American Girl in NYC where to eat and what else to do?

[mommy2emily]

We are taking out dd's 8 and 5 for the 1st time in december and are making a day of it. Would like to go ice skating and visit Toys R Us. What else is around within walking distance that the kids would enjoy. We have a breakfast at American girl at 9:30 where is a fun kid friendly place for late lunch/dinner?
thanks

 

[adventure_woman]

I just wanted to add - make sure you make an appointment for a personal shopper online. It is totally free and fun to have someone there waiting on you!

 

[Janepod]

What's your budget? I would recommend either Mars 2112 (fun for kids but not good food) or just hitting the concourse at Rock Center (cheap options - fast food, Pret a Manger, etc.) Be sure to visit the Lego store too - it's right there.

 

[Berkshires96]

Disney Store in Times Square was a hit with my girls last year. There is also a great little bakery in across from the Marriott right off of Times Square. Can't remember the name, small place. VERY yummy desserts!!

P.S. Also the M&M Store in Times Square.

 

[Sagginit]

i really dislike the toys r us in times square. the staff can be rude, the place is packed, i once waiting for what felt like five years to ride the ferris wheel, and well there was a really bad odor within 100 feet of the restrooms. i say skip it and go to FAO Schwartz. its only a few blocks up on 5th. on the way you will pass saks, cartier (which looks like a giant gift at that time), and tiffany's . toys r us is just a giant toys r us. fao is amazing. last year i went during dec. and they had a barbie Foosball table, way more unique. you can then also hop over to central park for a bit. if you get tired at that point you can easily cab it or take the subway near the plaza (N,R) back to times square.

the concourse at the rock has lots of little deli type places. you may need to negotiate lunch time work crowds and tourists but they do have tables down there near the rink so you can watch the ice skaters without the price tag of the restaurants. i saw them putting up the rink the other day and i got super excited. im really bad for lunch tips b/c i bring my lunch 90% of the time and if i don't i go to one of three fast food places.

i used to love magnolia, now im falling out of love with it. the lines are always long during that time of year and a lot of people feel their cupcakes are no longer that great (plus at 3.75 a pop they are pricey). im GF so i don't eat the items, i pick up upon request, so i have not ate anything but bouchon opened up earlier this year and the stuff looks good. they also have a little counter and if you get there in the am you can have a coffee and pastry while watching the today show being filmed outside.

i also love the rockettes but it may be too long for your 5 yr old. if you like them on facebook and sign up for emails you will get emails with discounts all the time.

finally it may not be your thing, but if you celebrate christmas or like architecture a trip into st.patrick's is always a must. they will have the nativity in the front of the church at the time of the year.

 

[gfolchick]

Ellen's Stardust Diner is good. Across the street from Mars 2112. Broadway actors are the wait staff and take turns performing. Looks small on the outside but it's three levels.

 

[lovetheduck]

When we go to American Girl, we usually have lunch at the restaurant on the top floor of Saks.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

AG is about across the street from Rockefeller Center. If they want their 5 minutes of fame before breakfast- you can stand in the crowd for the Today Show there.
Top of the Rock is also right there- great view of the city (arguably better than Empire State Building because you get to SEE the Empire State Building. ) It's definately a shorter wait. (When we went in May- ESB was over an hour wait and we went right up Top of the Rock.)

As said, there's also a Lego store there.

I agree with the person who said FAO Schwarz is better than TRU. TRU is big, it has a ferris wheel (= wait in line and have to buy tickets.... it's an indoor ferris wheel, not that exciting IMO.) You could head from AG up Fifth Ave, see FAO Schwarz plus the Plaza Hotel is across the street from that (if they are familiar at all with the Eloise or Home Alone stories.) Central Park is just past that- short walk on up to the Central Park Zoo.

 

[bas71873]

I just wanted to add - make sure you make an appointment for a personal shopper online. It is totally free and fun to have someone there waiting on you!

Is it necessary to have a personal shopper? I ask cause we are taking DD to the store in D.C. after Christmas. I really don't want to HAVE to shop with someone if I really don't need too. DD is a methodical browser and she does better with her own flow of things?

Ellen's Stardust Diner is good. Across the street from Mars 2112. Broadway actors are the wait staff and take turns performing. Looks small on the outside but it's three levels.

We loved Ellen's Stardust and I didn't think it was too bad price wise

 

[kellydizfan]

Disney Store & the M & M Store are a hit with my kids. We happen to like Toys R Us. We are going on 11/11/11 to NYC for the day. We are possbily going to the Museum of Natural History and the Wax Museum. We have 9 hours to kill. I also like to look in all the little stores - you never know what you will find.

 

[Harters2WDW]

Is it necessary to have a personal shopper? I ask cause we are taking DD to the store in D.C. after Christmas. I really don't want to HAVE to shop with someone if I really don't need too. DD is a methodical browser and she does better with her own flow of things?

We just did the personal shopper at Tyson's on Monday and I have to say I was not impressed with the girl at all. It was Columbus Day and they were slammed (and said they didn't expect it), but we spent more than $400 that day and she didn't give us much attention at all. My DD would have been fine without that. I think Tyson's is still figuring out things because service was so-so and my friend who went the weekend before felt the same. But maybe we are all used to the incredible service at Disney!

