September 28, 2016, DVC Member Cruise on the Magic!

[gometros]

As it has been mentioned above, taking the train from Newark into NYC is a great option- when you get off, you can just take a taxi down to the port, or even walk! There's also a bus that goes from Newark Airport into NYC as well- very straightforward.

I would not recommend walking to the pier with luggage. It's at least a mile and a half from Penn Station. Cab it or Uber.

 

[army08love]

Yes there is a FB group started but per guidelines a link cannot be posted, sorry.

Are you able to post the name of the group so we can find it? Bummer the links can't be posted directly, but rules is rules I suppose!!

EDIT: Oh I found it!!

 

[army08love]

I would not recommend walking to the pier with luggage. It's at least a mile and a half from Penn Station. Cab it or Uber.

Yes, totally personal preference, and very true- it's a mile and half walk, about 30 mins. We frequent the City and are accustomed to walking, even with luggage in tow- so use your personal discretion! Just wanted to throw it out there as an option, some people may be open to it

 

[Mathmagicland]

The NJ Transit NE Corridor line is a great line to get to NY from NJ. Very convenient and very safe. I used to ride it all time to commute to NY from S. Jersey.

Here's the official site info provided for travelers connecting via the AirTran from EWR.
http://www.njtransit.com/rg/rg_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=AirportConnectionsTo

Managing a suitcase on the NJ Transit line will take some ingenuity though depending on when you are taking the train. There is a small rack above the seats on both sides which can store a duffle/backpack but not a decent size wheeled bag. That would need to stay with you and the agents don't want the aisles blocked.

The Northeast Corridor line on NJ Transit (your train line to/from Newark Airport) is a major commuting rail line from NJ to NY. Most passengers won't have luggage during the weekday rush hour and it's not uncommon to have standing room only at certain points on those trains. But they run several express trains during that rush, which automatically bypass the Newark airport station.

So if you're travelling with a few bags in tow my first suggestion is to plan around off peak times when the trains are empty and you can easily spread out. Sat/Sun is ideal anytime or if it has to be a weekday, try to board late morning/early afternoon - beyond the commuting rush. In most cars, the first 2 seats up front face each other and you can stack some luggage between them. otherwise it's going to have to be a tight squeeze in your row or worst case, standing room only with you in the aisle if seats are scarce.

But don't worry. A ton of passengers get off at the "Newark Penn Station" stop which is a major hub in NJ to connecting rail lines and only 6 minutes away as the very next stop from the Newark airport. You'll easily grab seats then, and be able to spread out more comfortably for the rest of your trip in to NY Penn Station.

One youtube video to assist: "New Jersey Transit HD: Riding Train 7852 From Metropark To New York Penn Station (8 Car Arrow III)" - the first few seconds is quick look at the inside of the cars. (no need to watch the rest) You'll see how empty it can be.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. We're all happy to help.

Thank you for more great info, I'd love it if our train could be this empty as that video! Also very good to know that a lot of people could be getting off at Newark Penn. We plan to arrive the Friday before the cruise, earliest I can get there from CA without a red eye flight is about 2:15 in the afternoon. I think that would put us on the Airtrain around 3:30 after gathering luggage. Do you think that's early enough to be ahead of most of the evening commute. Otherwise I'm thinking we may need to look at JFK.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I won't know if I'm on this cruise for awhile yet (I think I am, though). If so, we need to say hello this time!! Lol.

Hi! Hope to see you on this cruise!

 

[poison ivy]

I won't know if I'm on this cruise for awhile yet (I think I am, though). If so, we need to say hello this time!! Lol.

Absolutely! We will have to say hello this time. Sorry we missed each other on the last one.
I really hope you guys get a confirm on this cruise soon. But in the meantime, it'll be fun planning here. Welcome!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Just putting this out again. I will keep a running list in the first post. Also, some folks mentioned here that they wanted a FE.

Candy Exchange interest
In May, I'll ask for cabin numbers, number of participants in each cabin and if there are any allergies. Looking forward to trying and sharing local treats! We usually include something about the history of what we are sharing.

Bobbiwoz
Pattipook
Alaneeray
poison ivy
DizDays
Missy1897

 

[poison ivy]

Thank you for more great info, I'd love it if our train could be this empty as that video! Also very good to know that a lot of people could be getting off at Newark Penn. We plan to arrive the Friday before the cruise, earliest I can get there from CA without a red eye flight is about 2:15 in the afternoon. I think that would put us on the Airtrain around 3:30 after gathering luggage. Do you think that's early enough to be ahead of most of the evening commute. Otherwise I'm thinking we may need to look at JFK.

