For the TNG finale here in Toronto they had a big celebration at the Skydome, our local large sports arena. They played the eps back to back on the big Jumbotron. My dad was always one for a party, so he took me down there. The place was packed with all sorts of super fans, dressed up and being freaks. My dad wasn't a huge trek fan, but he knew what it meant to me, so he stuck it out and even got into it. I love that memory.
I met a guy there who had fully modded his Playmates Tricorder toy to have flashing lights and sounds. It awakened something in me.
OP:
I'm super jealous you got to go to Star Trek: The Experience. Woweeee. Lucky.
Lower decks is the only star trek my kids give a damn about, we've watched every season together. The only reason they even considered watching SNW is cause they knew Mariner and Boimler were in the episode.
Ensign Sonya Gomez over here thanking the replicator
TNG "Q Who?"
SONYA: Hot chocolate, please.
LAFORGE: We don't ordinarily say please to food dispensers around here.
SONYA: Well, since it's listed as intelligent circuitry, why not? After all, working with so much artificial intelligence can be dehumanising, right? So why not combat that tendency with a little simple courtesy. Thank you.
Just as they were starting to figure it out and make a movie that if you squinted enough allllmost felt like a real star trek movie.