The Doctor Who Experience - a scare attraction for all the family?
Dr Who has always been inherently scary. Whether as a child hiding behind the sofa as the Daleks tried to take over the world or as an adult watching the more recent series, the show has a history of memorable scary characters (yes we are talking about you Weeping Angels and Scarecrows!)
So when the BBC announced that the latest Doctor Who Exhibition was to include a 25 minute interactive experience where you could come face to face with some of the Doctor's greatest monsters, we knew we had to get down to Olympia to see it. After all - this is for children - it can't really be scary can it?
Its really hard to talk about the experience without giving away too many of it's secrets. To anyone with a passing knowledge of the Doctor and his adventures, there are references to the most recent series with Matt Smith playing the eleventh incarnation, trying to involve us in his rescue. Cynics or sharp eyed visitors may notice what's going to happen or appear from where (we spotted the Tardis LONG before it was due to make its teleportation arrival). But to a Doctor Who fan, the feeling of walking from one planet through through the Tardis door to be greeted by that massive elaborately themed interior was definitely a "wow moment".
So far though, great for the inner geek in us but nothing to really scare us. Our arrival on a strange spaceship looked promising though and a few dark corners and corridors later we were face to face with some of the newly designed daleks. Their arrival is pretty well signposted but would probably have a scared a child who hadnt noticed the track marks on the floor! As a full scale dalek battle rages around us, a couple of simple throway lines made even the most ardent Doctor Who fans realise that the scripting and design of this experience has been cleverly interwoven around the TV series and offers a tantalising glimpse of what could be a major story arc in the upcoming seasons!
Zapped off to another planet via a few more corridors and still nothing scary. Lots of potential but no real frights. Well that is until we came face to face with some of shows scariest ever creatures. As we walked through a darkened forest, we were never quite sure what was real and what wasnt. If the attraction ever decided to up the ante, it could do so easily with a live actor placed in this room. That would probably get everyone running for the final room!
The attraction has so far thrown many different theme park effects at us. We've had animatronics, movie effects, moving floors, and illusions and there was just one last thing to try! Instructed by the Doctor we put on our "protective eye wear" for the show's finale. What follows is some of the clearest and scariest 3D I've ever seen. Dalek eye stalks plunge into the room, Cybermen reach out and... well let's just say - be prepared not to Blink!.
As the interactive show element finishes and we are unceremoniously dropped back onto earth for the exhibition part of the event, it's probably time to review what has just happened. As a grown man with an interest and enjoyment of Dr Who, I walked through the whole experience with a smile on my face. Scenes and effects constantly surprised me and the whole thing works really well as a mini adventure. But was it scary? My answer would have to be no but then we were a tough crowd - 6 adults and no kids. If we'd had children with us then there definitely would have been some screaming and a lot of nervousness. I can see that to a young fan, some of the darker corridors and especially the wood scene, would be too much.
So is this the UK's first scare attraction aimed at children? I would say it is - unlike many Hallowen childrens events, there are moments of real potential threat or percieved danger and a very real concern that someone or something is going to jump out the dark. Hopefully these children will laugh and scream like we all do as adults and this will fuel them onto bigger and better things in the future.
So when the BBC announced that the latest Doctor Who Exhibition was to include a 25 minute interactive experience where you could come face to face with some of the Doctor's greatest monsters, we knew we had to get down to Olympia to see it. After all - this is for children - it can't really be scary can it?
Its really hard to talk about the experience without giving away too many of it's secrets. To anyone with a passing knowledge of the Doctor and his adventures, there are references to the most recent series with Matt Smith playing the eleventh incarnation, trying to involve us in his rescue. Cynics or sharp eyed visitors may notice what's going to happen or appear from where (we spotted the Tardis LONG before it was due to make its teleportation arrival). But to a Doctor Who fan, the feeling of walking from one planet through through the Tardis door to be greeted by that massive elaborately themed interior was definitely a "wow moment".
So far though, great for the inner geek in us but nothing to really scare us. Our arrival on a strange spaceship looked promising though and a few dark corners and corridors later we were face to face with some of the newly designed daleks. Their arrival is pretty well signposted but would probably have a scared a child who hadnt noticed the track marks on the floor! As a full scale dalek battle rages around us, a couple of simple throway lines made even the most ardent Doctor Who fans realise that the scripting and design of this experience has been cleverly interwoven around the TV series and offers a tantalising glimpse of what could be a major story arc in the upcoming seasons!
Zapped off to another planet via a few more corridors and still nothing scary. Lots of potential but no real frights. Well that is until we came face to face with some of shows scariest ever creatures. As we walked through a darkened forest, we were never quite sure what was real and what wasnt. If the attraction ever decided to up the ante, it could do so easily with a live actor placed in this room. That would probably get everyone running for the final room!
