I pit the Sears (Willis) Tower

[crazyjoe]

Visited Chicago last week with the kids, and took them to se the Sears Tower. Holy shit. IF you have not been to the Sears Tower, let me explain to you how it works.

First, you wat in a line outside the building to get in. Once inside, you wait in a line to get to an elevator. The elevator does not take you to the top. Nope, it takes you downstairs. Where you wait in another line to go through a pair of double doors.

Those doors take you to the actual line area where you wait to buy a ticket to the skydeck. (A ridiculously priced ticket that could get you a good deal of time at most amusement parks, but whatever). From there, you get in, you guessed it, ANOTHER LINE. This line takes you into a room wehre you wait in another line for a short show all about the Sears Tower.

When they let you out, you wait in line to go through a revolving door. Once you get through the revolving dor, you are FINALLY in line for the elvator ride to the top.

They do have these cool glass ledges that you can go out on and look straight down. But holy shit. It's been two and a half hours!! None of it with ANY indication of how much longer it is going to be before you actually get to the top.

The moral of the story is do not bring your 6 year old and 2 year old to the Sears Tower, especially if you forgot to bring extra diapers. Surprisingly, my kids were angels the entire time, but many other people had to deal with bored, annoyed kids.

PS there's a @#$%% line to get back down, too. Luckily at the top of the tower there's only room for one line.

[Ferret Herder]

Chicago suburbanite here - I had a friend come to town and we decided to go to the Sears Tower. Hour and a half wait? Thanks but no thanks. I still haven't gone there.

A better solution, but not kid-friendly: Go to the John Hancock Center, no lines to wait in, take the free elevator up to the lounge/restaurant. Either eat at the kind of pricey restaurant, or grab a seat in the lounge, order a drink, enjoy the view. (If you're really feeling cheap, head straight to the rest rooms - dunno about the men's room, but the women's room has a great view out the huge windows.)

[Jack Batty]

It's the same at the Empire State Building, as far as I can tell. I've only visit the ESB once; I was in-town for a Dopefest actually, and had some time in the morning so I headed up by myself. An hour and a half wait in one line just to get on the elevator up.

But that was the only wait; it wasn't broken up into many interminable lines.

And this was in January. I shudder to think what it would be like in the summer.

[Zsofia]

When I was five or six, we went to New York and went to the top of the Empire State Building. All I remember is being pressed up against other people's asses on the elevator.

[Carol the Impaler]

IIRC, there are lines to go up to the restaurant/lounge at the top of the Hancock.

But, yeah, the Hancock observation deck is much, much better and kid-friendly. I don't remember the Sears tour sucking that bad when I was five. But when I took my nephews there last year, man alive the suck. Just like you described.

[Michael Ellis]

It doesn't surprise me that the tallest building in North America (the CN Tower can eat it) has long lines to get to the viewing areas. However, it bothers me they don't seem to bother trying to make the process any easier for the visitors.

[Rhythmdvl]

Anyone know if they're still doing the walk-down tour of the Washington Monument? Fantastic if-you-know thing I'd bring friends/family on when the visited me in DC. Get there early morning (~8-9 AM) on a weekend and ask a park worker for a pass -- they're free. Show up a bit later at the allotted time, no wait, no worry. Go up, get a bit of a lecture, then walk down the stairs and check out all the memorial stones and whatnot inside the monument.

[Bryan Ekers]

Well, if you want to clear the lines out in a hurry, just yell "OH MY GOD IT'S A PLANE!"




What, too soon?

[Idle Thoughts]

You had to wait in line outside the building? Weird. When I went (a year and a half ago) with someone, we didn't have to wait in any lines until after we entered, for one. Then, we never got in an elevator to go downstairs to anywhere. It was basically: Walk in, start standing in line....the line went through about five rooms (one of them with metal detectors and high security)...then a huge room where the line went back and forth for about three rows, then the short film room, then the elevator up to the top.

Of course, over a year and a half ago it's obviously changed, I just can't picture having to wait outside in a line on top of all we went through. That would have probably changed our minds in seeing it.

