RIP OFF. Only 3 revolutions, not worth the money spent.

We were the first up on a weekday morning just as they opened at 11. I can't say that the staff was all that friendly, but we had our own gondola, and it felt safe. Hubby wasn't a huge fan...but he went to keep me company. The views are beautiful from the top, and the ride was comfortable. Bet it's great at night to see the lights of the city.

This was a fun way to enjoy Chicago's waterfront scenery and Lake Michigan in general. Not too expensive; you go around for about 15 minutes or so. I'd arrive earlier in the day, as it wasn't as crowded as it was later in the afternoon. Purchase tickets in advance so you can walk up to the line. You have great unobstructed views of the city for nice pictures.

The views are nice, but the overall experience was disappointing. The wheel never ran smoothly—it kept stopping to load and unload passengers, so it never felt like a continuous ride. Just when it seemed like it was finally getting going, the ride was already over. To make matters worse, they take your photo before you board, print it automatically, and then try to sell it to you at an overpriced price on your way out. It felt like another unnecessary upsell. Between the short ride, the constant stops, and the expensive add-ons, I don't think it was worth the money.

Fun experience! I paid the extra for the Fast Pass. We got to skip the line and only shared the pod with 2 other people (so 4 total). We went at night and the view was beautiful! You can see the east and west sides of the city and all of the pier. You go around the wheel once while they are loading the pods and then twice fully again. It's not the longest ride, but it is fun to do at least once! I would definitely buy the unlimited pass if you want to ride more than once and ride the other rides.