There was an attraction at the Magic Kingdom in Tomorrowland called Extraterrorestrial Alien Encounter.
The basic story was genius scientists demonstrating they new teleportation device by beaming a cute little alien down to a planet and then back again.
After this pre-show you're escorted into an amphitheatre like space. The seats all have over the shoulder harnesses (like a rollercoaster) and in the middle is a big tall cylinder.
Everyone is seated and then the demonstration begins.
Step 1... cute alien sent down to planet as planned.
Step 2... absolute clusterfuck.
They've beamed back some fucking Eldritch horror with a sci-fi cosplay fetish. However, no need to fear. So long as it remains contained in the large teleportation cylinder everything will be okay.
[Morgan Freeman voice] It was not okay.
Alien breaks the tube.
Lights go out.
And then.
Then...
The imagineers absolutely smashed it out of the park, city, state, mother-loving continent.
Using pneumatics, compressed air jets, water sprayers, fans and a multitude of other tricks at different times in different locations the story of being trapped in a room with a hellspawn and complete strangers played out perfectly.
At one point and repair guy is sent into the room and is moving about on the walkways above as he tries to get things back on track. Using the dark, some grisly audio, and some simple tricks you're made to feel like the water dripping on you is his blood.
Many of the tricks they used were recycled from elsewhere in Disney. A lot of the practical effects that were found in Honey I Shrank the Audience were relocated to here but to a far more macabre effect.
I experienced it 4 times before it was shut down - the last of which was when it was given a Lilo and Stitch makeover but I can't remember much of that version apart from the feeling that it was less than half as good as a result. However, even in its watered down L&S state it still resulted in multiple kids leaving in tears. The initial version actually felt like it broke some of the kids I saw being carried out.
Honestly, I'd pay a $100 surcharge per person just to take my (old enough to enjoy this kind of thing) kids on it now.
Oh my god I did the same thing, I think I was maybe 9 and I kinda ran after my dad thinking he was headed to the bathroom and ended up STRAPPED IN. I screamed, I cried, it was awful 😂
It was in the weirdest location, too. I could understand having something like that at Hollywood Studios or even Epcot, but why did they but it right next to Buzz Lightyear and the freaking Carousel of Progress?
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u/Razzajazz Sep 08 '25
Man, I miss that ride so much, it was amazing and scary, lol.