Dialogue in the Dark

CLOSED IN ATLANTA — MARCH 2012
«Please note that after 3.5 years the exhibition in Atlanta closed it’s doors in March 2012. In the US Dialogue in the Dark can still be visited in New York.
E-​Mail:
»

I’ve waited years to come here and I finally got a chance to when Groupon finally had a deal on it. Two tickets for the price of one, I believe. My boyfriend and I went to get the tickets today since it only allows for entrance the day you plan to visit. There was a very long line since It was also the day the Groupon for it expires. Later on, our tour guide told us that today was the last day they will have the exhibit.
Overall, it was a great experience. You don’t realize how much we rely on our vision until you attend this exhibit. I won’t provide details by details of everything that happened in case you want to visit it in the future (if it comes back). This exhibit is just one thing you have to cross off of your bucket list of things you will do before you die.
Loved every moment of it. The tour guides are visually impaired. They give you a walking stick. They have cameras to ensure safety. Lockers are also provided free of charge to place your items in before starting the experience. Bring cash and coins for one part of the experience.

Since I have really, REALLY poor eyesight myself, I went through a period of time when I seriously feared the possibility (however slim it may be) of becoming blind. So when I heard about Dialog in the Dark a few years ago, I was very interested in the concept of walking around and «experiencing» a world of complete darkness. However, I wasn’t sure if it would be worth the regular ticket price of $ 26+, so I hesitated in actually checking out the exhibition until recently.
Fortunately for me, there was an amazing deal on Half Off Depot last November, so I bought a ticket voucher for $ 10.40! I made one of my friends buy the deal with me so that we could go together, and I finally went to Dialog in the Dark last Friday.
When I redeemed our vouchers for tickets around 1 pm, the latest tour time available was 6:36 pm since they had already sold out of their very last time — 7 pm. If you have a deal voucher, you need to get to the ticket window as soon as they open (check their business hours) if you want to get into their latest showing of the day. If you miss your time, they will NOT let you come back another day or provide you with a refund!
Although the ticket says to arrive 30 minutes prior to the tour time, the employee at the ticket window told me just to be sure to arrive about 15 minutes before tour time because they absolutely do NOT let latecomers into the tour. When I arrived around 6:20 pm, it took a few minutes to wait in line while people signed their injury waivers (which they require everyone to sign prior to the tour). Then, we were free to put our things in the lockers they provide free of charge. Be sure to leave any glow-​in-​the-​dark items (like some watches) in the locker!
The experience in the dark takes a little less than an hour, and since some reviewers have provided detailed explanations of what to expect (with spoiler warnings), I won’t go into it. Our guide informed us that he was able to see until 7 years ago, when a disease took his sight. He said that he still «sees» in his dreams, and often woke up to panic attacks around the time he first lost his sight because he would momentarily forget that he was blind. He was a wonderful guide and my heart really went out for him, his wife, and his children who have had to adjust to their husband and father being blind.
Overall, Dialog in the Dark easily gets 5 stars for providing such a unique and amazing experience in the pitch dark. I was definitely a little scared throughout the experience, and as the guide had explained, the walking stick and walls are really your best friends when you are blind. I think that everyone should take the opportunity to check out Dialog in the Dark A.S.A.P. because it’s truly a once-​in-​a-​lifetime experience (hopefully) for many of us who can see, and they are closing their Atlanta location on March 11^th!
*TIP/​SPOILER ALERT* Be sure to bring 3 one dollar bills (or $ 2.50 exactly, but they will give you change) to buy yourself a soda (or water) near the end of the experience. They don’t take anything more than $ 3, so if you only have a $ 5 bill, you’re out of luck. It’s really neat because your sense of taste really comes alive in the dark — and the soda (Diet Coke, in my case) tastes better than ever! =)
[Review 058 of 366]

My sweet girlfriend bought two tickets as a birthday gift for me. I wasn’t disappointed. Well, that’s a lie. There was one thing I was disappointed with, but I’ll get to that later. If you’ve never been to Dialogue in the Dark, you should go before they leave town at the end of the month.
You get to experience life as a blind person when the lights are turned out in the building, and it is pitch black. The only person to guide you around is a visually impaired or blind person who has depended on their other senses for most if not their whole life. You’re given a walking stick to help you get around as well.
I found myself depending on the walking stick and our guide, Jason, for the whole tour. I relied on my other senses to get me around and discover things. Well, we didn’t get to use our sense of taste because they wanted to charge us and take our cash in the dark for food and drink.
We elected not to purchase any items as we felt they should have included the cost of food and drink with the tour.
Other than that, I was ecstatic over my birthday present!

