Only for CNN Fans
Written: Mar 11 '04
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: See the backside of the show you watch
Cons: Boring if you are not a frequent CNN watcher. LOTS of stairs down.
The Bottom Line: Good if you are a fan, but overpriced.
|
|
|
| starstraf's Full Review: CNN Studio Tour |
I think it was a great tour but non-CNN fans and general tourists could find this over-rated and boring. We took two kids (11 and 13) and except for the "blue-screen" and getting to be weather reporters they found it pretty boring.
The tour is 50 minutes and costs $10 per adult and less for kids. I think this is a bit to much for that short of a tour. We were able to get tickets for an immediate tour Sunday at 3:45, but I understand there are often lines. You can make reservations online ahead of time.
After getting your ticket you go thru security (bag search and walk thru a metal detector) and then up a multi story escelator to the start of the tour. There is a small museum area with a summary of news items over the years and CNN's ratings during those events, a sample of in the field camras and uplinks and a sample safety vest.
The tour guide then gathers eveyone into a mock studio room and shows us what the control screens looks like, how there are different feeds and that the monitor the competition. She answers questions. Out tour guide was very helpful but it was obvious it was the end of her day. The next area is the special effects display - down a flight of stairs - we were NOT warned before hand how many stairs we would be going down - if anyone has mobility issues with stairs you should avoid this tour. She gives an example of blue screen technology and video prompters, and the kids get to play at being weathermen. She also shows a camera and controls. This is the last place you can take pictures. It turns out that it is also the last place you can use your cell phone but they did not mention this - until someones cell phone rang and security guards moved in to tell them to get off the phone.
Then we go down more stairs and look over the CNN studio, they were transmitting from DC during our tour but we got to see the reporters and editors at work, I didn't realize that the stuido was all one open space. We were in a glassed in gallery at the back of the studio up one level looking down. Then we went by CNN Headline studio - they record the segments there for the repeat cycle (another up one level looking down gallery).
The next few chanels we visited we were on the same level looking in thru windows we visited Cnn-espanol and CNN-international studios. Then the second CNN Headline studio - for the morning show and other 'at the desk' non-repeat cycle parts of CNN Headline. We also got to look over (overhead gallery) CNN.com studio where they maintain the web site. Then a video about Ted and the other non-news stations then convently let out in the gift shop.
I enjoyed seeing the backscene of the show I watch every morning, but I don't think I really learned anything I didn't really know, and If I wasn't a big fan and knew the front view of everythign I don't think it would have been interesting
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Singles
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
starstraf
|
|
Member: Star Straf
Location: Lawrence, KS
Reviews written: 39
Trusted by: 13 members
About Me:
I live in Lawrence, Kansas and enjoy folk music and good food.
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.