FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
CHANGING MY BOOKING DATE OR TIME ADDING PLAYERS TO A BOOKING MINORS
Q: WHAT IS AN ESCAPE ROOM?
A: Escape rooms are a fun group game where you have 60 minutes to find clues, solve puzzles, and accomplish a mission in a themed environment. You and your group are briefed, then you enter the "room." Inside, you’ll use your powers of observation and puzzle-solving along with some really cool tools (props) to beat the overall objective of that particular room, before time runs out. For a short history of escape rooms, check this out.
Q: WHAT DOES “THEME-PARK-QUALITY ESCAPE ROOM®” MEAN?
A: There’s a wide range in quality of escape games, and ESCAPE! Alaska’s rooms are the only ones in the State of Alaska that are designed and built by entertainment professionals. Our local team includes a two-time Emmy winner and we use Hollywood professionals to build sets and props that are closer to what you’d experience at a major theme park than the average escape room. From sound effects and lighting to musical scores and even hint delivery, ESCAPE! Alaska Theme-Park-Quality Escape Rooms® truly are on another level.
Q: HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
A: ESCAPE! Alaska Theme-Park-Quality Escape Rooms are only $37.50 per person.
Q: CAN WE ADD PLAYERS TO OUR BOOKING?
Of course! Once you've booked a time, that slot will show online as "SOLD OUT,” to keep all bookings private. If you would like to add players to a booking, you may do that upon check-in, provided your total number of players will not be more than 10. If your requested additions put your group too far over the recommended size for the game, you may need to consider adding a second game and splitting the players into two groups. The cost would remain the same even if you book multiple rooms, as the charge is simply based on number of players.
Q: CAN KIDS PLAY?
A: ESCAPE! Alaska attractions are designed for adults and, as such, may not be safe for younger children. For their safety and the safety of our props and sets, all minors aged 12-17 must be paid for, accompanied by at least one parent, and each child’s waiver must be signed by their parent or legal guardian. There are additional deposits and fees for groups with children aged 9-11. Infants and toddlers are welcome provided they remain strapped in a carrier worn by an adult, or secured in a stroller for the game's duration, but mobile children up to 9 years of age are not permitted.
Q: DO YOU HOST EVENTS?
A: Yes, we love when we get to help guests plan a celebration! Birthdays, bachelor/bachelorette parties, anniversaries, even training and team building. We have a large, comfortable lobby that’s perfect for socializing, and there are even ways to integrate a gift (or surprise engagement ring) into the games. Give us a call and let’s plan an amazing kickoff for an unforgettable day!
Q: HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?
A: Allowing for check-in time, 60 minutes of actual escape room play, and a group photo afterward, the whole experience typically takes about an hour and twenty minutes. Unless, of course, you beat the room and escape early!
Q: ARE WE ACTUALLY LOCKED IN THE ROOM?
A: No. Although the escape rooms at ESCAPE! Alaska are designed to be intense thematically, and the narrative is that you are locked inside, that is merely the storyline you're playing. You may leave the attraction at any time. Your Game Director will instruct you as to how you may exit early, should you find it necessary.
Q: HOW MANY HINTS DO WE GET?
A: Most groups try to stick to the typical “3 HINTS” in a game, but if you still get stuck, it’s no fun to just stand around staring at the walls while time runs out. If you need and want a few more nudges, the room will provide.
Q: IS IT OKAY IF WE HAVE A FEW DRINKS BEFORE PLAYING?
A: While we do appreciate a fine adult beverage, they do not pair well with escape rooms. For the safety of our guests, employees, props, and sets, if ESCAPE! Alaska staff smells alcohol or suspects anyone in your group to be impaired, the game may be canceled without refund.
Q: IS IT OKAY TO SMOKE BEFORE PLAYING?
A: Any substance that could impair a player or creates a lingering odor (especially marijuana), any smell we believe may persist in the room for the following group, will be cause to refuse the players entry without refund. If we can smell it in the lobby, it will most certainly linger after an hour in an escape room.
Smoking or vaping anywhere inside ESCAPE! Alaska is prohibited, as is smoking within 20 feet of our entrance (Municipal Code).
Q: IS IT SCARY?
A: While THE TOMB does contain a little ancient Egyptian mysticism, and guests often say they “get chills” during the game, there are no inentional scares in the standard version. During Halloween we may also offer an alternate TOMB that IS creepy and scary, but you get to choose the version you want to play. In NOIR, there may be startling moments, but again, it is not designed to scare.
Our next escape room, however, currently in development at ESCAPE! Alaska, is a whole other story.
Q: WILL WE BE GROUPED WITH STRANGERS?
A: At this time all ESCAPE! Alaska bookings are private, so you will only be playing with the people you bring.
Q: DO YOU ACCEPT WALK-INS?
A: Posted hours of operation represent hours available for bookings, and does not guarantee availability for walk-ins. While we will gladly put you in a room at the last second if we have one available, it’s rare that a group walks in without a reservation and gets to play. Almost all our guests book in advance (hours, if not days), so there’s a high probability we will not have an open game for walk-in groups.
During business hours when there are no booked games, we may be off site at our shop working hard on building Alaska’s next Theme-Park-Quality Escape Room®, or we could simply be in the back seizing the opportunity to perform routine maintenance, so it’s always a good idea to email or call before stopping by.
You can do a quick check for availability by clicking the big, red BOOK NOW button and looking at the calendar for that day.
Q: CAN I GET A REFUND IF I CAN'T MAKE MY SCHEDULED TIME?
A: ESCAPE! Alaska will be happy to reschedule you for a day and time that does work for you, provided you give us at least 4 hours notice. You may also request an e-Gift Card to be used at a later date. Due to the constraints of time lost when a scheduled game is missed, all bookings are non-refundable and we can only reschedule a group once. Changes made to a booking less than 4 hours will incur a $50 rebooking fee. No Call/No Show at time of booking forfeits all rescheduling and gift card options, without refund. At 30 minutes after your appointment time, the game will be closed.
Q: WE HAVE A LARGER GROUP. CAN WE BRING MORE THAN THE MAX FOR A GIVEN ROOM?
A: Yes. ESCAPE! Alaska managers may allow a few additional guests beyond the max suggested for the room, but only under the following conditions:
1. The number of guests does not exceed fire code.
2. Every player in the room must pay admission and have a signed waiver.
The max number for each room has been determined to be the most people who can comfortably play the room at one time. Adding players could dampen your enjoyment.
Q: WHERE’S THE BATHROOM?
A: At the end of the lobby and to the right.
Q: IS ESCAPE! ALASKA JUST ANOTHER FRANCHISE OR BIG COMPANY FROM THE OUTSIDE?
A: Nope. It may not look like it, but we are a small family-owned business with one location. Anchorage has been our home since Grandpa Miller moved here in the 1960s, and we remember a time with way fewer entertainment options in the 907. While we use industry professionals in the construction of some set pieces and props to ensure a true theme-park-quality experience, ESCAPE! Alaska games are all designed and built locally. Our goal is to provide Alaskans with a level of entertainment typically reserved for much bigger cities.