I dedicate my first review of 2012 to Dialogue in the Dark. As cheesy as it sounds, I think it’s a treasure to have such an exhibition in Atlanta. I encourage yal to go as well; they will be closing mid March of this year and relocating to New York City. Also, because they are moving, all the Dialogue in the Dark merch in the gift shop is 50% off. I got a magnet for $ 2.50, what a steal!
Dialogue in the Dark as some of you may know, is located in Atlantic Station. It sits atop Tin Drum, mini– Cheesecake Fxtory, etc., on the 2^nd floor. If you’re visiting, you should park in the lower deck; parking is free for the 1^st two hours. The whole tour lasts ~50 minutes, so you should be fine in terms of parking. The tour requests you arrive ~30 minutes before the show.
Each tour consists of an intimate group of ~10 people. We were given a walking stick and led into a dimly lit room. Followed by a brief automated introduction with some disclaimers, the lights faded away until it was pure, unadulterated, darkness. We were then introduced to our tour guide, Brian, who is actually blind. In order to be a tour guide for Dialog in the Dark, you have to be legally blind. Brian led us through different rooms. Each room represents some aspect of your life in Atlanta.
Before the tour ends, you have an opportunity to purchase drinks at the bar, in the dark. There was a brief Q and A session while we waited for others to make their purchases.
It is amazing how we were able to navigate through the pitch dark. I did let out a couple squeals because the terrain did change. I recommend this experience for everyone, including YOU. It really gives you more awareness and perspective on blindness.
I had the most fun when I explored without inhibition. Alas, there’s infrared camera everywhurr, so don’t try anything freaky. I think it’d be cool to see what I look like fumbling through the dark.

Dialog in the Dark has been in Atlantic Station for the past three years. One of my friends bought a Groupon for Dialog: $ 49 for 4 people. This was a good deal considering a regularly priced ticket for one is upwards of $ 30 through Dialog’s official web site/​Ticketmaster. The only downside to the Groupon was we had to redeem our tickets on the same day we wanted to go, which meant it was possible we’d show up to the box office and tickets could be already sold out for the day. Dialog is popular and still sells out often to this day. Fortunately, I live just around the corner, so making a trip to the box office wasn’t a big deal.
Unlike it’s next door neighbor Bodies: The Exhibition, which is in Atlanta indefinitely, Dialog will be leaving the city in March (according to the gift shop owner we spoke with). So if you’ve been wanting to check out Dialog, you better purchase tickets soon. All Dialog merchandise in the gift shop is 50% off the lowest ticketed price.
I had a great time at Dialog and it was a lot more fun and entertaining that I had expected. You enter the exhibit in groups of 10. Each participant is given a walking cane and led into a room, dimly lit by large illuminated cubes on the ground, which you sit on to start your journey. As the tour begins, the cubes fade to black and your tour guide begins explaining to you what to do and how to navigate in the dark. The tour is pitch-​black. As such, some people may feel uncomfortable — whether it’s from not being able to see a thing to bumping into people. And you will be bumping into people and touching others a lot as you blindly feel your way around from room to room.
Dialog is supposed to help you experience life through the senses of a blind or visually impaired person. Your tour guide with talk you through each room and you get to see (no pun intended) what day-​to-​day activities are like for a person without sight. Sound effects over the speakers and other simulated variables like wind and water come into play to make the experience that much more realistic.
[*Spoilers Ahead*]
Do not continue reading this paragraph if you don’t want the exhibit spoiled for you. Examples of environments you will be placed in include a park (grass, mulch beneath your feet, shrubbery at your fingertips, a bridge to walk over), a grocery store (aisles with canned goods, fruits, vegetables, checkout lanes), a dock (complete with a boat, which you load into and «ride» to your next destination), an outdoor storefront (includes crossing a street to get to), and a bar (with bartender who will take your money and sell you real drinks). I wish we could have gone back and seen each of these rooms in normal light.
[*End Spoilers*]
You will get «closer» to your group, both literally and figuratively, by the time your approximately one-​hour tour is done. Not only will you be bumping and feeling your groupmates often, but you will also be talking a lot. Being vocal and listening to the sounds of others is the best way to get a sense of where each person is physically located as you make your way through the tour. At the end of the tour, you finally get to see what your tour guide looks like. Our tour guide was Brian, an Atlanta native who lost his vision in a motorcycle accident. He was awesome. Very friendly and easy to understand.
Parking for the first two hours in Atlantic Station is free, so if you are visiting the property just for Dialog, you won’t have to pay anything for parking. Dialog is located at the Premier Exhibition Center, which is on the 2^nd floor of the development. Just take the escalators or elevators, located in front of Which Wich, Tin Drum, and Fishook Grille, up one level.
All in all, I thought Dialog in the Dark was thought-​provoking and worth the price of admission.