[Una Persson]

Taipei 101 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taipei_101) was much more civilized: the limo driver dropped us right off at a set of doors which led to a ticket counter and an elevator bank, you take the elevators up through a dizzying ascent, then you're up on the observation deck. Pay a little more and they let you walk up two levels higher and go to the *real* observation deck. I would guess it depends a lot on whether there's a tour or schoolchildren clogging it up, however.

[ashenRiot]

The trick for the Empire State building is to have a friend with a VIP pass they can loan you. I went with a pair of native New Yorkers who had never been up and we stood in no lines at all. In fact, they purposely loaded us into the elevator last so we would be the first off!

I did see all the poor schlubs in line though.... sorry guys.

[TBG]

Originally Posted by Jack Batty

It's the same at the Empire State Building, as far as I can tell. I've only visit the ESB once; I was in-town for a Dopefest actually, and had some time in the morning so I headed up by myself. An hour and a half wait in one line just to get on the elevator up.

But that was the only wait; it wasn't broken up into many interminable lines.

And this was in January. I shudder to think what it would be like in the summer.

It wasn't any worse than standing in any other line for an hour and a half the time I went there in the summer.

I seem to remember it being much quicker to get to the top of the WTC, but I think that was mainly because that one was with a tour group, so we got to skip past a big chunk of the line (bet those folk loved us!)

We also got to go all the way to the top of the WTC. They weren't letting people to the very top of the ESB when I was there. Still had to stand in the freakin long line, though.

I think the worst lines were at the Statue of Liberty. Long long line (outside of course) just to get on the ferry, then another long line at the statue, etc etc. We gave up at the platform level and never bothered going up the statue proper -- we just didn't have time if we were going to get back to the tour on time. Then of course there was the line back down, and another line to get back on the ferry.

[gotpasswords]

Originally Posted by ashenRiot

The trick for the Empire State building is to have a friend with a VIP pass they can loan you.

Or know someone who lives in the building. (Don't know if there are any residences at ESB, but there are at Sears.) Some years ago, we were in the area, and on a whim called them and got some magic passes. In for free, and were advised to follow the subtle "Tenants" signs to bypass the lines.

Didn't help the weather any though. It was before the Theatrical Securing of Everything, and a bit overcast, so the lines were pretty short to begin with.

[ianzin]

Originally Posted by Rhythmdvl

Anyone know if they're still doing the walk-down tour of the Washington Monument? Fantastic if-you-know thing I'd bring friends/family on when the visited me in DC. Get there early morning (~8-9 AM) on a weekend and ask a park worker for a pass -- they're free. Show up a bit later at the allotted time, no wait, no worry. Go up, get a bit of a lecture, then walk down the stairs and check out all the memorial stones and whatnot inside the monument.

If my own experience is anything to go by, it can be a lot harder than this to get a ticket to go up the Monument. Yes ,they are free, but they are also in short supply and the allocation disappears fast. I had to make three attempts, getting there earlier and earlier, before I finally got a ticket. On my third attempt I was down at the Monument, waiting in line, at roughly 6.30 am! By 7.30 the number of people waiting in line was equal to that day's allocation. It may be easier at weekends, I don't know.

Also, when I was there (April 2008) , we didn't get the option of walking back down. The elevator was the only option. Pretty cool, though, because the 'magic' wall in the elevator turns transparent and you get to see lots of interesting engravings on the inside of the tower.

Definitely worth the effort though, IMHO.

[DSeid]

Acch. I was going to be a smart ass and post that the best way to get up there was to participate in the Damon Runyon Cancer Research "Go Vertical" Tower Climb ... the line moves quickly and if you've been training for any endurance event the run up the stairs should be only twenty something minutes - twenty something puffy sweaty minutes, but still.

But. If you click that link you'll find that the frickin building management has bagged out of participating in the fundraiser!

After seven terrific years, we are greatly disappointed to announce that as a result of a decision made by Sears Tower building management, Go Vertical Chicago will not take place in 2009.

