We've been to Chicago many times and enjoy all the city has to offer. And, we've been to the Hancock Observatory before and enjoyed the views from 1000 feet above Chicago. However, if you're short on free time or have another engagement to follow your ride to the top, you'd better plan your trip carefully to prevent frustration and heartburn.
The trip to the top at about 8 p.m. came with the normal wait time of about 10 minutes. No problem there, as one expects such an attraction to come with a wait.
The views were splendid, as the night was clear. However, after about 20 minutes of soaking in the sights, it was time to head back down.
Unfortunately, the system to transport guests down doesn't work as smoothly as the one that brings them up, causing an unnecessary wait of over 40 minutes. As can be seen in the pictures, the line of folks waiting to catch the down elevator was over 100 people long. The really frustrating thing is the staff did nothing to correct the problem despite numerous pleas from irritated tourists to get another elevator running to speed the process. We were told by the staff at the downstairs ticket sales counter that the other 2 elevators everyone was asking about serve floors near the observatory, but aren't used unless there is an emergency.
If you have lots of spare time and don't mind waiting in line for no real reason, you'll have no problem at the observatory. But, if you're planning on a concert or show, make sure to budget your time in the Hancock observatory carefully to allow for more time than you might expect for the round trip. Forewarned is forearmed.
TripAdvisor has free and easy resources to help you enhance your listing and promote your property.
- Start Here - Visit Your Owners' Center
- Add Photo
- Add Video