Carousel Bar Bally’s AC

I just visited Bally’s AC and checked out the new carousel bar, apparently one of only a handful in the US. Here is everything I was able to gather from my experience.

• The bar is small, about 30ft circumference and seats about 32
• The bar makes 1 full rotation every 11 minutes
• Only the bar top and chairs move, the bartender area stays stationary. Bartenders can only enter/exit when the door lines up once per cycle, which I am kind of surprised is allowed by the fire marshal
• They have 3 buttons to control the thing Start, stop, and hold. Pressing the hold button automatically stops the bar when the entry/exit door lines up.
• The bar only moves in 1 direction

Service was bad, like really bad. The bar wasn’t even busy and it took 15 mins to get the attention of a bartender. I asked what was good on the speciality cocktail menu and he said “I wouldn’t know I don’t drink” and walked away. Had to flag down bartenders all night to get served. They could tell I was a little annoyed and said the bar rotating makes it hard.

Despite the bad service, I enjoyed the bar and would recommend a visit if you enjoy stupid novelties like I do.

Quote: gamerfreak

I just visited Bally’s AC and checked out the new carousel bar, apparently one of only a handful in the US. Here is everything I was able to gather from my experience.

• The bar is small, about 30ft circumference and seats about 32
• The bar makes 1 full rotation every 11 minutes
• Only the bar top and chairs move, the bartender area stays stationary. Bartenders can only enter/exit when the door lines up once per cycle, which I am kind of surprised is allowed by the fire marshal
• They have 3 buttons to control the thing Start, stop, and hold. Pressing the hold button automatically stops the bar when the entry/exit door lines up.
• The bar only moves in 1 direction

Service was bad, like really bad. The bar wasn’t even busy and it took 15 mins to get the attention of a bartender. I asked what was good on the speciality cocktail menu and he said “I wouldn’t know I don’t drink” and walked away. Had to flag down bartenders all night to get served. They could tell I was a little annoyed and said the bar rotating makes it hard.

Despite the bad service, I enjoyed the bar and would recommend a visit if you enjoy stupid novelties like I do.
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I don't drink myself but just a thought:

Doesn't sound like a good idea to me to have queasy drunk stomachs one vomit from a hangover spinning for real as well?

Quote: darkoz

I don't drink myself but just a thought:

Doesn't sound like a good idea to me to have queasy drunk stomachs one vomit from a hangover spinning for real as well?
link to original post

I could see someone very prone to motion sickness getting sick on this. But for everyone else, it moves so slow that I doubt it would be a problem, even if super drunk.

Quote: darkoz

I don't drink myself but just a thought:

Doesn't sound like a good idea to me to have queasy drunk stomachs one vomit from a hangover spinning for real as well?
link to original post

People do seem to pay extra for that "ohh I'm sooooo drunk, everything is spinning" experience. (I seem to recall tales of some teenage hijinks involving a raided liquor cabinet and clinging to the grass in the neighbor's lawn to keep from being flung off into space.)

5+ rotations per hour seems quite fast, possibly the fastest revolving bar in New Jersey.
I believe I read some others around the country spin around 4 RPH, and at least one was set for .75 RPH.
Perhaps this ride is built to attract the real thrill seekers?

Quote: Dieter

Quote: darkoz

I don't drink myself but just a thought:

Doesn't sound like a good idea to me to have queasy drunk stomachs one vomit from a hangover spinning for real as well?
link to original post

People do seem to pay extra for that "ohh I'm sooooo drunk, everything is spinning" experience. (I seem to recall tales of some teenage hijinks involving a raided liquor cabinet and clinging to the grass in the neighbor's lawn to keep from being flung off into space.)

5+ rotations per hour seems quite fast, possibly the fastest revolving bar in New Jersey.
I believe I read some others around the country spin around 4 RPH, and at least one was set for .75 RPH.
Perhaps this ride is built to attract the real thrill seekers?
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I think it’s the only rotating bar in NJ, or maybe that was your joke.

I was also kind of surprised at the speed. I thought it was going to be something like 1 rotation per hour that was hardly noticeable. But even at almost 5.5 rotations per hour, it was really easy to step on and off while moving. Easier than an escalator or moving sidewalk.

