A fairytale escape for two...
We started with a prompt to choose a fairytale and create an experience around that.
A collaborative immersive experience made for a couple to experience the magic and nostalgia of their youth. By creating an immersive adventure, our team (Bibiana Bauer, Michelle Chang, Skyler Dann, Tanner Settles) wanted to emulate the fairytale of Peter Pan for a couple to rediscover their childhood.
Our target audience for this experience was based on our desire to have our guests experience trust, discovery, and an exploration of youthful imagination. We were hoping to bridge the these emotions through that of two guests, either a couple, siblings, family members, and or friends.
"Escape to Neverland is an overnight immersive experience for you and your partner. A weekend getaway filled with unexpected wonder and curiosity that will make you forget all about #adulting. Enjoy Airbnb-quality hosting in addition to a series of other fun and engaging activities included in this unique overnight experience. We will ask you a series of questions during the booking process—please do this separately and not together. From there, you can enjoy an immersive experience that transports you and your partner straight into the childlike atmosphere of Neverland. Discover new things about yourself and your partner - and learn to truly embrace the youth and wonder that you may have left behind after years of being an adult."
We user tested with a couple of people, and eventually our experience was picked up by a couple.
"Escape to Neverland is an overnight immersive experience for you and your partner. A weekend getaway filled with unexpected wonder and curiosity that will make you forget all about #adulting. Enjoy Airbnb-quality hosting in addition to a series of other fun and engaging activities included in this unique overnight experience. We will ask you a series of questions during the booking process—please do this separately and not together. From there, you can enjoy an immersive experience that transports you and your partner straight into the childlike atmosphere of Neverland. Discover new things about yourself and your partner - and learn to truly embrace the youth and wonder that you may have left behind after years of being an adult."
We user tested with a couple of people, and eventually our experience was picked up by a couple.
Evelyn and Keith Kwong
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Sam Anderson and Tor Camorlinga
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The Experience
The experience itself was divided up into seven parts. Each part starts with a note to the couple, signaling certain events they were supposed to do or experience. Each note was hand-written and stained to look old, to match the atmosphere of our experience - we had created a whole 'island' in our experience. In order to elicit a more playful vibe and immersive experience throughout the house, we renamed all of the rooms and outdoor areas with Neverland-related terminology and created handmade signs for each respective area.
The experience was for the guests JD and Susan, a couple who immediately booked our experience.
The experience was for the guests JD and Susan, a couple who immediately booked our experience.
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The Story
The story was planned by me, split by various different 'scenes' that would be enacted throughout the afternoon and night. Before we could officially start the experience, we had to plan out just exactly what would happen. We had a rough idea of splitting them into about five to seven scenes, playing with the sense of nostalgia and sensation deprivation.
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Intro: Before Neverland
Surveys are sent out. Each partner in the couple needs to fill one out. The survey needs to be taken separately, and will ask each partner about how they feel about the relationship, things they’ve wanted to say to their partner, why they like being together, and what they wish they can do or have done in the past, or could be a memory that they cherish about their partner. There needs to be reassurance that most of this will be kept private, but will be used as 'prompts' to get them to start talking about their relationship with each other throughout the experience.
Surveys are sent out. Each partner in the couple needs to fill one out. The survey needs to be taken separately, and will ask each partner about how they feel about the relationship, things they’ve wanted to say to their partner, why they like being together, and what they wish they can do or have done in the past, or could be a memory that they cherish about their partner. There needs to be reassurance that most of this will be kept private, but will be used as 'prompts' to get them to start talking about their relationship with each other throughout the experience.
Guest Survey sent out separately.
Scene 1: Arriving in Neverland
The cottage is changed into a Neverland experience. There are no ‘electric lights’ in Neverland, but rather everything is is lighted by the daylight streaming through windows, or faerie lights /christmas lights. Evoking the feeling of stepping into a magical and somewhat youthful space. Smartphones are taken away and replaced with memory boxes (disposable cameras) as soon as they arrive, and they are greeted by Fairy Catherine. She introduces them to the first part of the experience: mapping out the house. The house is introduced by Catherine - but with a catch - one person cannot see but can listen to Fairy Catherine, and one person cannot hear but can see Fairy Catherine. This is so that they can rely on each other later for information they may have missed.
She also introduces the note function, in which there will be a chime and a door will be slipped into the 'Lost Boys Hideout' (the bedroom).
The cottage is changed into a Neverland experience. There are no ‘electric lights’ in Neverland, but rather everything is is lighted by the daylight streaming through windows, or faerie lights /christmas lights. Evoking the feeling of stepping into a magical and somewhat youthful space. Smartphones are taken away and replaced with memory boxes (disposable cameras) as soon as they arrive, and they are greeted by Fairy Catherine. She introduces them to the first part of the experience: mapping out the house. The house is introduced by Catherine - but with a catch - one person cannot see but can listen to Fairy Catherine, and one person cannot hear but can see Fairy Catherine. This is so that they can rely on each other later for information they may have missed.
She also introduces the note function, in which there will be a chime and a door will be slipped into the 'Lost Boys Hideout' (the bedroom).
Testers testing our first scene.
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Our notes guiding the experience.
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Scene 2: A playful dinner. (6:00pm)
The couple receive a note signaling them to go make dinner. The kitchen is set up with a basket chock full of ingredients for macaroni and cheese. There’s different sorts of shapes for them to choose from but it’s missing cheese! A note plus the Macaroni and Cheese recipe is included with the basket. It turns out that the pirates in pirates cove have taken the cheese! They must go take it back from them (they need to buy cheese from the local grocery market). During this time we set up the bedroom for the next scene.
