American Girl Place, NYC

[monkeybug]

Hello!
We are taking my daughter to the American Girl Place in New York for her seventh birthday. My plan is to get to the store a bit before it opens (doll drop?) let her choose an American Girl (she doesn't know she's getting one, she thinks she is going to get bitty baby outfits) and some "stuff" for her new doll. We have reservations for the birthday package at the cafe at 2:30. Will we have time to do the salon, the theater production and our shopping before the cafe? What about the photo shoot? Is that worth it?
We were thinking we would wander central park after lunch and then head out of the city. Is there some super cool place to stay/see outside of the city? Up to a couple hours away would be fine. My little girl loves road trips and we want it to feel like she's getting a bunch of fun experiences in one weekend. With the prices of the hotels near AG I'm thinking if we drove awhile out of the city we could do something and stay somewhere for around the same price.
Thanks!!!

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Not sure about the hotels around the city. I work in NYC (about a block from the AG store) so I just commute in and out. You could try Secaucus area for a hotel. Just make sure that you figure out mass transit on how to get in and out of the city. The last thing you want to do is drive into mid-town Manhattan!! I'll do it but I've been driving in NYC city I got my license many years ago.

Anyway, Central Park is nice. The Disney store further up 5th is also a nice store to visit. You can take mass transit down and go to the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island. That's always an amazing trip. You can also go to the Top of Rock at Rockefeller Center. You'll be right there. The Today show studio is at Rock Center as well. You can walk over to Times Square. Maybe you'll get lucky and see the Naked Cowboy. And no, he truly isn't naked. But try explaining it logically to a child. "No honey. I have absolutely no idea why that many is standing in his tightie whities with his guitar and a hat."
And you can always hit up the Empire State Building. They have a ride and a visit to the top. As I don't do these things frequently (again, I'm local) just make sure you check out the website. I do know that if you plan on taking the ferry out to the statue, buy your tickets ahead of time. They will have a reporting time. It's similar to a Fast Pass. So don't wait in the stand-by line like I did one day.

Enjoy!!

 

[monkeybug]

I didn't realize the Today show was right there! That would be fun! I think I'll skip the naked cowboy (if I can?) we have a man that runs in our neighborhood in nothing but a teensy, tiny green speedo eeeeevery morning (and for all that running you'd think there would be a tad less jiggling!) Maybe he's a relative of the Naked cowboy? We are only a couple of hours from NYC
We have done the Statue of Liberty (with out kids) before and would really like to stick to things that are with in walking distance if we can. We are planning a long weekend in NYC during our last Summer on the East Coast (we are military) so that our youngest (3) will appreciate it a tiny bit more (he will be 5 then)
Last time we went we parked on the Jersey side and took a ferry over, but I am the most directionally challenged person on the face of the Earth so I don't know if that will get us anywhere near where we want to go now? I have a slight mass transportation phobia (I'll do it, just try to avoid it if I can) so if I can get away with only a ferry ride, that would make me very, very happy!

 

[monkeybug]

I'm excited to hear there is a Disney store right there!!! We are going to Disney in December and the store near me here is beyond lame!

 

[mjkacmom]

I didn't realize the Today show was right there! That would be fun! I think I'll skip the naked cowboy (if I can?) we have a man that runs in our neighborhood in nothing but a teensy, tiny green speedo eeeeevery morning (and for all that running you'd think there would be a tad less jiggling!) Maybe he's a relative of the Naked cowboy? We are only a couple of hours from NYC
We have done the Statue of Liberty (with out kids) before and would really like to stick to things that are with in walking distance if we can. We are planning a long weekend in NYC during our last Summer on the East Coast (we are military) so that our youngest (3) will appreciate it a tiny bit more (he will be 5 then)
Last time we went we parked on the Jersey side and took a ferry over, but I am the most directionally challenged person on the face of the Earth so I don't know if that will get us anywhere near where we want to go now? I have a slight mass transportation phobia (I'll do it, just try to avoid it if I can) so if I can get away with only a ferry ride, that would make me very, very happy!

I think the ferry takes you downtown - if you park at the north bergen park and ride, the bus will take you into port authority, and everything will be in walking distance, I believe.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Depending on where you take the ferry from they either go to the foot of Wall Street (Pier 11), Battery Park, the World Financial Center or mid-town (38th street). The first 3 are downtown. I know you can get to 38th from the Hoboken terminal.

PP is right about getting a NJ transit bus to Port Authority. You can check on line as there are also private lines that run into PA as well. The will drop you around 42nd and 10th. You will be able to walk anywhere from there however there are always NYC taxis to take you anywhere you want to go.

And besides the Naked Cowboy, if you get really lucky you can see the Naked Cowgirl. Now apparently there are 2 of them. I've only been so lucky to see the elderly one. And yes, elderly is an exaggeration. She wears a bikini and has more wrinkles (all over) than a shar-pei dog!! You don't know whether to laugh or cry.

When is your trip scheduled?

 

[1PrincessMomma1]

There is no longer a theater production but your plan sounds fine to me.

 

[monkeybug]

Depending on where you take the ferry from they either go to the foot of Wall Street (Pier 11), Battery Park, the World Financial Center or mid-town (38th street). The first 3 are downtown. I know you can get to 38th from the Hoboken terminal.

PP is right about getting a NJ transit bus to Port Authority. You can check on line as there are also private lines that run into PA as well. The will drop you around 42nd and 10th. You will be able to walk anywhere from there however there are always NYC taxis to take you anywhere you want to go.

And besides the Naked Cowboy, if you get really lucky you can see the Naked Cowgirl. Now apparently there are 2 of them. I've only been so lucky to see the elderly one. And yes, elderly is an exaggeration. She wears a bikini and has more wrinkles (all over) than a shar-pei dog!! You don't know whether to laugh or cry.

When is your trip scheduled?

Well maybe I'll ask speedo man if he is single (how can he NOT be??) and see if he wants to hitch a ride to meet the naked wrinkled rodeo twins! (or he might prefer the naked cowboy...) Either way I'm thinking it would be a match made in heaven!

We will be coming in October. I'm thinking of a Friday (maybe less busy than a Sat.?) Have you ever heard of this hotel-
Sheraton Lincoln Harbor Hotel
500 Harbor Boulevard, Weehawken, NJ‎ 07086
They have an American Girl package that includes New York Waterway ferry tickets. It says it's only a few miles from Manhattan.

 

[monkeybug]

There is no longer a theater production but your plan sounds fine to me.

That's a bummer! From the reviews I read on Tripadvisor it sounded cool! Oh well, I'm sure there is no shortage of other awesome things to do!

 

[monkeybug]

I think the ferry takes you downtown - if you park at the north bergen park and ride, the bus will take you into port authority, and everything will be in walking distance, I believe.

Thank you!!! I am trying to avoid any kind of Subway and I am not sure I would know how to hail a taxi!!! The bus sounds like something I could manage with out too much anxiety!

 

[monkeybug]

Can I just say that I love the Dis!!! How awesome is it to get information in real time, from real people, who have really gone to the places your inquiring about!!!??? It makes trip planning soooo much easier!
Thank you. Thank you! to all of you helpful disers! (especially for answering non-disney questions!!)