You’re sitting in a room as the lights slowly begin to fade. You’re staring ahead at a railing that you’ve just been told will be your first task to get to in complete darkness. Everyone in the room is beginning to talk just a little bit louder, look around frantically and at the same time relax themselves as the lights go down. Then… complete and total darkness like you’ve never experienced before. You’re then introduced to the voice of your guide as he was not in the room when the lights were on. Given that both of you are blind, it’s an even match right? He then asks that you stand up and find the railing three steps in front of you and you quickly discover how much trouble you’re in.
One hour in the life of the visually impaired was surreal. The heightened awareness of your other senses is pretty amazing. I’ve never been so happy to find the hand of my girlfriend. You depend on the voices of others and your visually impaired or completely blind tour guide.
Journeying through various «obstacles» which we call daily life helps you appreciate the daily challenge those without sight are up against. The final sit down Q&A with Jerry, our guide, was great. He answered all questions and really was great about talking about his impairment.
I’ve been twice and I’d recommend you going as well. It’s a chance to not only have a really good time, but to learn a lot too. Buy the combo ticket and check out Bodies next door while you’re there to save you some money.

LOVE Dialogue in the Dark! Fellas, this is the only place where you can brush up on females and take a few grabs and it’s all OK! There were even times when guys were like, «Babe, is this you I’m grabbing?» And the female would say, «NO! I’m all the way over here.» Or «It better be me!» Too funny!
But on another note, it was a really great and eye opening experience, literally. I actually can’t wait to return. Our guide was Michael, he’s from the Caribbean and was GREAT! Dialogue in the Dark is definitely worth the price. I can’t think of anything that would make this a better experience. Except for the fact that I thought we’d get to taste different drinks at the end and guess which ones they were, but that was not the case, guess my mom and I were doing too much imagining. The drink at the end is just a soft drink that you select.
Again, this was a very fun and exciting experience but I don’t recommend it for young kids. They could easily fall and get hurt and it may even scare them.

I don’t know if it’s because I unconsciously hyped up Dialog in the Dark, but my experience was positive but not as mind-​blowing as expected. I did enjoy the beginning though, but I guess I was hoping that there would be some more challenging obstacles to go through. All in all though, still a good and unique experience.
Our guide was extremely insightful and I thought it was great that Dialogue in the Dark is able to provide jobs for those who were visually impaired.

What an interesting experience! My original thought was that a blind person would take your hand and guide you through a series of rooms and show you the life of someone with limited or no vision. Not exactly how it works. Seated in a room on top of light cubes, they dim until the room is pitch black. Make a mental note of where the hand rail is in the middle of the room because that’s your first test.
Second bit of advice? The walking stick you’re provided has a wrist loop. I strongly suggest you slip it on because if it drops you ain’t finding it!
I wont give away all of the places you go into, but needless to say, you are set loose on a number of different environments, and by touch and sound, you’ll often smile when you figure out where you are.
Groping happens, not going to lie, and you will say «sorry» 200 times before the day is done. Also expect friends/​couples to bump into you and ask if you’re so and so.
It can be scary walking over bridges, down ramps, on a stair or two or simply handing the server your money for a soda (you MUST take $ 3 singles with you for the beverage at the end, and more advice, put the money in your pocket… you don’t want to go handing someone a 20 by accident!).
The actual «dialogue» part is not the «whoops, i’m sorry» you’ll hear in the rooms. Instead you sit at a table with or without drink and ask your guide questions.
I truly enjoyed the experience, and at $ 25 it’s well worth admittance.
Finally, last bit of advice… one of the guys had a glow in the dark watch… please take anything that may glow and put it in the free lockers provided because when you’re in a room of blackness, your eyes latch on to anything giving off light. Otherwise, go, enjoy and go again!

