I noticed that MOMA in NY has a free evening on Fridays. Since it costs $20 !! to get in, I wanted to find out if there are long lines to get in on the free Fridays? Thanks! (PS we will be there in Feb)

Yes, the lines can be LONG, especially early.

But it's free, so you can't complain.

Enjoy!

I often wonder why people always complain about$20 to get into MOMA. You can spend that much on a movie with pop corn and it only last a couple hours.
I have always been impressed with MOMA ability to move people into the museum quickly. Lots of people see the long line and give up. Those lines move amazingly fast when the doors open.

Do you really wonder, artman, or are you using this as an excuse to be a culture snob? The OP asked a straight-forward question, no need to presume anything else.

I'm with artman. Esp with kids - why spend $60 to take them to a trashy movie they'll have forgotten in a couple of days when the money could be so much better spent broadening their minds at a museum (whatever is best for their ages and interests - Natural History, Ellis Island, Met, MoMA).

And if this makes me a snob, then this country needs a whole lot more snobs. (Knowledge IS better than ignorance - otherwise why teach children anything - not that we're succeding in teacing most of them much.)

Right on artman and nytraveler!

S_S, during the summer, Friday evenings often looked crazy at MoMA. I suspect that the same will NOT be true in February. One tip that works is not to go exactly at the beginning of the free/discounted admission time, but try 20-30 minutes later. In other words, when the reduced admission time starts at 4:00, sometimes lines form before then and it is pretty crowded until they actually start letting people in. If you can go around 4:30, I'm guessing there would be little wait (it's still before most people get out of work)

No lines on free Fridays. Most people like to pay.

Just kidding!

Yes, it will be busy. Go early or late.

FWIW, the Metropolitan Museum of Art doesn't have a entrance fee, it is a suggested donation. If you are strapped for cash, you can always go there instead.

Beauty is in the mind of beholder. But then again some minds are idiotic.

And some people are also students, which I find is usually the contingent on Friday nights. I'm a member who visits frequently, so I have a pretty good grasp of the crowd on different days/nights.

Lizzie,
I'm a little curious why you posted the comment to me about being a cultural(?) if your member and a student? Why the defensivness?

I am not a student, just a member.

Yes, $20 is a small price to pay for what you get at MOMA, but not everyone has unlimited funds, and $20pp can add up for a family.

Some folks (like my student daughter) can't afford the $20 for a museum OR a movie and popcorn. No need to explain your desire to save money!

The lines can be long to get in, but move very quickly and tend to be shorter after the initial rush, as nyer said.

Even if crowded, it is still well worth visiting. Try starting your tour at the top and work your way down, so you'll be ahead of the biggest crowds.

Boy I didn't mean to launch such a discussion on relative culture of people, just wondered about the lines. I'm from Phoenix and the art museum has a free evening here and there is never a line... Thanks for all the advice, I'm sure I'll have more questions as we get closer to departure.