Queens Drive-In FAQS

Back to Queens Drive-In Calendar

GENERAL INFORMATION

WHAT CAN I EXPECT?

Queens Drive-In is the drive in with a purpose – a unique experience in the heart of the borough in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Held on the grounds behind the New York Hall of Science, the drive-in will feature excellent views of the sunset over the park and the Hall’s famous rockets. Queens Drive-In will be showing a variety of movies, ranging from new premieres to classics, and from big productions to independent films. A portion of every ticket sale will be donated to Elmcor, a local non profit organization that provides support for the communities in Queens hardest-hit by the pandemic.

HOW WILL IT WORK?

Bring your ticket (either printed or on your phone) and our team will check your tickets with a contactless check in scanner, respecting social distancing guidelines. We will direct you to your parking spot, and wait for the sun to set. Our audio is quality FM stereo sound that is tuned directly through your car’s FM stereo.

WHAT COVID-19 SAFETY MEASURES HAVE BEEN TAKEN?

Our guests and our team’s safety is our primary concern at the Drive-In. You will find an overview of the COVID-19 measures we will implement here. These include social distancing for both guests and staff, regular cleaning of all facilities, and contact-free check-in. All attendees and staff are required to wear a mask whenever they are not in their vehicle, but masks are not required while attendees are in their vehicles. You will also be reminded of the mandatory safety measures via email and on-screen. With the exception of trips to the bathroom, we ask you to stay inside of your car and keep the windows on the passenger side of the vehicle closed. If you drive a convertible, please close the roof before you enter the Drive-In site and keep it closed until after you have left.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED IN MY CAR?

All tickets are Standard entries for 1 car with up to 5 passengers per car and you will be asked to confirm the number of passengers during checkout. For optimised viewing we recommend 2 passengers per car as visibility may not be ideal in the back seats of smaller cars.

WHEN ARE THE SCREENINGS AND HOW MUCH ARE TICKETS?

Ticket prices start at $35 per car. Screening times vary by day and by event, so please check carefully when booking. Check-in will begin 90 minutes before the start of the films and doors will open 60 minutes before the start of the film.

ARE THERE ANY VEHICLE RESTRICTIONS?

To keep the Drive-In safe and fun for everyone, the following vehicle restrictions apply.

HOW WILL PARKING BE ALLOCATED?

For sightline reasons, taller vehicles such as SUVs will be parked towards the rear of the venue so as not to block the views of smaller cars.

DO YOU OFFER DISCOUNTS FOR MoMI, NYSCI, OR ROOFTOP FILMS MEMBERS?

If you have an active pre-existing membership with MOMI, NYSCI, or Rooftop Films, then you should have received an email with updates on how to apply your discount to qualifying events. If you have any questions about this, please email the organization where you are a member at membership@nysci.org, members@movingimage.us, or memberships@rooftopfilms.com. For events programmed by outside curators your discount may not apply.

ARE ALL SCREENINGS SUITABLE FOR ME/CAN I BRING MY CHILD?

Some events will not be suitable for children. For films that have received an MPAA rating, we recommend that you consider their age guidelines for the screening. For short films and independent and foreign films that have not yet been released in theaters, there may not be an MPAA rating. We will indicate on event pages whether or not events are recommended for children, and if you have any questions please email tickets@rooftopfilms.com.

SCREENINGS

CAN I BUY FOOD AND DRINKS AT THE DRIVE-IN?

The Queens Drive-In offers concessions on-site, before and during the screening, via two favorite vendors from the famed Queens Night Market. For orders placed online, you will receive a text when your food is ready for pickup at the vendor stands.

Choose from the following options:

CAN I BRING FOOD AND DRINKS?

No alcoholic beverages are allowed at Queens Drive-In. Having an open alcoholic beverage in a vehicle is prohibited in New York State at all times even when a car is parked, and this law applies at the Drive-in as well. Feel free to bring your own non-alcoholic beverages and food.

WILL THE DRIVE-IN TAKE PLACE IN BAD WEATHER?

Events will continue under most weather conditions. The Queens Drive-In will utilize large outdoor screens, and in the event of sustained heavy wind or an imminent heavy storm, we may need to delay a screening until weather conditions pass, or in a worst case scenario, reschedule an event.

In the event of a rescheduling, we will issue a credit to the rescheduled screening and/or a different screening later in the season. If there is a delay during the screening, please keep your radio tuned to the Drive-In radio station and await notification.

WILL MY BATTERY DIE IF I RUN MY STEREO?

Most vehicles will not have a problem. If you are concerned, we recommend turning your car on a few times during the movie. In the rare event your battery dies, we offer a complimentary jump-start that will quickly get you on your way. To prevent a dead battery, avoid using your lights, heating, or air conditioning for the duration of the screening.

HOW WILL I HEAR THE FILM?

Our audio is quality FM stereo sound that is tuned directly through your car’s FM stereo. Turn your key to accessory mode to keep your stereo on. If you don’t have an FM stereo, please bring a portable radio. There will be no amplified sound at the events.

ARE THERE TOILETS?

Portable toilets are available at the Drive-In and operate with social distancing measures. Please only leave your car if you need to use the bathroom, avoid leaving the car in groups, and maintain safe distancing (six feet apart) from one another when in line.

DO I NEED TO WEAR PPE?

All attendees and staff are required to wear a mask during the check-in process, whenever they are not in their vehicle, or whenever communicating with staff, but masks are not required while attendees are in their vehicles. You will also be reminded of the mandatory safety measures via email and on-screen.

CAN I OPEN MY CAR WINDOW(S)?

