Suggested Admission at Museum of Nat History, NY

[njmomtoone]

Websaite says suggested donation $16 for adults and $9 for kids. Has anyone gone in and given less? We will be in NYC and may want to go in for a hour or so and check it out. We have never been.

 

[meg8017]

we did. My dh and I went to NYC a few years ago and I think we gave $10 each because that's about what we could afford. We didn't have any problems. The MET is suggested donation too I think. It's too bad if people miss out on museums because they can't afford it, it's nice that you can pay what you can afford there. Have fun, if you haven't been that's a great museum!!

 

[njmomtoone]

we did. My dh and I went to NYC a few years ago and I think we gave $10 each because that's about what we could afford. We didn't have any problems. The MET is suggested donation too I think. It's too bad if people miss out on museums because they can't afford it, it's nice that you can pay what you can afford there. Have fun, if you haven't been that's a great museum!!

Thanks. It is nice to know that it isn't frowned upon. It's hard when you have young kids, you get to a museum, pay to get in and hear "I'm bored".

 

[lisa-upnorth]

I agree that it is a great museum and it's a nice thing to pay what you can BUT when we went last year the line to get in with full price was 1/4 the line to get in and pay what you wanted. I would say we saved a half hour paying a few bucks more.

 

[Mkebound]

Let me tell you there are MANY people who push a single dollar across to the register and they are welcomed in just as if they had donated $25.

 

[JeffreyY]

We went with some friends a few years ago and gave the suggested donation. The cashier kept saying to us "you know that's only a suggested amount" I think she was surprised we were paying that much.

Now, my DD has to go to the MET every other week for school projects, so we only give $1. They never say anything except "have a good visit".

Just give what you feel you can.

 

[shoney]

We did it a few years ago...the boys were probably in kindergarten and 2nd grade. I handed them $20 for the 4 of us. The girl repeated it back to me "you're paying $20 for 4 admissions" I said "yes". She then pointed to the list of things that weren't included. I said "ok" we spent an hour to an hour and a half...Our kids were used to "touch" museums so it didn't impress. It was worth the visit, I am glad we only paid $20.

Our local library now has free passes so we could use those.

 

[Jessica14]

Websaite says suggested donation $16 for adults and $9 for kids. Has anyone gone in and given less? We will be in NYC and may want to go in for a hour or so and check it out. We have never been.

Just wanted you to know that you will need way more than an hour to see even part of the museum! Go to their website to see all that they offer. We are members and go in 4 or 5 times a year for about four hours each time. Yes we see favorites (4th floor is all dinosaurs, 1st floor is North American Mammals, Hall of Biodiversity, and Hall of Ocean Life to name just a couple), but we see something new every time as they have special exhibits that you have to pay a bit more for. That in itself will be at least an hour. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time! It's a fabulous museum!
Jessica

 

[tomthebarncat]

I gave 5 bucks, NYC was alot more expensive than I thought it would be.

 

[CAStevens218]

Just wanted to chime in that I, too, have given less than the suggested donation with no problems and no funny looks. I can't remember what I gave, but it was what I felt I could afford at the time.

As others have said, this is a GREAT museum, one of my favorites! Have fun!!

 

[Dorisk3]

We have never given anything close to suggesting donation. Believe me, they won't look twice at you if you give them a dollar for 4 people.

 

[Keli]

We did it a few years ago...the boys were probably in kindergarten and 2nd grade. I handed them $20 for the 4 of us. The girl repeated it back to me "you're paying $20 for 4 admissions" I said "yes". She then pointed to the list of things that weren't included. I said "ok" we spent an hour to an hour and a half...Our kids were used to "touch" museums so it didn't impress. It was worth the visit, I am glad we only paid $20.

Our local library now has free passes so we could use those.

What sort of things weren't included?

 

[neatokimmo]

What sort of things weren't included?

The have a "largest dinosaur" exhibit which is a rip off. There is also a planetarium which I have heard is nice. Also, the butterflies are neat.

Included in the price are all the country exhibits, the ocean room, all the dinosaur bones etc. You won't miss out on a thing by skipping the extra stuff. We went last month for 2 half days, there is a lot to see.

 

[aprilgail2]

Just wanted you to know that you will need way more than an hour to see even part of the museum! Go to their website to see all that they offer. We are members and go in 4 or 5 times a year for about four hours each time. Yes we see favorites (4th floor is all dinosaurs, 1st floor is North American Mammals, Hall of Biodiversity, and Hall of Ocean Life to name just a couple), but we see something new every time as they have special exhibits that you have to pay a bit more for. That in itself will be at least an hour. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time! It's a fabulous museum!
Jessica

I wouldn't even bother going for just an hour! We have been going at least once a year since my daughter was 4 years old and we get there at opening and stay until closing and still don't get to see everything!

What sort of things weren't included?

The World's Largest Dinosaurs,
Brain: The Inside Story
Space Show
Journey to the Stars
Frogs: A Chorus of Colors
IMAX
Sea Rex: Journey to a Prehistoric World
Mystery at the Museum: An Accomplice Adventure

 

[a1tinkfans]

I did not read thru the thread
but wanted to mention that BANK OF AMERICA
offers FREE admission to TONS of museums all over the first weekend of EVERY month.....you just show your ATM card or checkbook and walk in for FREE,

..maybe $25 in an account, and use the program first weekend each month



Oh, regarding the amount of the "suggested donation" a donation to me is what you "want to give" otherwise it would be a required entrance...thus, pay what you can...........each amount helps! They do that so many can enjoy....believe me, there are plenty of those that pay/donate and they can understand when a family cannot!

 

[poohguys]

We ended up getting lost on the subway due to construction and did not get to the museum until late in the afternoon. We gave $8 for 3 of us. There was 2 hours left to see the exhibits. Also I just wanted to say if you are expecting it to look like the the Museum of Natual History in the Night at the Museum movie it looks nothing like it. We had to hunt all over to find the big Easter Island head. Have a great time.

 

[DisneyFansInLINY]

It's a suggested donation so you give what you want. They will not tell you that you did nit donated enough. In fact when I was a broke college student, my friends and I went as a group and gave .75 each as that was all we could afford and they didn't say anything to us.

 

[mommyof2princesses]

Growing up in NY I never paid a lot to go in the museums. We paid anywhere from 25 cents to $1. It is a suggested donation. AFter paying for subways, and lunchs and LIRR to get to the city, I am lucky i had a $1! When I was younger I don't remember them charging at all. You would walk in and that was that!

 

[Mickeyluver37]

We did it a few years ago...the boys were probably in kindergarten and 2nd grade. I handed them $20 for the 4 of us. The girl repeated it back to me "you're paying $20 for 4 admissions" I said "yes". She then pointed to the list of things that weren't included. I said "ok" we spent an hour to an hour and a half...Our kids were used to "touch" museums so it didn't impress. It was worth the visit, I am glad we only paid $20.

Our local library now has free passes so we could use those.

This was our experience as well. DD, her friend, friends mom and I only had a couple hours as we'd already had a full day in NYC and weren't planning on being there long. If you are paying full price, there are kiosks and you can pay full admission to get your tickets and go right in. If you want to pay less, you have to wait in the long line of shame to tell them you won't pay the full amount, and the guy selling the tickets DEFINITELY pointed out the suggested price when we handed over a $20 for 4 of us.

 

[njmomtoone]

Thanks everyone. I am hoping the line of shame wont' be too long since it's holiday weekend. Generally places and restaurants are less crowded because most of Manhattan is in the Hamptons!