Titanic Exhibition @ The Mercado

[Queenie]

Has anyone been along to this, is it worth the money? I'm really interested in the history of the Titanic and like the film too! I was going to go last year but couldn't justify spending the money on the door, however this time we're trying to do less park days and more "slow" things so this could be perfect.

Is the exhibition worth the money to:
1. A big Titanic fan who loves museums and similar things
2. A guy who is only vaguely interested in the ship and gets bored in traditional museums quickly

Also are there any websites offering good prices for the tickets?

Thanks!!!

 

[kristieuk]

I have been to two different Titanic Exhibitions in recent years, one in Tampa, one in Boston. They were both pretty similar, but I don't think they were the same one. I don't know what the one at the Mercado is like, but if they are anything like the ones that I saw, they are definitely worth it!

The artifacts at both were amazingly preserved, and it was so poignant seeing the personal possessions of people that no doubt perished on that night. Amazing jewellery, hairbrushes - even an almost perfectly preserved newspaper - the Southampton Times or something bought the day the ship set sail.

The finale of the tour in Tampa was a ship rail that looked out to a simulated night scene with tiny lights depicting stars the way they would have appeared on the fateful night, and the sound of the ocean lapping the side of the boat. It was really moving.

In Boston, which was a couple of years later, they had the 'Big Piece' which is basically the stern of the ship complete with portholes (it is the real ship!). It is quite tattered and broken as you can imagine, and constantly being sprayed with seawater, but it was amazing to see (and touch) the actual Titanic.

I'm no Titanic buff, and I think the Tampa exhibition may have been just before the film came out, but both exhibitions were fantastic, and extremely interesting and moving. If this tour is anything like those, I can highly recommend it.

 

[mrs-mac]

Hiya Queenie

We went back in April of this year as my DS is mad about it. It is quite expensive but worth it l feel.

You have a guide with u all the way round and ur entrance ticket is actually a person who sailed on the ship. At the end u get 2 check whether u survived or not! U can stand on the main staircase of the ship and also touch a real iceberg so u get an idea of how cold the water was.

An idea is to pick some of those local guide books up that u see around Orlando as they have discount tickets in them.

Hope this helps

 

[daywalker]

I would fit no.2 on your list, I hate museums! I went in with the girlfriend a few years ago and thought it was fantastic. Our experience was enhanced by having a fantastic guide, they can make or break it for you and this guy definitely made it for us.

 

[Night-train]

Last time we did it our guide was playing the part of the 'Unsinkable Molly Brown' and she was fantastic. She let all the ladies in the group sit on the furniture in the recreated first-class lounge and was as loud and brash as the screen version! It's a walk-through, tracing the ship's brief history from Belfast to seabed and at the end you can view some of the artefacts recovered from the wreck. Very poignant!

 

[fizz13]

Yep, I loved this exhibition too. The tourguides do a great job staying in character and some of it is just like walking through the ship. It did bring it to life very well.

Claire xx

 

[CRISSY61]

we went just after it had first opened. Found it quite expensive for the time we were actually in there, but very well done & quite an experience. Very realistic especially in the room where the temperature was lowered to make it feel as if you were on board ship. Disappointing that photography was not allowed & there was no cafe or toilets. Don't know whether this has changed now. WE found ourselves in the shop & unable to get back into the exhibits which was a shame as we wanted to check out some of the displays again. Glad we did it though.

 

[CHRIS F]

We visted it a few years ago, my youngest son is a big fan since he did Titanic as a project at school he thought it was wonderful, we also thought it was good. If you are interested then it is worth it!

 

[arieljasmine]

Hi Queenie

Me and DH did this last year and really enjoyed it. We like to take our time and look at everything, and managed to escape our tour guide (no mean feat, I can tell you ) so we could explore by ourselves. I found the exhibit very poignant and was moved to tears at the end where it lists those who died and those who survived. I was particularly amazed to see an original lifejacket from the Titanic. The recreation of the ship is truly beautiful and very well done.

One thing to be aware of though - there are no toilets!! I eventually found a public toilet in the Mercado Centre after wandering round in circles for a while, but they're not the nicest, so be warned!

Hope you have a great trip.

ArielJasmine

 

[traceycooper]

I wouldnt recomend ditching the tour guide as they really enhanced our experience - to the point of tears at the end! you can always go back & wander at leisure at the end!

 

[sharon-o]

just returned from florida, the titanic is fantastic and yes i agree don't ditch the guide, the stories they tell you and the sadness really does reduce you to tears, its a fantastic yet more relaxed part of the holiday not much else at macardo but well worth a visit sharon

 

[Firestorm]

Went in 2002,very good.The guides were excellent then.I remember the shipyard worker from Ireland,I think, that thought we were all dressed strange in trousers that were cut off above the knees!

The original life jacket,not many about,was very poignant as was standing on the deck when the guide split the group into two ,men and women and children as it would have been on that fateful night.Very moving.

Only down was not being allowed to take any photo's.The original exhibits at the end were very interesting.

 

[jimmybog]

I would hurry up and visit it as the Mercado soon will be no more. A recent article in the Orlando Sentinel mentioned that a new hotel resort will replace the Mercado. Extracted from a recent article: "The Mercado, another shopping, dining and entertainment center nearby on I-Drive, also recently announced plans for a long-range redevelopment.

New owners of the Mercado plan to re-christen it as Aqua and anchor it with a large condo-hotel project with numerous water-oriented features."