Frommer's Las Vegas 2004

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CHAPTER 7 . WHAT TO SEE & DO IN LAS VEGAS
In a separate 3-D motion theater , you’ll don goggles to view a film that
puts you right inside another race car for yet another stomach-churning ride
(even more dizzying than the virtual-reality portion). Speed junkies and race-car
buffs will be in heaven here, though those with tender stomachs should consider
shopping at the well-stocked theme gift shop instead.
Speed: The Ride is a roller coaster that blasts riders out through a hole
in the wall by the new NASCAR Cafe, then through a loop, under the sidewalk,
through the hotel’s marquee, and finally straight up a 250-foot tower. At the
peak, you feel a moment of weightlessness, and then you do the whole thing
backwards! Not for the faint of heart.
In the Sahara hotel & casino, 2535 Las Vegas Blvd. S. & 702/737-2111. $15 for 1 ride on each attraction,
$18 for all-day pass for all attractions. Stock-car simulator only $10 (you must be at least 48 in. tall to ride),
Speed: The Ride (roller coaster) $10 for all-day pass. Opens daily at 10am; closing hours vary seasonally, but
usually it’s 10pm.
Star Trek: The Experience It goes without saying that hard-core Trekkers
(note use of correct term) will be delighted. On the other hand, normal, sensible
fans, and those who couldn’t care less about Star Trek, may find themselves saying,
“I spent $25 and 2 hours in line for this?”
This is the undisputed champ in the Vegas motion-simulator ride category.
You can’t fault the setup and interior design; after a walk through a space-themed
casino (check out those light-beam-activated slot machines!), your long wait in
line will be somewhat entertaining, thanks to memorabilia (displayed as if this
were the stuff of fact, not fiction) and TVs showing various Trek clips. As you
make your way to the ride proper, you encounter actors dressed in Trek gear,
who let you know that you’ve crossed the line into the Trek future.
There is a story line, but we won’t spoil it for you. Suffice to say it involves
time travel and evil doings by the Borg, and if all doesn’t work out, the very history
of Star Trek could be affected. Do expect to be beamed aboard the Enterprise
(that’s really kind of cool), and know that if you have a sensitive stomach,
you can skip the actual motion-simulator part, a wild and sometimes headacheinducing
chase through space. In addition to the often-lengthy wait (on average,
20 min.; best shot at a slight lull would be noon–1pm on weekdays), the quality
of your experience can vary depending on the quality of those Trek-garbed
actors, whose line delivery can be awfully stilted. On the way out, through the
shops selling everything Trek- and space-related (go ahead, get that Tribble
you’ve always wanted), don’t miss the TV showing a “news report” about some
of the very things you just experienced. Note: In spring 2004, a new, “edgier”
attraction will be added to Star Trek: The Experience. Borg Invasion 4D will feature
a 3D film starring several Star Trek Voyager cast members, as well as numerous
sensory and special effects. There’s no word yet on what the ticket prices—
we’d bet on astronomical—will be.
In the Las Vegas Hilton, 3000 Paradise Rd.& 888/GO-BOLDLY. www.startrekexp.com. Admission $25 for an
all-day pass. Daily 11am–11pm.
Stratosphere Thrill Rides Kids Atop the 1,149-foot Stratosphere Tower
are two marvelous thrill rides. The High Roller (the world’s highest roller
coaster) was recently revamped to go at even faster speeds as it zooms around
a hilly track that is seemingly suspended in midair. Even more fun is the Big
Shot , a breathtaking free-fall ride that thrusts you 160 feet in the air along
a 228-foot spire at the top of the tower, then plummets back down again. Sitting
in an open car, you seem to be dangling in space over Las Vegas. We have