RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium — Attraction in City of Rochester

I do not normaly leave reviews, but my experience was so awful that i need to say something. We went to go see the Mesmerica show tonight. The show it's self was fantastic. The experience however was horrible. We got right in line when we got there with tickets ready on our phones. We were in a very decent spot only to have to get out of line and loose our spot to go get wrist bands in a separate part in the building. This caused us to be last in line. This wouldn't have been a big deal at all if seating wasn't so HORRIBLE! I figured we all would get a reclining chair no matter what like how the planetarium used to be with the extreamly coushend chairs with the speakers built into the seats. No there were a hand full of "recliners" more like cheep lawn chairs you would find at big lots. Many people left gaps, So there were a few being unused, but no space to sit with the people you came with.There were bean bags on the floor? I guess that's kind of cool but not better than the seats that used to be in here. About 10 people had to sit in thease god awful bare bones basic office chairs, And you can tell the people who had to sit in thease were disappointed. There were 3 people in my party and we ended up having to sit in the office chairs. Now mesmerica is supost to be a meditation. How do you expect some one to let go into the experience when they are extreamly uncomfortable. I ended up sitting on the floor with my coat behind my head as trying to slump in the office chair created a very uncomfortable arch in my back. This show was NOT worth the price. At. All. I am very disappointed. Luckly my friend bought the USB that supposedly has the music and visuals on it. We will be getting a projecter and make a cozy space at home to enjoy it because this experience was awful. And I usualy speek very highly of the planetarium as this WAS my favorite place to go to when I was kid... what happend?!?!?! $35/ person a ticket. Not worth it. And I heard that there were upgrades made? ... where ? The seating was DOWN graded and there is nothing new out side of the theater. I love all of the same exhibits when you walk in .. but what was upgraded?!?!. I will not be coming back here for a long time. Not untill I know seating changes have been aranged to give all of their guests the...

This kills me, but it's two stars.

This has been one of my favorite places on earth since I started coming here, oh... maybe 40 years ago? I fell in love with the place, and with Carl. The space tunnel, the giant 3d moon, even the cautionary video they show before each show, every part special to me.

So obviously I was pumped out of my mind to see the newly renovated version. I was hoping they upgraded the seating, since it got a big downgrade during their last renovation. The old seats swiveled, were deeply cushioned, and had speakers right in the headrest. Just awesome!

First off, all of the exhibits outside the theater are exactly the same, no upgrades at all. So far, I'm cool, I loved it before and love it still. I was hoping for something new or different, but I figured all of the renovation money went into the main event.

Well.

The chairs have been MASSIVELY downgraded. There are no real theater seats, just... OFFICE CHAIRS. "Wait," you're asking me, "you mean like someone would sit in if they worked at the DMV or something?" EXACTLY. Just stupid desk chairs. Not only do they not recline, but there is no head support at all, for a place where the main event occurs on the CEILING.

Sorry I'm shouting, it's just like I say, I really love this place, and this is such a monumentally stupid thing to do.

There are a few folding deck chairs that do recline, but only eight or so. If you're further back in the line than 8, you're screwed. You'll either end up missing the show or having a bad neck ache. I guess it's because they want to clear out the chairs so they can cater events in there. Great for them, but it's a giant middle finger to people who actually enjoy planetarium programming.

The kids get beanbag chairs, and they liked that. I think the adults would have liked that better than what was presented. I mean, just a bunch of desk chairs thrown into a room. Sorry to belabor the point but it's just. so. dumb.

The new projection system is better, really impressive. If the seats were at all suited to planetarium viewing, this review would be a five. But, as it stands, it's a like a restaurant serving delicious soup that only gives you forks...

My family are frequent visitors to the area and my wife won (in a contest) 4 free passes to the planetarium and science/history museum next door. The musuem next door was fantastic and I plan on giving it a good review. The planetarium not so much. There are 5 of us so when we went in line to purchase another ticket the kid kept trying to charge us for 5 tickets. We told him we already had 4 (and showed him) so we only needed 1 more. He kept saying "I dont understand what you are telling me". This went on back and forth for about 5 minutes. Finally I just said "look: forget you saw us. Forget all about the fact we showed you these free passes. I would just like to buy one combo ticket. Thats it." He was still confused and went to get help. When we explained to the other guy there are5 of us and already have 4 tickets, we want to buy one more he understood perfectly. But he charged us for one admission to the planetarium only for 6 bucks when we asked for the combo pass to also visit the museum so it should have been 14 dollars. They looked confused and said what do you mean combo ticket? We had to point out the sign above their heads that said COMBO TICKET FOR PLANETARIUM AND MUSEUM $14. and they were like ohhh I see. I dont understand how hard that was to understand? Finally got into the seating area, and unfortunately instead of planet and outerspace themed things like you would expect, it was a Christmas music and laser light show. My two younger kids and wife loved it, my teenage son and myself were a little bored with it. Once the show is over, there is really nothing else to see or do at the planetarium, at least not what we saw. Just a few photos of outerspace that you can just google at home. To me, the whole place was a little disappointing and I will never go back. However, I would like to point out again, the museum next door is fantastic! I highly reccommend...