This is a fantastic exhibit.
Right at the beginning of the show they cut the lights, and you are done seeing anything for the next hour. You have only a walking stick and your other senses to guide you (and of course, your guide will also help). In the beginning, it’s a bit of a mess because everyone is tentative, bumping into each other, not sure of where to go. However, as time goes on, you really do learn to get a bit more comfortable with navigating the (often) tight spaces.
The exhibit consists of walking through a series of simulated rooms (grocery story, city, park, etc.). Your guide helps you here and there, but mostly, you’re leff to your own devices to figure things out — where you are, where to go, etc.
This is highly educational, but not in any sort of academic way. You definitely walk away with at least a very small idea of what it would be like to lose your sight. It’s interesting because you learn both how difficult certain things would be (e.g., grocery shopping can be next to impossible without help) but also that it is a problem that one can live with given time and patience.
At the end, you get to sit and talk to your guide about being blind. It’s a great opportunity to ask any and all questions you’ve been curious about, and get good, honest answers.
Highly recommended!

A very eye opening experience! I highly recommend it! My tour guide at one time could see, but a disease caused him to loose his sight.
I definitely want to go again and bring others who have never been

This is a great exhibit! Truely an «eye opening» experience. I’d go again.
You’re first given a walking stick and lead into a dimly lit room. There you’re introduced to your guide and the lights are slowly turned off. It’s the darkest dark I’ve ever experienced.
My mind immediately started trying to see and there were flashes of green and red as my retnas tried to figure out WTH was happening.
You’re then lead through the exhibit which is comprised of simulated environments that you might encounter every day.
If you have phobias, they will be stirred up. One girl in our group had to excuse herself because of this. However, there’s nothing that you will encounter that can harm you and they go out of there way to emphasize this.
At the end you have an opportunity to Dialog with someone who is visually impaired.

A really enlightening experience — you basically go on a tour led by someone who is blind and/​or legally blind in complete darkness for about an hour, trying out different scenarios like going to a park, shopping in a supermarket, and being in a boat. It is really cool and helps you to appreciate having sight, and how even people who are blind can still do many of the things that we can do.
Great place to take a date, or just go with friends. Our tour guide was awesome, and you get to ask your tour guide questions at the end of the hour, where they are very willing to answer any and all questions.

«What do you see in your dreams when you are blind?»
At the end of this experience you get a few minutes to talk to your docent and he/​she asks if you have any questions about blindness or your experience etc… While I sat there, pretty speechless, my 11 year old said, «I have a question…» and then asked the question above.
It was one of those aha moments in life when I really saw the depth of my child. It was a question that never occurred to me as I sat there in the pitch black thinking about when I would finally be able to see again. In his answer he mentioned that it is hard to explain because perceptions are different. If he were to say something looks square, it doesn’t mean square as we see it. Only square as he sees it, and he has never really seen it…
When the experience begins the lights go down and you are in a room that is pitch black with a group. In this case the group happen to be my family. Finally a voice shows up and it’s your docent, who is blind. He tells you to follow his voice across the room and through the door to the next room. Mind you it’s pitch black! I’m thinking how the hell am I going to not only get across the room to the right spot, but through a door.
When we do get through the door he asks how everyone is doing. My wife and older daughter, both confident daredevils sound fine when they say they are. My little one says she is fine, although a little less confident, and I say the same. However I am putting on a show for my little one because I am afraid she is scared. Meanwhile, I’m actually internally panicking thinking how am I going to make it another 58 minutes like this! I did calm down and it was truly an invaluable experience.
I can’t put it any better than spartevan v. says below, so I will quote her…“This exhibit may seem very self explanatory, but I encourage everyone to walk a (sightless) mile in a blind person’s world. You will (see) a different perspective“
Go do this if you have the opportunity!

This was such a cool experience, although I could have done without the trashy tourmate who kept trying to slut up the exhibit by claiming she was dancing on top of tables and skinny dipping. Such is life, and these skanks evidently gain some confidence in the dark — hmm — wonder why. (as I rummage around for a few paper bags).
OTHER than that — the experience was very interesting. I am legally blind, and it really made me gain insight (or lack thereof) of how close I am to being completely visually impaired, yet how far away I am. The goal of this exhibit, for those of us who are not interested in cheap tricks, is to gain an appreciation for the people who navigate through our world with no visual prompts, insurance breaks, or often times — empathy.
My heart goes out to my guide, a professional engineer and father who has a degenerative disease and is losing his sight daily. He is no longer able to practice his profession and slowly loses his field of vision to see his own son. I challenge anyone to not have the utmost respect for this man.
This exhibit may seem very self explanatory, but I encourage everyone to walk a (sightless) mile in a blind person’s world. You will (see) a different perspective.

Dialoge in the Dark was an eye opening (wll not really because you’re blind for 45 minutes) experience. If you head to this exhibit and don’t walk away amazed or more empathetic towards the blind community I’m convinced you aren’t human.
My only complaint is the refusal to remove disruptive people during the trip through the exhibit. My group had a screaming teenager who kept making rude comments and being disrespectful to our tour guide. It detracted from the experience.

