Times Square is currently home to a Ferris wheel — TPG went so you don't have to
Times Square in New York City is temporarily home to a new tourist attraction: a 110-foot Ferris wheel.
From Aug. 25 to Sept. 12, visitors can buy tickets to ride this new attraction. It's on a stretch of Broadway in Times Square, just below the famous Coca-Cola billboard where the ball drops on New Year's Eve. Rides start at noon and go through midnight, rain or shine.
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I have fond childhood memories of waiting in line with friends at the annual Garland County fair for the Ferris wheel — a hard-won stuffed animal from the ring toss in one hand, blue raspberry cotton candy in the other and the unforgettable view of my small corner of the universe filled with bright lights and laughter. The Times Square Wheel experience, unfortunately, was nothing like that.
For starters, tickets are expensive. For about three loops and 10 minutes, you'll pay $20 for general admission tickets, $35 for "skip the line" tickets and $15 for kids 5 to 10-years-old (children under 5 are not permitted to ride). If you purchase your tickets online ahead of time, you'll also be charged a service fee. You can buy tickets once you arrive, but the ticket booth specified cash only.
TPG reporter Chris Dong and I checked out the new attraction and paid $79.10 total for our "skip the line" tickets. Had we gone with the cheaper general admission tickets, it would have cost $45.20 total.
Ticket reservations are sold for 30-minute slots, and our slot was supposed to start at noon. As we arrived, it was clear there were still some kinks to work out with the attraction.
A small (or, relatively small for Times Square) crowd was amassed by the time we got there, but there was no direction on how to enter, who to talk to or where the entrance to the attraction was even located. Eventually, we did find someone working the attraction who instructed us to wait outside the metal fencing while media members filmed b-roll of the opening for use online and on TV.
Proof of vaccination was not required (which made sense considering it was an outdoors attraction), and mask-wearing was hit or miss.
The worker told those of us waiting in line — including a small group who had been waiting for almost 30 minutes by the time we got there — that they were running behind because the city had only given them the all-clear to start operating four minutes before noon (when the attraction was originally supposed to open to the public).
Despite having "skip the line" tickets, we weren't actually let into the attraction area until 12:45 p.m.
That wasn't the last of the hiccups, either. The ticket scanner app that was meant to check us in wouldn't scan our tickets, which bottlenecked the line quite a bit. The man working the entrance ended up having to search for our reservation by last name. The workers were stuck outside trying to deal with an increasingly impatient crowd in 90-degree heat with next to no shade.
The ride itself was fine, though nothing I'd write home about. Once you load into the gondolas — which can sit up to six people each, though that would be a rather tight squeeze, in my opinion — you end up going around about three times. The attraction's website claims the ride lasts nine to 12 minutes, but we were only on for maybe five or six total.
Because the buildings in Times Square are so tall, you really don't get any unique or especially breathtaking views. You can get comparable (or sometimes even better) views without the actual Ferris wheel structure blocking you from some of the stores and restaurants in Times Square.
To be honest, the placement of the attraction is interesting. A Ferris wheel attraction in Brooklyn Bridge Park, for example, would have given more space while still attracting large crowds since the Brooklyn Bridge and Dumbo area of Brooklyn draw a lot of tourists on their own. Plus, the views of the New York City skyline would have been spectacular.
Related: 3 ways to experience New York City on any budget
Something else to consider is that the attraction isn't ADA accessible — tourists and NYC locals who use a wheelchair or who are unable to traverse stairs won't be able to ride.
Now, to be completely fair, Chris and I went at noon on the first day of opening (which happened to be during a heat advisory in New York City). In a few days, the kinks for entry should be worked out. And going at night might be a better experience for tourists looking to experience Times Square while it's lit up — the attraction is open from noon until midnight every day through Sept. 12.
It was definitely a unique experience (how many people can say they've ridden a Ferris wheel in Times Square?), but I personally wouldn't shell out $80 to do it again.
If you're visiting New York City and want to experience incredible skyline views, hit up one of the dozens of stellar rooftop bars throughout the city and use the money you would have spent on tickets on drinks with dinner.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.