Winter Sucks, but a Nuclear Winter Sucks Even More – Room: Aftermath – April 22, 2018

ESCAPE ROOM REVIEW – THE QUICK AND DIRTY

Play if… you have your own bunker or have one designed in your head.

Avoid if… the fear of being locked in an underground bunker by an automated computer system for the rest of your life makes you a little, um, well, uneasy.


THE BASICS

Exit Plan:

Address: 201 Royal St SE, Suite F, Leesburg, VA 20147 (click address for Google Map)

Contact and Website: 703-777-4710
https://exitplanva.com

The Room – Aftermath:

Description (from the company website): Earth’s nuclear holocaust is over and after several years the air is finally breathable again. The shelter Network has unlocked the airlock for one hour. If the airlock is not utilized in that hour, the Network will assume everyone is dead and seal the shelter forever. It is up to you to follow the clues and unravel the puzzles the Caretaker created to ensure his safety. In the end it led to his demise…will it lead to yours??

Difficulty (1-10)8/10

Time Limit: 60 minutes

Cost: $29 per person – Use ERGUYS15 to get 15% off per person when booking your reservation for any of their rooms

Identifier: R1

Party Size: 2-8

Staging Area: EXIT Plan has a great reception area (two, actually) with lots of chairs. There is a large flight of stairs to reach the main lobby.

Metro Access/Parking: This spot is in downtown Leesburg in the historic district. Lots of street parking, and there is a small lot right behind Macdowell Brew Kitchen.


OUR EXPERIENCE

This is the video we took before we entered the room:

This is the video we took just after we completed the room:

Note: The ERG were given the opportunity to try out this room for free, with the understanding that we would continue to provide an honest review and follow the same process we’ve used on all of our other ratings.

Logistics:

Description of the room: You start out in a very bare bunker with nothing but a flashing light [Kill me now… -Jason] and a locker and some stuff on the walls, but that changes quickly (in our case, at least).

Understanding of the Mission: A very straightforward mission: find your way out of the bunker into the airlock so that you’re not sealed in forever.

Did We Escape: Yes

Time Remaining: 10:06 minutes

Our Suggested Party Size: This room is rated 2-8 people, and we had 6 experienced people, which should be good number.

Did the room challenge the entire team? Yes

Members of our team (other than the ERG): Steph, Heather, Steph

Team Disturbed Friends (Steph, Mike, Heather, Steph, and Jason) were able to emerge from the hidden bunker before being sealed in for eternity.

Worth the time and money? yes

Where to Eat/Drink Before/After:

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So This is What It Feels Like to Be a Sardine – Room: Abandoned Submarine – August 6, 2017

ESCAPE ROOM REVIEW – THE QUICK AND DIRTY

Play if… you love underwater thrillers like The Abyss or Leviathan.

Avoid if… you dislike dark, creepy, and eerie places.


THE BASICS

A-Escape:

Address: 353 New Leicester Highway, Office Suite F, Asheville, NC 28806 (click address for Google Map) – look for the red door

Note: Check out our interview with Kyle, one of the owners of A-Escape, for some more background on the design and what thinking went into the development of this room.

Contact and Website: 252-621-0341
www.a-escape.com

The Room – Abandoned Submarine:

Description (from the company website): Approximately three days ago  the U.S.S. Fortitude failed to check in at its scheduled time. What followed was a series of eerie communications from the submarine, followed by complete silence. The sub has gone dark, and the status of its crew is unknown.

Your team is being sent down to investigate. Just remember: In the deep, no one can hear you scream.

Difficulty (1-10): not rated

Time Limit: 60 minutes

Cost: $15 per person

Identifier: R1

Party Size: Up to 8 people

Staging Area: A lobby with a few chairs and some puzzles on the walls. They have puzzles on the bathroom walls as well.

Metro Access/Parking: It’s in Asheville, so you’ll need a car.


OUR EXPERIENCE

This is the video we took before we entered the room:

This is the video we took just after we completed the room:

Logistics:

Description of the room: Your initial room (and part of the mission) is to travel  down to the abandoned sub in an underwater craft and dock with it.

Understanding of the Mission: Enter the submarine, SECRET MISSION POINT 2, find out what happened to the crew, and SECRET MISSION POINT 4.

Did We Escape: Affirmative

Time Remaining: 18:29 – number 2 on the Leaderboard!

Our Suggested Party Size: 6 was perfect

Did the room challenge the entire team? Yes

Members of our team (other than the ERG): Corey, Brittany and Heather

Team Disturbed Friends (Corey, Brittany, Heather, Jason and Mike) solved the mystery of the missing submarine and made the leaderboard at A-Escape in Asheville, NC!

