But I really, really like my Trek glasses. I don't remember the prices, but I don't think they were entirely unreasonable; if nothing else consider they're glasses you can't get anywhere else. And they've held up 3-4 years plus a cross-country move.

 

The Generations and Insurrection DVDs are just there for a size reference.

 

[Takara_Soong 4]

Another disturbing news report posted at TrekToday.com:

CBS Corp. is planning to sell off Paramount Parks, which operates the Star Trek Experience and several amusement parks that have offered Star Trek-themed shows in the past.

 

The Charlotte Observer reported on the planned sale, quoting CBS's Dana McClintock as saying that "numerous parties" have expressed interest in purchasing the theme park unit. The five North American amusement parks will continue to operate while a sale is negotiated.

 

While North Carolina's Carowinds, Virginia's King's Dominion, Ontario's Canada's Wonderland, Ohio's King's Island and California's Great America are expected to remain in business, the fate of Star Trek: The Experience has been uncertain since the Las Vegas Hilton was sold last year. The Las Vegas Business Press noted that one of the hotel's vice presidents had downplayed rumours that the attraction would be shut down when its contract expired in 2007 after the completion of a $20 million-plus hotel renovation.

 

McClintock told the Observer that theme parks did not fit CBS's core content-oriented strategy. In addition to the theme parks, Paramount Parks manages Bonfante Gardens in California and CBS Television City at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

 

CNN reported that Paramount Parks bring in $1.1 billion in annual sales.

Edited January 28, 2006 by Takara_Soong