Looking for a family review of the Apollo 13: Mission Control show at the Tacoma Dome? You’ve come to the right place!
Update: The ticket contest is now over. Thanks to everyone who entered, and read on for my family’s review.
My big kid is still sleeping, so I asked Henry for his review. The verdict? “Nine thousand!” I guess you could say he enjoyed it!
Henry, monitoring the crew consumables.
The show itself is like watching a play where the actors interact with the audience. You’re seated at a console just like what the members of the real mission control team would have been using. You’ll see lights going off, maybe have a phone to answer, and you might even find yourself trying to answer questions and think on your feet as part of the mission control team. Each console has a different function, and how much interaction you have depends a bit on your job. We ended up having an equation to solve, and a bunch of switches to flick, but for the most part, we were doing more observing than participating. It still felt very exciting, and both the boys were wide-eyed the whole time. The actors do a great job with their parts and recreating the atmosphere of the early 70s. You can take pictures with the, “Astronauts,” or, “Walter Cronkite,” after the show, too.
The theater. Audience members with, “Console,” tickets sit at one of the replica work stations and participate as part of mission control. Images are projected on the screens in the front and actors roam around the space.
The boy who loved it the Most was the 42 year old, but I saw audience members of all ages enjoying it. I do think it’s best for kids 8 and up with an interest in science/space/history (think more Discovery Channel than Star Wars). While Henry had a lot of fun, much of it was definitely over his head.
You’ll also want to bring along a spirit of adventure. There is lots of noise and light and sometimes the boss is yelling directions at you! The folks who had the most to do seemed to be those in the front couple of rows. If you can’t get one of those seats, you might try for an aisle seat with a phone, or my husband thought the folks who got to talk with the Navy or interpret with the Russians were having a lot of fun, too. I would definitely suggest buying a console seat. The “Press,” is seated in chairs around the show. While these seats are less expensive, and they can see everything, I thought it looked like a lot less fun. The night we went some of the folks in the press section got to move into empty console seats, but I don’t think that’s something you could count on.
Overall, we all really enjoyed ourselves. My husband, in particular, thought it was one of the most unique things we’d done as a family. Console tickets are 52.00, but you can get a free child’s ticket with each adult’s purchase by using code MOM. While not a bargain, this is right in line with other interactive productions. It’s in the exhibition hall next to the dome, and it’s a small, theater style atmosphere. There was tons of simple, free parking.
If you’d like to go too you can head here for tickets. There are 12 shows to choose from. Huge Deal Alert:Use Code, “MOM,” and take advantage of the, “Kids Fly Free,” special, which is a free child’s ticket with every full priced adult (maximum of two free kids tickets per family).
Disclosure and Boring Legal Stuff: I was provided with tickets for the purpose of reviewing the show, and the Apollo 13:Mission Control team is providing the ticket prizes. This post includes provided text and my own opinions. I was not compensated in any other way. Facebook is not associated with this giveaway.
Thanks so much for this truly unique and fun giveaway. The show looks AMAZING. I’d love to take my grandkids.
fastkat at gmail dot com
Shared on FB (Katrina Fries)
fastkat at gmail dot com
I would love to see this show and take my 8 year old. He LOVES LOVES LOVES Space and anything that goes along with it. I believe it started in Kindergarten when he was enrolled in “Discovery” Primary school. They had tons of info from NASA regarding the Discovery Rocket! The show I’m sure will be super cool! The trailer looks AWESOME!!!
I like SFM on FB (Katrina Fries)
fastkat at gmail dot com
I just shared the giveaway on Facebook!
I follow you on FB!
Thanks SFM!
I have never heard of this show, my family would love to see it!
I will email my neighbors!
This looks so fun! My daughter would love it, she wants to be a chef, jungle girl, astronaut when she grows up. she would get a kick out of this!
I subscribe to your blog and like you on facebook and follow you on twitter. I never miss anything.
I follow you on FB
Just looked at their website. The show would be such a blast for my son.
I just subscribed to your emails. Really enjoy your blog. Thanks for all you do.
This looks like so much fun! Would love to take my oldest little girl. She would LOVE IT! Thanks so much for all the great things you let us know about too.
Shared on facebook
I like you on FB and subscrbe to your news letter too. Your site is my go to for fun events for me and my lttle girls.
This looks fantastic! I can only imagine the fun my husband would have going to this – he’d revert to the 12yr old he is at heart.
Follow you on FB
Loved to go..
Follow you on FB..
Looks like tons of Fun..Loved to take my 2 kids to it..
Like to take my Grandkids there..Loved the movie
Mission Control..how cool is that..
This looks like an amazing experience. I have 3 boys that would just love, love this!
It looks like such an awesome experience!
Posted/shared on Facebook. I hope to win!
I already like you on FB. I love your website, thanks for all the fun info!
