lilaki

hi fodorites,

DH and i will be in chicago from july 1 - 5.

i was reading the 2009 fodor's chicago and it recommends buying advance tickets to the shedd aquarium. in addition, i was reading on the chicago architectural foundation's website that the boat tours often sell out and advance tickets are also recommended.

we are planning on visiting the shedd first thing on friday, july 3. i'm expecting large crowds with the july 4th holiday weekend.

however, i just went online now and to buy advance tickets to these two attractions/events, we'd be paying over $20 in 'convenience' fees with ticketmaster. am i missing something? or is this just the price of not having to line up?

can you please advise whether this extra $$ is worth it for the shedd and the CAF boat tour?

thank you!

HKP

I've seen lines out the door and down the steps to the Shedd - so probably worth it OR you could figure out if it might be worth buy a membership so you can just walk in.....

I like the boat tour well enough, I'd pony up the dough to make very sure I didn't miss it; but you might give them a call and see if you can pay for tix over the phone and pick them up day-before. Probably not, but worth a shot.

tchoiniere

i would definitely buy advance tickets for each to ensure entry.

lilaki

wow. thanks for the advice.

so - even if we get to the shedd right at 9 am, how long do you think the wait would be?

and re: the boat tour, we're arriving on july 1, could we just buy tickets on that day for the 3rd? or do you think they would even be sold out by then?

i'm really reluctant to pony up $20 ... especially since it's really just going to ticketmaster!!!

yk

lilaki - I also don't like paying for "convenience fees" if I could avoid it. However, look at it this way... you're on vacation.

1) You may be fretting between now and July 1st, worrying about NOT getting advance tickets
2) Getting to the Shedd Aquarium at 9am sharp: that probably means you'll have to get up at 7am that morning to get ready, get breakfast, get TO the Aquarium, stand in line...
3) To buy your architecture tour ticket on July 1st in person, doesn't that require you to travel to the box office to buy it in order to avoid the fee? Have you considered the time and cost you need to spend to run that errand?

Again, it's your vacation. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to sleep in and go to the Aquarium whenever you'd like, and not have to worry about tickets being sold out? To me, that's worth the $20.

HKP

There are people who will line up in front of the Aquarium well before 9 am, I guarantee.

lincasanova

The architectural tours can be bought at their giftshop /info center on Michigan Avenue which is very convenient and a pleasant place to go anyway.

can't help you with the Aquarium..I'd be reluctant to pay ticketmaster also. Can you go the night before.. maybe you can get tickets in advance that way.

Seems the family pass is a great idea as you could go for shorter times everyday instead of getting exhausted seeing everything in ONE day. Check out the other zoos and aquariums listed that have reciprocal progrmas as it might be better to buy family pass there, and use it as reciprocal entry in Chicago.

lilaki

hi all,

thanks so much for the feedback.

we'll buy tickets for the shedd ahead of time and hopefully beat some of the lines.

for the boat tour, the office is right near our hotel, so i think i'll pop by on the 1st and inquire about tickets for the 3rd (or 4th). i'm more reluctant to buy these tickets this far in advance b/c sitting on a boat in the pouring rain doesn't sound like a lot of fun!

thanks again!

lilaki