American Girl Place Chicago

[sunlover13]

What a timely post as we are also going in January (brrrr) for my daughter's 7th birthday instead of having a party. We had planned to stay right around Michigan Ave (driving from Ohio) but hotels there are expensive plus about $40 more a night for parking! So for all you experts, would it make more sense to stay out by the airport area where hotels are cheaper and parking is free, and take public transportation into downtown? I've been to Chicago before and always stayed downtown, but we didn't drive so we didn't have the parking issue to deal with.

Check out travelzoo. There a lot of hotel deals for Chicago right now under $100 a night.

 

[Angry Eyes]

We are visting the AG store in Chicago the day after Christmas for dinner. We took my dd 9 four years ago to Chicago at Christmas and she loved all of the spectacular store-front decorations in the larger department stores. Can anyone please tell me what the must-see displays are this holiday season? We are staying at the Talbott Hotel. TIA

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

What a timely post as we are also going in January (brrrr) for my daughter's 7th birthday instead of having a party. We had planned to stay right around Michigan Ave (driving from Ohio) but hotels there are expensive plus about $40 more a night for parking! So for all you experts, would it make more sense to stay out by the airport area where hotels are cheaper and parking is free, and take public transportation into downtown? I've been to Chicago before and always stayed downtown, but we didn't drive so we didn't have the parking issue to deal with.

We stayed by the aiport 2 years ago and turns out that weekend that were doing work on the tracks and bussing us in part of the way, DH got so P.O.'ed he went to Hertz and got a car! Even when they weren't bussing, it was a long ride. Stay downtown if possible!

 

[lilmissdisney216]

We too came from Michigan!!! (What a coincidence!!) We stayed about 15 minutes out of the city and just commuted to and from the hotel into the city and we didn't find a problem with the commute (well actually, there was a brief issue one day with traffic being jammed up on the express way but the surface roads worked great!). Darling Fiance and I didn't really need to use the public transportation due to the fact that we had our own vehicle so I don't really know much in that department. I have heard that it is pretty decent and pretty darn reliable.

 

[AndreaDM]

Thanks everyone, I think we'll keep our plans and stay downtown. Easier too to come back to the hotel to freshen up before going out to dinner, etc.

She doesn't know we're going, her birthday is the 13th and she'll get a card with an American Girl gift card and a note that says we're going there that weekend. I can't wait!

 

[maggiew]

If you drive to Chicago, don't plan on driving around the city. i.e. from your hotel to American Girl Place or from your hotel to the restaurant, etc. There is no parking or valet parking or expensive parking garage parking. You will need to walk or take train, as appropriate.

Maggie

 

[robinb]

If you drive to Chicago, don't plan on driving around the city. i.e. from your hotel to American Girl Place or from your hotel to the restaurant, etc. There is no parking or valet parking or expensive parking garage parking. You will need to walk or take train, as appropriate.

Thanks for pointing that out to folks Maggie. My family is in Chicago and we thought and thought about staying downtown for Thanksgiving since we had tickets to see the Addams Family (NOT a family friendly show !) but we ended up using Priceline for a 3* in Oak Brook. We got the Holiday Inn for $29 per night. That's less that it would cost to park a car! We just drove to Midway, parked our car in the commuter lot and took the EL in. You can park downtown in one of the main lots when you visit, but it will still cost you $20-$25 per day (I think).

I have stayed out at O'Hare more than once (can you say $45 for the 4* Hyatt Regency O'Hare on Priceline?!?) and taken the El in. It's about a 45 ride into the city. But it's worth it to me to save all that money over staying downtown. Be aware that some of the hotels near the airport charge for parking. Some also do not have pools.

 

[AndreaDM]

I just booked us at the Fairfield Suites Marriott. They have a rate of $149 a night which includes valet parking, breakfast AND a $50 AG gift card. So, basically for $99 we're getting the room, parking and breakfast. Not too bad I don't think! They have rates as low as $84 that don't include parking, so if you're just looking for a room that's a good rate for that location. And yes, we plan to park the car and leave it there until we're ready to come home. We'll walk or take a cab if it's too cold.

 

[wdw_girl_18]

We stayed by the aiport 2 years ago and turns out that weekend that were doing work on the tracks and bussing us in part of the way, DH got so P.O.'ed he went to Hertz and got a car! Even when they weren't bussing, it was a long ride. Stay downtown if possible!

They are through with construction on the blue line now, so that shouldn't be a problem for them if they are taking the "L".

Try to avoid the blue line between 4:30-6:30 on weekdays or else you will be standing most of the way back to the o'hare stop.

 

[erinmomof2]

They are through with construction on the blue line now, so that shouldn't be a problem for them if they are taking the "L".

Try to avoid the blue line between 4:30-6:30 on weekdays or else you will be standing most of the way back to the o'hare stop.

Thank you for this tip. I was planning on heading back around 4:30-5:00, I'll make sure I leave earlier now.

 

[wdw_girl_18]

Thank you for this tip. I was planning on heading back around 4:30-5:00, I'll make sure I leave earlier now.

No problem! If you leave by 3:30 you should be good. I usually leave downtown around 4:30-5 and I always get stuck standing on the blue line!