Graceland, Memphis

Twelve years ago a friend visited me during my recuperation from hip surgery. We went to Graceland and I was tremendously impressed by the courtesy of the staff and the smoothness of the visit. Everyone spoke directly to me as I sat in the chair and when we came to the downstairs tv room a staff member pushed my chair around to the carport in back, where my friend could meet me. for the rest of the tour. Last month I went to Graceland with another out-of-town visitor. I needed to borrow a wheelchair again, as I now have knee and back problems. I can walk, but stairs and standing for long periods are a problem. First visit my friend was able to get a wheelchair at the ticket window and bring it to me at the car. This time the wheelchair was not available until arriving at the mansion. No problem--I can walk, and the shuttles still have lifts for people who bring their own chairs. At the house there was a wait while staff looked for a wheelchair. It was an extra-wide and kept knocking against the doorjambs. When we got to the stairs going down, there was no one available to push me around to the back. I was able to stand and push the chair around the outside of the house myself. I guess the companions of fulltime wheelchair users would have to take them around and double back to visit the tv room. The change in the staffing situation was startling. Is it just economy or the change in EPE management? The folks at the mansion were short-staffed and seemed confused about how they were going to get me around to the back area. The same thing at the Rockabilly Cafe. One young woman was taking orders and flipping hamburgers--taking more orders and back to flip the same burger patties over and over. I got my burger within 5 minutes and my friend waited another 10 minutes before going back to the counter to see what happened to her order. Someone bringing stuff from the back finally helped the overloaded burger-flipper get my friend served. As a local I know that Graceland's customer service reputation has been deservedly high. They have always been so helpful and respectful of Elvis fans. This time the friendly attitude was still there, but the staff seemed hurting for help.

The building and community now around Graceland is all run-down which is disrespectful to Graceland. When I recieved my CC bill, Memphis is even spelled incorrectly. Great to see Elvis's home and all but I was disspointed in the the community. One tour guide was falling asleep at the door way. Over, one visit is enough. Too expensive too see all the building, $69.00

Graceland was a gift given to me for Mothers Day. My husband and I were there for about 6 hours and never got bored. This is what every Elvis fan should do. When going thru the mansion I felt like I was there when Elvis was. I really enjoyed the Platinum Tour and it was worth every penny.l

Last March (2009) my Wife and I visited Graceland on our return from South Padre Island. We took the platinum tour package, which is the mid range package. We spent approximately six hours on the various tours of Graceland, museums, gift shops, etc. We were both extremely pleased with the entire event. Although it was a bit on the pricey side, we felt it was worth every cent that we paid. We knew ahead of time that it wouldn't be inexpensive, but our love of Elvis justified the cost. When we returned home, my three young (8, 10, & 12) grandsons were quite upset with me that I would visit Graceland without them. I apologized to them and promised that I would take them someday. That promise was fulfilled in March of 2010. I returned to Graceland with my grandsons. We stayed 3 nights at Heartbreak Hotel, took the same tour that my wife and I did a year earlier, visited Sun Studio, and took a trip down to Tupelo (only 100 miles away from Memphis). Every aspect of this trip was absolutely fabulous. We truly believe we had a complete Elvis experience. We live about 750 miles from Memphis and made the drive to and from in about 12 hrs each way, which gave us plenty of opportunity to play Elvis CD's. I would recommend any babyboomers to expose their grandchildren to the music of the 50's (especially Elvis). It is clean, simple and fun that is enjoyed even by today's youth, if they are given a chance to experience it. And they will carry it with them into adulthood, I know this because my children are now adults.

booked a package via thomas cooke to visit graceland whilst on holiday in orlando. excellent value for money. i can not understand some of the reviews calling graceland a rip off. we really enjoyed our two days in memphis. we stayed at the clarion for two nights and the staff were excellent. if you go to memphis, visit marlowes restaurant. excellent food, good service. AND a pink cadillac thrown in. well done memphis. Dave Irene and Julie. Burnley Lancashire UK

This picture is horrible. It won't help anybody no matter the reason they want to look at it!!!!!!!!

We took the mid-package, which allowed us to see his cars, planes, and a couple of his smaller museums near the ticket center. The space and decor of his home indicated Elvis was a down-to-earth guy in addition to being a highly talented singer and entertainer. His vocal range and styles, shown there on continuous-play videos and screens, were hard to believe at times. He could have easily gotten into something much bigger than this 13-acre home. All of it is well-worth seeing. Recommend parking at the shops less than one block north of the main lot, and asking for any discounts available when buying the tickets (AAA, senior, AARP, handicap, government, student, child etc).

but dodge the kgbs. info: In response to Memphis Mafia Gay question on a forum etc: Joe Esposito is the only one I know of who blurted out one day he enjoyed the company of a man much more than a woman. He also admitted he was very jelous of a particular young girl - Angela Sterritt- and of her and Elvis' friendship. Joe was infatuated with Elvis. Elvis convinced me that he in no way shared the same feelings Joe did regarding men. Joe also blurted out his real parents were alcoholics and didn't treat him right and he wanted to have something. He wanted to be a big boss of the KGB (Russia). (He was picked up by the KGB and "adopted" by a KGB family when he ran away from home as a teenager. ) He said no cute little girl who liked to connect the freckles on people's faces was going to come along and take that away from him too. He set out to ruin this girl, every which way and whatever it took. Killed people she loved, food she liked to eat etc. Joe killed Elvis Presley. Joe Esposito is a sociopath that KGB made into an agent. The KGB are very bad people, that Joe gave the reputation of being even worse. Hoping their cruelty will get them in the end.

what are they crazy to charge this much just to see the bottom floor of a regular two story house. seeing the memorial garden was the only saving grace of the entire tour I have always been a Elvis fan and my Mom was an even bigger one I think if she had been able to go before she died she would have cried with disapointment

It's very hard to compare tour and Museum , and attraction prices for similar activities across the U.S. but Graceland takes top prize for expensive and inaccesible to lower income families, from the $10 dollar parking to the $33 dollar per person Graceland Tour admission which almost includes everything. If you're the Biggest Elvis fan you'll pay up for the tickets and tons of souvenirs without blinking an eye , I was just outraged by there admission prices , one note of advice is to use the Elvis Shops parking lot (owned by Graceland) to save the $10 , and your walk will not be much farther if not closer. The area is safe by day but please stay in the attraction area , was told by local Memphis law enforcement that the surrounding neighborhood is real bad. The person who used Fleeced to describe Graceland was right on the money , but what could you expect from Elvis Presley Enterprises.