Titanic – The Experience

Whether or not you are a fan of Titanic – The Movie or just for its history, you will find Titanic – The Experience really engrossing.  The tragic story of the legendary ship’s sinking is recreated so skilfully that the experience can be quite moving and rather personal.

You cannot miss the location because of the huge image of the Titanic (before it sank), cutting through the sea, and its prominent position on Orlando’s International Drive. The exhibition moved here in 2012 from the original location. It is now very close to Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and Sea World. 

The display and exhibition areas have been redesigned occupying a larger area - 17 galleries and 20,000 sq ft - with a whole lot more artefacts from the wreck.  They have also added several other features.

The personalisation of the experience starts when you enter.  You are given a ‘boarding pass’ (not ticket) with the identity of an actual passenger of the Titanic on that ill-fated journey.  At the end of the tour you will be told if your character lived or perished. 

As you walk through full-scale replicas of the famous Grand Staircase, First Class Parlour Suite, Promenade Deck and Veranda Café, trained actors in period costume, recount tales of the Titanic’s passengers and crew.  This hour-long trip down the Titanic’s history will have you shivering.

Just to give you an idea of the scale of the exhibition here is a list of artefacts from the luxury liner that the exhibition has on display:

 

·      Over 100 new artefacts recently recovered from the wreck site of the Titanic and restored.

·      "Little Big Piece," a 3-tonne section of the Ship's hull and the second largest piece of the Titanic ever recovered.

·      The Underwater Room, displaying an 8-foot replica of the Titanic as she appears on the bottom of the Atlantic today.

·      Artefacts recovered from Titanic include metals, ceramics, glass, textiles, papers, leather, and objects such as olives, nuts, and soap. They range from tools and equipment needed to run the ship to personal items of passengers and crew. China and silverware, stock pots and au gratin dishes.  Clothing and jewellery also feature. 

The brilliance of the exhibition lies in the fact that so many fragile objects have been remarkably restored and maintained.  The lighting and exhibition cases give it a ‘here and now’ feeling that draws you into the story.  They even have an ‘iceberg’ you can touch so you know what the cold must have been like on that fateful night over a hundred years ago!

Titanic – The Experience is not merely a walk-through and view kind of exhibition.  It really brings out the sights and sounds of an unforgettable ship.  They even manage to bring feelings and emotions into play.  So be prepared to be stirred!