Empire State Express Pass Question

I%26#39;m taking my 77yr old mum %26amp; 81yr old aunt (plus 3 teenagers ages 12, 15 %26amp; 17) on a sightseeing tour of NYC on August 30 %26amp; 31. It%26#39;s my aunt%26#39;s first trip to North America and she want to go up the Empire State Building.

If I go for the Express Pass Option the cost will be

($41.52 + $3.48 Tx + $3.00 surcharge) x 6 people

= $288.00

wow. ouch.

If we get regular tickets online I pay

1 adult: $17.61 +$1.39Tx + $2.00 surcharge

3 youth: ($15.76 +$1.24Tx + $2.00 surcharge) x 3

2 seniors: ($15.76 +$1.24Tx + $2.00 surcharge) x 2

$21 + $57 + $38 = $116

That%26#39;s $172.0 cheaper than the Express Pass!!!!

What to do?

The Observatory opens at 8:00am. What are the lines like Saturday mornings? If we%26#39;re there when it opens on Saturday morning will the lines be ok?

Or, considering that I%26#39;ve got 2 seniors with dodgy energy levels to get through the weekend, should I bite the bullet and get the Express Pass?

Empire State Express Pass Question

Your options:

%26gt;PHONE the ESB and ask for advice

%26gt;buy express pass for the 2 seniors and regular passes for the rest of the group. Give the seniors a place to wait (like Jack Dempsey%26#39;s Pub or Heartland Brewery)

%26gt;buy express pass for seniors and let the rest of the group wait for them (or shop) and do Top of the Rock as a group

%26gt;tell seniors Top of the Rock is a lot better, faster, nicer and do that instead