When Rachel and I were first asked to join the planning committee to design a Colonial Williamsburg Escape Room game, we had no idea what we were getting into. To be totally honest, it was the first time we’d even heard of what’s apparently becoming quite the craze. (Check Facebook—all the cool kids are doing it!). Since we’re both awesome at puzzles and Rachel is a walking history book when it comes to the Revolution, we thought—piece of cake. Right? Wrong!
It didn’t take us long to realize these weren’t your typical crossword puzzles and brain teasers. And sorry to all you history lovers out there—it doesn’t give you an advantage in this challenge! But before I get too far into the actual experience, let’s back up to the beginning—for those of you who aren’t familiar with how these Escape Rooms work.
We arrived at the Raleigh Tavern promptly at 6:00 where we met the other employee volunteers in our group. Our President and CEO Mitchell Reiss was there with his wife Elisabeth (who by the way, is quite a determined lady once she sets her mind to something), along with a couple of directors from within the marketing department, guest service representatives from the Visitor Center, and well, us.
We were all immediately marched into the Apollo Room by a British officer who informed us we were all under suspicion of being rebels against the King. He then asked us to leave our belongings, including our cell phones (gasp), and proceed to the adjoining Daphne Room. He explained that we had exactly one hour before he would return to interrogate us. The next thing we knew the door had slammed shut, and the key turned to lock us in. The only way out? Solve the clues and ultimately find the key to freedom.
Everyone immediately broke off into small groups and started picking up and turning over pamphlets, paintings, and other clues. Initially, we planned our attacks in teams of two and three. It wasn’t long before we realized there was strength in numbers. We had to work collectively (not competitively) to figure out the clues. That’s why our number one tip is to work together! If we’d shifted to that mentality just a little bit sooner, we may have solved all five of the clues instead of just three. Maybe.
Our second bit of advice? Consider everything! Don’t be shy or self conscious about speaking up. When you get stuck or frustrated, call over a fresh set of eyes. Often, that’s exactly what it took to mentally bring the whole picture together or to connect the riddles. And it doesn’t matter who cracks the code, the entire room will cheer when someone unlocks a clue!
Another word to the wise: don’t focus too much on the time. That’s a tough challenge when an angry British officer is periodically busting into the room to announce the countdown to his commanding officer’s arrival and your impending punishment. But… just take a deep breath. Focus on the task at hand, and try not to think about the ticking clock or the setting sun.
Finally, while we recognize some kids may be up to the challenge and we do consider this a family-friendly event, the content in these clues (in our opinion) is geared more toward the 13 and older demographic. I mean, just about everyone in our group was over the age of 30—and we couldn’t break free!
That brings us to our final plea. Whether you participate and win or give it your best and don’t manage to escape, don’t forget to take your pictures at the end (when your cell phones are returned). Upload those pics to Instagram with #EscapetheKing and #EscapetheRoom. That way, you can keep track of who ends up friends of the Crown and who breaks free to become friends of the colonies! And of course, we’re all dying to know who will be the first to Escape the King!
There you have it. That’s our honest review of the game and advice to those of you interested in playing. If you want to test it out, grab your friends and call to reserve your FREE tickets. That’s right, for a limited time, it doesn’t cost a shilling to participate. Here’s the link for more information. We only ask that you take five minutes at the end of the game to complete a survey about your experience. Space is limited, so call or visit a ticket location today!
We leave you with parting thoughts from the rest of the gang. Good luck and God speed!
“I loved the authenticity and atmosphere. It’s the real deal and you do it exactly where the colonists lived and worked in the 18th century.”
-Skip Ferebee/Director, Consumer Strategy & Sales
“Be sure to talk/work with your team members… No idea is too ‘out there’—consider everything!”
-Sherri Powers/Director, Productions, Publications, and Learning Ventures
“Our ‘captor’ really set the stage and made us feel like we’d gone back in time. A little humor and a whole lot of attitude gave us a sense of urgency—we wanted to solve the clues to escape. And quickly!”
-Jessica Hann/Director, Enterprise Marketing and Digital Content
“The 60 minutes goes by quickly so make sure you use every minute you’re given!”
-Mary Cimaglio/Consumer Sales Strategist
We are looking forward to taking our turn this evening. With a possibility of storms in the area, my hope is that we do indeed get a bit of rain and thunder. I imagine that will make it that much more…exhilarating.
We have tweaked the game just a tiny bit, and our guests can now boast a higher success rate!
For those considering taking the plunge and playing this game, know that it is possible to “escape the king”-our group did!