…must come to an end, but do they all have to end at the same damn time???

Word hit the Internet today that the Star Trek Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton is closing in September. I figured it would close sometime this year, as news came in April that it had no contract beyond the end of this year, but somehow I hoped it would get a last-minute stay of execution. I’m sure the space will probably be turned into yet another hip nightclub. Yawn.

I am a big-time Trekkie from as far back as I can remember. I’ve seen all the series and movies–even the bad ones. So needless to say, one of my favorite things to do when I go to Vegas is spend time at the Experience, where I can indulge my inner Trekkie for a little while. It doesn’t hurt that they chose to model the Experience after Quark’s and the Promenade from my favorite of all Trek series, Deep Space Nine.

I’ll never forget my first trip there, back when the only ride was the Klingon Encounter (which remained my favorite even after the Borg Invasion 4D was introduced). What a rush to be standing on the bridge of the Enterprise-D! And seeing all the show props in the History of the Future Museum. The attention to detail was mind-boggling, from the Enterprise and Voyager replicas hanging from the ceiling to the warp core and laser beams in the SpaceQuest casino. They really did a good job of immersing fans in that world. There were TVs everywhere showing episodes of the various Trek shows. I thought “I want to LIVE here!”

So every subsequent trip to Vegas found me wandering the Promenade, playing slots in the SpaceQuest casino, and/or eating at Quark’s, where the menu featured items such as “Flaming Ribs of Targ,” “Wrap of Khan,” and “Tribble Tenders”. The food was pretty average and overpriced, but the drinks were terrific. What you were really paying for was the experience, though. Actors dressed as Klingons, Ferengi, and Borg wandered around the place, interacting with customers. They always stayed in character and were just a blast to talk to. Plus, having Trek in common with other solo diners at the bar was a great icebreaker.

Chad Boutte, Operations Manager and Director of Marketing for the Experience, told me that the last day it’s open is Labor Day–good news for me, since I’ll be arriving in Vegas that day for a few days of vacation! You will find me there, with all the other sad Trekkies, having one last hurrah, one last ride on the rides, and one last Mini-Warp Core Breach.

And sadly, the Star Trek Experience isn’t the only one of my favorite fun travel destinations to close soon. Yesterday, it was announced that Disney World is closing the clubs at Pleasure Island for good, including the Adventurer’s Club, on September 27, to make way for more retail and dining outlets. NOOO! I LOVE the Adventurer’s Club! The most fun evening I had when I was at Disney World was spent there. Aside from the hilarious shows, the decor alone could keep you occupied for hours.

When I was planning my first trip to Disney World (as an adult–I never went when I was a kid), Pleasure Island was what appealed to me the most. What a great concept! A place for just adults in the midst of a theme park built for kids. Unfortunately, Disney ruined it when they decided it was a good idea to allow minors entrance to that area of Downtown Disney. They basically crippled it to the point where they’ve now got to shoot it to put it out of its misery. This should be a cautionary tale for how NOT to do things.

This reminds me, though, that I need to post something here soon on solo travel to Disney World. Stay tuned for that. And in the meantime, if you can, go enjoy Pleasure Island and/or the Star Trek Experience while you still can.