A must. Definitely get tickets for the crown/pedes...

A must. Definitely get tickets for the crown/pedestal. It's about an hour with priority ticket to get from Battery Park, through security, onto a ferry and step on to the island with priority/upgraded ticket. It's 2+ hours more with the regular ticketed admission. Ellis Island Ferry last departure is just past 3pm so plan accordingly. You have to leave drinks and backpacks in lockers that require a quarter before entering the pedestal. Skip the old dated museum in the pedestal. It's been replaced and modernized in the new main museum west of the statue on Liberty Island. I could have skipped the audio tour but it offers some guidance and extra info for those who have the time to make a full day out of the Statue and Ellis Island.