In the interest of your safety, please only open your car window on the driver side of the car when needed. If you would like to get hold of a member of our team in a non-emergency, please use your hazard or indicator lights to attract their attention.

PLANNING YOUR JOURNEY

WHERE IS THE QUEENS DRIVE-IN?

The Queens Drive-In is situated on the grounds of the New York Hall of Science. The address is 47-01 111th Street, Corona, NY 11368.

All Queens Drive-In attendees will need to enter via the 111th Street/49th Avenue entrance to the New York Hall of Science. There will be no access from the Grand Central Parkway. Please take the Long Island Expressway to the 108th Street exit, and take local streets to the entrance for all vehicles on 49th Avenue and 111th Street Signs and staff members will direct you to the Drive-In upon arrival.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM LATE?

If you arrive later than 15 minutes before for the screening start time (for instance, 8:15 for a 8:30 start), you may miss the mandatory Drive-In safety briefing and may not be allowed to enter.

HOW ARE PARKING SPOTS ALLOCATED?

Parking is first come, first served with the exception of larger / taller vehicles that may obstruct the view of cars behind them. 

For a swift check-in experience, we ask that you follow the instructions from our Front of House team. Your parking spot will be allocated based on the size of your car.

TIPS, TRICKS, AND HANDY INFORMATION

CAN I USE MY PHONE/CAMERA AT THE DRIVE-IN?

You are allowed to use your phone during the Drive-In experience, however, if you are seen recording the film(s), you will immediately be asked to delete all footage, your device will be confiscated, and only returned to you at the end of the screening.

CAN I BRING AN ANIMAL TO THE DRIVE-IN

With the exception of ADA required service animals, unfortunately we cannot admit any other animals.

AM I ALLOWED TO SMOKE?

Smoking is not permitted at the Drive-In.

ARE THERE TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR?

Until further notice, all ticket sales are available only via online advance sales.

CAN I ATTEND WITHOUT A CAR?

Unfortunately we cannot accommodate guests without cars at the event due to safety concerns and as per city and state regulations. Should regulations and city guidance change, we hope to move towards socially distanced walk-up events, but until further notice this is not legal or advisable.

ACCESSIBILITY

IS THE DRIVE-IN SUITABLE FOR GUESTS WITH ACCESS REQUIREMENTS?

There will be ADA accessible spots allocated at each screening. We understand that each guest may have different access requirements and our team will be able to provide further details if you contact them. Please get in touch on tickets@rooftopfilms.com if you have specific questions.

CAN I RESCHEDULE MY TICKET IF I THINK I MIGHT BE SICK?

If you have symptoms, or have been in close contact with a person exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, we ask that you please stay home for the safety of our staff and other attendees. Please contact us about transferring your ticket to a friend, or rescheduling for a later date.

QUEENS DRIVE-IN LIABILITY STATEMENT

The Queens Drive-In takes COVID-19 and the guidance of the World Health Organization seriously, and we ask that ticket-holders do as well.

The novel coronavirus, COVID-19 (including without limitation, any successor strains of novel coronavirus) (hereinafter referred to as “COVID-19”), has been declared a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organization (“WHO”). COVID-19 is extremely contagious and is believed to spread mainly from person-to-person contact. As a result, federal, state, and local governments and federal and state health agencies recommend social distancing and have, in many locations, prohibited the congregation of groups of people. You represent and warrant that you have familiarized yourself with the most recent guidance and protocols issued by the WHO and the Centers for Disease Control Prevention (“CDC”) for slowing the transmission of COVID-19 and agree to comply therewith. You further represent and warrant that you have not: (i) traveled to a highly-impacted area subject to CDC Level 3 Travel Health Notice within the last fourteen (14) days, (ii) been exposed to any person returning from a highly impacted area subject to a CDC Level 3 Travel Health Notice within the last 14 days, or (iii) been exposed to any person who has a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19. Finally, you agree to abide by any and all rules and COVID-19 protocols set forth by Queens Drive-In.

Notwithstanding any protocols put in place for the event, Queens Drive-In cannot guarantee that you, and/or any of your family members or other individuals with which you are in contact will not become infected with COVID-19. Further, attending this event could increase your risk and/or your family members’ risk of contracting COVID-19. By completing your ticket purchase, you acknowledge the contagious nature of COVID-19 and voluntarily assume the risk that you and/or your family members with which you are in contact with may be exposed to or infected by COVID-19 by attending the event and that such exposure or infection may result in personal injury, illness, permanent disability, and/or death. You understand that the risk of becoming exposed to or infected by COVID-19 while attending the event may result from the actions, omissions, or negligence of yourself or others, including, but not limited to, Queens Drive-In and its employees and/or contractors. You voluntarily agree to assume all of the foregoing risks and accept sole responsibility for any injury to yourself and/or any of your family members (including, but not limited to, personal injury, disability, and/or death), illness, damage, loss, claim, liability, or expense, of any kind, that you and/or any of your family members may experience or incur in connection with your attendance at the event (collectively, “Claims”). On behalf of yourself, and on behalf of your family members, you hereby release, covenant not to sue, discharge, and hold harmless Queens Drive-In & their employees, agents, parents, subsidiaries, assigns, contractors, sponsors and representatives, of and from any and all Claims, including all liabilities, claims, actions, damages, costs or expenses of any kind arising out of or relating thereto. You understand and agree that this release includes any Claims based on the actions, omissions, or negligence of Queens Drive-In their employees, agents, parents, subsidiaries, assigns, contractors, sponsors and representatives, whether a COVID-19 infection occurs before, during, or after the event.