«Come to the sound of my voice… come to the sound of my voice…» This voice will be your best friend, your guide into and through the darkness. At first I was apprehensive, being in complete blackness with only my 4 other senses to rely on for 45 minutes?! I walked around at a calculated snail pace, careful with every step. How would you fare shopping in a grocery store blind, how about making your way down a busy city street? What about a walk in the park, or paying for something with cash… can you be sure you will get correct change? Was that a one or a hundred you handed over to the cashier? All these things you will experience at Dialogue in the Dark. At the very end you have the chance to sit at a table and ask your guide candid questions, do you think it will be easier because they cannot see you? Is it easier to ask the tough ones with darkness cast upon your expressions?
I will never forget the «boat ride» my guide took us on, and how he belted out (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay. What an amazing and moving experience. Walking out I felt relieved (because I was able to go back into the light) and sadness (because I knew my guide would never be able to emerge from the darkness).

Strange. For some reason, I expected something more mellow and soothing when I bought tickets to Dialogue in the Dark. The beginning room, where you sit on lighted cubes that eventually dim, fed into that expectation. And then… then…chaos. People yelling. Walls being thumped. Banging combined with «Follow the sound of my voice!» It was discombobulating and eventually claustrophobic which, when I thought about it, was entirely the point.
After some moments of navel-​gazing, I realized that my sighted self associates darkness with quiet and calm; that is MY preconception. But the world isn’t quiet. It isn’t calm. It’s a chaotic, cacophonous mess whether you can see it or not. And in DitD, you definitely CAN’T see it. You’re urged to explore, using your hands, your cane and your other senses to simulate being blind in the real world. Once the shock wears off, the novelty begins as everyone in your group lurches about, touching and declaring their «finds.» Once the novelty wears off, the claustrophobia begins as your urge to see begins to take over. And again, that’s the point. At least for most of you, there’s an end point. The ride ends and the simulation is over. For others, it ain’t so simple. You thank your lucky stars for your eyes.
Some hints before you go: if you go with others, wear unique material. I wore cashmere (not because I’m fancy, but because it was friggin’ COLD outside.) Within the first few minutes, everyone knew who I was immediately by touch.
Which brings me to number 2. You will be touched. I can see how some may even be inadvertently groped. If you have space and touching issues, you may want to re-​consider.
Three, be aware of whatever scent you are wearing as, yes, it will be seemingly multiplied a thousand fold. Having just taken my Claritan D that day and my sinuses clear as a fall day, I was able to hunt down my wife like a bloodhound. That was kind of cool.
Four, when I bought my tickets online last week, the promo code SUPERTIX still worked. Give that a try. I’d feel guilty since the cause seems just, but really, when I thought about what it took to set the exhibit all up, they must be making a killing on the thing.
Finally, be prepared for that claustrophobic feeling. A woman in our group ultimately asked to be escorted out. I could see (no pun intended) why. We had a great group, though, and I was glad to have gone through it. Groping and all.

Sunday afternoon, Kathleen M., Lauren S., and I went to Dialog in the Dark. From my perspective, the experience was quite enjoyable – given canes, we explored a pitch-​black series of areas, each granting a new perspective to the contrast of life with and without sight. As Julie mentioned, there’s a bit of apprehension and claustrophobia when you first get into it, but overall, as stated, Dialog is both enjoyable and edifying.
I will, however, offer the following caveats:
1. Bring singles. There is a café located in the experience, where someone can serve you soda or water. My companions and I skipped the purchase because we didn’t have sufficient cash reserves, and I suspect enjoying a beverage without sight would round out the experience.
2. Avoid the crowds. Our tickets were scheduled for 2:48 on Sunday afternoon, and we had a rather large gathering of people, separated into two groups. I’m not completely sure if going on a weekday evening would yield fewer patrons, but I think it would be worth it to try – the wealth of people in our group tended to create traffic jams wherever we went. Instead of an eager exploration of my sightlessness, I found myself a bit apprehensive as I bumped into people here and there.
3. Prepare for potential discomfort. Somewhat related to the previous advice, our group also included a pre-​teen boy, a boy who, according to my companions, was rather… umm…handsy. Our guide initially prepared us for the occasional bump-​excuse-​me exchange, but apparently, this boy took advantage of both the darkness and the women in the group, groping them when he could get away with it (my disgust is only heightened when I remember that he was with his mother and sister, too).