Need Help....Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

[Helene]

I am contemplating a drive into NYC on Thanksgiving Day to see the parade. I've been to NYC several times, but have always used bus transportation. I'm somewhat intimidated at the thought of driving. I feel confident "getting in" but not so sure @ my ability to "get out".

Also, I'm not sure what time we should plan on being at the parade. I plan to go to the upper west side, near the beginning of the parade route, to avoid the heavy crwods. But I'm still unsure of what time we need to be there.

Any & all suggestions for planning a fun day are appreciated!!

 

[sage10]

We went a few years ago, and we took the subway. I would maybe park just outside of town and ride the subway in. We got there at like 6 am for a great spot. I don't remember exactly where we stood, but I know that Dunkin Doughnuts was right behind us. Which was nice because it was SUPER cold out there that year. ENJOY! I think that was the only year that I could ever talk dh into going for that. So I doubt we will get to go again. But I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

 

[BellAbbeys Mom]

I would have to agree with the PP.

Getting into Manhattan that day is going to be PURE chaos. Let alone all the street closures. The parking prices are INSANE! And you will probably have to take a train from the place you eventually park anyway.

My advice, (JMO) is NOT to drive anywhere near Manhattan that day, you can drive to Queens or Brooklyn and park there, but to me that is just a waste of time on the subway, then getting back to your car only to drive home.

GOOD LUCK NO MATTER WHAT!

People start lining up at around 6 am so......

 

[princess lovers mom]

we went 2 years ago for my 40th birthday (it was on my list of things to do before I die..thought at 40 I should get started on the list!! )

anyway - we stayed at a hotel one block off parade route - wouldn't think of trying to come in that morning driving...definately work on the train concept...

what I can tell you is that there are no areas of "lower crowds" it is packed from start to finish...really...several people deep...to be at the front anywhere you need to arrive very early - we went at 6AM andput the kids in foldable chairs we brought and covered them with blanket and they went back to sleep - we people watched and talked....

there are areas up by Columbus circle and the park where their are bleachers, but our cab driver the night before told us that people start filling those the night before - we didn't go to check....

one thing that was the most fun was to go up to see the balloons being inflated the night before at theh museum of natural history...they close off a couple of blocks and they blow them up while you watch just inches away - can get great views of all the balloons - it is free...also gets quite congested later inthe evening - so if you go, go early...I think it may have started as early as ?6pm

the year we went it was soooo cold and drizzly rain....still loved every minute

ate at Bobby Flays restaraunt later that night - Ashley Tisdale was in the parade that day and came in and was seated right next to us for dinner...my kids were in heaven !!! trying not to look as I told them to leave the poor girl alone as she deserved a holiday with her family too...

 

[TK Brown]

Driving in Manhatten is madening on any day you can think of. On Thanksgiving Day, it will be 100X worse. Streets are closed off and unless you know how to get around the closures, you will drive yourself insane. Figure out which way you are headed toward NYC and go to a subway station. Yes it will be a long ride in, but it will save your sanity in the long run.

 

[luna99]

we went 2 years ago for my 40th birthday (it was on my list of things to do before I die..thought at 40 I should get started on the list!! )

what a great idea! thanks for sharing not only your tips on beating the crowds but a little bit about your experience.. I never really have thought about going to see the parade live but after reading that it sounds like something I might want to do sometime!

 

[bunny]

Are there any hotels on the parade route with balconys? One can dream, right.

 

[Helene]

Thanks to all for the advice. I will definitely look into the trains/subway as an option. There again, have never done it. But from the sounds of it, might be a better option than driving.

Please keep the suggestions coming!!

 

[bopper]

If you are coming from New Jersey, then you could drive to Weehawken and take the Ferry over. If you want to drive into NYC, park at the Port Authority which is very near the Lincoln Tunnel.

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

As a kid I used to be in the parade every year, so at 5am my dad would put me in the car and drive me up to Macys (from central Jersey). I was little, so I have no idea where he parked for the day, but we did it every year, and it never seemed to be to difficult - then again, I was little, so I really had no concept of traffic! Maybe call some parking garages in the area and ask what their rate is for the day - or really make a trip of it and go in the night before and park at your hotel.

Good luck!

 

[strmtroopr96]

what a great idea! thanks for sharing not only your tips on beating the crowds but a little bit about your experience.. I never really have thought about going to see the parade live but after reading that it sounds like something I might want to do sometime!

Hi from another Central NYer! Not sure where exactly you are at, but in 2004 we took a bus trip to the Macy's Parade out of Albany. We live about an hour or so west of Albany so it wasn't a bad drive.

The bus left around 3-4 am and took us right into the city. We found a good spot at around 7 am. We lucked out that year and it was nice and warm temps. I think it was around 2 pm when we were scheduled to head back to Albany and we got home around 6 pm, just in time for Thanksgiving dinner. LOL

I had always wanted to go see the parade live and it was a great experience! Hoping to do it again now that we have a 2nd DD to bring. Just hope we pick a year with nice weather again!

 

[prncess674]

I took my Mom in 1999 as a birthday present. We stayed at a hotel right on the parade route and both decided that it wasn't worth the hassle to be in NYC for Thanksgiving. We just found the parade to be far different from what is really seen on TV. You don't see any of the Broadway acts or the Rockettes. All you really see is a bunch of balloons and a bunch of high school marching bands walking by. Shopping that weekend was murder. We did have a nice dinner at the restaurant rink side at Rockefeller Center. Every year we now just cozy up in front of our TV and are glad that were AREN'T in NYC!

We love NYC and have had several other family weekends in NYC. We even have gone during the Christmas holidays, but going on Thanksgiving was just miserable! I couldn't imagine trying to drive in.

 

[SLK1]

We've done it twice now and have always stayed in the city at a hotel. I can't imagine driving. Definitely subway in but get there very, very early - and you still probably won't be front row.

I have to agree with two PP's. 1. The night before, when they inflate the balloons - that is COOL. We enjoyed that more than the parade! and 2. Seeing it in person is fine for a one-time shot, but is not at all what it's like on TV. Good luck and have fun!

 

[RMulieri]

been there done that.I would rather watch it on tv( same thing with NYE timesquare).You only see a sliver of what you would see on tv.I had to get up super early to take the train in then haul butt to the upper west side since you can't get near Herald Square .... unless you have a death wish or are a Macys executive.After the parade 10,000 other people are heading for the subways and trains to go home.I like my couch,traditional turkey day noshes and a pair of warm fuzzy slippers.