We visited this attraction a month or so after it opened. It’s a bit Disneyesque in style, and in fact ends with a ‘ride’ over the skyline of New York City, in a similar fashion that the popular ’Soarin’ ride in the various Disney parks around the world dishes up to its eager visitors. It’s billed as "part ride, part museum, all New York," and it certainly is that!
We really enjoyed our visit, and especially the soaring ride at the end. Your visit follows a set path, so you just can’t skip the preliminaries to get to the ride. Firstly you step back in time by taking a lift down to 1904 to enter a mock-up of New York City’s first subway station of City Hall, where you watch an immersive documentary which showcases how the city became the crossroads of the world. It’s informative and interesting. Then you proceed through 7 museum-style galleries (via a ‘subway’ journey) which transports you through the city’s expansive pop-culture evolution. The galleries are: Finance, Skyline, TV/Radio, Fashion, Music, Broadway and Film; they illustrate how these industries rose up to connect NYC to the world and make this city so globally famous. Some are more interesting than others.
There’s some historic artefacts and star-studded memorabilia such as the Notorious B.I.G.'s track suit and an original Beatles drum head. It’s all quite interactive, with lots of interesting photo opportunities for that perfect insta shot. That's probably one of the best aspects of the attraction, and a part I really enjoyed - there’s a lot of history reflected here that has happened in my lifetime. You can pose on that famous orange couch made famous by the equally famous sitcom ‘Friends’. I loved 'The Honeymooners ' kitchen and the wonderful fact that it’s all in black and white!!. There’s Carrie Bradshaw's perfect mannequin, and an actual moving replica of Oscar the Grouch. You can pose with the Village People, and spin your own tunes in the Hip Hop display.
Finally, there’s the ‘Sarin-like’ ride which takes you over the city’s iconic skyline strapped into your seat and suspended about 30 feet. It’s the first-ever soaring ride over New York , and you will experience the sights, sounds, and smells of the Big Apple as you fly over the city's most iconic landmarks and celebrations. It’s the best part of the attraction, done really well, and I really enjoyed it (having experienced ’Soarin’ at Disney World and a similar fly-over attraction in Reykjavik in Iceland.
Tickets are around $29, with a small discount for those over 65. The attraction is accessible for those who require mobility assistance. However, you must be able to be strapped into the soaring ride. Children must be 40 inches or over tall to participate in the ride. The attraction is on W45th Street just off Broadway, and only a few minutes’ walk from Times Square.