Fun day before NYC cruise for kids age 10 and 8

[tinker&belle]

Hi Everyone,

We are taking the 8 day NYC cruise in Oct 2017. No one in my family has been to NYC before so we want to arrive sometime Weds before getting on board Friday.

We are trying to get some ideas for things to do that day and a half or so.

The ideas I have right now are:

Circle Line water tour
The Ride
Central Park
Broadway Show (maybe The Lion King?)
Times Square (store ideas here? Is it a lot like Michigan Avenue in Chicago or are there more cool kid places? We love the Disney Store on Michigan.)

I would love input/information about these choices from people who have done them on if they are good/waste of time or if there are other ideas. My girls will be 10 and 8 at the time.

 

[MaleficentRN]

When went on The Intrepid and enjoyed it. A lot of planes to look at and a great hands on area inside.

 

[Dug720]

I have not done the Circle Line or the Ride. I have heard good things about The Ride though.

Central Park - as long as it's a pretty day it's fun to walk around the paths...the amusement park open in the summer will be closed by then and the ice rink won't be open yet.

Times Square is a lot of stores, signs, and fake characters wandering around (they WILL expect a tip if you stop...thankfully the Disney ones look so ridiculously fake)...and you Naked Cowboy and the painted girls. Stick to the walking zone side!! There is a two-story Disney Store there (IMHO better than the Michigan Ave one). There used to be a big Toys R Us with a ferris wheel, but they lost their lease. I don't know if you have boys or girls, but The American Girl Doll flagship store is on Fifth Ave.

The Lion King is good. If you've got girls they might like Wicked or Matiilda. I'm a huge fan of On Your Feet! The Gloria and Emilio Estefan Story - and I have seen a LOT of kids the ages of yours having the time of their lives there!! (If you can swing it, get an orchestra aisle seat...just saying...)

Other things... The Staten Island Ferry is a cool, free way to see the Statue of Liberty - though you'll be sailing by that, but if you have early dining... One World Observatory is super cool!! I like it better than the Empire State Building or Top of the Rock. The Museum of Natural History is always fun!

 

[michellekcm]

I second the suggestion for Matilda. My 7 year old loved it, and plays the soundtrack all the time.

The Disney store at Times Square is cool. There's also the M&M store.

Like Dug720 said, American Girl Doll Store isn't far away, and you can book lunch there.

The newly painted walking zones at Times Square (they were in process when I was there in July) were awesome. I didn't need to interact with all the characters any more.

If they're into dance maybe check out if they Rockettes are on at Radio City Hall?

We didn't go on The Ride, but it looked awesome when we saw it.

 

[tinker&belle]

I second the suggestion for Matilda. My 7 year old loved it, and plays the soundtrack all the time.

The Disney store at Times Square is cool. There's also the M&M store.

Like Dug720 said, American Girl Doll Store isn't far away, and you can book lunch there.

The newly painted walking zones at Times Square (they were in process when I was there in July) were awesome. I didn't need to interact with all the characters any more.

If they're into dance maybe check out if they Rockettes are on at Radio City Hall?

We didn't go on The Ride, but it looked awesome when we saw it.

I hadn't considered the Rockettes; that is a fun idea. I always loved them in Annie and in the Macy Parade.

 

[disneyholic family]

i assume when you say central park, you mean the central park zoo...
my kids loved it when they were little and they still love it now that they're grown up..

the museum of natural history was another favorite of theirs...

 

[KashasMom]

There is so much to do/see in NYC - really depends on what your kids enjoy.

Circle Line - the longer cruises might be a bit boring for the girls and honestly you have a wonderful sail out on the cruise. Not sure I'd spend the time on the Circle Line.

The Ride - I had very high hopes for it but thought it was disappointing - very loud and too corny.

Central Park is good for a nice walk - maybe have a meal(dinner) near by. Even bicylcing is fun. Not so much the horse and carriage rides. Zoo is just okay. Weather dependent, of course.

Lots to see in Times Square - the characters (and now naked people) are gross and obnoxious. Best not to make eye contact. The Disney Store is great. Other stores for kids - Hershey's World and M&M Store. Nearby fun place to eat is Ellen's Stardust (performing waiters/waitresses) - long lines but lots of fun. There is also Madam Tussaud's and a Ripley's. We have seen some fantastic exhibits at Discovery Times Square too. There will be some new exhibits in 2017.

