Our first encounter with an immersive experience in a post-Covid world did not disappoint, but it did leave us with some “ah-ha” moments we wish we’d prepared for.

So, like the gigantic dweebs we are, we compiled this listicle in the hopes of passing our geekery on to you fine folks. And don’t worry, we’re keeping this spoiler-free so you can prep without being worried we’re going to ruin the theatrical magic!

This was the opening week for the all-new Stranger Things: The Drive-Into Experience created by Secret Cinema and Fever Events. Based on the titular Netflix series, the immersive experience takes cars full of people into a themed environment based on Season 3 of the show.

Because of this, we spent the afternoon before our booking re-watching Season 3, assembling a totally rad 80s-themed puzzle, and eating junk food. It was an excuse to really Stranger Things it up. We found a recent re-watch was helpful, but not essential to enjoying the event. By the time our reservation rolled around at 10:15, we were in Downtown LA and ready to be transported to Hawkins, Indiana.

A couple things you should know right off the bat:

· You need a rezzy. You will absolutely need a confirmed time slot to attend. If you want to check it out, make a reservation as soon as possible because it’s booked out for a few months.

· You need a car. They do a great job of social distancing and Covid-19 safety protocols throughout the event. Because of this, you’re in your car for the entire experience.

All the really important questions can be found on the FAQs of the event page. In an effort to not duplicate those logistics, we’re going to focus on the more nuanced aspects of attending this drive-into experience. Why? Because Friends Don’t Lie. So without further ado, here’s our list of recommendations as you travel to your very own Hawkins High 1985 Reunion.

#7. Be ready to put the phone down.

If you’ve never heard of Secret Cinema before, allow me to explode your brain. They’re a London-based entertainment company that creates insanely immersive events to put attendees into favorite movies. Think of getting to live for a few hours in the worlds of James Bond, Blade Runner, or Moulin Rouge. (Their recap video of their Empire Strikes Back almost made me cry, kids.) Anyway, all of that to say that Secret Cinema is about participating in the moment. If you were planning on recording or photographing your Stranger Things encounter, you should know they ask you to put your phones away once you enter the main structure.

#6. What they meant by “food available for purchase.”

I’m not sure how many times on this blog I’m going to say, “Gosh, I love themed food and beverage,” BUT GOSH I LOVE THEMED FOOD AND BEVERAGE. If a dish or drink is named or styled after something I’m participating in, it’s often the make-or-break for me purchasing it. The website said there would be food available for purchase, but no one said anything about the Starcourt Mall offering actual Scoops Ahoy ice cream. If I’d know the food was themed, I would have planned on saving room in my tummy for it, and that’s why I’m sharing this valuable information with you now. That being said, I did manage to split a $9 Scoops Ahoy Chocolate Cannonball and Vanilla Overboard with Alex because when the hell am I going to have the opportunity to do that again? Sorry, tummy.

#5. Set appropriate expectations.

I’m not going to spoil any of the storytelling or theatrics you’re going to encounter at Stranger Things: The Drive-Into Experience because I’m not a jerk, but I do want to help level set a little bit so you don’t show up hoping they’re going to strap your car to a roller coaster and shoot you into a re-creation of the Upside Down that spans 14 football fields. So – in the most vague and spoiler-free way possible – I’d suggest planning for a lightly-themed staging area where they hold you before you head in, an interactive pre-show (pictured above) complete with food and beverage for sale and access to a restroom, and a three-act immersive drive-through. The pre-show is roughly half your experience time, so rather than tolerate it waiting to get to the drive-through part, really get into the fun and games. The website says plan on an hour, but Alex and I were there for closer to 2 hours, most of which was waiting in the staging and pre-show areas.

#4. Dress up and get into the fun, if that’s your thing.

Part of the Secret Cinema magic is getting a character assigned to you. After booking, you’ll get an email to a Hawkins Reunion website with faux news articles, themed updates and even a name and profile for the alum you’ll be portraying. Is it really necessary to enjoy the the night? Nope. But did Alex and I have fun with our Hawkins personalities Catherine Ward and Tom “Sandy” Pugh? Absolutely. The site provides links that take you to Fashion Forward so you can shop curated looks and pick up some official Hawkins High merchandise. Alex and I are weirdos who already have costume pieces in our closets, so there was nothing stopping us from busting out our 80s duds and dressing up as Catherine and Sandy. Even though we never left our cars, it was nice to feel like we were getting ready to go out somewhere.

#3. Listen to the radio.

Radio is a big part of this shindig. You need to tune your car’s FM radio to several specific stations during the event to get the audio from the performances. But there’s another really immersive aspect of radio that I wish I’d planned for. Stranger Things: The Drive-Into Experience has a Dash Radio station called Hawkins Radio featuring 80s music and a DJ setting the stage for 1985 in Hawkins. Alex and I listened to 80s pop while we got ready, but we didn’t even look into the Dash Radio station until we were halfway to the venue. The quirky commentary from the DJ is reason enough to tune-in and pump yourself up for your Hawkins High Reunion. I’d recommend downloading the Dash Radio app in advance because it seems to play better from the app versus the website.

#2. The driver’s experience is a little different than the passenger’s experience.

This was a good point that Alex brought up after the fact: the driver does have a different role than the passenger. Alex had to be on alert for when it was time to advance the car forward in a queue, had to follow the instructions of the staff as they staged and parked and directed our cars, and had to slowly weave through cones during a segment of the event. While all the major “show” segments take place with everyone parked, there was still a sense of awareness Alex had to have because he never knew when it would be time to move. If you are the biggest fan of Stranger Things in your car, consider being a passenger so your only job is to soak up the details. If you’re driving, make sure you’re comfortable taking the lead getting everyone to the Upside Down and back again. Also note that we were a two-person car, and the view from a backseat may be slightly different; some segments did have the action taking place toward the front of the vehicles.

#1. Wash your damn car.

Is this the #1 takeaway from this seriously nerdy list of suggestions? Yes. Yes, it is. It rained the morning before our booking so Alex’s car had some classically-LA dust droplets all over the windshield. We didn’t think anything of it until we tried to take pre-show photos from inside the car and realized the dirty windows made the photos less than pristine. TL:DR, wash your car on the way over. Or, better yet, make the car wash part of your event night: find a cool light-up car wash, crank up some 80s tunes, and get your car Stranger Things ready. You can thank us later.

All in all, Stranger Things: The Drive-Into Experience was a welcome little escape from our boring, quarantined lives.

It felt like a loving tribute to the series, and we had a great time getting into the 80s sci-fi spirit for a day. We hope you enjoy your night as much as Catherine Ward and Tom “Sandy” Pugh did!

Top 7 things we wish we’d known before Stranger Things: The Drive-Into Experience