New York help please

[austraveler]

I posted my original question in the September 12 thread but I would love input from everyone. We have a week in New York with three tween boys. I am after suggestions for activities, restaurants and accommodation.
I was dying to add on a cruise on the Magic from New York but we are limited to school holidays only and just could not fit the dates in.
On the way home we are stopping in Disneyland for two days. Can anyone help with whether I need to make dining reservations like WDW?

 

[aussietravellers]

Can anyone help with whether I need to make dining reservations like WDW?

It's not as necessary as at WDW. If you were wanting to eat at Blue Bayou (which I can recommend, especially with boys), I would say make a PS a few weeks before (and any others that you may want to go to at the same time). Blue Bayou is best to book on opening, get there about 15 mins early to check in and ask for a table on the water.
But it is easier to make a booking when you are there as there isn't the free dining like WDW so most of the restaurants do not book out. You can go to Guest Services in the park and make a PS for a restaurant that day or DLR hotel too.

We have made plenty of last minute PS, eg for Carnation Cafe, we called and made it for in half an hour, then walked from GCH into DL and went straight to a table, when there was a massive stand by line and they had probably been waiting almost as long as we had taken to walk from GCH. We have also called for a dinner reservation at Goofy's the next night and got one. So it's not as necessary at DL (with the exception of Blue Bayou), but if there is somewhere you really want to eat, then I'd recommend making a PS about two to three weeks before you go


As for NY. My tween son loved the Natural Histroy Museum, loved the Bronx Zoo (he's an animal lover though), FAO schwarz and Toys R Us in times square, the lego store and the M&M store, oh the apple store is great to see too, its a glass building. Top of the Rock was a great view too, we got there on opening so no queue and virtually no people up there. He liked Planet Hollywood, Hard Rock and Bubba Gumps for food. I wanted him to like Ellen's Stardust diner, but he was not into the singing, but it's still a fun place to visit for a meal. A baseball game may be fun for your boys.
I mentioned Doubletree Guest Suites after your other post, it's a great place to stay.

 

[austraveler]

Thanks you so much. These ideas look great. I have given the boys a project for the holidays to research things they might like and a couple of your suggestions made their list. THe accommodation looks perfect - we love to have a space to sit after the boys are in bed and have adult time (and perhaps a glass of wine....)

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

It's not as necessary as at WDW. If you were wanting to eat at Blue Bayou (which I can recommend, especially with boys), I would say make a PS a few weeks before (and any others that you may want to go to at the same time). Blue Bayou is best to book on opening, get there about 15 mins early to check in and ask for a table on the water.

As for NY. My tween son loved the Natural Histroy Museum, loved the Bronx Zoo (he's an animal lover though), FAO schwarz and Toys R Us in times square, the lego store and the M&M store, oh the apple store is great to see too, its a glass building. Top of the Rock was a great view too, we got there on opening so no queue and virtually no people up there. He liked Planet Hollywood, Hard Rock and Bubba Gumps for food. I wanted him to like Ellen's Stardust diner, but he was not into the singing, but it's still a fun place to visit for a meal. A baseball game may be fun for your boys.
I mentioned Doubletree Guest Suites after your other post, it's a great place to stay.

I second the Blue Bayou recommendation, your kids will love it.

I also agree with pretty much everything aussietravellers suggested for NYC. Definitely do a Yankees Baseball game if they are playing when you are there, awesome. All of the food recommendations are spot on for tweens too.

 

[shushh]

Aussie travellers wrote an excellent summary! The only things i'd add are perhaps a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and getting some pizzas on the other side or some activities at Central Park.

 

[Melbourne5]

Hi
We stayed at doubletree times sq in oct 11 with our 3 boys. It's a terrific spot and very close to all the action
Some activities,
Broadway shows ( we saw Priscilla - a touch of home!)
Central park ( pedicab, horse drawn cart or walk)
30 rock - for viewing skyline
Hudson river cruise to see statue of liberty and manhattan skyline
The red or blue hop on hop off bus for touring the city
American museum of natural history near central park for dinosaurs
Shopping - it's everywhere and the kids love it

Dining
Planet hollywoood
Bubba gump
Red lobster
Were our favorites.

 

[Melbourne5]

I posted my original question in the September 12 thread but I would love input from everyone. We have a week in New York with three tween boys. I am after suggestions for activities, restaurants and accommodation.
I was dying to add on a cruise on the Magic from New York but we are limited to school holidays only and just could not fit the dates in.
On the way home we are stopping in Disneyland for two days. Can anyone help with whether I need to make dining reservations like WDW?

Also re DL. We have dined at blue bayou and it's lovely, dark and very cool and air-conditioned and a reprieve from that hot Californian sun too. I would also recommend dinner at the Disneyland hotel...it's called goofy's diner and has all the characters . It's about a 5-10m walk from the park but all connected via Disney complex. I recommend an adr for this one as its been popular both times we have been in 09& 10.I think it's as good as crystal palace at wow and much much better than chef mickeys at wdw. My other suggestion is again outside the park but part of the downtown disney / Disney hotels and its called hooks point. Beaut views over the very Peter pan / Pirates Pool and really tasty seafood and Steak. ( its Not character dining though)

 

[austraveler]

Thanks everyone. I think I have settled on the Doubletree Suites and am now planning my activites. So many restaurants to try......I always start by working out where I want to be at lunch or dinner and then slotting in the activites to fit the location.

We are going to stay at the Disneyland Hotel. Blue bayou looks amazing so that is on my list as a must. We don't need to do character meals as the boys have decided they are "lame". they still like that characters- just not stopping shoveling food in to get a kiss and a hug from Daisy. I think the comment was "My pancake is cold and her beak feels like a stick hitting my face". Anyway, that leaves the path clear for slightly less chaotic dining.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Sounds like a great holiday. Don't forget to check out your dining options at Downtown Disney as well. It only takes about 3 minutes walk to get to DTD once you get out of the gates at either DL or DCA. You might need to bag check back in afterwards if you want to come back into the parks; but it is a convenient option for dining/lunch.

 

[ausmum66]

Another place to consider in NYC is Best Western Plus Hospitality House...we loved all the space and it's location. I think it's great for the price!

 

[australiankaren]

Even though its not Disney, had you thought of doing another cruise from NY???
USA has heaps of cruise lines, and I just love cruising, and with 3 active boys, maybe unlimited food, others to hang with and a pool may be just what they need???

 

[austraveler]

The boys and I would love to do a cruise but my husband said our Med cruise last year was his one and only cruise. He liked it but was a little bored at night. He likes to stay up late, wander the streets and take photos, which is a little tricky on a boat. I hope to change his mind at some stage but this year I counted myself lucky to get the Disneyland visit in on the way home from NY. I am the keen traveller and since I am responsible for spending so much money on our travels, the least I can do is try and make the trips appealing for him.

 

[australiankaren]

so what better city for your DH, than the one that never sleeps....

true re not much to do at night except drink & eat on a cruise, but i like eating and drinking so it suits me fine

 

[DizOz]

If the boys ares sports nuts I suggest betting tickets to a Yankees game or a tour of Madison Square Garden.

If they like a bit of exercise I also suggest the Statue of Liberty but you need to book early if you want to climb up to the crown.