A new event has come to New York. Located at the Duggal Greenhouse, a large, retrofitted warehouse in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Stranger Things: The Experience brings the beloved Netflix show to life through projections, intricate set pieces, and enthusiastic actors.
Getting to the Duggal Greenhouse can be its own experience if you have never been to the Brooklyn Navy yard. The most important factor is entering through the Sand’s gate. After that, it’s a straight shot until you reach signage that directs you to Stranger Things: The Experience. You will have to pass through a security checkpoint, so be sure to have your tickets at the ready!
There is also some variation in pricing to note. Regular single-person tickets are $44 per person, but children’s tickets and tickets for groups of 6+ people get a slight discount. There is also a VIP option for $72, which includes a free drink, a gift, and the opportunity to skip lines. The best way to get the most bang for your buck would be to get a group together for the VIP tickets, making them cost $57 per person.
The experience itself was fun but perhaps a bit underwhelming. They bring you in as a member of the Hawkins National Laboratory sleep study. Fans of the show may know to expect the plot to get a little supernatural from there. The storyline may hint at events in the upcoming season, but only time will tell. The effects were fun and innovative, but I expected the experience to last longer. The experience also features a video of the actual main characters from the show, and it was fun to have characters like Eleven and Dustin prompt you into action. Overall, there were no real scares, but it could be frightening for younger people (the website recommends that children be 13 or older).
The Mix-Tape, a simulated Hawkins Mall, is a fun hang-out space where you are free to roam after the timed experience. There are sets made to look like locations from the show, stores selling Stranger Things merchandise, food shops, an arcade, and a bar – all decked out in 80’s neon lights. The sets make for great photo-ops, and you can even take a picture with the Demogorgon on your way out. Personally, I was excited by the Ms. Pacman table hiding in the bar area between two costumes from the show. The bar, The Upside, features pretty standard cocktails with creative names relating to the show; for example, “Demogorgon” for an Old Fashioned, and “Friends Don’t Lie” for a Tequila Sunrise. The stores had a wide variety of merchandise referencing different parts of the franchise. I’m a sucker for stuffed animals, and thought the Demogorgon plush was very cute. They also have “I ♡ NY” tote bags with the Demogorgon’s head instead of a heart which would be a great souvenir if you visit from out of town.
Actors also roam the room and will approach you and interact with you. As soon as I exited the Hawkins National Laboratory, I was rushed by a reporter asking me if I had seen anything strange in there. I was also caught up on some of the latest gossip by some local Hawkins teens, and Family Video employees. The actors seemed to be having a good time reacting to each other, and it was fun to talk with them after the initial awkwardness.
Overall, I had a good time, but I think there could have been a little more to it. If you’re a huge Stranger Things fan, go for it! You’ll have fun going through the lab and taking pictures on the sets after the experience. But I would get a group together so you can pay for the group ticket and not the individual price.
Check out the event here!
