Madame Tussauds New York — Attraction in New York

We visited this famous New York attraction on Saturday, August 13, 2022. Upon arrival the museum was sprawling, bright, and well-maintained. The very first wax figure is actually The Rock, which is right outside the entire museum. They do have Alicia Keys right inside in the front of the museum, with a really nice piano and backdrop of the New York City skyline. We checked in at the desk and were given our VIP package. Although we had a ticket for the day before, we were able to still check in and partake in this attraction the next day. The VIP package came with: The Marvel 4-D movie, The Carnival Carnage 7-D movie. a custom wax hand, souvenir guidebook, and digital photo pass. The new and improved VIP tour also comes with a beverage, but we purchased our tickets a month ago and it wasn’t a part of the package then. We decided against getting a refund and redoing the package, just for the beverage for the sake of time. Once we received all of our tickets for the VIP package, we embarked on the museum tour. Once we went up the stairs, at the beginning of the tour we were able to take pictures with our VIP package in front of a Madame Tussaud’s backdrop. We were given a QR code card and able to scan it to receive our digital photos.There were many noteable figures that were pretty recognizable. My favorite exhibit was definitely The Lion King exhibit featuring Scar and Rafiki. We did see The Lion King on Broadway the night before, which I highly recommend! There were many recognizable figures in the entire museum, but we took pictures of our favorite celebrities and figures. I think that the New York Madame Tussaud’s is one of the best ones because of all of the options and floors they have. Once we reached the Coney Island area, there was the Wax Hands store where you can get your personalized wax figure of your own hand. It took an hour for us to get our hand waxed, because there was only one wax machine. The employees stated the other machine was down for maintenance. Once we finally got our hands waxed, a big chunk of our time was spent already here. I did take a star off for this, because it was such an inconvenience. This is especially since as customers and patrons of Madame Tussaud’s, we had to wait over an hour just for two wax hands to be done. For our waxed hands, we did not get any glitter on them. Just keep in mind, the glitter isn’t included in the VIP package. You will have to pay extra for this if you choose to receive it. Our waxed hands turned out pretty well. We chose the fist shape for black power, which represents our strength as Foundational Black American people. We got one hand in the color green and one hand in the color purple. This museum has a Marvel area and we were able to take photos with Black Panther. He is definitely one of our all time favorite Marvel superheroes. They do have a Marvel movie, but we didn’t feel like watching this so we went ahead through the museum. There was a bit of a wait for this. Once we reached the athlete area, we were able to view wax figures of famous black athletes such as: Florence Joyner, Carmelo Anthony, Serena Williams, Tiger Woods, and Evander Holyfield. Once we reached the musician area, we had to take photos of notable and significant names. These musicians included Bad Bunny, Michael Jackson, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Bruno Mars, and Rihanna. We circled back and went to the Carnival Carnage 7-D. This game was extremely fun! It was in 3-D and we were able to shoot and kill clowns in a haunted carnival game. Me and my boyfriend did a great job at this game. We even won second and third place in our group. The only VIP option we didn’t get was the souvenir guidebook. We forgot to get this and it wasn’t given to us at the front desk. Also none of the employees at the front desk informed us of how to receive the book. Overall this was a good experience and I would recommend this tourist attraction to everyone in New York. Although it is somewhat of a tourist trap, I do feel it is worth the experience. It is fun, enjoyable, and...

I made the rookie mistake of grabbing a Groupon without reading the fine print—turns out it was only valid for admission after 5 PM. Not ideal, but in the grand scheme of things, one of only two major hiccups during what was otherwise a surprisingly memorable experience at Madame Tussauds NYC. Admission was a breeze—no endless lines, no angry tourists clogging the entrance with oversized backpacks and existential confusion. We were in and through security before I could even start complaining, which is saying something.

Once inside, the museum itself was a total hit—especially with my son, who spent the next hour buzzing from one celebrity wax figure to the next like he was mingling at a very lifelike, very still Hollywood party. The selection of celebs was eclectic in the best way: a little classic, a little current, and just enough “why are you here?” to keep things spicy. And I’ll admit it: I was genuinely impressed by the craftsmanship. The detail that goes into each figure is wild—it’s one of those things you don’t truly appreciate until you’re nose-to-nose with a disturbingly lifelike version of The Rock.

