Sitting atop One World Trade is One World Observatory, the most amazing view you can experience in New York City. One World Observatory is part ride, part exhibit and part observation deck. It is also 100% amazing, albeit a little expensive. I decided to experience One World Observatory for the next installment of our Things to Do in NYC article adventure, and would recommend it for absolutely everyone.
One World Observatory Elevators
The adventure begins with the One World Observatory Elevators. The “Sky Pod Elevators” are the fastest in the Northern Hemisphere, but you’ll be too busy watching what’s happening inside to notice the speed. Imagine what amazing things an architect could do in the 21st century with floor to ceiling LCD screens wrapping the inside of the elevator of the most modern building in NYC as it rockets toward the 102nd floor!
I’m not going to spoil your ride by telling you what comes next, but what happened inside the One World Observatory Elevator was jaw dropping all the way up, but it was nothing compared to what happened on the way down. One word of advice, take out your smart phone and be prepared to video the experience holding the phone vertically, not horizontally – you’ll be glad I told you this in advance.
One World Trade Center Observation Deck
Passengers emerge onto the 102nd floor where they are greeted by ONE staff waiting to take their picture. This takes all of about two minutes and gives you the option to buy the photo later. This is particularly useful for the traveler that is too shy to ask others on the observation deck to snap a photo of them.
What’s Happening On Top
There is a lot happening on the One World Trade Center Observation Deck: casual and fine dining and a gift shop with OWT memorabilia each play a background role, but the real action is of course, the view. The observation deck is three floors tall and it has a 360 degree view of the five boroughs of NYC, its islands, rivers, bridges, and New Jersey. The theme of One World Observatory is See Forever. While we don’t actually know what that means, one thing is certain, on top you can see for miles and miles. Each quadrant is different, with the North facing view displaying Manhattan and the Bronx; the South facing view displaying the Statue of Liberty, Staten Island and Governors Island; the East facing view showing Brooklyn and Queens, and the West view, allowing you to peer deep into New Jersey.
Sky Portal
There are also two very interesting exhibits on the One World Trade Center Observation Deck, the first is called the Sky Portal. This “deck on the deck” gives those walking across its 14 foot face the very real sensation they are standing on glass, looking 101 stories straight down. While it’s all done via HD video, you may experience a bit of vertigo. Don’t worry, the Sky Portal’s entirely safe, and the farthest you could fall if the glass breaks is about three inches.
City Pulse
On both the North and South end of the observation deck stands City Pulse. These strange looking 15-foot tall, wreath shaped objects are wrapped with HD monitors, and integrate seamlessly with the One World Observatory curator standing in the center. With the wave of a hand the curator changes the images in the circle to accommodate the landmark or neighborhood under discussion.
One World Observatory Gift Shop
Strategically located just before the exit elevator is the One World Observatory Gift Shop. There you can buy the usual tourist fare: pins, post cards, shot glasses, t-shirts, etc. Its offering seemed a bit pricy, but perhaps that is because I have an aversion to chachkis.
One World Observatory Tickets
One World Observatory Tickets usually must be purchased for a specific day and time. This is for crowd control as much as anything else, but if you purchase them online a day or two in advance you’ll usually be able to secure the time that you need. Walk-ups almost always have to wait several hours on the weekends.
Ticket’s come in many forms, from those that require you to stand in line (you need to show up 15 minutes before your designated elevator time), to line cutting – VIP entry. You can even purchase tickets that allow you to show up on the weekend, either day, anytime. We went with the least expensive option – standing in line for 15 minutes pre-booked for Saturday at 12:30. This type cost $32 for adults, $30 for seniors and $26 for children 12 and under. At the other end of the price range is the anytime-either weekend day-VIP, which is $90 per person. There are also tickets in between: Non-VIP anytime tickets, VIP specific time tickets, VIP weekday tickets, etc. Six different options in all. We recommend the least expensive option ($32, $30, $26) because, outside of line cutting, you receive exactly the same thing.
Whether you choose VIP or standard tickets, one thing is absolutely clear: at One World Observatory, you and your family will have an experience you won’t soon forget.
