NY Skyride

This company employs people who scam innocent tourists. The salesperson sold tickets claiming they were express and that they would go to the 102^nd floor of the Empire State Building. In fact all these more expensive tickets do is slow you down by forcing you to watch a lame movie. Avoid this disreputable company that reflects so badly on the city of New York. We also talked to others in the queue who had been sold even more expensive tickets under other false claims.

Complete waste of money. They lie to you. They tell you it’s a 30 minute wait it was a two hour and a half wait. They also say they work for the Empire State building and they don’t. They charge you double the price and sell you on the fourth of the way. My recommendation is to buy the ticket from the Empire State building it’s cheaper and you’ll get there just as fast

This is a huge scam. If anyone comes up to you saying they work for the Empire State Building who aren’t dressed in the ball hop uniform… Walk away! They charged us $ 65 for an outdated movie ride and promised admission to the top deck but it wasn’t included. I can’t believe ESB lets this scam happen in their building.

This company sells 50+$ tickets to see the Empire State Building but are not actual employees (Skyride workers wear blue jackets, ESB employees wear maroon suits).
Inside the building the regular tickets are 32 $. What they are selling is the entry ticket plus a ticket to see a crumby, dated film. They tell you for an extra 10 $ you can have VIP entrance and bypass all the lines. The Skyride Vip ticket actually only lets you bypass one Iine. The true VIP tickets are sold by actual ESB employees cost 65 $ and you actually get to bypass all the lines.
These people are misleading about what they are really selling and create a sense of rush urgency seemingly so you are more inclined to make a rash decision.

I just paid $ 64 to watch Kevin Bacon circa 1995 talk for twenty minutes and I’m throughly upset about it.

This business is a disgrace of New York City and I really wish that they will be shut down for scamming and lying to tourists.
My cell was running out of battery and during my trip to NYC, hubby decided last minute that he wanted to go up to the Empire State Building (I did once about 14 years ago so I didn’t really care), so there we went without doing a lot of research. The only information that we had was that the ticket to go to the 86^th floor is $ 32 and you have the options to pay extra to get a VIP-​SKIP the line pass (we quickly saw this information online at the empire state building website the day before).
Upon arriving at the entrance on 33^rd St, we were immediately approached by an African American woman wearing a bright blue jacket with a skyride logo on it. She also wore a batch saying «authorized ticket agent» and looked legit. She asked if we had a ticket so we told her we needed to buy it on the site. She escorted us to the 2^nd floor and as she walked us there she started pitching about the $ 49 cost of the ticket and how paying $ 5 extra will get us the skip-​the-​line pass (she said the wait is about 1.5 hours, keep reading and you will know she’s bullshitting)). The prices that she told us were significantly higher than what was noted on the website so I asked her about it and she kept saying that it was too. late to purchase the ticket online and the only way is to buy for $ 49 that include the skyride. I told her I didn’t want the skyride and if we can get cheaper without it, she said, «NO!» I asked her multiple times whether the only way to get to the observatory was by purchasing the skyride and she repeatedly said, «Yes.»
I grew suspicious and she got impatient and she started being rude and harsh to me. I insisted to leave and she escorted me back to the 1^st floor and out of the building. She said since I’m not buying tickets (from her/​skyride), I couldn’t be in the building! Once we were outside she was still trying to push me to buy tickets from her and finally I said to her, «could you please leave and give us some space» and she finally did.
Using my dying phone, thankfully, it still had enough juice to allow me to pull the FAQ section of the Empire state building website and it clearly stated that «you can purchase the ticket on site!!! Not only online!!» Then, I realized that the skyride lady was a complete scam artist!!!
We ran inside, ignoring her and met a man wearing a maroon color uniform with empire state logo and asked him and he told us where to go, not the skyride!
We went up to the 2^nd floor (entrance is on the 34^th st side, not the 33^rd) and there was NO LINE to buy the ticket and yes, it was only $ 32!!! And there was a short — fast moving line to get through the security checkpoint and we got up to the 86^th floor within 5 – 10 minutes (including the time to buy tickets and go through security).
Skyride people are scammers! Liars! Unprofessional business! Scam artist! They should be fined for lying and scamming tourists! I hope this review will help future visitors of the Empire State Building!