Worth the time and money? Yes

Where to Eat/Drink Before/After: Lots of places in Asheville, so Google it.

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It’s Pronounced "Nuc-U-Ler"… – Room: The Bunker – September 11, 2016

ESCAPE ROOM REVIEW – THE QUICK AND DIRTY

Play if… you love caves.

Avoid if… nuclear war is one of your paralyzing phobias.


THE BASICS

Escape Quest:

Address: 1127 King Street, Ste. 200, Alexandria, VA 22314 (click address for Google Map)

Contact and Website: 703-574-8175
https://escapequestdc.com/

The Room – The Bunker:

Description (from the company website): You and your team of elite soldiers are given a mission to infiltrate a top-secret military bunker and to stop a nuclear missile about to be launched . You have 60 minutes to stop the launch and escape the bunker before time runs out!

Difficulty (1-10)7/10

Time Limit: 60 minutes

Cost: $28 + tax per person

Identifier: R1

Party Size: Up to 8

Staging Area: Lobby has a lot of space to sit on couches and chairs, and the tables have a few puzzles to work on and get your mind revved up before starting your room. The front desk attendant will also offer a small bottle of water. Restrooms are right next to the lobby.

Metro Access/Parking: King Street metro w/ a .4 mile walk (or take the free King Street Trolley to N. Payne St.); street/garage parking.


OUR EXPERIENCE

Logistics:

Description of the room: You enter an underground bunker that looks like it was built during WWII. Lots of military equipment around.

Understanding of the Mission: Rescue a comrade, find a way to stop the launch of a nuclear weapon, and escape the bunker.

Did We Escape: yes

Time Remaining: This one was close. Single digit minutes remaining.

Our Suggested Party Size: We thought 6 was perfect.

Did the room challenge the entire team? Yes.

Members of our team (other than the ERG): Tammy, Bill and Stephanie.

escapequest_bunker

Worth the time and money? yes

Where to Eat/Drink Before/After:

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Give Me a Gun and Get Out of My Way! – Room: 13 Hours – January 29, 2016

ESCAPE ROOM REVIEW – THE QUICK AND DIRTY

Play if… you have a thing for people in uniform.

Avoid if… you aren’t a member of the NRA.


THE BASICS

Escape Room Live Glover Park: – LOCATION CLOSED

Address: 2300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Suites G-102, Washington, DC 20007
(Entrance is DOWN the stairs off of Hall Place NW) (click address for a Google Map)

Contact and Website: 800-616-4880
http://www.escaperoomlive.com
hi@escaperoomlive.com

The Room – 13 Hours (temporarily replaced Double Crossed):

Description (from the company website): This room was a temporary room associated with the 13 Hours movie. As such, the description is no longer available on the site, but our military team was dropped behind enemy lines to complete a mission and find the target of an upcoming attack, radio the coordinates to base and then request an evacuation.

Difficulty (1-10)unlisted

Time Limit: 45 minutes

Cost: $28 + tax per person but use ERGUYS15 when booking to save 15% off per ticket.

Identifier: T1

Party Size: Up to 8

Staging Area: The lobby to this location was downstairs in what I believe is the basement level of the building. There were couches and some games to keep you busy.

Metro Access/Parking: Tenleytown and then the bus down Wisconsin Avenue, or Dupont Circle and the bus up Massachusetts are your best bets. There’s no metro right by, so you’ll have to drive and find a place to park. Probably better to Uber/Lyft.


OUR EXPERIENCE

Logistics:

Description of the room: The room itself was small but packed with goodies: Bookcases, maps, cigars.

Understanding of the Mission: We had to find the target for the attacks and then radio in the coordinates and request an evac.

Did We Escape: Yes

Time Remaining: 6:43

Our Suggested Party Size: Doesn’t matter anymore as this room has been replaced, but 6 people worked well.

Did the room challenge the entire team? Yes

Members of our team (other than the ERG): Dennis, Dennis’ wife, Chris and Dalia.

We completed the mission! Members of the elite squad were Dennis, Jason, Dennis' wife, Chris, Mike and Dalia. Photo courtesy of Escape Room Live Glover Park's Facebook page.
We completed the mission! Members of the elite squad were Dennis, Jason, Dennis’ wife, Chris, Mike and Dalia. Photo courtesy of Escape Room Live Glover Park’s Facebook page.

Worth the time and money? Yes

Where to Eat/Drink Before/After:

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