Event Review: Travelling Galaxy - A Live Interactive Exhibition - Fantha Tracks

The exhibition’s team made every effort to create the second act in a way that would be worthy of the unparalleled world of Star Wars in every aspect, thus creating a unique atmosphere in the heart of Budapest even on a European scale. The furnishings of the rooms are all custom-made, their arrangement, and the elements of the exhibition form a cohesive and well-thought-out concept.

Based on a private collection, the interactive exhibition showcases over two hundred never-before-seen models, miniatures, and life-sized figures. The exhibition continues to focus primarily on the original Star Wars trilogy (Episodes IV, V, VI), but with the renewal, visitors can now encounter characters well-known from video games, the latest series, and books, providing a comprehensive view of the Star Wars universe.

The design of the exhibition is also exceptional, the locations from the movies are brought to life by the rooms, decorations and lighting, truly completing the Star Wars experience, allowing visitors to once again become part of a unique adventure.

Before entering, visitors are greeted by authentic helmets familiar from the world of Star Wars with the names of the planets in the universe.

It started out as a simple Saturday morning. It was our final day in Budapest after a few days in the city and the plan was to head for a coffee before heading to the airport at lunchtime. I had asked my better half for a favour. Could we swing by a shop that I’d noticed was selling Star Wars Gummies? I always like to pick up something from my travels to add to the collection back home. She happily agreed. With gummies in hand, it was time to head to Budapest city centre for a little while. The route was the turn right. She fancied a stroll the long way round and we headed left. What happened next is nothing short of the sheer will of the Force. You see, there were umpteen streets we could have turned down to head back to the centre. We passed five and then randomly turned down one. It looked nothing special. A few restaurants, a book shop, and then…a Clone Trooper helmet in a window? Then another. Then 30 of them.

“What is this?” I mumbled to myself.

“Apparently, your lucky day,” replied Kristina.

What we had stumbled upon is an event in Budapest called TRAVELLING GALAXY – A LIVE INTERACTIVE EXHIBITION. It’s home to one of the most expansive private Star Wars collections in Europe and contains 2 floors and 3 rooms of some of the stunning memorabilia produced as well as some exquisite hand-crafted pieces of art I’ve ever seen made.

We were greeted by our host for the morning; Star Wars super-fan and incredibly gracious Dora. She told us that we were lucky to not only be getting a tour but also a private one as most of the bookings are made of up to 15 people. This is an immersive experience and an interactive story revolves around rescuing Han Solo from the clutches of the Empire.

As you enter the holding area before the exhibition begins there are is a life-size R2-D2 and R5-D4 to welcome you and then each of the rooms contains different themes. The first room is home to the light-side of the Force along with the Rebel Alliance. Pieces from Sideshow Collectables, Master Replicas and Gentle Giant adorn each of the display units along with elite signature pieces from the likes of Harrison Ford, Dave Filon, Mark Hamill, Samuel L. Jackson and the late, great Carrie Fisher. The pieces are stunning and you’re left to your own devices for around 20 minutes to enjoy all that is on offer. As soon as you enter you can’t help but let out an “Oh my God!” at the full-scale replica of Luke on his Tauntaun. The lighting and set design here feels like you’re on the Tantive IV. It’s nothing short of brilliant. I’m in heaven.

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As we enter the second stage of the door, you’re greeted by an ominous light show before all goes black and the dark side beckons. Again, more items are on display for you to enjoy and admire at your leisure but the real star is a completely hand-crafted piece. At the back of the room is the puppet master himself – The Emperor. He’s in his Exogol attire and is a complete, one-of-a-king working animatronic puppet. His eyes glow and his head and fingers move with ghoulish delight. The artist has even created the life-support system that accompanied the evil Dark Lord during The Rise of Skywalker. In the centre of the room is also a 1:100000 scale Death Star replica by Precious Showcase in Italy. The whole thing is every fanboy’s dream. The team have gone to incredible lengths to display everything in a unique, accessible and beautiful fashion. There is some incredible attention to detail and dotted around the exhibition are little plaques for the more casual of fans to explain certain characters to information behind a particular piece of Star Wars collecting history.