You will be fine at that hour. There should be plenty of seats. I've never had a problem. You can see how safe and comfortable the ride is with a few passengers laughing and randomly talking. That's normally how it is. I would not hesitate to book Newark if the price is right.

I went back and followed that video a little more. It's so boring since they get on at Metropark with a 45 minute ride into NY. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
(It was a Sat around 5:30pm that day).

You can barely see the double seats facing one another at the very front on both sides which appear to be open. (they are the last to be taken usually)

Finally around the 22:18 mark they arrive at the Newark airport station. I was surprised to see so many people on the platform with luggage all congregating together. It's usually not that crowded. You'll hear the conductor come over the intercom announcing there will be another train in 7 mins. that's probably because most of that group were all trying to board between the same 2 cars and got stuck waiting for people to move. Passengers are allowed to stand and ride in that nice wide open area you enter between the cars when you first board. (seen in the first few minutes of the video when he/she first walks on before turning right or left to enter one of the cars - they bear right)

So it's not uncommon for people with wheeled luggage to just get on and stand right there by the doors and not move any further.

Notice how nobody from the airport station seems to board the car in the video. (you can hear the doors open but there's no activity) That's mainly because this was an 8 car train being filmed from one of the front cars. The front cars of the train are usually the least crowded. Most people tend to board the middle of the train. So you can safely move away from the pack a little to board the next section of cars - around where you see the group start to thin out significantly in the video at the 22:56 mark.

Watch it again at the 30:00 mark and you'll clearly see what the seating looks like and storage rack above plus how empty it is at the "Newark Penn Station" in NJ. keep watching a little bit further and they'll get up and walk the length of two cars. you can see the passengers with luggage congregating in the front section of the 2nd car as he passes. Their bags are between those two benches that face one another.

Sorry to go on and on and I don't want to confuse too much. Hopefully, a newbie won't shy away from this if EWR is the cheapest option. This train really is a convenient, quick, safe, low cost, reliable way to get into NYC from there.

 

[poison ivy]

For those planning to stay in NYC:

Hotels I've stayed in near the Broadway District that were excellent but pricing very high right now unless you can manage a discount.

1. Marriott Marquis: (one of my favorites. right in the heart of everything at 45th and Broadway)
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/maps/travel/nycmq-new-york-marriott-marquis/

2. Westin - times square: (excellent location right in the heart of everything as well)
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/property/overview/index.html?language=en_US&propertyID=1380

3. Sheraton - Times Square: 7th and 53rd (farthest away from times sq/theatre district which is around 42-46th sts)
http://www.sheratonnewyork.com/

4. Doubletree: (my sister prefers this for the price and highly recommends it.) located at 51st and lexington.
http://doubletree3.hilton.com/en/ho...metropolitan-new-york-city-NYCDTDT/index.html

5. Doubletree - Times Square south: located at 341 W. 36th st. (close to Manhattan Pier)
http://doubletree3.hilton.com/en/ho...ew-york-times-square-south-NYCSQDT/index.html.


Here are the hotels recommended by Disers per the NYC planning page which contain 2 that I mentioned:

I've seen a lot of newer questions about cruising out of NYC
Upon searches I keep running into a older thread from 2012 that had Help a lot of NYC cruisers at the time.
However most is outdated.. I thought the 2012, 2016, and local cruisers could compile some new information to help us all out..
I will try to keep the 1st post up to date as much as I can..

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hotels ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOTELS RECOMMENDED BY DISERS:

SKYLINE HOTEL

COMFORT INN TIMES SQUARE

SHERATON TIMES SQUARE

CHELSEA SAVOY HOTEL

MARRIOTT MARQUIS TIMES SQUARE

And in New Jersey - across the Hudson River:

Homewood Suites by Hilton®
10 The Promenade, Edgewater, New Jersey, United States 07020
Tel: 1-201-941-4700 Fax: 1-201-941-479
next to shopping, restaurants, and movie theaters

Sheraton Lincoln Harbor Hotel
500 Harbor Boulevard · Weehawken, NJ 07086 USA ·Map · Contact Us · Phone: (201) 617-5600 · Fax: (201) 617-5627 · Special Offer Reservations:
(866) 716-8115 (next to Lincoln Harbor NY Waterway Terminal)

W Hoboken 225 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030 United States
Phone: (201) 253-2400
(Expensive)

Hyatt Regency Jersey City on the Hudson
2 Exchange Place,
Jersey City, New Jersey, USA 07302
Tel: (201) 469 1234 Fax: (201) 432 4991

 

[Alaneeray]

Hi, I tried to send you a conversation here, but I cannot. My cousin would be happy to meet you. If you care to send me an email at
Bobbiwozniak@hotmail
I can connect you two via E-mail.

