Advice Needed: Chicago & American Girl Place

[eeyore29]

We're hoping to make a short trip to Chicago next fall. It will be 2-3 nights. DH will go to a footbal game, and DD and I will go to AGPC. I'm hoping you might be able to help with some advice.

Based on price & location, I've narrowed it down to 5 hotels: Affinia, Omni, Seneca, Talbott, and Wyndham. Three of them offer AG packages so I might choose based on that. Our DD will be 3 at the time, so I need to choose a location as close to AGPC as possible since we'll be going there on foot & without DH. I'm from a VERY small town & get intimidated by the hussle & bustle of the big city. Do you have any positive/negative comments about any of these 5 hotels or their locations?

Regarding the birthday celebrations, can I book that for just DD and me? Can you give me an idea on the price? Her birthday will have already passed when we go, but I thought we could still celebrate it on our special first mommy-and-me trip to AGPC.

A little about us: DD plays with her Bitty Baby sometimes and she likes to look at the 18" dolls but she doesn't really play with them yet so I'm trying to build a collection for when she gets into them. I plan to buy McKenna while we're there, since DD's name is Mackenzie, and that's probably the closest they'll come to her name. Plus her hair & eye colors match DD. I won't be buying anything for Bitty Baby since she already has a lot for her. I plan to spend about $250-300 including dining at the Cafe & McKenna while we're there. I'd like to get a store exclusive & maybe something else small --- nothing HUGE since we'll be flying. Would you recommend a personal shopper? I'm the type of person who will look at things 3-4 times before I decide to buy it. DD is a ball of energy and likes to go-go-go. I think a personal shopper might get annoyed at my indecision just don't want to miss anything, and it may be several years until we get to go again.

Our second day will be spent visiting the museum, the aquarium, or with a Chicago Greeter (with DH). If you've used a Greeter, would they go to the museum or the aquarium? If not using a Greeter, would you recommend a taxi or bus or train (sorry I'm clueless) to get to these places?

Is there anything else near AGPC - let's say within a 5-minute walk - that'd be fun to do with DD? Any other kid-friendly shopping?

 

[akcire]

We're hoping to make a short trip to Chicago next fall. It will be 2-3 nights. DH will go to a footbal game, and DD and I will go to AGPC. I'm hoping you might be able to help with some advice.

Based on price & location, I've narrowed it down to 5 hotels: Affinia, Omni, Seneca, Talbott, and Wyndham. Three of them offer AG packages so I might choose based on that. Our DD will be 3 at the time, so I need to choose a location as close to AGPC as possible since we'll be going there on foot & without DH. I'm from a VERY small town & get intimidated by the hussle & bustle of the big city. Do you have any positive/negative comments about any of these 5 hotels or their locations?

Regarding the birthday celebrations, can I book that for just DD and me? Can you give me an idea on the price? Her birthday will have already passed when we go, but I thought we could still celebrate it on our special first mommy-and-me trip to AGPC.

A little about us: DD plays with her Bitty Baby sometimes and she likes to look at the 18" dolls but she doesn't really play with them yet so I'm trying to build a collection for when she gets into them. I plan to buy McKenna while we're there, since DD's name is Mackenzie, and that's probably the closest they'll come to her name. Plus her hair & eye colors match DD. I won't be buying anything for Bitty Baby since she already has a lot for her. I plan to spend about $250-300 including dining at the Cafe & McKenna while we're there. I'd like to get a store exclusive & maybe something else small --- nothing HUGE since we'll be flying. Would you recommend a personal shopper? I'm the type of person who will look at things 3-4 times before I decide to buy it. DD is a ball of energy and likes to go-go-go. I think a personal shopper might get annoyed at my indecision just don't want to miss anything, and it may be several years until we get to go again.

Our second day will be spent visiting the museum, the aquarium, or with a Chicago Greeter (with DH). If you've used a Greeter, would they go to the museum or the aquarium? If not using a Greeter, would you recommend a taxi or bus or train (sorry I'm clueless) to get to these places?

Is there anything else near AGPC - let's say within a 5-minute walk - that'd be fun to do with DD? Any other kid-friendly shopping?

The Omni or the Park Hyatt are probably your closest hotels. I would sign up for Travelzoo to see about deals. The Kimpton hotels are not near the American Girl store, but they are located about halfway between the American Girl store and the museums.

You will easily be able to nagivate Michigan Ave. It is a very touristy area. Lots of strollers, police, and people from the suburbs. If you follow the walk signs when you cross the street you will be fine.

Michigan ave is full of shopping. There is a neat Disney store about a block away. There is a Giradelli ice cream place and a Hershey store with bakery accross the street. There is also pretty much every store you can imagine. Nordstroms, Neiman Marcus, Nike, Apple, you name it it is along Michigan Ave. Like I said it is an easy walk.

From hotel near Michigan Ave you will want to take either a taxi or the bus to the museums . Personally, I find the taxi drivers to be a bit crazy and most times would rather take a bus. The Children's Museum is located in Navy Pier. The Art Institute is located on Michigan Ave, probably about one mile from American Girl. Millenium Park is essentially located behind the Art Institue.

The Aquarium, the Planetarium, and the Field (Natural History) are all located near one another along the lake front. You will need to check their websites for things that you think will interest your daughter. The museum that is located the farthest from American Girl place is the Museum of Science and Industy--I find that most kids really like this place. There are full size train cars, rooms of planes, rooms of cars, tons to see and explore.

Not sure what time of year you are coming but remember that the Lincoln Park zoo, Peggy Nobart nature museum, and the Garfield Park Conservatory can all be reached via taxi or bus.

**Also most places have some sort of free days--you will need to look before you come for the days for each place. Bank of America also has a show your debit/credit card deal on certain days with many of these places.

