I was EXTREMELY disappointed with my experience here; I came on a rainy day looking for something to do - my first time since it reopened in 4 years. Bought 3 tickets to the planetarium show for myself and my brothers who were visiting from the east coast. Decided to grab a bite to eat before the show and was horrified by the ridiculous prices at the cafe -- $2.75 for a small bottle of soda? $3 for a snack bag sized chips? I spent more on one small meal than on three show tickets (as the prices were not all listed). Then when we went back upstairs for the planetarium show, we were about 30 seconds late, and the door was already closed and locked. I asked the girl at the front desk, and she told me rudely to look at the clock, I was two minutes late and would not be let in. I said, well then when's the next show? She tells me it doesn't matter because my tickets would not be valid for any other show. No refunds. No late entry. No seeing a later show if you are 30 seconds late. I was stunned; then said I would never be coming back, ripped up my tickets and left them on the counter. The girl says "Thank you" on my way out. She was rude and snippy. I was severely disappointed; not only was it a rainy day, and there was hardly anyone there -- but they are rude to some of the few customers they have? Their policy should at least be that if you are late getting to a show you should be able to exchange your tickets for a later show. And it was raining and I'm sure that theater was only half full if that! I felt so ripped off! After they gouged me for the food in the cafe, I ended up spending $40 on the food and tickets for a show that I did not get to see. Boy, if Griffith J. Griffith could see this I think he'd turn over in his grave. I don't think he gave money for an observatory to swindle as much money as possible from people interested in what I was hoping would be a wonderful astronomical experience. Observatory Management, you should be ashamed.
Pros: Beautiful restoration, first class amenities
Cons: Price gouging; Late policy
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