I tested the Explorer Pass for you

During my trip to New York in June 2018, I used the Explorer Pass again. I was able to test its new barcode system. Here's how it works now.

Why Choose the Explorer Pass?

Like other New York tourist passes, the Explorer Pass gives you significant savings on attractions. You can visit 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 10 attractions from a list of over 60 New York sites for one flat rate—much cheaper than paying full price for each visit separately.
Included attractions are the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Top of the Rock observation deck, numerous museums, and many more. See the full list of attractions on the New York Explorer Pass booking page.

Once you purchase your Explorer Pass on the Explorer Pass booking page, using it is straightforward. Simply show the QR code from your email confirmation at each attraction’s entrance.
You can print the voucher or, like many visitors, just display it on your phone. The pass is all about the QR code. Compared to the older card-based system, this digital version is much more convenient—your pass is always with you on your phone.
Tip: to save time at each entrance, keep the QR code open in a browser window on your phone. That way, your pass is always ready to scan.

Some attractions now require you to reserve a specific time slot for entry. You don’t pay again—you’re just choosing a time. This applies to the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building, among others. If you have questions and purchased your pass through our site CNEWYORK, we’re here to help.
For museums and monuments, no advance booking is needed—just show up at the entrance. For guided tours, you’ll need to call the operator in advance.
Important: except for attractions that require advance booking, you don’t need to plan your visits ahead of time. When you buy your pass, you only choose how many visits you want. After that, you decide when and where to go. You can change your mind about which attractions to visit, as long as you stay within your total number of visits.
The Explorer Pass is valid for 2 years if unused, and for 30 days from your first QR code scan at an attraction. For a New York vacation, you’ll have plenty of time to use all your visits.
The Explorer Pass also includes some skip-the-line benefits. At the Empire State Building, you bypass the ticket counter and go straight to the elevator line. At Top of the Rock and the Intrepid Museum, you use a dedicated pass holder line to reach the ticket counter. At the Statue of Liberty, you can use the “Reserved” line to security screening.