3 Reasons Lewis Carroll Would’ve Loved Escape Games

Lewis Carroll, self-portrait, c. 1856

While he was born into the world as Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, history—and generations upon generations of children—knows him best as Lewis Carroll. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was released into the world in 1865, followed six years later by the sequel, Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There.

And ever since then, Wonderland and its cast of characters have been a part of our world.

This includes us at Krakit Vancouver Escape Game: we’ve found inspiration in the fascinating world Carroll created for our latest escape room: the Wonderland Room.

Not only does Alice’s journey down the rabbit hole and her bid for escape make a great escape room theme, but we have a sneaking suspicion Carroll would’ve been a master of escape himself, if he had lived to take part in the escape phenomenon.

1. He was a polymath

Though he’s best known for his two books about Alice and her Wonderland, Carroll was also a mathematician, a logician, a photographer, and a deacon. Phew! With a wide knowledge base like that, Carroll would have a good chance at answering any trivia question thrown at him.

2. He loved riddles

To make your way out of an escape room in the allotted time—at Krakit, you have 45 minutes—you’re going to encounter a riddle or two or three. Wonderland is positively riddled with riddles, and, as it turns out, Carroll is responsible for one of the most famous head scratchers around: “Why a raven is like a writing desk?”

3. He had serious imagination

The most important ingredient of an escape game whiz? Great imagination. While logic and linear thinking are great assets in an escape room, the ability to get creative and think way outside the box is what will inevitably get you the win.http://www.krakit.ca/

Fall down the rabbit hole and into our Wonderland Vancouver escape room by booking a spot for you and your pals here. (Costumes optional!)

Once Upon an Escape Game: 3 Modern Fairy Tales that Should Definitely Be Escape Rooms

Technically, a fairy tale should come from a folk tale and be so old we’re definitely not sure who the “original author” was. But who needs technicalities!

Here at Krakit Vancouver Escape Game, we think any good story that has a little bit of magic and a whole lot of delight for both kids and adults is worthy of being called a fairy tale. We refuse to discriminate against recently written stories—especially when they’d make top-notch escape games, like our three faves below.

1. Alice in Wonderland

Has there ever been anyone more desperate to escape their situation than poor Alice? Lewis Carroll’s beloved children’s tale sees Alice thrown into all sorts of bizarre situations that take some serious wits to escape, along with a riddle-spewing Cheshire Cat to throw spanners into the works.

Could you get out of Alice’s mind-altering Wonderland in 45 minutes or less? Because we’re not so sure.

2. The Princess Bride

Whether it’s Wesley trying to escape the torture dungeon of his true love’s soon-to-be husband or Princess Buttercup trying to flee from her captors (and the shrieking eels), The Princess Bride is all about daring escapes. Really, you could do an entire escape game themed solely on the Fire Swamp and those dastardly ROUS’s.

3. Spirited Away

The most recently written fairy tale we’d like to see turned into an escape room is Hayao Miyazaki’s modern masterpiece Spirited Away. Like Alice, Chihiro finds herself engulfed in a strange and unusual world full of tasks she must complete to get herself and her parents home to the real world. And a Spirited Away escape game wouldn’t be lacking in great visuals, that’s for definite.

Fall down the rabbit hole of our Vancouver escape game by booking here: http://bookeo.com/krakit. Our Alice in Wonderland escape room opens Wednesday, August 31!

The Fascinating World of Alice in Wonderland

There are few people out there who don’t know something about Alice in Wonderland. Even if you haven’t read the book or seen the classic 1951 Disney film or Tim Burton’s more recent live-action version, you at least know about Alice and her trip down the rabbit hole.

And what a strange trip it is. Though written as a children’s tale, there are some seriously sinister aspects to Lewis Carroll’s tale. Like Roald Dahl, with his great number of equally off-kilter children's stories, Carroll knew that kids don't want perfect shiny bubblegum stories.

This more realistic picture of childhood imagination is what gives Alice in Wonderland its staying power. In fact, the story has even reached beyond the realm of film and literature, into the real world.

The Mad Hatter, illustration by John Tenniel

The Rabbit Hole

First things first: that rabbit hole. Alice goes on and on about how her own ideal world would be a “wonderland.” It’s a nice thought, but then the next thing that happens is she stumbles into a rather terrifying free fall after innocently following a cute white rabbit.

It doesn’t take long for us to realize that Alice’s Wonderland isn’t going to be quite what we expected from its name.

Alice In Wonderland Syndrome

Next up, Alice has to go through an ordeal during which she’s required to drink unidentified potions and tonics that do strange things to her body: make her big, make her small, stretch her neck, and so on.

Turns out this sensation isn’t just confined to children’s novels. Alice in Wonderland Syndrome is a real neurological condition in which people feel like different parts of their body change size and shape. In fact, Lewis Carroll is said to have suffered from this condition himself.

Mad Hatter Disease

Another part of Alice in Wonderland that reaches into real life is the character of the Mad Hatter. Most likely based on an eccentric furniture dealer Carroll knew, the Hatter also displays symptoms of erethism, otherwise known as mercury poisoning or "mad hatter disease."

In the 19th century—when Alice was written—hat makers used mercury to help shape the chapeaus they made, leading, unfortunately, to hallucinations, excessive excitability, muscle spasms, and suicidal tendencies.

The Cheshire Cat

Equally parts frightening and friendly, one of the most memorable parts of Alice in Wonderland is the Cheshire Cat. Ostensibly her friend, the Cheshire Cat is still a bit too creepy to trust fully (what with that disappearing grin trick). The mixed feelings we all have about the Cheshire Cat offer an excellent lesson to children while offering up a few thrills.

To undertake your own trippy adventure, you can book a go in one of Krakit’s four Vancouver escape rooms here: http://bookeo.com/krakit.