The space was generally clean and well-maintained, though parts of it looked like they could’ve used a little extra elbow grease—some figures could benefit from less “soft museum glow” and more “someone actually wiped the fingerprints off.” My Groupon came with a photo pass, which sounded promising until I realized it amounted to one manned photo station with all the excitement of a DMV waiting area. Definitely a letdown. My son did, however, get his hand cast in wax, which turned out to be a highlight. The staff member handling it was phenomenal—patient, kind, and genuinely great with kids. She talked him through the whole process like it was an art form, and honestly, it kind of was.

What wasn’t an art form? The payment process. Card only. No cash. I felt like I was trying to barter with stones and goats. Still, the staff stayed calm, helpful, and unbothered while I dug through my digital wallet like I was defusing a bomb. Special shoutout to the security guard at the front and the wax hand artist—they were easily the MVPs of the whole experience.

Now, let’s talk about the actual issue: the people. Not the staff. The guests. If a crowd could be personified as a migraine, this one was it. We got trapped behind a conga line of clueless tourists who approached each wax figure like they were preparing to sculpt it themselves. No awareness. No pace. Just endless, painfully slow photo ops that made me question everything I knew about human decency. I did my due diligence—kept my kid from photobombing, snapped pics quickly, and moved along like a good little museum-goer. Sadly, we seemed to be the only ones doing so. At some point, I started longing for the unspoken etiquette of golf courses, where slower groups let faster ones play through. That kind of courtesy? Nonexistent here. Maybe tossing a few more staff into the mix would help move things along, or at least keep the chaos from spiraling into a full-blown photo shoot free-for-all.

Still, when all’s said and done, the visit was worth it. My son had a blast, we left with a very cool wax souvenir, and I got to marvel at how many celebrities I could recognize without their voices or awkward red carpet interviews. Just… if you go, brace yourself for humanity at its most oblivious. And maybe schedule a spa day for the day after—you’ll need it.

Oh yes, I forgot to mention the terrible elevators! We waited for them for about 6 centuries…far longer than the two...

Madame Tussauds New York is a unique and fascinating experience that is definitely worth a visit, for tourists and residents alike. Located in the heart of Times Square, this famous wax museum offers an incredibly realistic display of wax figures representing celebrities, historical figures and iconic figures from various industries.

Exhibitions and Attractions: The museum is divided into different thematic sections, each of which offers an immersive journey into the world of stars. You can take a photo with the Audrey Hepburn wax figure, take a selfie with Lady Gaga or even shake hands with President Abraham Lincoln. The statues are so lifelike that sometimes it actually feels like you are facing the real person. In addition to the wax figures, there are also interactive displays that allow visitors to immerse themselves even more in the experience.

Interactive Experience: One of the most popular features of Madame Tussauds New York is the ability to interact with many of the statues. Some sections allow you to dress up in stage costumes, others offer the chance to sing or dance with wax celebrities. These elements make the visit much more engaging and fun, especially for children and families.

Quality and Realism: The wax figures are incredibly detailed and well made. The craftsmanship quality of the statues is impressive and every detail, from hair to eyes, is taken care of down to the smallest detail. This level of realism is what sets Madame Tussauds apart from other wax museums and makes it a must-see destination.

Service and Accessibility: The museum staff is friendly and helpful, always ready to answer questions and offer additional information about the exhibits. The museum is well organized and easy to navigate, with large spaces that allow a comfortable visit even on the busiest days. Additionally, Madame Tussauds New York is accessible to people with disabilities, ensuring everyone can enjoy the experience.

Price: The entrance fee is a little expensive, but considering the quality of the exhibits and the overall experience, it is definitely worth the price. You can find discounts and promotions online, so it's worth checking before buying tickets.

Conclusion: Madame Tussauds New York is a must-see attraction that offers the perfect mix of entertainment, history and pop culture. Whether you are a fan of cinema, music, sports or politics, you are sure to find something that will capture your attention. With its lifelike displays and interactive experiences, this wax museum promises a memorable day out for visitors...