Fun day before NYC cruise for kids age 10 and 8

[tinker&belle]

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.

That sounds really fun! Do you remember approximately how much this cost and how much time it took?

 

[planningjollyholiday]

I don't remember exactly. I think it was a little over an hour and cost about $80. The price is per rickshaw not per person. There are tons hanging out near the outskirts of the park vying for your business so I'm sure you could haggle a little for a better price. Cash only. This was a fun way to see the park and way easier than trying to walk it. Our driver would stop at landmarks so we could get out and wander a bit, and offered to take our picture on our camera at many stops.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

The American Museum of Natural History, the Metropolitan Museum, the Intrepid, Central Park, walk down Fifth Ave. (Times Square is disgusting).

 

[Mawsmom]

If you are thinking a Broadway show, Wicked is amazing! My daughter saw it when she was 8 and loved it. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory is new to Broadway March of 2017 and looks great also.

 

[tinker&belle]

If you are thinking a Broadway show, Wicked is amazing! My daughter saw it when she was 8 and loved it. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory is new to Broadway March of 2017 and looks great also.

That is good to know, they love Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!

 

[Levijean21]

Bumping this... We are going in 3 weeks with a 12 year old boy and 8 year old girl! Love hearing all these suggestions..... Also we're going for our 10 year anniversary anyone have an amazing resturant recommendation? Maybe with some amazing oysters!
Thanks

 

[msmama]

Anastasia is supposed to come to broadway in the spring, too, but who knows how long it will last (is it ok to talk about non disney princesses?).

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.

My feeling on the Lion King (which I took my 8 year old too just before our Canada cruise) - I'm sure it was incredibly mind blowing 20 years ago, but now, we saw some of the same puppet effects on our cruise!! Though I will admit to getting a little teary when a rhino walked right by us in the opening number.

"What should I do in NYC" is too broad of a question. Basically, anything you can think of, you can probably do in NYC so I feel like more info is needed. Do you like museums? Art? Outside stuff? I'm close so I took the train in and the people next to me were going to a Tim Burton themed brunch. Really, if you can imagine it, you could probably find it in NYC!!

While I personally probably wouldn't do anything on the water before a cruise, I like the Staten Island Ferry. It's free and you go by the Statue of Liberty and Ellis island and it's a lovely view of lower manhattan.

And have back up plans. It was ridiculously grey and gloomy before our cruise so I would've cancelled any plans to go up any buildings (really you couldn't see the tops of most buildings) and I don't know if I would've done sightseeing busses on the rainier days.

The only other thing that's we often do is a quick stop at the lego store at Rockefeller center. I, personally, hate it, it's small and packed, by my 8 year old loves it.

 

[MUN]

The American Museum of Natural History, the Metropolitan Museum, the Intrepid, Central Park, walk down Fifth Ave. (Times Square is disgusting).

What's disgusting about Times Square? Kids love Times Square, especially at night with all of the lights. Have you been there since the 80's?

MUN

 

[MaleficentRN]

What's disgusting about Times Square? Kids love Times Square, especially at night with all of the lights. Have you been there since the 80's?

MUN

When were you there last? It is a glorified mall with dozens of dirty, scruffy Elmos, Mickeys, Doras, that will fist fight each other to get at you and harass you to take pictures with them for "tips". Want more family fun? There are topless women that do the same. They wear only body paint from the waist up and call it art so they get away with it. Keep your hands at your sides while there. Hucksters will thrust their CDs into your child's hands and then shake you down for money for the CD your child "took" or fake buddhist monks will "give" you amulets and then demand donations.

 

[MUN]

When were you there last? It is a glorified mall with dozens of dirty, scruffy Elmos, Mickeys, Doras, that will fist fight each other to get at you and harass you to take pictures with them for "tips". Want more family fun? There are topless women that do the same. They wear only body paint from the waist up and call it art so they get away with it. Keep your hands at your sides while there. Hucksters will thrust their CDs into your child's hands and then shake you down for money for the CD your child "took" or fake buddhist monks will "give" you amulets and then demand donations.

Times Square is much more than that. Kids love Times Square.

 

[dragynally]

I love NYC but I am in NJ and visit a lot. I would say do the touristy things you mentioned like Circle Line but as someone suggested do the shorter trip. It can get boring. Also the Disney store in times square is nice same with the Toys R Us and the Hershey store. Check to see if there are any fun things at Discovery Times Square. Biggest tip is to stay together and take your time looking around. There's a lot to see.

 

[wcw57]

go see blue man group..they r cray-zeeeee

 

[Jess_S]

I grew up in Jersey City, just across the water from NYC. Some of my favorite places to visit as a kid were Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Natural History Museum and eating in Chinatown. I was also a fan of Battery Park, which is a waterfront park all the way downtown.

If there are people in your group who haven't been to NY, I think you definitely should walk through Times Square. (As a kid, my favorite thing to do there was randomly point up and watch all the tourists look up too and try to figure out what I was pointing at). It's true that Times Square pretty much is just a square with stores you can find anywhere, but it has it's own unique energy. I wouldn't worry about the sketchy characters, street performers, etc. Just walk with purpose and most people will leave you alone. I took my 4 year old a few months ago and we had zero issues.

 

[Dug720]

The characters are getting more regulated. They are limited to the painted areas and can be fined if the police (and there are plainclothes officers walking around also) catch them out of the "performer areas".

The WILL expect a tip if you stop to take pictures with them. But they are not supposed to approach you and push for pictures. There have been cases where one of the characters (it's usually been Elmo, but I think there was a case of a "Mickey Mouse" (who looks so fake it's not even funny)) does go after someone, but that's only been when they have taken a picture or more and not tipped. One other word... I would not let them HOLD my child. There is NO screening for them where they have to be licensed or anything that would require a background check - and what has come out about those who have been arrested is...ooky.

The biggest thing to be cautious of is the "monk mafia" which walks all around the city - they have on robes that look like Tibetan monks and will try to thrust a coin-type thing into your hand and have you put your name or a prayer request or something in a book and then demand money. I know they also operate in Boston - not sure about other cities. Just keep walking when they approach.