The couple receive a note signaling them to go make dinner. The kitchen is set up with a basket chock full of ingredients for macaroni and cheese. There’s different sorts of shapes for them to choose from but it’s missing cheese! A note plus the Macaroni and Cheese recipe is included with the basket. It turns out that the pirates in pirates cove have taken the cheese! They must go take it back from them (they need to buy cheese from the local grocery market). During this time we set up the bedroom for the next scene.
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Scene 3: A Magical Fort
Primarily set in the bedroom, they would have to do an activity where they make a blanket fort. Materials are provided and should not limit their creativity, but keep in mind that the Mac and Cheese is cooking - this would be when they are waiting for the meal to bake. As they continue to build the pillow and blanket fort, music will gradually fade in from the Attic Playlist. Christmas lights are up. After they build the blanket fort, they’re free hang out inside - flashlights and books are provided!
Primarily set in the bedroom, they would have to do an activity where they make a blanket fort. Materials are provided and should not limit their creativity, but keep in mind that the Mac and Cheese is cooking - this would be when they are waiting for the meal to bake. As they continue to build the pillow and blanket fort, music will gradually fade in from the Attic Playlist. Christmas lights are up. After they build the blanket fort, they’re free hang out inside - flashlights and books are provided!
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Scene 4: S'mores (9:30pm)
Set up for the s'mores section, the couple hears the bell and Fairy Catherine slips this under the door.
"It’s time for a bedtime snack. Pirate’s Bay seems calm and quiet for the meantime, so we can head over there for a snack."
The Pirate Bay needs the firepit to be set up, and provide the chocolate, marshmallow, graham crackers, and sticks for them to use on the marshmallows. This is supposed to be a nice wind down after the cooking and fort making, and for them to hang out until they go to bed (we did not want to rush the guests, and we figured the s'mores would be a good touch for both childhood nostalgia and a midnight snack feeling).
Set up for the s'mores section, the couple hears the bell and Fairy Catherine slips this under the door.
"It’s time for a bedtime snack. Pirate’s Bay seems calm and quiet for the meantime, so we can head over there for a snack."
The Pirate Bay needs the firepit to be set up, and provide the chocolate, marshmallow, graham crackers, and sticks for them to use on the marshmallows. This is supposed to be a nice wind down after the cooking and fort making, and for them to hang out until they go to bed (we did not want to rush the guests, and we figured the s'mores would be a good touch for both childhood nostalgia and a midnight snack feeling).
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Scene 5: A Late Night Adventure (3:00am)
The guests are woken up by an alarm. If need be, they will be forced by Fairy Catherine to get up. They have to stay quiet as they ‘sneak’ and investigate the house. We wanted something in the middle of the night to both encourage the couple to bond and also to force the guests to do something in the dark - discovering something about themselves in the process. They will also discover a note guiding them, and a map of Neverland. The treasure map contains locations of where Insights (lights with notes attached) about the relationship for them to locate and find. It contains questions found from the survey and also what we may personalize for the relationship. It’s a way of discovery for the couple.
"Sorry for the… rude awakening. But we promise you, this is important for you guys. We have a special task for you. Follow the lights and look for something special. The map should help you."
The guests are then encouraged to use the insights to talk about themselves and their relationships.
The guests are woken up by an alarm. If need be, they will be forced by Fairy Catherine to get up. They have to stay quiet as they ‘sneak’ and investigate the house. We wanted something in the middle of the night to both encourage the couple to bond and also to force the guests to do something in the dark - discovering something about themselves in the process. They will also discover a note guiding them, and a map of Neverland. The treasure map contains locations of where Insights (lights with notes attached) about the relationship for them to locate and find. It contains questions found from the survey and also what we may personalize for the relationship. It’s a way of discovery for the couple.
"Sorry for the… rude awakening. But we promise you, this is important for you guys. We have a special task for you. Follow the lights and look for something special. The map should help you."
The guests are then encouraged to use the insights to talk about themselves and their relationships.
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Scene 6: Breakfast in Neverland (8:30am)
"Glad to catch you bright and early, breakfast is served in the Cook’s Galley. Come out when you’re ready, but don’t be too late or else the beasts might sweep up your delectable treats."
They are then served breakfast from one of the neighborhood joints. The breakfast is set out on the table, but the time for the experience to end draws near. Another note awaits them with their breakfast.
"The time to leave Neverland draws near, but fret not, for Neverland will always be within you. Not everyone believes in such a magical place, but with the photos you have taken and the memories you have created together, proof of Neverland will live on. Return the memory boxes with the keys when you depart Neverland."
They are asked to write letters for each other with the provided envelopes during breakfast, and to leave by 11am so that we can clean up the experience. We wanted to get feedback from both of them, and wanted to see how they experienced it.
"Glad to catch you bright and early, breakfast is served in the Cook’s Galley. Come out when you’re ready, but don’t be too late or else the beasts might sweep up your delectable treats."
They are then served breakfast from one of the neighborhood joints. The breakfast is set out on the table, but the time for the experience to end draws near. Another note awaits them with their breakfast.
"The time to leave Neverland draws near, but fret not, for Neverland will always be within you. Not everyone believes in such a magical place, but with the photos you have taken and the memories you have created together, proof of Neverland will live on. Return the memory boxes with the keys when you depart Neverland."
They are asked to write letters for each other with the provided envelopes during breakfast, and to leave by 11am so that we can clean up the experience. We wanted to get feedback from both of them, and wanted to see how they experienced it.
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