Skydeck Chicago

Address:	233 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, USA
Phone:	+1 312-875-9447
Site:	theskydeck.com
Rating:	4.4
Working:	9AM–10PM 9AM–10PM 9AM–10PM 9AM–10PM 9AM–10PM 9AM–10PM 9AM–10PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 6

Bob Franco

Why do people come here? Its an absolutely horrifying experience for many reasons. When I visited on May 23, my terrible experience started right when I was purchasing my Skydeck tickets. Instead of a person behind the counter, there sat a large lizard whose name tag told me its name was Craxel. What!? I was willing to accommodate this unusual interaction, but then Craxel INJECTED me with a "liquid form" of the Skydeck ticket, which really hurt. Ive never heard of such a ticketing system in my life. I still took that long elevator ride up, but even that couldnt be simply interesting or somewhat calm. As we ascended, the video they showed us turned off, and then the lights in the elevator turned red. The elevator opened to reveal a fiery landscape that I can only describe as Hell, and the angry disembodied head of Richard J. Daleys ghost floated into the elevator, making bizarre hoarse crow noises. He rode the elevator up with us, and told us all the story about how Chicago is a portal to another world made of pure fire, and that hes the king. He also assured us that wed all be dead within 50 years. When we got to the top, Daley faded away and the elevator went back to normal. Everyone but me stepped off like this was just a normal part of the experience, but I was trembling as I made my way to the Skydeck. As I stumbled toward the Skydeck, I saw two children standing on it, but as they did, they started melting right before my eyes. A puddle of pure flesh sat on the glass and then crawled away from the Skydeck back to its parents, who acted like this was normal. More people stepped into the Skydeck and turned into flesh puddles, moving away afterward, somehow still alive. It occurred to me then that the Skydeck is, in fact, a particle melter. Why anybody would want to be melted is anybodys guess, but I dont get it. I took the Hell elevator back down and had to endure Richard Daleys ghosts crow cackle all the way down, which made me feel defeated. I do not recommend this horrifying place, unless turning into a flesh puddle and encountering a demonic Richard Daley ghost is your thing.

Emily Himmelfarb

You wait outside for about 15 minutes. Then you get inside and its about a 20 minute wait to get into an elevator. But that elevator takes you downstairs where you join another line of hundreds of people that takes an hour. The worst part is, if you are first in the elevator, you will be last out and 15-20 people that used to be behind you are now in front of you. After all that, you finally reach SECURITY. This is a major safety issue. The Willis Tower is a major tourist destination and hundreds of people are sitting ducks in that line and there is no escape because a limited amount of people can fit in an elevator which would cause panic and trampling if anyone started shooting. Yet, no one checks to see if someone has a gun or other weapon until after youve been in the building for an hour. At security, you will be yelled at by a mean security guard. The lines are poorly managed and there is no distinction between people who already have tickets and those who dont, which makes the wait longer. When we finally got to the point where we showed our tickets, we found that there was another massive line. Apparently, there were delays because an elevator broke but no one told us this. We all just stood crowded together waiting for nothing. We tried to ask employees what was happening and they were rude and unhelpful. Then we were forced to watch a 10 minute movie which contained information that we already knew from standing in line for an hour. Complete waste of time. The movie also sets you back further in line. After getting shuffled around, I saw a couple who arrived 30 minutes after we did, far ahead of us in line (Yes, there was another line). After everything, it took us 3 hours to actually reach the skydeck. The view was nice. On the elevator back down, a video said to ask the "friendly staff" any questions we still might have. Everyone in the elevator started laughing because the staff is actually incredibly rude. Complete waste of time. Poorly managed. Security and safety risks.

Etienne De Wachter

Ce que jai aimé : La vue de Chicago vers les quatre directions cardinales est superbe, avec des variations importantes de composition : les quartiers a forte densités de gratte-ciels sont assez minoritaires, par oppositions aux quartiers sans grands bâtiments. Jai effectué une visite en fin de journée, le soleil couchant donne une ambiance magnifique (attention vérifier les heures de fermetures qui varient avec les saisons) et une visite en pleine journée. Les extensions hors du bâtiment sont entièrement vitrées et permettent de vérifier son angoisse du vide, avec 412 mètres en dessous des pieds. Le dépassement vers lextérieur ne fait que 1,3 mètre mais cela suffit pour avoir un coup dadrénaline : certains seront incapables de pénétrer dans lextension, dautres auront le besoin de tâter le sol pour jauger de la solidité, une expérience a tenter en groupe dans tous les cas.

Toni Sauer

Ab hin da! Wir waren durch Zufall pünktlich zur Öffnung um 9 Uhr dort. Kaum ein Mensch stand an...für die üblichen Verhältnisse. Wir haben in ca. 3 runden anstehen dürfen. 1. Ebene Erdgeschoss zum Keller (security check) ca. 1h 2.ebene Keller. ...Karten kaufen und nochmal 1h warten 3. Skydeck warten um in den Glaskasten the ledge zu kommen ca. 30 min. Mit allen zusamm waren wir ca. 4h dort. Es ist empfehlenswert und entschädigt schon das warten. Wer denkt er spart viel zeit und kauft Karten bei viator......Mmmhh Nein. Der steht genauso an....da er seine Karten ja in die richtigen umtauschen darf. Wir Gatten für 33$ die tag/Nacht Karte genommen. Am Tage schon sehr nett aber abends mit dem ganze licht der city ein Knaller! ! Hin da! :)

Matt G

The Skydeck boosts a beautiful view of city and surrounding landscape, but that is where the positives end for this Chicago tourist attraction. For the curious traveler, a few important things to know: 1. The lines are long, and there are a lot of them. One for tickets, one for security, one for mandatory photos, one to take the elevator up. Its not over there though, there are two more lines in order to get out. 2. There is a lot of propaganda for a paid attraction. Youre going hear and read a lot about the Willis Group before you get to look out and view the city. 3. At least on this trip, the staff is very rude, their visitors are an obvious annoyances and required to move away from observations windows randomly to allow better viewing for VIP groups. 4. If you are going to visit any of the other attractions available via the Chicago CityPass, purchase that. Its cheaper, and pass allows you to jump to the head of most of the lines. 5. Restrooms are in very poor repair and not stocked. It might have just been an off day for the tower staff, it might be be that they just care about how much they can sell you before you get frustrated and leave. Either way, while this is a unique experience that could have been worse, it certainly isnt one I would recommend given 360 Chicago, the other major tower observation deck in Chicago, sports comparable views with a more easygoing and relaxed atmosphere.

Kathryn Seeling

Let me start with the obvious! OMG, What a long wait! including the time we spent at the top, it was a total of 3 hours. LOTS of waiting which can get boring for small children, so you may want to bring something for them to do while in line. My best description is organized chaos. The lines are only semi lines, big groups of people just trying to get through to the next line. Not very much organization for the thousands of people that must go through here everyday. Im sure they have tried everything and this is the best they came up with but I felt like people were constantly cutting in front of me which after a while makes everyone a little testy. So besides that, one you get to the top, it is an absolutely wonderful view of all of Chicago. Dont waste your time and go on a cloudy day. We went during the day and found it to be stunning. however, again with the lines! The area to go out onto the ledge, is packed with people supposedly in line, no employees at the front to limit the amount of time people take to look out and get some great pictures. Once its your turn to get out on the ledge it is breathtaking. Even my sister who is afraid of heights said that she felt very comfortable on the ledge. Pictures come out great from the ledge, but please be considerate of others and take your pictures, look around and move on. And of course there is a line for the elevator down...