As far as Broadway - Aladdin is the best (energetic and funny) and the New Amsterdam Theater is gorgeous! Lion King was okay (obviously I am in the minority there considering it will be celebrating its 20th anniversary on Broadway next year but I LOVED the movie). Matilda was good but will be gone by the time you get to NYC and Frozen won't be there until 2018. If you aren't able to catch a Broadway show, check New Victory Theater on 42nd Street. They have several excellent shows for families.

Intrepid is excellent but not so sure if it would appeal to your girls.

If they like being outdoors walking across the Brooklyn Bridge and exploring the Brooklyn/Dumbo side is fun as well as walking the High Line.

I'd go to the top of either Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, or One World Observatory. From Top of the Rock you can see all the way across Central Park and down south to the bridges, Empire State Building, and One World Trade Center. Empire State Building is...iconic. And One World Observatory is expensive. All depends on the view you want to see. Don't go up if the weather is not clear.

There are tons of great museums and parks, fun walking tours (chocolate tour, graffiti tour, etc., etc.), fall/halloween festivals, Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island are worth a visit.

 

[Dug720]

D'oh! I missed the 2017 part. Yes, Matilda will be gone by then. (And who knows about OYF...) Actually right now it's too soon to know WHAT (other than Hamilton, but be prepared to sell some vital organs or your children for tickets to that) will be open in October 2017.

Personally I thought the only thing good about Aladdin was the Genie's big number. Granted I saw an early preview when they had made ZERO changes from the critiques of the out of town tryout in Toronto, but... I was ready to leave after Friend Like Me. BORING besides that.

 

[KashasMom]

Too early for the Rockettes - Christmas show starts in November. The Ice Skating Rink at Rockefeller Center does open in early October....

 

[tinker&belle]

D'oh! I missed the 2017 part. Yes, Matilda will be gone by then. (And who knows about OYF...) Actually right now it's too soon to know WHAT (other than Hamilton, but be prepared to sell some vital organs or your children for tickets to that) will be open in October 2017.


Personally I thought the only thing good about Aladdin was the Genie's big number. Granted I saw an early preview when they had made ZERO changes from the critiques of the out of town tryout in Toronto, but... I was ready to leave after Friend Like Me. BORING besides that.

I may be blanking but what is OYF?

 

[KashasMom]

D'oh! I missed the 2017 part. Yes, Matilda will be gone by then. (And who knows about OYF...) Actually right now it's too soon to know WHAT (other than Hamilton, but be prepared to sell some vital organs or your children for tickets to that) will be open in October 2017.

Personally I thought the only thing good about Aladdin was the Genie's big number. Granted I saw an early preview when they had made ZERO changes from the critiques of the out of town tryout in Toronto, but... I was ready to leave after Friend Like Me. BORING besides that.

That's exactly how I felt about Lion King. I saw a preview at Disneyland Paris and HATED it. I knew I would never see it on Broadway but an out-of-town relative wanted to see it and I couldn't refuse. About 15 minutes in and I was more than done!! Good thing there are hundreds of different shows to please us all in NYC!

 

[KashasMom]

OYF is On Your Feet - Gloria Estefan story.

 

[Dug720]

OYF is On Your Feet - Gloria Estefan story.

Yep! Sorry... I'd mentioned it before but forget that it's not a Disney acronym!

(It's Gloria AND Emilio's story!)

 

[Dug720]

I may be blanking but what is OYF?

Sorry. On Your Feet - the one I mentioned earlier. I forget it's not a Disney acronym.

 

[tinker&belle]

What about the show Wicked for 10 and 8 year old girls? Is it scary? I read the book and there were adult-type themes, are those in the musical?

 

[Dug720]

What about the show Wicked for 10 and 8 year old girls? Is it scary? I read the book and there were adult-type themes, are those in the musical?

It's milder than the vast majority of the PG-13 movies out there. There is the implication of a relationship or two. But nothing explicit other than a kiss. And no scarier than The Wizard of Oz. Think of it as The Wizard of Oz but with the camera shifted to the side slightly.

And it's definitely a girl-power musical.

 

[hanscarlet]

I think Times Square is where you should go if you've never been to NYC before, it's an experience in it of itself and it's free... so much to see and do in times square, have lunch, shop, walk around, much more affordable than a show too

 

[lorimay]

If you decide on a show I highly recommend Aladdin, its wonderful!!!!

 

[planningjollyholiday]

One thing that really surprised me about new York was how small it was. It was so easy just to walk everywhere, and most of the landmarks were close to each other, so you should be able to see a lot. One thing I really liked was taking a tour of central parkwith one of the rickshaws. It was a quick fun way to see a lot of the park.

 

[MUN]

There's a lot of great suggestions already; personally, I love the East Village. I would take them for a stroll down St. Mark's Place.

MUN