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Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum: Traveler Reviews


TripAdvisor Traveler Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars 12 Reviews
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TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #410 of 506 attractions in Chicago
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Attraction type: Observatory/planetarium, Specialty museum, Other
Address: 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605
Tel: 312 922 7827
Fax: 312 322 2257

Traveler Reviews

[ Date ] [ Rating ]
Amateurish and dull

Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum

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1 of 5 stars
BradfordDC 1 contribution
Washington, DC
Oct 29, 2007
1/1 found this review helpful

Based on the very positive reviews it received in the standard guide books, we were eager to check out the Adler Planetarium. We wished we hadn't. We were stunned by how amateurish and dull its offerings were, particularly given Adler's high ticket prices. The technical quality of the exhibits is poor and they impart little new or interesting information to either children or adults (e.g., the exhibits include two pup tents, one air conditioned, and the other heated, to demonstrate the difference between hot and cold...It wasn't clear to us who needed this demonstration to understand the difference). The "3D" movie of the Milky Way galaxy sounded intriguing, but its execution was embarrassing. It was not 3D (it was a messy, 2-color blur, and everyone in the audience was in constant motion, trying out different points in the small room to see if they could find a "sweet spot" that would yield the promised 3D experience), and it shared no more than the scant information that was presented tediously in 5 or 6 other exhibits in the Adler. The guide books rave about the 30 minute movies presented in the pseudo-planetarium "StarRider Theater," and we assumed that seeing one of these movies ("Black Holes") would make up for the disappointments we'd experienced touring the other exhibits. No such luck. There's not much technical wizardry to be seen here, the information shared can be fit on two 3 x 5 note cards (and was presented in 5 other Adler exhibits), and it was a fairly soporific experience (we weren't the only ones in the audience who were trying not to fall asleep...and judging from some nearby snores, not everyone was as successful as we were). Avoid the Adler, and spend your time and money at the vastly superior and far more engaging Field Museum.

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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It was just O.K.

Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum

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3 of 5 stars
rfmnj 13 contributions
new jersey
Sep 8, 2007
1/1 found this review helpful

The planetarium is O.K. The staff isn't very friendly but I did not find them to be terribly rude -- I guess you would say they are indifferent.

The exhibits are somewhat interesting but unfortunately the featured shows were disappointing. Overall it was subpar compared to planetariums in other major cities and a bit overpriced for what you are getting.

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Not goot at all!

Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum

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1 of 5 stars
nosilla 72 contributions
Wisconsin
Aug 4, 2007
2/3 found this review helpful

The staff was So darn rude, it was borderline criminal that I paid to be treated like this. I asked polietly where the theatre was, just to have a finger stuck in my face, Ma'm it's over where I told you. Umm she never told me anything execept my total. There was a group of Japanese tourists their as well, and their group was treated worse than me. 2 of the ladies on that group asked where the bathroom was, and the cashier told them" You don't have time, this is the last show of the day, so if you miss it too bad". So they looked utterly confused, and just waited in line to get into the theatre for about 15 minutes-tons of time to use the facilities! The show itself reminded me of a boring highschool film strip. The narration was BORING! After the show some guy came in and said-Get out. Nice huh? So as we are leaving I see the bathroom ladies go to use the ladies room, and guess what - the cashier told them, sorry we are closed. I glared at the cashier & told her that I needed to use the bathroom too, and she is not going to stop us. So off we went into the bathroom. Which took really 3 minutes, people were still exiting the theatre from the show we were in. As we walked out the cashier was there with a group of employees furious with us. I didn't care at this point I really felt angry that I spent any money here at all.

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Great visit!

Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum

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4 of 5 stars
flaherty 28 contributions
London
Apr 16, 2007
1/1 found this review helpful

The shows at the Planetarium are informative and well-presented and interesting for all ages. The attractions are well laid out and if you're interested in space, this is the place for you. Get the CityPass, then you don't need to queue here and you save money too. The cafe is hopeless though, so eat elsewhere.

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Rude People

Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum

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2 of 5 stars
Yami 20 contributions
Portland, Oregon
Mar 25, 2007
0/2 found this review helpful

The Adler Planetarium is a great planetarium, with many wonderful exhibits. But when we visited in summer '06 the employees were really rude. It was as if it would have killed them to smile at some weary travelers. And the cafeteria was overpriced and very limited. With the great exhibits and so much to offer, it is a real shame that the folks that one must deal with during a visit don't make more of an effort to be pleasant.

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum Address

1300 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605
Tel: 312 922 7827 Fax: 312 322 2257