We used our pre-printed tickets to go up the Eiffel Tower on May 31st. Using the tickets, even on 8.5 x 11 paper, went smoothly. There is a line for tickets with reservations, but they will not let you go early- if your ticket says 2 pm, 2 pm it is.

Getting up to the 2nd floor was easy. I believe we got onto the first lift going up after we entered- maybe the second one max.

We had tickets to go all the way up to the 3rd floor. I was a little freaked out when I saw the signs on the ground saying that the 3rd floor was closed- but apparently that must have meant that they weren't selling any more tickets because the 3rd floor was open. Once we got up to the 2nd floor, we had to stand in a long line to get up to the 3rd floor- about 30-40 minutes. Getting back down to the 2nd floor was much shorter.

It was getting out of the Tower altogether that caused us the most frustration. They only fill the elevator half full on the second floor because they also stop at the 1st floor to pick people up. It takes a LOOONG time for the elevator to go and return because of this and we had to wait for the 3rd elevator in order to get out. Plus, one of the elevators is out of commission at the moment due to remodeling so it adds to the congestion.

I also was a little confused by the terminology 1st floor, second floor, etc. The second floor actually has two floors- but they are both second floor. The 1st floor is much further down. If I had realized we might have walked down to the 1st floor and taken the lift from there but I don't know if that would have helped.

I was glad we went but I now understand why some people suggested that going up the Eiffel Tower is not all it is cracked up to be and we might want to consider some other tall building in Paris.