Burke Baker Planetarium — Attraction in Houston

We’ve always enjoyed the shows here, and never had any issues with the several we’ve been to. But today’s experience ruined it for us and we won’t be back. We purchased our tickets at the kiosk at 12:25- the showing we preferred was at 12:30, but they were no longer selling tickets to that one. “Ok, we’ll hang out an hour and go to a different one.” The message in the kiosk says to be in line no less than 15 minutes early. So we walk around for 40 minutes and return to the planetarium at 12:10. We were a bit early, but I had my children with me and they like to look at the exhibits inside before the show, so I figured that would give them a chance to view them. The previous show had already started, so it’s not like we were going to get mixed up and go in the wrong show. But the very rude girl at the entrance told me no we can’t go in yet. I said ok well we’re only 5 minutes early according to when the kiosk said to be here so we’ll just wait in line. She said “no, you’re 20 minutes early.” Confused I told her that the kiosk says to show up 15+ minutes early. She then proceeded to ague with me and tell me that her paper says 5 minutes. I told her “well you may want to ask them to fix the message because I was surprised with the 15 min expectation.” She said “yeah that’s why you shouldn’t use the kiosk. If you had gone through the ticket line they wouldn’t have told you that.” What!!?? Why the hell is it there if you’re not supposed to use it to buy tickets?! I asked “if the real expectation is 5 minutes, why couldn’t we buy the tickets to the show we actually wanted, 5 minutes before the showing.” She said “well if you really want to see a better show you should just go wait in line now and get tickets to the 2pm show.” 🤦🏽‍♀️ I said “well, no our showing is at 12;30, we’re not going to go to 2 showings.” (The truth is the kids like the stuff to view in the hallway more than the show. Thats what they really wanted to do.) I just walked off and we sat in the rain because the museum was too full and there was no where to sit until we could walk in 5 minutes before the show- which means my kids didn’t get to do the part they actually enjoy. So that was a waste of $45, and if that’s the attitude we’ll get when we go to the museum and planetarium, we just won’t bother anymore. I Just wish this place would hire people who want be in customer service for their customer service positions. As a customer service representative in any company, your job is to assist and make my experience more enjoyable so I actually want to come back. This rep did exactly the opposite and ruined our...

The Burke Baker Planetarium has been a wonderful learning tool for me and my son. Starry Night Express is his favorite presentation at the planet around. We have been members of HMNS for approximately six years. My son, who is now seven years of age, and I have been visiting this excellent museum since my son was in a stroller. Therefore, he has grown up at this museum, as well as learned, more so than any other place of higher learning. For the past two years my son has been taking homeschool classes there.

The staff is one of the best if not the best. Since first visiting HMNS, now for approximately six years, we have experienced two incidents that were immediately and professionally taken care of by one of the museum's directors, Brad Levi.

Along with excellent staff such as James Washington, Mattie Hammet, Melvin French, Ms. Wanda, the wonderful people who great us with a smile and 'thank you' for returning to the museum, to the kind and helpful McDonald's employees, and of course the two shop's employees, we are made welcome and are accommodated completely.

Ms. Kelsey and Ms. Melissa, from whom my son has had the pleasure to learn, are just two of the extremely talented and highly educated teachers at the museum. Mrs. Hartman of Homeschool and Beyond has done an outstanding job putting at the teaching programs together. I regret that I am not able to recall the names of the other teachers from whom my son has learned in the past few years.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about this outstanding museum. Words escape me as I write her. Our only great regret is having to leave by the end of the day especially when classes are over. There are just not enough of the classes that are being taught at HMNS. By the way, I too am able to learn what is being presented to each class. Never have I taken such a lengthy amount of notes.

The memories are many and are remembered fondly. We look forward to my son's continuing education at HMNS and our leisurely visits. Oh yes! My family loves our museum so much that my daughter now works there!

In looking to HMNS successfull future,

Eduardo I. Ranon Aka,...

We will never go back. Horrible experience with staff for the NOT worth paying $40 "Mesmerica" show.

They only cared about people with VIP tickets, the rest of us were treated like we are kindergarten. He was even trying to be "polite" and said "use your voices, remember like they teach you in kindergarten".

I am pregnant (very obvious) and we we're first in the general admission line. My back started to hurt from standing too long and i sat down on the floor. They started letting the VIP line first. And told us we will open your line in 15 minutes. There was no one in VIP line any more but we were ignored. It felt like we bought our tickets with 90% discount and were treated this way. Horrible. At some point one of the staff members looked over his shoulder and said "You need a chair?" Honestly it felt like he was doing a favor, too cool for school attitude.

Right at 7:15 one of the staff guys said "OK guys let's open your line", where all of the sudden some other lady put her heavy hand down and said "30 more seconds!" with that same attitude as the guy above. I wonder what would happened if we would enter now. At this point you just want to turn around and go home.

See, if the staff is friendly then you don't mind if the show you watched was bad, you will go back just for the great experience before and after the show. But when you are treated like low class with looks over the shoulder YOU WILL NEVER GO BACK. Not even for free. Sad. But it could be better. And the show was similar to my screen saver on the computer...