Would leave a negative if possible. These bastards are rude and obnoxious. After spending 170 bucks for four of us to go on this «ride» we were rudely ushered around from room to room and condescendingly ordered to wait by the women workers. Of course after we were told to wait they rudely yelled «WHATCHU WAITIN FO!?»
Bitch you just told us to wait. Place should be shut down.
Oh yeah and they haven’t changed the visuals since this opened 20 YEARS AGO. Do NOT go.

DON’T PAY FOR THE SKYRIDE — YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO IT TO GO TO THE TOP OF THE BUILDING. AND THE SKYRIDE IS TERRIBLE!!!
The NY Skyride sends dozens of unscrupulous salespeople in red jackets to the roam the sidewalks around the Empire State building to try to defraud tourists. They sell tickets to the top of the Tower at inflated prices which include «the Skyride» (more on this desperate production later!), by claiming to work for the building and claiming that you cannot reach the top without doing the Skyride. In fact the Skyride is a separate company that somehow has a foothold in the premises and the right to sell tickets to it. the company charges higher prices without disclosing the fact that they are basically defrauding you.
And as if that is not bad enough, we were over charged by $ 56 on our debit card although I did get that back from them.
But let’s talk about the ride. The NY Skyride is the most underwhelming and frankly bizarre attraction I have ever experienced. It is a moving seating rig that holds about 60 people facing a small, square cinema screen in a dark room on the second floor of the tower. The film begins with Kevin Bacon (born in Philadelphia) as the unseen narrator talking to his, we assume his spaceship’s computer or maybe mission control about how to control the joystick or whatever to effectively fly around New York. Why does Kevin Bacon have a space ship? They didn’t say. He occasionally crashes into things, goes in reverse, goes under water. *Hilarious*, you can imagine.
Oh yeah, Scottie from Star Trek shows up at the beginning and the end in his uniform from the movies. This was remarkable only because the ride is not Star Trek themed, and by the fact that the actor, that plays Scottie, James Doohan, died in 2005.
I know, you might be thinking I missed something — that this is a Star Trek themed ride, but it’s not! I promise you. Scottie shows up in his Star Trek uniform and Kevin Bacon is flying around New York, but they don’t mention Star Trek aside from Scottie being there!
I went on this ride when I was a child, probably in the early 90s. Back then the rig was the same, but the video was produced in the world of Back to the Future and you were in a flying Delorian. Christopher Lloyd was in the video as Doc Brown and the audience member was supposed to be Marty. It worked because there was a whole concept. It also worked because the technology of the moving rig was newer and a bit novel. Now, a quarter of a century later or thereabouts, it is a disgrace that they are duping tourists into paying inflated prices for such underinvested dross.
I was shocked that this takes place at one of New York’s most iconic locations and I think possibly its most visited tourist attractions. Someone needs to step in an put an end to this nonsense. It’s bad for business.

Totally dumb and overpriced. We only did it because the ecstasy of eating at CajunSea hadn’t worn off yet (and neither had the martinis).
You can go see a fantastic Broadway show by getting half-​off tickets day-​of at TKTS and have a much better time. Unless, of course, you like sitting in a weird jumpy ride and having Kevin Bacon’s disembodied voice yell at you for $ 60. Also if you prefer to have all the romance of An Affair to Remember and Sleepless in Seattle circle the drain and burble away.
The city looks the same as every other city you’ve ever looked at from a tall building. Please, save yourself the agony and don’t do this.

