Eight-year old eyeofhorus.org.uk competition winner, Alex Arjun, was invited to become a 'Junior Reporter' for the day as he visited the DOCTOR WHO EXPERIENCE (courtesy of Taylor Herring) ahead of its transfer from London to Cardiff.
The DOCTOR WHO EXPERIENCE will be closing its Olympia TARDIS doors on the 22 February 2012 and re-locating to a specially-built Wales venue. It's your last chance to visit it there.
So, from the viewpoint of an eight-year old DOCTOR WHO fan (who discovered the drama series with the Christopher Eccleston's Time Lord, is the DOCTOR WHO EXPERIENCE worth the ticket price? His views are unbiased and honest.
It was a busy Sunday (22nd January 2012) afternoon and the DOCTOR WHO EXPERIENCE was extremely busy (surprisingly so considering that the event has been running for 11 months) and within minutes Alex & I passing through the time:space portal for an adventure of our lives.
Amid the Mara-like snaking queuing barrier area, you can get up-close-and-personal with the two Ironside Daleks ("Would you like a cup of tea?) and a couple of sleek NEW SERIES Silurians. However, with a waiting time of 12 minutes to the start of the 3D adventure, Alex (like other younger visitors) was a little bored ("When will it start?) waiting without much distraction. It was like waiting in a poorly managed Post Office queue than a start of a Time:Space adventure.
Alex says "It would be good to have some TV screens showing things
from the TV series, or a 'Countdown Clock' like you get at space rocket take-off,
or some DOCTOR WHO computer games to play." 0/10
Without giving too much away, the 3D adventure is fantastic. Stepping through the crack in time:space into a National Archive Museum the Doctor asks visitors ('shoppers' as he labels us) to find the TARDIS, and steer it to him (his slightly indisposed...). On the way the TARDIS is sent off course (even if visitors are allowed to steer it from the Console Room) to encounter one of the Doctor's enemies, and, finally, visiting the Pandorica.
Alex says: "It (3D interaction walk-through) was cool.
Being in the TARDIS was awesome but needs to be more scary.
More smoke in the TARDIS would be good. I could not see everything on the ***** spaceship screens because adults were in the way. Not really sure why we were on the ***** spaceship (i.e. not clearly explained). Could have been longer (in time) with more time spent in the TARDIS. " 10/10
The DOCTOR WHO EXPERIENCE is, in effect, a two-part event - 3D interaction followed by static displays of costumes & props supplemented by two 'hands-on' displays.
Alex says: "I like the Santas. Scary but why can't they move?" 7/10
Alex says: "Looking at the clothes (of the Doctors) is a bit boring but they
are really different. This one (Sixth Doctor) is weird, and that jumper
(Seventh Doctor) is mad. They (organisers) could have more videos that show the old series (CLASSIC SERIES)." 8/10
Alex says: "This display (of Sonic Screwdrivers and TARDIS keys) is rubbish.
Not enough space round it (the cabinet) to walk round and the bottom light
(the items are lit from beneath through white perspex) means you can't see things clearly. It should be an upright cabinet on a wall." 5/10
Alex says: "Massive TARDIS. Why can't we walk around it?" 9/10
Alex says: "Cool. I want to design my own monster to get it in the magazine (DOCTOR WHO ADVENTURES)." 9/10
Alex says: "The wooden king and queen are so good. Not scary at all." 10/10
Alex says: "I like this the best. I can add special effects to the show (VICTORY OF THE DALEKS battle in space sequence), and be a DJ changing the music (visitors can vary the elements that combine to create the series' theme tune). The dalek and cyberman voice recording is rubbish." 10/10
As an adult accompanying a dedicated 'Junior Time Lord', the DOCTOR WHO EXPERIENCE SHOP is far too tempting - tempting to buy something that will be bought, used once and dumped in cupboard. Sadly, the shop's products are overpriced and biased toward the NEWS SERIES (bar a range of CLASSIC SERIES DVDs). £25 for a T-shirt after paying £20 (or £15.50) for a ticket is more offensive than TIMELASH's Paul Darrow's acting. After transferring to Cardiff, the EXPERIENCE should reduce product prices by 25%.
Alex says: "I know the value for money and I'm glad didn't buy that thing
because it's not worth it. If people didn't get free tickets like us then
people would not have much money left."
For the 90 minute (to 120 minute) visit, a family of four would pay (on the door) £62.00 or £52 in-advance.
Alex says "That's a lot of money. And the photo thing (a chance to be
photographed on a 'special effects green screen') is very expensive as well".
But, for an eight-year old, what did Alex Arjun think about the DOCTOR WHO EXEPERIENCE?
Alex says: "Awesome. Loved it. I would go again but has to be more things to do. Looking at clothes is boring. Where were the moving Autons from the last show
(Earl's Court event from 2008/09)? Scary!"
Overall, I was genuinely surprised that the DOCTOR WHO EXPERIENCE gained a consistently high score from Alex considering that half of the event is "static" (I think he would have welcome more animatronics to make the displays 'twitch' or 'move') and equally surprised that he felt that the cost was 'too much'.
His final score: 8/10.
DOCTOR WHO EXPERIENCE Ticket details
