Empire State Building - Sky Ride

[pepsicube]

We're off to NYC soon (ish - see countdown).
We've heard queues for the ESB are a bit like Soarin & Everest combined!
We've also heard if you book tickets online 1st you can save a bit of time, but possibly even better if we book the sky ride we'll save even more.
My questions are: Are we likely to save much time? are the tickets worth it? and is the sky ride any good?

Any suggestions?

[LolUK]

I went to ESB at about 12:00 last Sunday (not yesterday) and walked straight through with no waiting times whatsoever. I was expecting queues as NY was heaving with brits shopping, but there wasn't a line in sight. Didn't do SkyRide I'm afraid so can't help with that one.

[excitedbunny79]

We did the skyride and IMHO it wasn't worth it, it seemed like a money making gimic. Last time we went we skipped the ride and went to the very top of the Empire state building -- you have to pay extra to get to the very, very top but it's well worth it! :thumbs-up

[scottishmum]

we had to queue for an hour to go up empire state, we didnt do sky ride, if thats the one where u wear the earphone and they tell you where everything is?
we went to 86th floor where u can go outside and all around the view is amazing, we didnt pay the extra to go up to 102nd floor as wasnt going to make any difference when you are up 86 floors anyway and dont think you could go outside up there, think it was just the view through the observatory.
top of the rock is fantastic too, the views of central park are amazing. :d:

[carolshack]

Pepsicube

I definitely wouldn't bother with the Skyride at ESB!! :nonono: :nonono: Last March, we booked it as a package to do both the Skyride & go to the top of ESB (which was spectacular, by the way!! ;) )

The Skyride was a real disappointment. We did just walk on - there were no queues or anything for it, but it was dire!! Sorry if anyone did enjoy it, but I think once you've done the rides at Disney & Universal, there's just no comparison and this was just such a letdown!! Give it a miss definitely and concentrate on all the other good things in NYC. It's a fantastic place and you'll LOVE it!! ;) :d: :spin:

[S'mE]

The best way to do the top of the ESB is with the audioguide tour via hand held "phone", where you listen to a native new yorker describe what you can see in the different directions, with a bit of history of the building and NY thrown in. Veryinteresting and informative.

[tracymiami]

Hiya

We went on skyride last Feb, I enjoyed mainly cos i love simulators. however it is nothing amazing.

Just a tip, we bought the ESB ticket along with the skyride ticket and they never told us we were not going to the top. We got to floor 80something and then realised you could go up higher. We asked if we could pay the difference and they said no we would havd had to go all the way to the bottom and pay again. (clearly we could not be bothered)!!!!

No ques though prob cos we were there in feb

t x

[jester]

ok I give in what is the sky ride, will be there for 1st time in 4 weeks

[judith nicholls]

We booked our ESB tickets on line and went up at night - amazing! No queues and the views were amazing.
Judith :cool2:

[tracymiami]

ok I give in what is the sky ride, will be there for 1st time in 4 weeks

Hiya

this little link should explain it
http://www.affiliate.viator.com/brochure/product_show.jsp?ID=1010&PRODUCTID=1016&CODE=2568NYEMPIRE&AUID=2511

It is bascially a similator ride of NY

hope that helps and have a blast

t x

[ukdiva]

I personally prefer top of the rock, amazing views of central park, plus you get views of manhattan including the ESB. The lift that takes you up is wicked! :)

[Catherine]

We have also never bothered with the ride.

Whilst at the ESB in September it was quite busy and we did wait around 30 - 40mins, however in Feb we just walked on. We prefer TOTR to ESB.

Enjoy. Will be joining you soon. :grin:

[billbarbara229]

Hi were off soon is the ESB scarry I am not keen on heights

[Smokey]

I would give the Skyride a miss. Waited well over an hour to get on it and thought it was rubbish (even if the Americans screamed through it :confused2 ).