SUMMIT One Vanderbilt

Etched into the New York Skyline!

This past winter marked our long-anticipated visit to SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, a dream two years in the making for our family. Partnering with SUMMIT to create a video about Accessibility + Disability Inclusion made our visit uniquely special, igniting our excitement beyond words. With each adult born in Guyana or Trinidad, the iconic New York City skyline has always held a special place in our hearts; it's been a symbol of hope, a better life, and the American Dream. So, having our adventurous daycation captured in a video against the New York City skyline, inside of SUMMIT and surrounded by icons familiar to us our entire lives, meant the world to our immigrant family.

Our shoot and visit date was set for a winter day in February, and as always, there's a hope that a major snowstorm doesn’t appear in the heart of winter. We lucked out! Our venture into this iconic landmark wasn’t only about being a part of the ‘in-crowd’ or snapping selfies at the ‘most Instagrammable’ place in New York City, per Elle Magazine; it was also about weaving a new thread into the colorful fabric of our family’s story through highlighting accessibility with authentic disability representation.

Upon arrival, excitement buzzed through the air. Warm and eager to accommodate, the staff and crew made our whole family feel welcomed at the first meeting. This genuine embrace of inclusivity set the tone for a day filled with exploration, filming and joy.

We skipped past the entrance's short movie and photo op, eagerly drawn more towards the allure of the observatory. Choosing the bright, flashing elevator was a hit with everyone! The Hall of Light acted as a quick mellow transition before we encountered the vastness of the Transcendence. The panoramic views were as splendid as we hoped, with the mirrored room creating an impressive infinity effect. Seeing Kusama’s art was particularly memorable for us. Annie, being an artist, was intrigued by seeing new forms of Kusama's work beyond her signature polka dots. This space also offered a moment to quietly reflect.

Entering the Affinity room, alive with playful, shimmering silver, giant balloons, was a must-do, quickly becoming a favorite moment for us all. There, joyful laughter and cackling filled the air, especially around Annie, whose playful anticipation of being hit by a balloon made it a standout experience. Taking the service elevator to Transcendence’s second floor, we found ourselves in another large mirrored-glass space with a massive view of downtown New York City. People watching here added a unique layer to our experience.

Annie and the children were most excited for Levitation—glass boxes that extend out 1100 ft. over the city. It was a thrill for them, and a bit of a nerve-wracking experience for Mom and me, but the sensation was unforgettable. Adrenaline rush ? Definitely !

While the rest of the family explored Unity, enjoying the colorful cloud display and uptown views, I chose to avoid the large moving images to save myself from a vertigo induced episode. Instead, I found stillness in observing the intricate details of the Chrysler Building, with such a close up view.

Who doesn’t like a cocktail floating in the middle of the New York City skyline ? Ending our Day 1 visit with cocktails was our celebratory moment, literally elevating us to cloud nine. Neil and I had a wedding anniversary that past weekend, and we patiently waited to cheer with the entire family over bubbles, cocktails and mocktails! What a day to remember, what a memory to celebrate, and what a way to have our visit captured against a skyline that was elusive to us as children from Guyana and Trinidad.

As people with disabilities, we're proud to show up as our full selves, bringing our pride and creating new joys here. We hope the memories of us in the space captured on video will have a lasting positive impact for future visitors as well as everyone from management, Team Members and the full crew who worked with us to create and capture this very special video.

Below are two video links. The first is ASL and Closed Captioning Version and the second is Audio Described.

Accessibility Tips:

• To enhance your accessible experience, we recommend reserving your tickets in advance and reaching out to SUMMIT to secure a dedicated Team Member who will guide you through the experience.
• A few hours before sunset and sunset are the busiest hours at the observatory. Early mornings and after sunset are quietest which makes it easier for wheelchair users to enjoy and maneuver in the space.
• Early morning weekday visits are the quietest with less guests in the space.
• Dress in layers, some of the rooms get really hot while some are cooler. There is no coat-check available.
• Apres and the outdoor bar are busy during sunset hours, it may be difficult to navigate these areas and find a space to enjoy.
• Take the sunglasses they offer, some areas are very bright in daylight and reflect off of the mirrors.
• There are limited seating areas on each floor.
• Plan to spend approximately 2 hours here.
• Guests using mobility devices or those with apparent disabilities can request to be moved to the front of the line.
• Team Members are happy to assist with taking photos.
• Accessible restrooms with changing tables are on each floor of the observatory.
• SUMMIT shares comprehensive Accessible Information for many kinds of disabilities. Click here to view them to plan for your visit.

Highlighting micro moments of joy & setting expectations.
Micro-moments of joy are brief, simple experiences that significantly uplift mood and enhance well-being, reminding us to appreciate life's small pleasures amidst our larger pursuits. I want to acknowledge those reading this: your visit may not mirror ours due to the personalized attention we received for the video production, but we hope sharing our experience with transparency would give you a glimpse of what your visit might entail.

As much as we all looked forward to the grand moment of visiting SUMMIT and realizing a dream materialized, it was some of the micro-moments of joy that stood out: observing others captivated by the skyline; the kind, beautiful human interactions with staff; listening to our children's banter; and catching a family member's genuine smile at the precise moment they experienced their own micro-joy, such as Annie's when she saw herself in one of the giant silver balloons and Mom timidly making her way onto Levitation. These unexpected micro-moments of joy added much enrichment to our visit. So even if your visit isn’t as grand as ours in getting a video produced, we hope you have many, many micro moments of joy that will bring reflective smiles for years to come.

Important: Information is subject to change, please visit https://summitov.com/ for the most up to date details.
Oct 2024