Keep in mind if you are driving that many of the downtown hotels charge up to $50 a day to park your car.

Let me know if you have any other questions about the city. I can't answer the American Girl store specific questions

**I almost forgot. There is an inexpensive resturant called Yolk (entrees under $10). Open for breakfast and dinner with killer food. They have a couple of locations in the city. One is not too far from the American Girl store, maybe 5-6 blocks. It is also kid friendly. I took my daughter there the first time when she was 3 or 4 months. I am sure you can google them for a menu and locations

 

[figment41]

Yes you can do the party for just the 2 of you. You should book to eat after you shop so she can bring her doll to the table to eat with her. If not they do have loaner dolls available. The cost for the party is approx 10-12.00 more then the lunch price for your daughter and I think about 3.00 more for you. It is very cute and the cake is delicious. They do not have much for store exclusives except for tshirts and hats and jackets for the dolls mostly sometimes for the girls too. They do sell a food set that is a copy of the cake you will actually eat. I am not sure which shape cake you will get it will either be a circle or a square it depends on how many people I do not know which is which but the play cake is square. They frost them the same so it would be a good souvenir. She also get some goodies to take home from the party if you want I can tell you what they are I just do not want to ruin the surprise for you if you do not want to know.

You will have so much fun.
Take your time and strollers are good to hold all of your stuff while she walks around. We have done the personal shopper and not done it also. With that age it is nice to have because they have a special room for you so she can sit on the sofas while you pay and they carry all of the stuff you purchase. You could go before your appointment and walk around and see everything before you meet up with them. Chicago has 2 floors. One room for bitty one for historical then upstairs is everything for just like you dolls and accs.

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

Just an FYI, I bought a ton of stuff at Chicago before we had a store in MA. I spent a fortune in sales tax, I should have bought the doll before we went when they had free shipping!

 

[eeyore29]

Thank you all for your helpful info so far.

We'll want to stay as close to AG since that's where I'll be going with DD by myself (on foot). Going to the museums, etc., we will be ok to use public transportation since we'll be with DH so I won't be quite as paranoid.

So all the shopping is on that same street (Michigan Avenue)? We won't have a car --- does anyone know if the hotels offer transportation to/from the airport? If not, do you recommend bus/taxi/train?

Figment, with the PS - it's however you want it to be? If you want constant company or just a hello/goodbye, they'll meet your needs? And you can spill it: that might help me decide if the birthday package is worth it! What's the show (I saw something about a show, not sure where/when or if it's still done)? If it's still there, is there a cost for it and is it interesting enough for a 3 year old?

 

[ceecee]

We stayed at the Radison, it was a short walk. It doesn't offer the AG package, but we didn't think it was worth the $$ the other hotels charged. We did the b-day with just DD and I, it was fun.

 

[STLDisney_Freak]

We took our dd this past summer. We stayed at the Omni and was within walking distance of the AG store. It was a good location.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I took DD this past October for her 8th birthday. We stayed at the Ritz Carlton. I found a good deal on their website. We originally were going to stay at the embassy suites but the deal at the ritz was only $50 more a night.

The Ritz is in the same building as AG so very convenient. We were within walking distance of the navy pier and all the shops on Michigan.
We took a taxi from Midway to the Ritz which was about $35.

We visited the Shedd aquarium also. Nice but expensive and get there before opening. When we left the aquarium at 12:30 the line was down the steps around the corner and down the street.

We walked to the Navy Pier and ate, rode rides and took in the sites. We were there during one of the Halloween parties, so there were lots more things going on. There are playgrounds on Michigan and we stopped on the way for DD to play.

The hotel was wonderful. DD made cookies with the chef . She had her own bathrobe and toiletries plus a great view of the Navy Pier from our room.

My mom came with us too and the 3 of us ate lunch at the cafe with the birthday celebration package. DD got hats for her dolls and her, a gift and the waiters sang happy birthday to her and she got her own cake.

If you have any questions feel free to PM me.

 

[uromac]

Hi! -

FYI - When I was in Chicago and purchased an American Doll plus many extras for my niece, I had them ship the items to her as she lived out of state and they did not have an American Doll Store there. Saved $$$'s on the tax vs. shipping and I didn't have to carry the packages home on the plane!!

Have fun in Chicago - Good luck!!

 

[akcire]

So all the shopping is on that same street (Michigan Avenue)? We won't have a car --- does anyone know if the hotels offer transportation to/from the airport? If not, do you recommend bus/taxi/train?

There is more shopping outside of Michigan Avenue, but Michigan Avenue literally has miles of shops--including high rise malls. You will have plenty to look at if you are just here for 3 days.

Hotels generally do not offer transportation. The easiest way to get downtown from either airport Ohare or Midway is to take the El. The El is Chicago's version of a subway. It is mostly elevated (hense the name) with a small portion underground.
I think the el is $2.25 for a one way adult ride.

 

[Tam1067]

I've been to AG in Chicago many, many times.

Most times, we just come in for the day, but last year, DD and I got the package and stayed at the Marriott. For us, the Marriott was great. The package included the bed to bring home, a welcome snack (cookies and milk) brought to our room, and breakfast for four the next morning (it was really, really good). The Marriott also has a great pool (not always true in downtown hotels). It's right on Michigan.

There's a Lego Store that's fun. It's moving (either will be soon or has done so recently) into the mall to which AG is attached.

Others have given you the overview of museums and such. If you go to Millenium Park (you must do that by the way), if it's warm, have a bathing suit/towel, etc. ready for the fountain.

 

[mjmartin01]

I'm taking my dd there in May for her bday. She will be 7 and this is her first AG doll. I'm so excited!!! We are doing lunch.. This will be our first time at the AG store...