My family would love this!
Follow you on FB!
Shared on facebook!
I love you, even if it sounds like I will barf from vertigo. Taking it for the kids.
I like you on FB, cuz you’re awesome.
Wow this looks awesome!
I’ve never heard of this before but it looks awesome!!!
I follow you on fb
I’ve never heard of this before but it looks great
I emailed my girlfriend to tell her about it. she has 2 boys who would love this.
My nephews have had a tough year. This would just blow their minds!
I follow you on Facebook. =)
I shared your Facebook post. =)
Wow, even their website looks cool. I’m going out on a limb here and saying I want this for me, not my 2 year old lol. My 8 year old niece would love this (she’s a smarty pants).
I already follow you on FB and I’ve shared this with my sister in law (also a smarty pants).
Didn’t know anything like this show existed!! I’ve got an 8yo that would be very excited about this!
I also follow you on FB and never miss a thing:).
I want to see the show. Please
And I follow you on FB and shared with my family!!!
I’ve been a Facebook fan forever and love your website!
Also, I love space and science and this looks amazing!
We would love to go!! Thx for the chance.
Told my mops friends for second entry
Already a subscriber to FB page got third entry:)!!
I’d love to take my daughter! The photos on the site are great, good reviews from the Seattle Children’s Museum staff today!
This is so cool! My 10 yo daughter and husband love going to theatre shows. This would be a great Daddy/daughter date.
My 6 year old son would LOVE this! He wants to be an astronaut.
I shared this on my FB page.
I already follow you on FB.
I wanted to do this as a family event and researched it about two weeks ago. The show got great reviews in Australia, where it started. We are NASA junkies in this house! Some people go to Disney, we go to space centers! This seemed show sounds amazing, interactive and fast paced. I went to the website and was surprised that tix are still available. I only wish it was a little more affordable. I told my mommy friends at work about it, mentioned it at a party last night and will share on FB. I friended SFM a long time ago and rely on the emails to help me plan our grand adventures each weekend! We would love, love, love to win this one.
This looks AWESOME. My little scientist would be in heaven with these tickets, though he just let me know after watching the trailer that he would rather be in space.
Thanks for the opportunity to win them!
This looks amazing! My boys would flip!
Shared on Facebook!
My son would LOVE this!!!
My son is obsessed with all things space, he would lose his mind over this! What an incredible idea, I can’t believe no one has done this before! Thanks for the giveaway!
what an amazing concept! It’s very over my family’s budget right now so would be so great to win!
I tweeted about the giveaway
You are my favorite blog so I follow through Bloglines.
That looks like a great show, looks like you would feel liked.you are right there into the midst off all the action! Cant wait to see it!
If told my Mom and sister about it!
i already follow your feed on Facebook, LOVE IT!
Checked out their website LOOKS AWESOME!!! This would be a great gift for my father in law her loves this kind of stuff and the Kids!!! Will definitely will have to see it. But hope to win it!!!!
Shared on Facebook!!!!
Follow you on Facebook and get emails!! love your tips!!
I shared on Facebook.
My daughter just came home from school today all excited about their science experiments they have been doing. She would LOVE this!
I just told my husband about it and showed him the video too!
This looks AMAZING! I would LOVE to bring my boys to this!
I told my friend about this and she wants to go too!
I like SFM on Facebook.
share…would love to go!
Went to their FB page and would love to see this
Tweeted this contest
https://twitter.com/conbon1900/status/282164020277030912
started following you
conbon1900
This looks so awesome! Who didn’t (however briefly) wish they were an astronaut as a child?
I told all my office co-workers about Apollo 13: Mission Control!
I liked Sound Fun Mom on Facebook.
Looks awesome! It reminds us of part of the NASA Tram Tour we did in Houston on the honeymoon trip we took on our one year anniversary in 2006. I follow you on FB.
My daughter would love this. She’s into all things “space” right now!
I follow you on FB.
Thank you so much for the chance to win the tickets. I know my kids would really enjoy this. Thanks.
I have sucscribbed via email and follow on fb
I checked out their fb page. This looks so cool! Never seen anything like it before! Would be an awesome experience.
Looks super fun from their FB page
I follow you on FB
Already like you on FB. This would be really cool to see. I have two of the Apollo 13 astronaut autographs and would love to take my son to this. Thanks!
I checked out their FB page and looks beyond awesome!! I would love to take my kids. Thanks!
Checked out there Facebook Page. Looks awesome!
I shared this with my sister.
I like SFM on Facebook.
Looks very cool!! Already fb follower.
Wow! My 9 year old and I are blown away…this will be so fun!!!!
I follow you on FB and get your newsletters…thanks for providing us with fantastic ideas to experience our puget sound.
This looks amazing!
Looks super awesome! Thanks for the chance!!