We are so grateful to all of you for participating in our climbs and raising money for cancer research. You have been fantastic to work with - it’s been fun and rewarding, every step of the way. Most importantly, in our seven years, you helped us raise more than $1.5 million – every penny of which supported the work of top scientists across the country. ...

Yeah. Pit the bastards. Hell Pith them like research frogs!

[mhendo]

Originally Posted by Ferret Herder

Chicago suburbanite here - I had a friend come to town and we decided to go to the Sears Tower. Hour and a half wait? Thanks but no thanks. I still haven't gone there.

A better solution, but not kid-friendly: Go to the John Hancock Center, no lines to wait in, take the free elevator up to the lounge/restaurant. Either eat at the kind of pricey restaurant, or grab a seat in the lounge, order a drink, enjoy the view. (If you're really feeling cheap, head straight to the rest rooms - dunno about the men's room, but the women's room has a great view out the huge windows.)

My wife and i went up Sears Tower back in '02. There was basically no wait at all. Maybe people were still freaked out about tall buildings less than a year after the WTC attacks.

I still think, even without the wait, that the Hancock Center is better. For the price of admission to Sears Tower, you can actually sit and have a drink at the Hancock building. Not only that, but i think that its proximity to the lake, and its view over the rest of downtown, actually makes the view from the Hancock building more interesting, despite Sears Tower's greater height.

For me, it's no contest.

[Proudest Monkey]

Do you have to pay to get back down the Sears Tower? 'Cause I'd pay a lot!

Seriously, I saw photos of those glass observation modules, and it made my feet sweat just thinking about looking straight down onto the street with nothing but a pane of glass (manufactured and installed by people I neither know nor trust) separating me from sidewalk splatter.

I have a moderate fear of heights. That scene from Ferris Bueller where they lean their heads on the glass makes me have to look away. I went to the top of the Eiffel Tower and felt shitty the whole time. There are pictures of me and my husband, with the whole of lovely Paris laid out behind us, and my face is contorted with fear in every one.

[Ferret Herder]

Originally Posted by Idle Thoughts

Of course, over a year and a half ago it's obviously changed, I just can't picture having to wait outside in a line on top of all we went through. That would have probably changed our minds in seeing it.

It's probably the publicity from the new glass overlook that you can stand on and look down.

[Harmonious Discord]

I had about a five minute wait at the a Sears Tower years ago. It seems weird that the tours picked up that much. It must be when you go. I was there on a weekday.

[Harmonious Discord]

Originally Posted by Proudest Monkey

Do you have to pay to get back down the Sears Tower? 'Cause I'd pay a lot!

Seriously, I saw photos of those glass observation modules, and it made my feet sweat just thinking about looking straight down onto the street with nothing but a pane of glass (manufactured and installed by people I neither know nor trust) separating me from sidewalk splatter.

I have a moderate fear of heights. That scene from Ferris Bueller where they lean their heads on the glass makes me have to look away. I went to the top of the Eiffel Tower and felt shitty the whole time. There are pictures of me and my husband, with the whole of lovely Paris laid out behind us, and my face is contorted with fear in every one.

I'll never be back in that tower. I can picture a group a fat brats jumping up and down on the floor which I already would have freaked out about it's being see through.

[t-bonham@scc.net]

About 10 years ago, I went by the Sears Tower while visiting Chicago on business. What astounded me was how dirty & littered the Plaza in front of the building was. Trash & litter blowing all over the place -- and nobody seeming to care, or even notice. I couldn't understand how they could allow a showplace building, with the company name on it, to be so messy & juncky looking.

But that was my impression of Chicago in general. There were actually junked cars in the median ditch between lanes of highways -- cars that had been there for weeks! The taxi driver actually told us that they always found some junked cars in the median when the snow melted, and they would probably be removed by the city -- in a few weeks!

[interface2x]

Originally Posted by Harmonious Discord

I had about a five minute wait at the a Sears Tower years ago. It seems weird that the tours picked up that much. It must be when you go. I was there on a weekday.

