Visitor Experience and Guidelines

A limited number of visitors may access the Cloud City structure, weather permitting, for up to twenty minutes by obtaining a timed-entry ticket. Visitors will navigate stairs and platforms elevated up to twenty feet above the Roof Garden. The stairs are steep and each set of stairs can accommodate only two people at a time. Walking surfaces are metal and transparent acrylic, ranging from firm to flexible (i.e., some surfaces will move with the movement of visitors on the structure), and there are slight variations in grade and small obstructions in some areas of the walkways. There are several places with low head clearance. There will be handrails in most areas. Since the structure is outdoors and on view during the summer, visitors can expect high temperatures, and there will be no immediate access to water or shade. The structure itself may become hot to the touch, so caution must be used at all times. Some surfaces are very shiny and will reflect light in different directions, so sunglasses are highly recommended. Given safety concerns, in order to gain access to the structure:

• you must wear appropriate shoes (see Attire below);
• you must be able to walk without assistance. Unfortunately, wheelchairs and other mobility devices (e.g., crutches, canes, and walkers) cannot be accommodated, except for canes with wrist straps used by visitors with visual impairments. Visitors may be accompanied by their service animals;
• children must be at least 10 years old AND at least 48 inches (1.2 meters) tall;
• children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian;
• you must weigh less than 400 pounds;
• you cannot be under the influence of alcohol or another intoxicant; you may not bring any personal items (including purses, backpacks, and other bags, cell phones, cameras, food and beverage containers, umbrellas, personal entertainment devices, etc.) on the modules, though you may bring eyeglasses, sunglasses (see Attire below), hats, and any necessary medications (see Lockers and Personal Items below).

Group bookings, including school groups, are not available.

Additional Considerations
The Museum strongly recommends that you do not walk through the structure if you have a serious disability or a mental or physical condition that would impair your ability to participate. We do not recommend that you walk through the structure if you:

• have a heart or respiratory condition;
• are pregnant;
• have a history of epileptic or other seizures;
• have impaired mobility or back, limb, or joint injuries;
• have sensitivity to light or fluctuations in light, acrophobia (fear of heights), vertigo (dizziness), or claustrophobia (fear of confined spaces);
• have balance problems or are uneasy walking on transparent or flexible surfaces.

Instead, we recommend that you enjoy the structure from the Roof Garden level.

How to Obtain Tickets
A special timed-entry ticket is required to access the structure. Tickets are free with Museum admission. They may only be obtained in person and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. To obtain tickets, take the elevators on the first floor of the galleries for Modern and Contemporary Art (gallery 399) to the fourth floor. Tickets allow entry during half-hour intervals from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays, and Holiday Mondays and from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (or sunset) on Fridays and Saturdays. Please note that the Museum is closed on Mondays (except Holiday Mondays). There is a limit of one ticket per person, and tickets are nontransferable.

Regarding Access
Your ticket will list your entry time. You will have up to twenty minutes from entry time to experience the structure. Plan to arrive early in order to check all personal belongings in the lockers on the fourth floor (see Lockers and Personal Items below). You should plan to be on the Roof Garden at least five minutes before your scheduled entry time. Latecomers cannot be accommodated.

Attire
To participate, you must wear flat, rubber-soled shoes. You cannot access the structure if you are barefoot or if you are wearing high heels or leather-soled shoes. If in doubt, please wear sneakers. We also suggest that you wear pants or long shorts, as many areas of the structure are transparent and therefore visible from below. Sunglasses are strongly recommended on sunny days to minimize the impact of reflected light within the structure.

Lockers and Personal Items
For your safety, the safety of those around and below you, and the safety of the structure itself, you may not bring any personal items (including purses, backpacks and other bags, mobile phones, cameras, food and beverage containers, umbrellas, personal entertainment devices, etc.) with you, though you may bring eyeglasses, sunglasses, hats, and any necessary medications. All personal items must be stored in secure lockers before you access the structure. To reach the lockers, take the elevators on the first floor of the galleries for Modern and Contemporary Art (gallery 399) to the fourth floor. The Museum will not be responsible for lost or stolen items.

Photography
You are welcome to take photographs of the structure from the main level of the Roof Garden. However, as cameras and handheld devices are not permitted on the structure for safety reasons, you will not be able to take photographs while inside the structure itself.

Roof Closure
The Museum will close the Roof Garden in the event of inclement weather or for other reasons determined in its sole discretion, in which case access to the structure will be unavailable. We encourage you to call 212-396-5300 for the most current information about visitor access.

The Museum reserves the right to deny access to any visitor, as determined by the Museum in its sole discretion. In particular, visitors under the influence of alcohol or another intoxicant will not be permitted to participate and will be denied access. All participants must follow the directions of the Museum staff at all times. Failure to adhere to these Guidelines or any direction given by the Museum staff may result in refused admission to, or removal from, the structure.