I wish I could leave the rating at zero, we hopped out of a taxi right outside the empire state building and my mom got suckered into following these guys around the block to the ticket desk. They told us with them we could get an express pass and surpass the ride, acknowledging it was more expensive than the regular pass is a total understatement. We paid WAY too much money for this shitty experience.
Wether we waited less time or not I’m not sure, but I do know it was a big waste of time if nothing else.
After a cheesy video on NY’s greatest locations, you’re taken into a helicopter simulator, narrated by Kevin Bacon (still not sure why he agreed to do so) this rough and unpleasant simulator takes you through NY and then some psychedelic bullsh*t passing through a time warp.
The footage is unclear, dated and overall just horrible.
If they’re going to market this for something like a virtual reality experience, they should really get up to date with the technology.
If you’re thinking of doing this because you saw it online — don’t. I would have never gone looking for this crap online, but if you did and found it – don’t waste your time or money.
Biggest advice, don’t get suckered into this outside the Empire State Building, you can just as easily go up for a regular price and get the experience — waiting is just a part of the issue if you plan on going, suck it up.

I wish there was a zero star option. Literally the worst iRide experience I have ever seen. Duped by the street sellers into paying for more than I wanted:
«This is only the ticket to the observatory?»
«Yes» he said
Got charged for the «combo package»
«You’re skip the line and go straight to the elevators.» He said
Nope. You skip the outside line and then sit on a crappy ride film using 10 year old footage narrated by Kevin Bacon. Then you have to still wait in line for the elevators afterward anyway.
Treated like crap when I didn’t want to buy exorbitantly priced concessions.
Skip this piece of crap and just go to the normal line.

I was lucky enough to win the NY Pass with a friend so I did not pay for this ride, but I still wish I didn’t waste my time when I could have visited other places. This is not a ride that you can actually see NY like I had imagined. It is a dated screening taking you through New York giving you an overview of popular sites while your seat rocks back and forth. Do yourself a favor and skip this ride. Instead, visit go straight to the top of Empire State Building or Top of the Rock is an even better option.

Sympatic girl on the street promised us quite a lot things we didnt get.
1) you wait. And you are gonna wait big time.
2) films you watch are fairly boring. Everyones’ got youtube theeae days.
3) she promised us to go on the top (floor 102) well it was 86 and u wait twice 1 – 80 and then 80 – 86. Thats all. For 86 – 102 is 20 $ extra and not worth money. You see everything from observation deck. And can take pics too. Well at least you can try.
4) prices are WITHOUT tax. So its not the price they say it is. Cant get used to it.
5) we apparently got free* cruise in the harbour. Well is it free if i pay you 58 $ pp to go on building and come back?!
6) «skyride» is fun only for kids. If you ate before it dont go. If You didnt eat u may get sick. My friend lost his contacts.
7) photos they take cost 25 $. Yup. 25 not 2.5
8) just avoid if you can. If you cant — make the best of it ;))

I live down the block and this is a waste of money. The ticket agents misrepresent the wait times at the Empire State Building. The also make inappropriate comments about women.
AVOID AT ALL COSTS

Absolutely horrible, needs to be updated badly. The screen is blah compared to today’s technology. A projection TV comes in better then this show. Only went because it was free with New York City pass, almost think they get a kick back from it. Don’t waste your time.

Haha could not agree more with the other posters how much of a con this is.
We were initially told its $ 50 each, then after tax we were charged $ 122. Total of $ 61 each.
Later on once inside we were told to buy the headphone guide which is usually $ 20 but she can do it for $ 10. When I said we don’t need it, she got upset and said in a forceful tone «we highly recommend it!» I refused and said we’ve overpaid for a ticket considering we still had to wait in line.
The skyride film is ok, but we had to sit and wait 20 minutes for the queue to fill up.
Don’t waste your money!

Many reviews call these guys crooks. Probably not 100% true, but pretty close. The promise of «10−15 minutes max» wait time is a complete lie. You will wait 10 – 15 minutes in their line inside to exchange the receipt you received in the street for their internal tickets, which you will soon realize is rather pointless since you’re captive until you enter the real line for the elevators.
You end up lining up with everyone else who paid through normal channels. Our wait today was 26 minutes in the first line and 35 in the second. Hardly a deal.
The «ride» is a bit informative and a bit hokey but my 7-​year old enjoyed it.
Overall I would avoid this and go the standard route.