The attraction has so far thrown many different theme park effects at us. We've had animatronics, movie effects, moving floors, and illusions and there was just one last thing to try! Instructed by the Doctor we put on our "protective eye wear" for the show's finale. What follows is some of the clearest and scariest 3D I've ever seen. Dalek eye stalks plunge into the room, Cybermen reach out and... well let's just say - be prepared not to Blink!.
As the interactive show element finishes and we are unceremoniously dropped back onto earth for the exhibition part of the event, it's probably time to review what has just happened. As a grown man with an interest and enjoyment of Dr Who, I walked through the whole experience with a smile on my face. Scenes and effects constantly surprised me and the whole thing works really well as a mini adventure. But was it scary? My answer would have to be no but then we were a tough crowd - 6 adults and no kids. If we'd had children with us then there definitely would have been some screaming and a lot of nervousness. I can see that to a young fan, some of the darker corridors and especially the wood scene, would be too much.
So is this the UK's first scare attraction aimed at children? I would say it is - unlike many Hallowen childrens events, there are moments of real potential threat or percieved danger and a very real concern that someone or something is going to jump out the dark. Hopefully these children will laugh and scream like we all do as adults and this will fuel them onto bigger and better things in the future.
 Copyright BBC |
 Copyright BBC |
After the interactive element, guests are ushered into an exhibiit covering the last 50 years of Who villians, characters, monsters and effects. With displays of Daleks and Cybermen through the ages there's enough nostalgia for anyone who has ever watched the show at any pont in their lives.
Kids can take part in interactive exhibits to walk like a monster or talk like a dalek or just come up really close to props and creatures from the show. The only criticism here is that during busy times, there just wont be enough consoles or buttons for the impatient little fingers wanting to play with them!
Finally as you would expect on something aimed so squarely at families - the experience dumps you out into a well stocked gift shop. You know, just in case you haven't spent enough already!
Talking of price - the Doctor Who Experience is not cheap - at £20 per person, you just wish that the interactive element could have gone on longer. If you are thinking of taking the family - ensure you book in advance and take advanatge of any internet discounts available.
But would we recomemed you go? It really depends on your opinion and love for the show itself. There's nothing here that would particularly scare or unnerve a casual punter and you really wouldnt get your money's worth. If though - there is still a little child inside you that remembers hiding behind the sofa on a Saturday night, then you will love it. We certainly did!
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The Doctor Who Experience is scheduled to run at Kensington Olympia in London until November 2011.
For more details visit the official website www.doctorwhoexperience.com
You Review
The Doctor Who Experience was certainally orienteered for the younger audience, it was very bright, despite being housed inside the gigantic Olympia building (Near Earl's Court).
Once you have lived through the queue (with no fast-track option; even for pre-paid tickets)you are to watch a video about the doctor; and then you step through the crack in the wall and enter the world of Doctor Who.
Through the main part of the attraction there are scenes with animatronics (which look absolutely amazing) but do not add any sense of fear. You see yourself in a library (where River Song was originally introduced in the series), a Dalek spaceship, the 11th TARDIS (where younger children control joysticks to interact with the video), a forest and a 3D movie theatre which has a good strength 3D effect; but sadly due to the angle that I was watching the film at, it did not come to the fullest potential.
After this was a huge exhibition hall showing costumes, props and settings (including the 9th/10th Doctor's TARDIS) as well as some anomalies such as a 'walk like a monster' attraction and a cross reference of the writer's office.
Overall, it was a very fun attraction, but was obviously meant for the younger child and did not deliver scares, but instead it offers laughs. The only major quibble is that it doesn't take long to complete the 'show' element; only about 20 minutes - which is a real let down for the high price.
Once you have lived through the queue (with no fast-track option; even for pre-paid tickets)you are to watch a video about the doctor; and then you step through the crack in the wall and enter the world of Doctor Who.
Through the main part of the attraction there are scenes with animatronics (which look absolutely amazing) but do not add any sense of fear. You see yourself in a library (where River Song was originally introduced in the series), a Dalek spaceship, the 11th TARDIS (where younger children control joysticks to interact with the video), a forest and a 3D movie theatre which has a good strength 3D effect; but sadly due to the angle that I was watching the film at, it did not come to the fullest potential.
After this was a huge exhibition hall showing costumes, props and settings (including the 9th/10th Doctor's TARDIS) as well as some anomalies such as a 'walk like a monster' attraction and a cross reference of the writer's office.
Overall, it was a very fun attraction, but was obviously meant for the younger child and did not deliver scares, but instead it offers laughs. The only major quibble is that it doesn't take long to complete the 'show' element; only about 20 minutes - which is a real let down for the high price.