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The fun doesn’t stop here as your mission to rescue Han Solo reaches its climax on Tatooine. As we head down the stairs the room that holds the final part of the tour is massive. There are full-scale replicas of Biker Scouts, the Fetts, and of course Jabba the Hutt himself. It’s overwhelming and a sight to behold. There are some stunning sculptures on this lower level and a chance for free photo-ops with lightsabers. Here you can spend as long as you like to enjoy what’s on offer and there’s no need to rush off either as we’re told you can go back to any point of the tour once you reach the end. The models and pieces on display are enough to make anyone drool and I’m grinning from ear to ear the whole time. It’s a lot for the eyes to take in and really feels like you’ve stepped into Star Wars for the briefest of moments.

The owner of the collection remains unknown, even to the staff working there. All that is told to us is that he/she wishes for their collection to be enjoyed by the young and the young at heart for as long as possible. This is ‘Episode II’ of the exhibition also. A revamped version will come next year and one can assume if it remains as busy as we saw it as we left then this will continue for a long time.

The cost of the exhibition is 4,500 Hungarian Forint which is approximately £10. Students and seniors are cheaper and the exhibition is open seven days a week with a fantastic team of fully-fledged Star Wars enthusiasts running the tours. This is a MUST-SEE for any Star Wars superfan, collector and Jedi. (It also helps to have a very patient and understanding other-half who was happy to join in).

The fact that I happened to find this on my last day of the trip with only a few hours to go before the airport is nothing short of spectacular. I was the happiest chappy in Budapest on that day and I still can’t believe it quite happened writing this almost a week on. I can’t believe my luck really…oh…scratch that…I have Ben Kenobi’s voice in my head…

“In my experience there’s no such thing as luck.”

WEEKDAYS

Adult ticket: 4.500 Ft
Student / Senior: 3.900 Ft
Family ticket (2 adults + 2 students): 13.900 Ft
Student groups: 3.500 Ft

WEEKENDS

Adult ticket: 5.500 Ft
Student / Senior: 4.500 Ft
Family ticket (2 adults + 2 students): 15.900 Ft
Student groups (not available on weekend days)

Tickets can be purchased by accepting the House Rules.

Student: up to 25 years of age with a valid student card
Pensioners: with a valid pensioner’s card
Under 3 years of age: free of charge.

Payment method on the spot: cash, credit card or SZÉP card (OTP, K&H, MBH)

Prices include VAT!

PRACTICAL INFO

Opening hours:
Monday: 10.00-19.00
Tuesday: 10.00-19.00
Wednesday: 10.00-19.00
Thursday: 10.00-19.00
Friday: 10.00-19.00
Saturday: 10.00-21.00
Sunday: 10.00-20.00

Special opening hours:
24th-26th December CLOSED
27th-29th December 10.00-20.00
30th December 10:00-21:00
31th December 10:00-17:00
1st January CLOSED
2nd-5th January 10.00-20.00

Duration: the visit takes approximately 1 hour
Location: 1053 Budapest, Kecskeméti utca 5.
Age group: All ages welcome

Our trip also took us to the Flippers Museum, with over 300 pinball and retro arcade games. It was a site to behold!

Welcome to our interactive permanent exhibition featuring the predecessors of pinball machines from the end of the 19th century to the most state-of-the-art pinball tables of the 21st century.

Constant fun with 130 machines on nearly 400 square meters.

It might as well be the occasion of an anniversary. It was a quarter of a century ago that legendary Data East marketed a pinball called the Time Machine. This name has got a symbolic meaning ever since. Today all pinballs have transformed into a time machine, remnants of an old age. Their natural environment, the arcade has been outdated since then, yet we can find an ever increasing number of pinballs at collectors.

The moment that dwells in our memories will never pass, never fade away: the moment as we were standing in front of the machines or waiting our turn at the arcade. Beyond the lights, colors and sounds of pinballs, a mystical children’s dreamworld is still shaping for us. A dreamworld that is still alive in us adults, even as we read this.

This dreamworld, these lights, these colors and sounds will be reawaken by our ‘time machines’, at our carefully selected exhibition. Our inner Child is inviting us for an encounter we will never forget.

It was the 70’s: that’s where my love for pinball has really started, by the way. I have encountered first with these tinkling machines at camp sites and arcades of my childhood. Pinballs have been thrilling me ever since: anytime the opportunity arises, I try new ones out. I have met many people during the last four years who share my passion for pinball. This also encouraged me to set up an ‘institute’, with pinballs playing the main role, offering however, experiences also for those interested in the history of technology and for the pinball rookie.

In April 2013 I have finally succeeded in my endeavors: I was granted license to open the museum/exhibition. Pbal Gallery opened at last to the public on April 10th, 2014.

You’re welcome to join an unforgettable time travel at the gallery!

Balázs Pálfi (owner)