Goodmorning, Don. You were lucky - did you get up in the arm itself while it was still open? Now you can only get passes to the top of the pedestal. And they are not available on the island. I had two - and the line was short in our time frame - but Mike, as usual, decided he 'had a headache' (always a different excuse so he doesn't have to walk more than necessary.) Iwas going to go in alone, but saw a couple who were unaware of the need for passes, looking at her whistfully, so I gave both to them. They were thrilled. Later, it may have been a good thing, as it gave us more time at Ellis Island, which blew my mind emotionally. I was in thrall, to say thrall, to say the least. When Mike pulled his excuse not to go too far past the Registry Room he had the audio tour to listen to and keep him occupied - at that point he didn't DARE try to tell me to 'hurry up' - and I didn't. Exhaustion finally made me call it a day - but I want to return. Vicki