What an immersive “Stranger Things” experience is like in Sao Paulo

The attraction transforms visitors into citizens of Hawkings, with the right to save Eleven and take a stroll through the series’ food court

Surviving an attack by Demogorgons, helping Eleven’s gang, and eating a banana split at the series’ ice cream shop, Scoops Ahoy, are some of the highlights of the series. Stranger Things: Experiencewhich landed in the parking lot of Eldorado shopping center In St. Paul on April 12th.

The Netflix series is a viewing phenomenon whose fifth and final season is in production. Before we get to Brazil the immersive experience had already brought the World Inverted WE or Canada and the Europe .

Since I’ve been following the series since the first season released in 2016, I feel comfortable enough to say that the experience does, in fact, transport visitors to Hawkings, the fictional town in which the series is set.

Divided into two phases, the attraction invests heavily in setting up the rooms with faithful copies of elements from the series, 3D projection technologies and special effects. In addition to the iconic settings that come to life, there are actors who play the characters to make everything more real and engaging.

I’ve already seen the four available seasons of Stranger Things, so I wasn’t afraid of spoilers and any mention of the fifth would have been useful! But those who hate revelations can rest assured: nowhere in the attraction are there clues to the future or references to crucial moments in history. In the first part there is an original narrative in which participants enter the Hawkings National Laboratory for a sleep study.

Thinking about the immersion of visitors, photos and videos are not allowed in this first part. But since I was there and saw it firsthand, without spoiling the surprises, I’ll give you some clues about what to expect.

It is 1986 and I am greeted by two characters dressed as doctors who meticulously observe the visitors and continue to take notes in notebooks. Participants are divided into groups based on three bracelet colors: blue, red and yellow. Each team has a randomly assigned leader and plays a distinct role in the narrative.

Immediately afterwards, in a mysterious room, a friendly public relations officer of the laboratory warns, with a touch of irony and amidst static interference, that we are not guinea pigs in a study, but rather ” friends” from the laboratory .

It is in the Rainbow Room – very familiar to those who have watched the fourth season – that the experience becomes most interactive. I had to play with construction toys and pose to test my powers – it was a little awkward at first, but everyone got on board.

Poses are essential throughout the experience, long enough to help Eleven and her friends escape danger. Until the end I was guided by the actors from the series who appeared in the security camera videos or who spoke to us through the tubes.

It’s nothing new for those who follow the series, but our young protagonists are a bit foul-mouthed, so swear words slip out in some videos. Therefore the immersive experience is recommended for those aged 12 and over and all minors must be accompanied.

I walked through six rooms with lots of light, dark landscapes, and projections of monsters leaping towards me. And as expected, the best part comes at the end, when I passed through the latex curtains and arrived at the Inverted World, where I witnessed a battle with 3D glasses amidst screams and laughter. During the 45 minutes of the entire immersive experience, the emotions were not that different, the fears and amazement were combined with laughter at the situations faced.

And since the inhabitants of Hawkings do not live by mishaps, the reward for getting rid of the monsters comes in the second part of the experience: the Mix-Tape room recreates the food court of the Hawkings shopping center, Stacourt Mall, complete with neon lights. Here I only needed 40 minutes to explore the space, take photos and enjoy the food.

In fact, food options were flowing off the screens. You can start with the pizza by the slice (R$ 19.90) at Surfer Boy, where Argyle is a delivery boy – the pepperoni one is delicious – and then order a banana split (R$ 39.90) or a waffle sandwich with ice cream ( R$ 39.90) 29.90) at Scoops Ahoy. To make waffle superfan Eleven proud, I ordered the second dessert and it was worth it, but it was difficult to eat without getting messy. Drinks are provided by The Upside, which offers a menu of alcoholic (R$ 39.90) and non-alcoholic (R$ 29.90) drinks inspired by the series.

In addition to satisfying hunger, the shopping plaza also has an arcade area with games that actually work and statues of a Demogorgon and Vecna, where I competed with several cell phones in front of me and people posing for photos.

But the most popular setting was Will Byers’ famous living room with the Christmas lights and everything. Visitors have to wait in line to sit on the sofa, take photos and remember all the drama that started Hawkings’ saga of misadventures.

Service

When? From Tuesday to Saturday, from 10:00 to 21:00, and on Sundays and holidays, from 10:00 to 19:00.

How much? Starting from R$85 for the entire package; tickets via Feverup.

Where? Shopping Eldorado – Avenida Rebouças, 3970 – Pinheiros.

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.