Anyone familiar with Coney Island??

[momjkm]

Hi all--- I am from RI, go to NYC (manhattan only I confess) at least a couple times a year--- But realized this AM I completely forgot about Coney Island--- I am going for 1 night, maybe 2, in July with 3 teenage girls-- who want to go to shop on 5th ave and see Mama Mia (their choice- not mine though I have seen it a few times locally and in NY)....but the money they have to spend should last about 20 mins? on 5th ave lol....they have no interest in anything cultural and we have done alot of the NYC things with dd in the past anyway...

My questions are: how hard is to get to Coney Island from midtown manhattan? time wise? would it be worth it to take a taxi??

safety- it is ok?? I have walked all over manhattan-- no issuess, just common sense, but want to make sure it would be ok for a Monday afternoon?

or if you have any ideas for 3 teen girls besides shopping I''d appreciate it!
Jill

 

[marlynnp]

http://www.coneyisland.com/tourism.shtml

 

[monkey68]

I sent you a PM.

 

[Robinrs]

Man, I grew up going to Coney Island... Man I miss that place.

We used to take the subway there when we couldn't get my Dad, the only driver I knew growing up, to take us! We'd take the D train to Brighton Beach then the local to Coney Island.

Man I can smell Nathan's right now!!

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Take the D or N to Stillwell Avenue (Coney Island). When you get out you will be at Nathan's and then you can walk a couple of blocks right to the water. You could also take the F or Q but the run local longer. The D and N run express a large portion of the way there.


http://www.mta.info/nyct/maps/submap.htm (Subway Map)

 

[pezheadmeg]

It's actually not that bad of a subway ride from Mid-town. Definitely worth it.

Plus, there's some great inexpensive shopping out there. And the aquarium of course.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

It's a solid hour each way on the train from midtown. Honestly, I don't think you guys will love it. It's pretty run down. Besides the Nathan's counter, I wouldn't eat the food there. The rides are mostly your typical carnival type. There's the Cyclone, which I don't enjoy riding. The games that you play to win a cheap stuffed animal are expensive. Much of the crowd and surrounding neighborhood is sketchy.

I've spent nearly my entire life in NYC, and went to Coney Island over the weekends all the time growing up and loved it. The rides are exactly the same, and I am in my mid-late thirties. I mean it, the same rides, same food counters, same ticket booths. They don't even look like they've ever been repainted or anything. The rides are old, like me. The crowd has gone downhill. Maybe some find that charming, I just find it run down. I do go back, every few summers for nostalgia.

If you want to trek there, eat a Nathan's hot dog, ride the cyclone and walk the Boardwalk you all may enjoy it. I guess if you've never been there it's an experience.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

If you want to trek there, eat a Nathan's hot dog, ride the cyclone and walk the Boardwalk you all may enjoy it. I guess if you've never been there it's an experience.

Just be careful on the boardwalk...it is full of holes. Really....last time I was there there were trash cans ALL OVER the place...to keep people from falling through the holes.

They are planning to gut the place and replace it with new stuff and more housing, so go if you want to see it in it's current state before it is gone forever. But really, it is in a pretty bad condition at this point.

And don't go out there in a tropical storm...just trust me on that one...

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I just re-read your post. On a Monday afternoon, it shouldn't be nearly as crowded making it more pleasant.

 

[momjkm]

These boards are amazing!!! I posted this questions doubting I would get any responses... and I got exactly what I was looking for!! thank you all....
Jill

 

[crazyme5kids]

I may be wrong, but I think the amusement park has officially closed down (a month or so ago). So, if that was what you were going to Coney Island for I would check to see if it's open or not.

 

[OctMtnWoods]

I may be wrong, but I think the amusement park has officially closed down (a month or so ago). So, if that was what you were going to Coney Island for I would check to see if it's open or not.

The Coney Island website given in post #2 has a message board attached to it. Just scroll to the bottom of the page for the link to the boards. Probably a good place to get current info.

 

[OctMtnWoods]

http://www.coneyisland.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?num=1232902433

 

[disneyjunkie]

I may be wrong, but I think the amusement park has officially closed down (a month or so ago). So, if that was what you were going to Coney Island for I would check to see if it's open or not.

The rides will still be there this summer.

 

[crazyme5kids]

OK, after digging around a little, I found a good site for info on Coney Island. Astroland is the amusement park that is now closed. There are others though. The Cyclone is open for all you rollercoaster lovers. Here is the web site: www.coneyislandfunguide.com.

 

[mrFDNY]

Hi,
Sadly Astroland is no longer, it has offically closed. There is the cyclone, the Wonder wheel ( huge ferris wheel), the el dorado( think bumper cars with a huge stero system) and some other small amusment type rides/parks. I have to dis-agree with the negative comment about nathans. From midtown, i think it would be a 45 minute ride by subway. Take the "F" train to the last stop, a taxi will run well over $30.

As for saftey, the area is flooded with NYC Police officers at the start of the summer and there is a local Police precint just down the block from cyclone. Coney island has a few nice things going for it, but i'm not so sure teenage girls will be interestied in it too much.

 

[LoraJ]

I went there a few times 20 years ago. I have never been on any of the rides. I think I want to go on the Wonder Wheel at least once. One of my friends was there today and posted photos on Facebook. I'll have to see if I can talk DH into it.