New York City often prides itself on being the capital of the world given all the industries that converge within those three hundred-some-odd square miles. National and international media, finance, fashion, publishing, the arts...all that and more are headquartered in the city, not by official fiat but because each feeds the other. And once upon a time New York was also world-famous for its amusement rides, in the form of legendary Coney Island in the Borough of Brooklyn.
Make no mistake: The city does not lack for amusement rides, only that unlike many other industries in town, this one is much more spread-out. Take for instance the ever-popular Skyride – would you believe that it’s in the Empire State Building? In a way it seems to be the ideal venue (and so it is, for serial entrepreneur Zalman Silber, who engineered his first big break with the idea), and you wonder why you didn’t think of it yourself. On the other hand, one doesn’t expect a simple amusement park ride in one of the most iconic landmarks in the whole wide world, either.
But the Skyride is no typical amusement park ride. For one thing, it takes place in “one of the most iconic landmarks in the whole wide world.” The only better view of the city is to have King Kong take you up to the top floor – for which, actually, the Skyride has an adequate substitute: Purchase a combination ticket that also allows fast and exclusive access to the eighty-sixth storey, bypassing many lines of fellow tourists.
And just exactly what is the Skyride? It’s a self-described virtual tour simulator providing aerial views of city landmarks, all narrated by actor Kevin Bacon. Guests glide past the Statue of Liberty and dodge taxi cabs, buzz the Brooklyn Bridge and sail through the United Nations, all while ergonomically seated on a specially designed platform that provides synchronized kinetic feedback. More than thirty other locations throughout the city are explored in high-definition video and surround sound. The entire half-hour program includes two opening presentations that delve into the history of the Empire State Building itself as well as all the other things to do in New York.
The Skyride is a multimedia experience for the whole family, suitable for young children. After the show, guests can enjoy the Empire State Building itself, with exclusive access to the top floor’s panoramic views that bypasses three-quarters of the lines. In operation since the mid-nineties, the Skyride continues to entertain visitors into the 21st Century with a quality experience that introduces the real New York.