It's because of the new skydecks on the 103rd floor. My girlfriend and I went up to the 99th floor (the 103rd was closed to install the skydecks) in mid-June on a Monday afternoon. No wait at all, no huge crowds to speak of. At that time, it cost $14 each to go to the top, which seems pretty reasonable to me (cheaper than the Rockefellar Center in NYC in March). Ever since they installed the skydecks (which do look awesome, but terrifying), the crowds have gotten really heavy.

[pulykamell]

Originally Posted by Idle Thoughts

You had to wait in line outside the building? Weird. When I went (a year and a half ago) with someone, we didn't have to wait in any lines until after we entered, for one. Then, we never got in an elevator to go downstairs to anywhere. It was basically: Walk in, start standing in line....the line went through about five rooms (one of them with metal detectors and high security)...then a huge room where the line went back and forth for about three rows, then the short film room, then the elevator up to the top.

Yeah, the last time I remember being at the Sears Tower a few years ago there was no line to speak of. However, when I tried going there two weeks ago, in the middle of the week around lunchtime, the line was enormous, at least a hundred deep outside the entrance. And who knows how many more inside. Clearly, the new ledge they just built must have a lot to do with it -- that was the only reason I was heading up to the Sears (but of course turned back after seeing that line.)

[Rhythmdvl]

Originally Posted by ianzin

If my own experience is anything to go by, it can be a lot harder than this to get a ticket to go up the Monument. Yes ,they are free, but they are also in short supply and the allocation disappears fast. I had to make three attempts, getting there earlier and earlier, before I finally got a ticket. On my third attempt I was down at the Monument, waiting in line, at roughly 6.30 am! By 7.30 the number of people waiting in line was equal to that day's allocation. It may be easier at weekends, I don't know.

Also, when I was there (April 2008) , we didn't get the option of walking back down. The elevator was the only option. Pretty cool, though, because the 'magic' wall in the elevator turns transparent and you get to see lots of interesting engravings on the inside of the tower.

Definitely worth the effort though, IMHO.

Sounds like the regular trip through the monument (which is a blast nonetheless). I'm talking about something completely different (and since I'm asking if they still do it, this may be a moot description). The regular tour is elevator up/elevator down. This was elevator up -- walk down. The walk down was the whole point of the special ticket. This was back in, oh, maybe 1999 - 2004 or so when I lived there, the last time I did it was probably closer to the turn of the century.

ETA: Wow, looks like they're still doing it. Google Washington Monument walk down tour and you'll get lots of hits.

[Ferret Herder]

Originally Posted by t-bonham@scc.net

About 10 years ago, I went by the Sears Tower while visiting Chicago on business. What astounded me was how dirty & littered the Plaza in front of the building was. Trash & litter blowing all over the place -- and nobody seeming to care, or even notice. I couldn't understand how they could allow a showplace building, with the company name on it, to be so messy & juncky looking.

But that was my impression of Chicago in general. There were actually junked cars in the median ditch between lanes of highways -- cars that had been there for weeks! The taxi driver actually told us that they always found some junked cars in the median when the snow melted, and they would probably be removed by the city -- in a few weeks!

The city's cleaned up a lot since then. (In fact, that's been a criticism of some against Daley, that he's too interested in the superficial looks.) Most visitors that I show around are impressed with the cleanliness and friendliness. It's not Minneapolis-level clean but close, in the better areas of town.

[kaylasdad99]

Originally Posted by crazyjoe

Visited Chicago last week with the kids, and took them to se the Sears Tower. Holy shit. IF you have not been to the Sears Tower, let me explain to you how it works.

First, you wat in a line outside the building to get in. Once inside, you wait in a line to get to an elevator. The elevator does not take you to the top. Nope, it takes you downstairs. Where you wait in another line to go through a pair of double doors.

Yeesh.

What if you work there?

[gaffa]

Originally Posted by mhendo

I still think, even without the wait, that the Hancock Center is better. For the price of admission to Sears Tower, you can actually sit and have a drink at the Hancock building. Not only that, but i think that its proximity to the lake, and its view over the rest of downtown, actually makes the view from the Hancock building more interesting, despite Sears Tower's greater height.

For me, it's no contest.

