I visited for you… One World Observatory

As a New York enthusiast, I’d been eagerly anticipating the opening of the new observatory at the top of One World Trade Center for years. When would it finally open? After several years of waiting, I was thrilled to step through the observatory’s entrance. Here’s what I thought, in a “likes” and “dislikes” format.

Like: The Experience Design

• Before reaching the tower’s summit, you pass through a carefully designed journey that builds anticipation. It starts with a giant screen displaying the nationalities of visitors in real time as their tickets are scanned. Long corridors follow, showing videos of the tower’s construction through interviews with those who worked on the project. The statements are sometimes grandiose, but the films reveal many never-before-seen photographs.
• A brief passage through cardboard-rock reconstructions of the tower’s foundations has a somewhat naive Disneyland quality, but it perfectly prepares you for the next stage: the elevator ride. And here, without spoiling the surprise, I suggest positioning yourself near the elevator doors. During the ascent, a stunning computer-generated film is projected on the walls. Breathtaking! Another surprise awaits you at the top, but I won’t tell—I don’t want to ruin the experience.

Like: The Views

• Once at the top, the view truly lives up to expectations. You have the Financial District and the Brooklyn Bridge at your feet. Further out, you get a helicopter-like perspective of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. To the north, the panorama is equally stunning: Manhattan, the Hudson River, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, and Summit in the distance. You suddenly realize you’re standing at the highest point in America.
• Take your time and settle in along the windows to enjoy the views, especially the dramatic drop down to the World Trade Center marina and toward the Brooklyn Bridge. You’ll also see activity in the harbor: Staten Island ferries, cruise ships, and a steady stream of helicopters, some flying lower than the tower itself.

Dislike: Window Reflections

• After taking in the views, it’s time to pull out your camera. That’s when problems start. None of the three levels at One World Observatory offers outdoor access, unlike the Empire State Building and Top of the Rock. You’re stuck taking photos through the building’s windows, which is far from easy given how much they reflect.
• Tip: Position yourself at the corners of the windows and press your lens against the glass. It’s a shame there’s no outdoor access like the original World Trade Center observatory had.

Dislike: The Noise

• When crowds arrive, the main floor of One World Observatory quickly becomes a noisy aquarium. Every 20 minutes or so, presentations about New York add to the already high noise level. The presentations themselves are interesting, with explanations about New York neighborhoods and things to see and do, but why place these workshops directly in front of the two main viewing areas, facing north and south? You end up overwhelmed. Rather than a long explanation, here’s a short video to give you a sense of the noise—20 seconds tells you everything:

Dislike: The Hard Sell

• What disappointed and even annoyed me: the overwhelming sense of being treated as a walking wallet. It starts right as you exit the elevators with a detour designed solely to pass iPad rental stands. Multiple vendors try to catch every visitor, with one shouting into a microphone to tout the iPad’s benefits, like a marketplace vendor. Rental price: $15.
• Then comes the inevitable souvenir photo, priced at nearly $30. You can avoid it by taking the left line, but you’ll get disapproving looks. The gift shop is positioned directly on the observatory floor, eating into the viewing space.
• But it’s strategically placed on your way down. Once you reach the base of the tower, more vendors are waiting to make sure you buy that souvenir photo. It feels like a carnival!

Dislike: The Seating Shortage

• Another letdown at the top: nowhere to sit. The vast observatory space on the 100th floor has no benches or seats. It’s as if visitors are expected to take a quick look and leave. If you want to sit, you’re limited to small ledges at the base of the windows. Or you could grab a drink at the snack bar, but even then you’re not guaranteed a seat.
• Oddly, the number of chairs around the tables is far too few, and there’s a scramble whenever one becomes available. You really do get the impression you’re meant to hurry through and head back down. Nothing like the welcoming wooden benches on the Top of the Rock terraces. Hopefully One World Observatory will reconsider this design choice.

Verdict: Should You Visit One World Observatory?

• With 2 likes against 4 dislikes, I must still admit that the likes win out decisively. Yes, absolutely visit the new observatory! The view is genuinely breathtaking, and if you overlook a few inconveniences, the view remains the main promise—and it delivers. The vantage point at the southern tip of Manhattan is a tremendous draw, especially since the Empire State Building and Top of the Rock offer views from Midtown.
• For those who remember the original Twin Towers, this spectacular view will carry emotional weight, since the observatory sits at the same height as the original World Trade Center observatory and nearly in the same location. Don’t miss the view of the 9/11 Memorial: you’ll see the bottoms of the reflecting pools, carved into the foundations of the former towers.
• One last word to describe the view: unforgettable.