Bobbi

I tried to email you. It sais the it wasn't a valid address. I will try to pm you and see if we could get one started.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Who know why somethings happen?? I've sent you and Ann Marie an e/mail, let's hope that works!

Bobbi

 

[gometros]

For those planning to stay in NYC:

Hotels I've stayed in near the Broadway District that were excellent but pricing very high right now unless you can manage a discount.

1. Marriott Marquis: (one of my favorites. right in the heart of everything at 45th and Broadway)
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/maps/travel/nycmq-new-york-marriott-marquis/

2. Westin - times square: (excellent location right in the heart of everything as well)
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/property/overview/index.html?language=en_US&propertyID=1380

3. Sheraton - times square: 7th and 53rd (farthest away from times sq/theatre district which is around 42-46th sts)
http://www.sheratonnewyork.com/

4. Doubletree: (my sister prefers this for the price and highly recommends it.) located at 51st and lexington.
http://doubletree3.hilton.com/en/ho...metropolitan-new-york-city-NYCDTDT/index.html

Here are the hotels recommended by Disers per the NYC planning page which contain 2 that I mentioned:

There's a Doubletree on the west side that is closer to the Pier, either 36th or 37th? (doing this from memory, since they're around my office.

 

[poison ivy]

There's a Doubletree on the west side that is closer to the Pier, either 36th or 37th? (doing this from memory, since they're around my office.

Right! that would be the Times Square Doubletree - 341 west 36th street:
http://doubletree3.hilton.com/en/ho...ew-york-times-square-south-NYCSQDT/index.html.

I'll add it to the above list.

 

[poison ivy]

JQ and I aren't planning a day in NYC right now except to tour the Intrepid post cruise. I personally would love to hit a matinee of The Lion King on Broadway but Tuesday doesn't look promising and Sunday we may just want to hit the road after the museum. Still remaining optimistic though.

Broadway shows for Disney are not selling tix beyond July. Not sure when they open up Fall 2016.

But for those who are planning a NYC stay: This site is fantastic to get you started.
http://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/new-york-city-us-ny-nyc.htm

Direct links to tickets thru official websites missing from the above attractions summary:

Rockefeller Center: https://www.rockefellercenter.com/
Empire State Building: http://www.esbnyc.com/visit-empire-state-building
Statue of Liberty: http://www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm
Central Park: http://www.centralparknyc.org/about/

Planning to visit multiple attractions? Consider purchasing a CITY PASS
http://www.citypass.com/new-york?mv_source=911memorial&campaign=citypass

Manhattan can be very confusing.

Have fun!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Everyone has been so helpful!

 

[Alaneeray]

I would not recommend walking to the pier with luggage. It's at least a mile and a half from Penn Station. Cab it or Uber.

Crazy question! What is Uber?

 

[Alaneeray]

Just putting this out again. I will keep a running list in the first post. Also, some folks mentioned here that they wanted a FE.

Candy Exchange interest
In May, I'll ask for cabin numbers, number of participants in each cabin and if there are any allergies. Looking forward to trying and sharing local treats! We usually include something about the history of what we are sharing.

Bobbiwoz
Pattipook
Alaneeray
poison ivy
DizDays
Missy1897

Sorry Bobbiwoz, but you will probably get a repeat of ours! Lol

 

[bobbiwoz]

I like that unique taste! I'm happy to get it!

I will give something different than before, and my cabin mate is from Oklahoma, so I have no idea what she will give! I can't wait to find out!

 

[gometros]

Crazy question! What is Uber?

From the Uber websote:

Get a taxi, private car or rideshare from your mobile phone. Uber connects you with a driver in minutes. Use our app in cities around the world.

Basically, it allows you to schedule a ride using their app on your smart phone. You can track how close the car is and rate the driver. I actually used it for the first time the other night, when I had to work very late. Uber cars are generally new cars and much more comfortable than cabs.

 

[WaylaLady]

Hi! Hope to see you on this cruise!

Thanks! I hope to be there!

Absolutely! We will have to say hello this time. Sorry we missed each other on the last one.
I really hope you guys get a confirm on this cruise soon. But in the meantime, it'll be fun planning here. Welcome!!

I'll follow the planning because it's hard not to! We likely won't know if we're good to go until about 3 months out. That's what it's been in the past. It would be great if it was sooner though!