Jerry P.
Yelp
Maybe not a must do, but definitely a should do, especially if you're in the Financial District or visiting the 9/11 Memorial. Being so far south of midtown, One World Observatory offers a very different perspective than the other most popular observation decks, and that alone can make it worth the price of admission. The other nice thing about One World is that they are (I believe?) the only tower that offers a family discount, giving 20% off of groups of four or more. Thanks to previous Yelper's experiences, we were sure to prebook our tickets online to avoid the chaos and lines at the ticket kiosks as you enter. We booked "All Inclusive" tickets, which gave us access to the One World Explorer iPads up in the tower (a nice perk, but not at all necessary to enjoy the views), Priority Entry that let us skip the longer general admission security line, $15 credit for food/drink & souvenirs (which was enough for an alcoholic beverage for my wife and I, a soda for each of the kids and mug), and most importantly for us, flexible arrival, allowing entry anytime after 4:30 PM. One of the big highlights of the trip is the elevator, or, ahem, "Skypod" rides up and back. Going up you're treated to chronological recreation of the NYC skyline from the 1600s to present day, flying up higher and higher and the skyline grows over time. Coming back down you get a birds-eye decent of present day over the Financial District. As outstanding as this presentation is, the short movie shown in the See Forever Theater prior to admission to the observation deck itself is a total snoozefest and an obvious means of simply controlling the flow of guests entering. Once inside, you're treated to some truly spectacular views of the city, including a breathtaking POV of the Twin Towers Memorial fountains. The observation tower is entirely enclosed, which I know people have mixed feelings about. As someone who is not a fan of heights, I appreciate not being on an open deck. I know it's ridiculous, but it is what it is! There are a few dining and beverage choices ranging from grab and go to sit down full-service, all of which are fantastically overpriced, but let's face it, you're paying for the view. If you're in the area, I personally think its worth the trip up.