By Jennifer Glickel
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MIDTOWN WEST – The Pond at Bryant Park, which is billed as Manhattan’s only free admission ice skating venue, is now free for all patrons – who want to wait in line.
For those who wish to skip waiting on a long entrance line in the cold, Bryant Park is now offering a Pond VIP Fastpass for $19.
The Fastpass allows skaters to skip the line and includes the $12 price of skate rentals.
While lines can be minimal on weekday mornings, the wait on weekends can last an hour or more.
Skaters have varied opinions about the availability of the Fastpass.
“I think it’s too bad,” said George Robb. “The holidays are a nice time for everyone to come here and skate and I don’t know why some people should have special privileges just because they pay extra. All the other skating rinks cost a fortune, so it’s nice to have this one as the one free one left.”
The "you get what you pay for" attitude toward the Fastpass didn’t faze skater Alana Gorman-Knutson.
“That’s New York,” Gorman-Knutson said. “I mean, I think it’s unfair, but everything is like that in New York.”
Others had concerns about the price.
“I think it should be a little cheaper than $19,” said Joyce Kong. “I can understand on the weekends probably VIP access is good, but I think they should make the fee a little lower.”
Bronx resident Raul Garcia did not have much of an issue with the Fastpass.
“If you want to go first class VIP, why not?” Garcia said. “Why not just pay that and enjoy it to avoid the lines.”