I think any slower would be impractical for this particular bar. Even on an 11 minute cycle, staff were waiting around for the door to line up to switch shifts, restock the bar, etc. They crawled over the bar top a few times too.

This is the first rotating bar I have patronized, so I wonder if the “door to behind bar is only functional once per cycle” is a flaw of this bar design, or others as well.

Quote: gamerfreak

Bartenders can only enter/exit when the door lines up once per cycle, which I am kind of surprised is allowed by the fire marshal.

Quote: gamerfreak

They crawled over the bar top a few times too.

That’s why it’s OK with fire codes.


Frankly, I think the diameter plays a lot into how fast is too fast.

Quote: gamerfreak

This is the first rotating bar I have patronized, so I wonder if the “door to behind bar is only functional once per cycle” is a flaw of this bar design, or others as well.
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I believe several other rotating bars have the same trouble with lining up the entrance gate. Three dimensional thinking could design the problem away, but then it's probably harder to fit inside the building, or harder to make look fancy, or both. If it was easy, there would probably be a nationwide chain of spinning bars, with a location in the parking lot of most shopping malls.

And yes, you got the joke.

Quote: Dieter

Quote: gamerfreak

This is the first rotating bar I have patronized, so I wonder if the “door to behind bar is only functional once per cycle” is a flaw of this bar design, or others as well.
link to original post

I believe several other rotating bars have the same trouble with lining up the entrance gate. Three dimensional thinking could design the problem away, but then it's probably harder to fit inside the building, or harder to make look fancy, or both. If it was easy, there would probably be a nationwide chain of spinning bars, with a location in the parking lot of most shopping malls.

And yes, you got the joke.
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Making the behind the bar area part of the rotation would solve the problem, but I’m not sure how you could do that and have functioning plumbing.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

Quote: gamerfreak

Bartenders can only enter/exit when the door lines up once per cycle, which I am kind of surprised is allowed by the fire marshal.

Quote: gamerfreak

They crawled over the bar top a few times too.

That’s why it’s OK with fire codes.


Frankly, I think the diameter plays a lot into how fast is too fast.
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One of the bartenders was nearly what I would describe as elderly and I thought she was going to hurt herself crawling over lol

Standing on your feet and crawling over a bar are two different levels of physical activity when it comes to being old or having a physical disability.

Not that I think it’s a big deal, but past experience makes me cynical in thinking that some regulatory authority somewhere would take issue with it. I’ve seen them get fired up over far less.

Quote: gamerfreak

I could see someone very prone to motion sickness getting sick on this. But for everyone else, it moves so slow that I doubt it would be a problem, even if super drunk.
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Years ago, I took my girlfriend to one of those rotating restaurants in the sky places. She does get motion-sick, but I underplayed the issue. Yeah. Things were tense for the first few minutes--I thought it was going to be BlowChowCity, but she adapted and we had a great dinner.

The cable-car ride down the mountain? Buy me a beer and I'll curl your hair with that tale....

Quote: gamerfreak

Quote: Dieter

Quote: gamerfreak

This is the first rotating bar I have patronized, so I wonder if the “door to behind bar is only functional once per cycle” is a flaw of this bar design, or others as well.
link to original post

I believe several other rotating bars have the same trouble with lining up the entrance gate. Three dimensional thinking could design the problem away, but then it's probably harder to fit inside the building, or harder to make look fancy, or both. If it was easy, there would probably be a nationwide chain of spinning bars, with a location in the parking lot of most shopping malls.

And yes, you got the joke.
link to original post

Making the behind the bar area part of the rotation would solve the problem, but I’m not sure how you could do that and have functioning plumbing.
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I hadn't even thought about spinning some of the underbar area. Sinks, ice wells, glass washers, post-mix guns, and anything else plumbed could all be part of a fixed island in the center.
Bartender efficiency will be decreased a bit. A fair bit of the inside floor would have to move too; trying to mix cocktails while your station is wandering off at around 8 feet/minute would be annoying.

I was thinking about a staircase down to the stockroom on the level below, and eliminating the gate. Probably a number of rules preclude that.