Alien Encounter - the good, the bad, and the ugly?

[ScarletIndigo]

I just finished reading the posts about which attractions you would typically skip in the various parks, and many people said that they would skip Alien Encounter. I know it's supposed to be pretty intense and scary, but I'd love to hear some specific thoughts on this ride! Alient Encounter wasn't around when I visited WDW in '93, nor were any of the "scarier/creepier" attractions like ITTBAG or Dinosaur. I'm into thrill rides (can't wait for Space Mountain and ToT!) but it sounds like Alien Encounter is a different experience altogether. Please tell me about it!

 

[disneyman67]

I enjoyed it. Was in Disney World in May 2003. Basically you sit in the dark as an escaped alien runs around, breathes on ya, and other stuff. As far as intense, I would say not. But I can easily see how it would terrify young children.

 

[Penny2]

I thought Alien Encounter was great! I don't have children, so I didn't have to worry about anyone getting scared but DH and I. I can imagine, though, for a small child that this could be too intense. It is, at times, noisy, dark with lights flashing, and uses your imagination and senses to put you into the event. It's not a ride, you are really just sitting there, but again you see, hear, feel, and smell things that can be pretty scary for little ones. The storyline is pretty mean, and this poor creature gets zapped! A child who can discern between what is real and make believe shouldn't have a problem.

I find TOT and Dinosaur much more intense in the physical sense. In both rides, I have almost lost my stomach, literally. Different use of the senses, altogether!

 

[grinningghost]

I don't have a problem with AE. It is creepy and can be terrifying to young children. My own DD cried all through it her first time. But for teens or adults, it's easily handled most of the time. The whole premise is that an alien has mistakenly ended up on Earth and in the room you, the guest, are in. You are harnessed into your seat so you can't get out - rather a confining experience. The place goes dark and the next thing you know the alien is running loose in the room. You can feel him breathing on your neck, blood is supposedly spewing out all over you. I was a bit shaken when I first went on it.

Here's my take on the whole thing. The preshow seems too long for me, although it's kind of amusing. The first time you do it, it can give you the creeps, but once you've done it, there isn't a whole lot to fear.

I was never into games like hide and seek where people are hiding and then jumping out at you. I always HATED when someone would hide behind a door and jump out at me. I still do. That's kind of the feeling I get in AE. I like fair warning of what's coming. I do think, though, that AE is worth checking out at least once. It's somewhat creative.

 

[nativetxn]

Are you asking for yourself or for a child?

Let me share what happened to me. I went to WDW for the first time in almost 20 years in 2000. I found the DIS and got all my questions answered. The result was that I was disappointed in both Test Track <i>and</i> Alien Encounter. Why?

I was disappointed because I knew everything that was going to happen before hand, read glowing reports of both attractions. I <b>expected too much</b>.

What is scary for one person isn't scary for another. One person is thrilled riding in an open car going 64.8 mph on Test Track and another one (like me) comes away from the attraction thinking I had more excitement on I-96 driving 78 mph with the sunroof open.

Let me say this about Alien Encounter. I was not one bit frightened or even startled because I knew <i>exactly</i> what was going to happen ahead of time. AE is the sort of attraction that you really only have one chance at being thrilled, startled or frightened. Once you experienced it the thrill is gone--it's still fun but not quite as much as it was the first time. This attraction depends on the element of surprise for the plot to be carried out.

So, if you are asking because you will have a child with you--it is likely to scare the you know what out of him/her depending on their age. There is a "harness" that comes down hard and tight and there is no wriggle room at all. My nephew was hysterical and couldn't even wiggle out of the seat. A CM had to unlock his seat. If you are claustrophobic be warned and beware.

Most of the show is pitch black which bothers children under 11 or so usually. There are sound effects that can startle adults and frighten children.

I wasn't frightened my nephew was terrified.

Doesn't it drive you crazy the way I just seem to go on and on and on? I hope no one gives you a blow by blow description of AE. Just go and be surprised Or if you don't like surprises, then I'm sure someone will be happy to share the entire script

 

[daannzzz]

I was looking forward to this attraction and was disappointed with it. You have to be able to let go and get into it. There were a couple loud noises that made me jump but in general they added to much humor (typical of most action and horro films now too) and it just didn't seem real. It is fun to go and watch ( when possble) the other patrons screaming though!!! I do it on every trip because it is fun to see others reactions and you get to sit down in a cool theater and relax for a while. I would be hesitant to bring small children in here and have seen some older kids and mid 20's people appear to be a bit rattled by the show.

 

[ScarletIndigo]

It will just be DF and I, and we're two crazy "kids" in our 20s. We both love rollercoasters, but sensory-attraction stuff is a new experience. Alien Encounter sounded intriguing (and DF loves Sci-Fi and stuff like that) but the way people were talking about staying away from it, I wondered what all the fuss was about!

It sounds interesting, nonetheless, and we'll probably give it a try. But I'm with you, grinningghost -- I absolutely HATE loud noises that are specifically meant to make you JUMP, and I hate being surprised by things jumping out at me. I think that's why I avoided the Haunted Mansion during my first trip to WDW ... I had the (very wrong!) impression that it was going to be like those cheesy Halloween rides you go on where people are jumping out at you from every corner. Not my cuppa tea, thanks!

We'll give it a go, and hopefully not regret it in the end!

 

[WDWAurora]

Ok, I can't really remember the first time I rode this ride, I'm guessing from what you said it opened in about 94, so I probably rode it then, at about 12. It FREAKED me out. HATED it. I tried it one more time between then and age 15, and yeah, still hated it. I went back in March of this year with my boyfriend (his first time, so I wanted him to get to do EVERYTHING) and we didn't even really get to sit together because we went down a row that only had one seat left, so we moved to go to another row, and STILL didn't get to sit together, my seat was in handicapped, about a foot behind him, but next to him if that makes sense. Well, let's just say I still absolutely hate it. I left crying, I couldn't handle it. I don't scare easily, I ride all the scary rides, but I HATE this with a passion. Patrick tried to get the CM to come let me out, but couldn't get their attention. I did remember about the harness, so I held my shoulders high to keep it from coming all the way down on me, which helped some, but I will NEVER do it again. I've tried 3 times, and I will NOT try it again. Creeps me out. UGH