Top of the Rock: VIP Guided Tour, SKYLIFT & Champagne

Skip the Line at Top of the Rock—and Get the Champagne Toast

You skip the entry line and security queue, ride priority elevators to the 70th-floor observation deck with a guide who knows the skyline, raise a champagne toast in the Weather Room, then experience SKYLIFT and The Beam privately—two new 360-degree attractions—before heading down with a photo pass and a 20% discount waiting at the gift shop.

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the New York skyline from the top without spending your visit in entry lines or figuring out where to stand—the guided tour, private attractions, and champagne are what turn a crowded observation deck into an actual experience.

What’s included

Your experience includes expedited entry and a dedicated security checkpoint, priority elevator access to skip the regular queues, a guided tour of the 70th-floor observation deck with a knowledgeable guide, a champagne toast in the Weather Room (21+ only; non-alcoholic options for younger guests), private access to SKYLIFT—a 360-degree rotating glass experience—and The Beam Experience, a professional photo pass so you have images from the top, and 20% off merchandise at the gift shop before you leave.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Top of the Rock guided experience

• Enter Top of the Rock with expedited entry
• Take priority elevator to observation deck
• Enjoy guided tour of observation deck
• Have champagne toast (21+)
• Experience private Skylift ride
• Visit The Beam attraction
• Use Photo Pass for pictures
• Shop with 20% discount at gift shop

The Experience

The line at the security checkpoint wrapped around the corner, and we weren't even inside yet. That's when the guide met us—she had a tablet, a smile, and a way around the whole thing. Turns out expedited entry means you don't wait with the crowd. You walk past them. It's a small thing until you're standing on the 70th floor while other people are still in the lobby, and then it feels like the whole day just opened up. Top of the Rock sits on Rockefeller Center, and on a clear day you can see all the way to New Jersey and back. The guided tour itself moves at a real pace—not rushed, but not dawdling either—and the guide actually knows what she's talking about, pointing out neighborhoods and buildings and the way the light hits the water.

The champagne toast happens in the Weather Room, which is exactly what it sounds like: a bar at the top of a building where you can watch the city while you drink. It's 21 and up for that part, and they don't rush you through it. After that comes SKYLIFT, which is the new thing everyone's talking about. It's a 360-degree experience—basically you're standing in a glass box that rotates and tilts, and for a few seconds your stomach catches up with the view. The Beam Experience is similar but different; it's more controlled, more of a moment than a thrill. Both are private, which means you're not queuing with strangers or waiting for a group to finish. You go when it's your turn, and it's yours.

The whole thing includes a Photo Pass, so someone's actually taking pictures of you up there instead of you trying to angle a selfie with the skyline. The gift shop discount—20% off—is the kind of thing you don't think you'll use until you're standing there looking at a snow globe or a hoodie and realizing you just saved five bucks. Priority elevator access means you're not packed in with the regular tour groups either. It's a small detail, but after a few hours in a crowded observation deck, having your own elevator down feels like a real thing.

Book this if you want the main Top of the Rock experience without the friction of entry lines, without guessing where to look, and without missing the champagne part because you were stuck downstairs. The VIP pass is what makes all three—the access, the toast, the new attractions—actually happen in one visit instead of becoming the thing you ran out of time for.

Top questions

Do I need a separate ticket to Top of the Rock, or is it included?

The VIP pass includes all entry and access to the observation deck. No separate ticket needed.

What time does the tour start?

Check your confirmation email for your assigned time slot. Arrival time varies by booking.

Is the champagne toast really included?

Yes, for guests 21 and older. Non-alcoholic options are available for younger visitors.

How long does the whole experience take?

Plan for 2 to 3 hours depending on how long you spend at each attraction and the observation deck.

Can children do SKYLIFT and The Beam?

The Beam requires 52 inches tall to ride alone, or 42 inches with an adult. SKYLIFT has similar height requirements. Check the fine print for exact measurements.

Is there a weight limit?

Yes, 300 lbs maximum for both SKYLIFT and The Beam.

Is the observation deck wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible. Service animals are allowed.

Can I bring a stroller?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller throughout the experience.

What if the weather is bad?

The observation deck is open in most weather. Visibility may be reduced on foggy or rainy days, but the experience still runs.

Is there parking nearby?

Public transportation is the best option. Rockefeller Center is accessible by subway (lines B, D, F, M at 47–50 Sts–Rockefeller Ctr).