Aug 20 2012
Singapore XD Theatre
As part of our Singapore Flyer excursion, my daughter also experienced her first 3D 6D rollercoaster ride.
We were just walking off back to the carpark after our ferris wheel ride, when my girl caught sight of a TV screen showing people wearing 3D glasses, sitting on a simulator. And she *SOMEHOW* desperately wanted to go on it.
“MAMA! I want to sit on this one!”
And I swore the promoter heard her cos she came and gave me the pamphlet for the newest attraction in town – Singapore XD Theater. We really didn’t think my girl knew what she was in for… cos how could a 3 year old appreciate and sit through a simulated roller-coaster ride?!?!
And then the promoter killed that argument saying some 2-3 year old had sat through it before and it was fine… (yah right)
But in the end we gave in. (I know I know, we’re spoiling our girl… but I really hate to kill such a wonderful evening out together…) They let my girl in for free cos (1) she’s too young, and (2) she’ll be sitting on my lap cos seriously, I just knew she will FREAK OUT once the ride begins. And though we could choose the movie for the girl to experience, we just chose the immediate upcoming one so we didn’t need to queue up and wait too long…
Here’s her, looking totally pleased to have won the battle and gotten the ticket to go into the theatre.
And *JUST* before we entered the theatre, she started showing tiny signs of anxiety… And then it was too late.
When the movie began, she was still quite excited seeing the 3D images coming alive in front of her. She tried to reach out to them, called out “HELLO!” to them and waved wildly… and then suddenly she chickened out when the 6-degrees of movement in the simulated ride happened.
Six degrees in freedom of movement (1) left-right (2) front-back (3) up-down (4) yaw, or twisting or oscillating about a vertical axis (5) pitch (6) roll…
She twisted herself to curl up in my lap… shouted out that she didn’t want to sit anymore… insisted she wanted to get out… But it was impossible. We were all locked in, and the seat was shaking quite violently for a realistic feel in line with the movie. The kids seated beside me were having the time of their life, screaming out in excitement and absolute enjoyment… and there my timid girl was trying to curl up tighter and closer into me.
BUT! Although she was scared, she still wanted a part of the action. From the corner of her eye, she continued looking at the screen for what’s happening, much alike me watching a horror film.
And when the ride finally ended after about 5+ minutes, my girl declared “HURRAY! WE DID IT!“… And then almost immediately, as if to gain some sympathy points, she went and told her daddy, “Daddy, I’m VERY scared. Carry me please!“… Sigh…
Well, if you are in the area and wanting some fun for the little ones, they are having an introductory offer of $16 for each adult (usual price $20); and $14 for senior citizens and children (usual price $18). My verdict?
Too scary for a 3 year old…
Too mild for a 30+ year old daddy who has sat through every single REAL rollercoaster ride in Orlando..
And perhaps just right for a 30+ year old paranoid mommy who wouldn’t willingly go up a real roller-coaster ride for fear of all the “what-ifs”, but feel safer knowing she’s really buckled up in a simulator…
And PERFECT for kids from maybe 5-12 year old (judging by the kids who were having the time of their lives screaming in excitement beside me).