 

[clori]

My girls loved Ellen's Stardust (singing waitstaff) though we prefer breakfast to later. They also enjoyed Mars2112 for the theming and arcade which we found very kid friendly but not the best in terms of food. If you prebook the kids would probably enjoy the sonywondertechnologylab which is free. Madame Toussouds was a big hit with my girls who were 6 and 10 at the time. This summer we went to Ripley's but didn't think it was worth the cost.

 

[bas71873]

We just did the personal shopper at Tyson's on Monday and I have to say I was not impressed with the girl at all. It was Columbus Day and they were slammed (and said they didn't expect it), but we spent more than $400 that day and she didn't give us much attention at all. My DD would have been fine without that. I think Tyson's is still figuring out things because service was so-so and my friend who went the weekend before felt the same. But maybe we are all used to the incredible service at Disney!

Awesome! I won't bother and we'll just do our own thing. Thanks! I will say that I won't be spending $400

 

[barbarabini]

we went to the hard rock cafe with a 5 and 8 year old and they thought it was the coolest thing

 

[scootch]

Ice skating in Rockefeller Center(walking distance) or take a taxi to Central Park and take a carriage ride

 

[MissUndastood]

We have been to Alices Tea Cup many times and have always found it a nice respite from the crowds and sightseeing. My girls now are 11 & 14 and when we are in NYC we try and stop in for tea and scones.


http://www.alicesteacup.com/

 

[Mjkre]

I go to NYC quite often with my girls and I would recommend FAO Schwartz above Toys R Us. They even used to have this ceramic painting center which mine loved but it was closed the last time we were there.

For dinner or lunch or breakfast with girls: Ellen's Stardust Diner. Basic diner food, a littlle expensive perhaps (but all in NYC is) but the girls and you will love all the singing. If you are there on a Saturday, and the girls can stay up late (mine cannot), they do a broadway review performance late on Saturday night. Sometimes there is a wait, especially as the shows let out so I would try and time it either duing typical show time if you can or well before the typical theater goers arrive. The longest we have waited was on a Saturday night around 5 pm. I think we waited about 45 minutes.

Mars is fun but they get you by saying you have to wait for a table (every time) so you have to entertain the kids in the video arcade for about an hour, spending more money on tokens. I skipped the ride to Mars due to motion sickness issues (there is a tunnel to walk through as an alternative). Carmines is family style italian. Planet Hollywood is what you would expect-- again one time we waited for about a half hour to be seated. Serendipidity is a GREAT place to go for frozen hot chocolate. I think they accept reservations.

My kids love the M & M store. The disney store is lack luster after seeing the real thing in DTD. Central Park provides tons of free and fun options.

My girls also love all the museums-- but I know not all kids are into them.

There is the Gazzillion Bubble Show in one of those small theaters up around 59th street. You can get really discounted tix at Broadway Box. Fun show but I would not go if I had to pay full price.

Have a blast and wear comfy sneakers! The concrete makes your feet hurt more then Disney!

 

[justwinnie]

We have been to Alices Tea Cup many times and have always found it a nice respite from the crowds and sightseeing. My girls now are 11 & 14 and when we are in NYC we try and stop in for tea and scones.


http://www.alicesteacup.com/

I was going to suggest Alice's! We love this place.... it's tiny, but so yummy. Thy let the girls borrow fairy wings and will sprinkle them with fairy dust. The scones are just so tasty!

If you decide to go to FAO, then go to the Alice's tea cup on the East Side...

 

[mom2agirlandboy]

I just wanted to add - make sure you make an appointment for a personal shopper online. It is totally free and fun to have someone there waiting on you!

I agree with this. The service is free. We went in NY last May for the first time and my daughter was very happy with the "special" treatment she got. It made her trip unforgettable and while there is so many people in the store, we were inside their VIP room and was able to take lots of pictures with the dolls and our ps, ask her what she is looking for and what she wants to buy, showed her the catalogue and brought all the stuffs to us where she was able to pick the doll and outfit she really wants.

 

[Miffy]

If you're going to be in NYC in December after the tree is up and lit at Rock, be prepared to wait in line for quite a while before you get to skate--easily an hour's wait, probably more.

An alternative is the Pond, which is right behind the main branch of the public library--on 42nd Street and 6th Avenue. The rink's beautiful and they, too, have a decorated tree (although not as majestic as the tree at Rock). Admission's free--you have to pay only for the skate rental and coat check. If you bring your own padlock, you can have a very small locker for free.

I live in NYC and skate at the Pond often. Far cheaper than Rock and, even when there's a wait, the wait's not as bad. But you may want to give your daughters the full NYC treatment, in which case there's no substitute for Rock. Even the huge Wollman Rink in Central Park (also expensive and it also has long wait times) is nothing compared to Rock for atmosphere.

I also recommend FAOS over TRU. It's a real trip to go through the store. Lots of fun and unlike anything you can experience elsewhere.

The Central Park Zoo is wonderful, especially the penguin house.

But you've got a lot planned for one day. Remember, you're going to be doing a lot of walking and standing. Plan breaks!

Enjoy!