iFLY Indoor Skydiving - Chicago Naperville — Attraction in Naperville

Overall a great experience for me and my nephews/nieces. They really loved it so I'm happy for them. BUT.... Me on the other hand, well I enjoyed it as anyone would, but I just want to point out a couple of things, which are as follows.

1 Minute flight starts counting way before you enter the chamber or even get the hang of it, so the time literally flies in there, by the time I even got the stable position down i was at 0:30...

A really big shame they don't actually allow you to feel the wind or the air going through your fingers even if it's the first time, by that I mean more freedom to your movements, me being 23 responsible adult I understand very well the risks I'm taking, but I seriously don't wanna be on a leash with the "INSTRUCTOR", to me it's as exciting as driving a bike the first time, I don't care if I fall a little on the metal mesh, or smash my head against the glass, that's what the helmet is for... that's what practice is for! I really wanted to have a little more freedom, I wanted to stand up, and see how the wind will take me up as I change angle, if you are just being shoved in there the first time with the so called "Stable pose" all I can say is - You don't learn anything, I felt like a baby just being told what the hell I should do, and to be honest I didn't sign my waiver to be restricted like that... Anyway You don't just drop a kid in the car and tell him to drive, he needs to feel the surroundings first, to understand the forces that are at play. Air is a really subtle energy, it's like water but a lot less dense...

Overall the staff was friendly,but personally I had more fun watching my nephew/nieces do it because they need the restrains, they can really get hurt, to me, I don't care. I went snowboarding for my first time in an intermediate course. and all that falling and smashing my head against the snow proved to be the best teachers to teach me how the hell I should do it, I can bet a million on iFly's case that If I went there for the second time, It would still be like hoping on a bike for the first time. In my eyes - It's a fun activity, but a waste of time and resources, I'd rather do the real thing. Humans have always been adapt to survive race, I feel strongly against putting me or holding me on a leash.

Anyway. I would still like to thank you guys for being supportive on my first go, and the kids thank you too, I know it's not your (Instructors) fault that first timers have no real freedom in the chamber. It's probably the usual company policy regulation crap that everyone has to follow to keep the job. Just like the real life is very restrictive, but we don't see it because we once again have a long enough leash on...

Horrible. Waste of money and time. I took my daughter and her friends this past Sat. for her birthday. We had to re-register each name b/c there are computer stations (automated non-functioning time wasters). Then we get wrist-bands from workers... since the automated computers didn't work properly we have to verbally register... this is now the 3rd time. As we get wristbands we're asked if we want to fly to a certain line (about 10 ft. off the ground) for an extra fee, like 8.99 (can't remember the exact cost but it was just under $10) per person, or just hover (about 3 feet off the ground). Well, I have 5 persons for 2 flights each... I already paid over $300+ and now I am nickel-and-dimed for more? I said I wanted only what I paid for and will not pay more... so give me the "regular" flight. Period. We go up and wait... the "trainer" says in our "training" room - just know two things... keep you head up and relax... he pops in a video and leaves... returns and asks who paid for the higher flight if anyone wants the special higher flight for the extra money to raise your hands... really? I am in the back with my wife, my kids and friends (ages 8-11) are in the front. He then says people can also fly a 3rd time for an extra $20. Really? He would ask after flight #2 if people wanted a 3rd flight.

He sees my anger and says... "I'll ask again out there and if the parents say no then I won't take you higher" ... well, he did ask in the chamber (there is no verbal communication possible between him and us at this point) and he DID try to see if we wanted the special flight... my wife and I both shook our heads no... and he took the kids up! If they bill me extra I will not pay. One of my kids did not like the experience so she skipped her second flight... but we had no idea what was going on ... and he starts over again with the first kid for... ride #3! At this point I get up and am really confused and mad... walk to the chamber and shake my head NO!

When we get out I make sure he is not charging us extra... he really didn't seem to care... I haven't seen a new charge on my card - yet... and to end this wonderful b-day experience, he asks us which video we want... 1st or second... I tell him the second and he says it will be emailed. Today is Wed. The party was Sat. I haven't received any video clips nor any explanation regarding this entire fiasco. They need the change the name from iFLY to iRIPUOFF. I am so disgusted with them I have not bothered to ask about the video/photos or whatever...

6 of us went for 2 flights each. We all - 2 adults and kids aged 4, 6, 8, and 9 - had a blast! My 4 year old liked flying but didn't like the wind in his face (helmets do cover your whole face, but it was still a little much for him), so he just went once. Now that we're home, he wants to do it again - go figure. My husband used the additional minute of flying time that my son didn't use. It was nice to be able to change up who did what on the fly (pun totally intended) so that money wasn't wasted. We only added on the high flight for the kids, so it's hard to say whether that was worth the additional $20 per flight. They certainly loved it and would say it's worth the money, but they didn't pay so take that with a grain of salt. I think we'll do it again sometime. One thing to note if you have purchased or are thinking of purchasing gift cards at COSTCO - if you are planning on going with a group of 6 or more, i wouldn't bother with Costco gift cards. They do have restrictions on what those can be used for, and the larger group packages aren't an option. They're also not really worth it if you are going Monday-Thursday because you can get at least as good of a deal on those days. The Costco cards can only be used for the full price packages. We ended up with a 10 flight pack (comes with video) + full price 2 flight pack plus one video. We went on a Thursday. These was the best option given that we had already spent a bunch of money on Costco gift cards, but had we not spent the money on those, we could have spent significantly less on a package for 6 flyers with a weekday discount. Live and learn. This specifically is for gift cards purchased at Costco. I don't think the same restrictions around to...