Thirded. I've been in both, and the view from the Hancock is so much better that the idea that people would wait in line for the Sears Tower is laughable. The view over the lake to the east, the view over the Gold Coast to the north, the view of the Loop to the south and the view of the Water Tower and everything else to the west. No comparison.

[crazyjoe]

Originally Posted by kaylasdad99

Yeesh.

What if you work there?

Well, the entrance to view the skydeck is much different than the regular entrance.

Also, for double the price (roughly 34 dollars per person) you can buy an express pass that allows you to bypass all of those folks waiting in line.

[buttonjockey308]

Originally Posted by Ferret Herder

It's probably the publicity from the new glass overlook that you can stand on and look down.

DING! Winner.

A LOT of hype about the glass box of death. It'll be back to normal by winter time.

[tdn]

Originally Posted by Proudest Monkey

I have a moderate fear of heights. That scene from Ferris Bueller where they lean their heads on the glass makes me have to look away. I went to the top of the Eiffel Tower and felt shitty the whole time. There are pictures of me and my husband, with the whole of lovely Paris laid out behind us, and my face is contorted with fear in every one.

I'm getting vertigo just reading this thread.

[tdn]

Originally Posted by Bryan Ekers

Well, if you want to clear the lines out in a hurry, just yell "OH MY GOD IT'S A PLANE!"

What, too soon?

Yep. That comes second, after "It's a bird!"

[neuroman]

Originally Posted by gotpasswords

It was before the Theatrical Securing of Everything,

I hope you don't care if I steal this, because I am definitely calling the TSA the "Theatrical Security Agency" from here on out.

[Jophiel]

Originally Posted by Ferret Herder

A better solution, but not kid-friendly: Go to the John Hancock Center

For whatever it's worth, every time I've been to the Signature Lounge at the Hancock, there's been kids there. Also, provided you go during the day and not at night when it becomes more of a nightspot, the dress is pretty casual. I always dress up a little just because I'm out and about but there's always people in jeans, shorts, t-shirts, etc.

Agreed though with the crowd -- a free view from the Hancock with a $10 turkey sandwich and a $3 Coke beats a $14 ticket up the Sears with the lines and movie and the rest of it.

The restaurant itself is very pricey though.

[Robot Arm]

Originally Posted by Rhythmdvl

Sounds like the regular trip through the monument (which is a blast nonetheless). I'm talking about something completely different (and since I'm asking if they still do it, this may be a moot description). The regular tour is elevator up/elevator down. This was elevator up -- walk down. The walk down was the whole point of the special ticket. This was back in, oh, maybe 1999 - 2004 or so when I lived there, the last time I did it was probably closer to the turn of the century.

I did that in the mid 90's or so. Didn't even need a ticket from the morning. The walk-down tours were at 10:00 and 2:00; I showed up at 1:55 and was the only one. Another family just wanted to see the top, but joined our group to skip the line. There wasn't much time to study the stones, though. The ranger just kept walking. I'm glad they're still doing the tours; so many things have closed.

I've heard they recently reopened the Statue of Liberty. I went to the crown in '82, but then never again after the restoration. I'll have to look into that.

Did the Sears Tower about three years ago. No wait to speak of.

Empire State Building twice. Once was about 30 minutes before midnight (when it closes), no line at all.

World Trade Center twice. The first time, there were escalators with signs that said "closed due to high winds." I figured that they couldn't possibly let people on the roof. (But what the hell else could that sign mean?) Well, the second time, the escalators were open, and there I was, on the roof. I've never been scared of heights before, but something about that started doing a number on me. It was a few years before I went up in a tall building again.

Got to the Eiffel Tower early. The wait wasn't bad, but as I was coming back down, the second level was completely packed with people waiting for the elevator to the top.

Rhythmdvl, if you're ever in Ulm, go here. (You can't miss it.) Almost as tall as the Washington Monument, even better stonework, and you get to take the stairs both ways.

[lieu]

Originally Posted by Zsofia

All I remember is being pressed up against other people's asses on the elevator.

I can't tell you how much I hope you did this despite the car being almost empty.

We had really quick access to both the WTC and Empire State Building. I guess it help to go midday and midweek.