Absolutely terrible. First of all, the ticket vendor outside the Empire State building outright lied about everything. I should have known better, but I fell for it. He asked if we were going to the 102^nd floor and I said yes, and he said he could get us a ticket for that and include Skyride for free. I figured, why not check it out if it’s included. He also said for $ 7 more we could upgrade to express and skip the lines.
Once I got inside and turned in our slips of paper in exchange for our tickets I was handed a ticket that was ONLY for the 86^th floor and also had «Not an express ticket» printed on it. Had I seen this right away I would have tried to refuse the tickets and get my money back. Unfortunately, I did not realize this right away.
The Skyride attraction on its own was terrible. It’s run down, the employees were entirely unenthused and the display was blurry, shaky and something out of the 90’s. It was so horrible it was sickening. There is nothing interesting or fun at all about Skyride.
AVOID the Skyride vendors at all cost, and please NEVER pay to see the Skyride attraction. It’s terrible. The employees are terrible. It’s a huge SCAM.

I definitely wish I checked the reviews on this «company» before I was lied to and overcharged by one of their pushy street employees. All the negative reviews that go into detail are accurate, I just wanted to give them another 1-​star review. The city should pull their business license.
**You are better off buying your ticket online or inside the building**

Definitely NEGATIVE 10 000 stars. Shitty and Shady company. The Skyride is NOT worth double the price. Avoid NY Skyride workers in blue on the streets. This was an awful experience waste of 5+ hours. You can get observation tickets for 82^nd and 102^nd floor through Empire State Building.
NY Skyride is scandalous for operating like this. Many innocent tourist scammed into an awful ride and a whole day wasted.
I’m writing this review as I stand in line waiting to get to the 82^nd floor. Just got out of the HORRIBLE Skyride. Skyride just shakes you in front of a semi big screen.

Es como una película narrada por Kevin Bacon en la cual te llevan a conocer Nueva York desde las alturas mientras tus asientos se mueven como si fueras en un helicóptero a punto de caer…
Punto, no hay mas que reseñar, no la recomiendo para nada a menos que quieras matar tiempo.

Sehr schlecht und absolut nicht zu empfehlen! Mitarbeiter total unmotiviert und unfreundlich, der Skyride statt 30min nur 15min, der Rest waren Werbevideos. Absolute Touristenverarsche!

Da kann ich Mos nur 100%ig beipflichten, wir haben den Skyride nur gemacht, weil der Eintritt ohnehin im NY Pass abgegolten war und haben uns anschließend schlappgelacht. So eine schlechte Touriattraktion habe ich noch nie erlebt. 45 $ für 10 min schlechte Qualität und im Sitz hin und her geschüttelt werden. Unglaublich, dass sich der Sch*** hält!

Nicht zu empfehlen! Wer dafür 46 $ bezahlt, wird sich schwarz ärgern. Wir hatten den Eintritt in unserem New York Pass mit drin und haben es während unseres Besuches des Empire State Building besucht.
Was für ein Scheiß!!! Es ist wie im Phantasialand, wenn man einen Film sieht und die Gondeln reagieren dann. Quais eine virtuelle Achterbahnfahrt durch New York.
Der Film ist uralt (1995) da stehen die Twin Towers noch. Man hat den urspügnlichen Text geändert und so wird dieser Teil quasi zu einem Momorial Teil.
Die Filmqualität ist so schlecht, das spottet jeder Beschreibung. Er ist unscharf und absolut nicht mehr auf dem Niveau der heutigen Zeit. Ich glaube jeder, der dafür wirklich das Geld auf den Tisch gelegt hat, wird vor Wut kochen.
Es ist meiner Meinung nach ein Rip Off. Lieber das Geld sparen und dafür schön etwas Essen gehen.