NYC American Girl area info

[Grammyof2]

I am taking my granddaughter to NYC next week for a very belated birthday gift. We will be taking the NY Waterway ferry over from NJ and using the buses from there. We are hitting American Girl and FAO Shwarz and probably the TRU to see the Ferris Wheel. Spending the day, planning to arrive in NYC by 10:30 and leaving by about 8:30 so we need a spot or 2 to eat and suggestions on what else we can see without spending a fortune. As if those 3 stops might not already cost that.

If anyone is familiar with the area and must do stuff I would love some suggestions. Thanks in advance!!!!

 

[lts862]

We are taking DD on Friday and having lunch at American Girl Place. Magnolia Bakery, famous for their cupcakes is relavitely close. Those are the 2 areas we will hit while there for the day. Actually looking forward to responses.

Have a great time!!

 

[Bren's Mom]

If AG is your focus for the trip...go there FIRST! Do not pass go, do not collect $200...just get there. It's a BIG store and it will take some time to go through. If your dd wants her doll's hair styled or fixed, go STRAIGHT to that counter upstairs and get in line. You wait in the first line, choose your service, leave the doll, they will tell you how long the wait is, then wait in line at the cashier to pay. THEN walk around the store. There's a fun photo op upstairs also where you can put your gdd's picture on an AG magazine cover. If this is something you want to do, do that next. (It's $$.) If you're interested in eating there, be sure to check the website for the options and MAKE A RESERVATION!

If you're going to Times Square to TRU there are lots of things to see/do there. You can walk into M&M World and the Hershey store. There are usually lots of things going on in the street. We were there 2 weeks ago and there were lots of characters walking around to take pics with (be sure to give them $1 or two in their bag). Bands and street players. You can get a coffee or ice cream and just sit in the square, it's awesome now that it's closed to traffic. There's a Pop Tart store there now too, we didn't check it out but it looked fun as we drove by.

For a relatively inexpensive lunch if you don't care about going to a chain try Olive Garden in Times Square. It's upstairs, and if you can get a window table the view is awesome. On the weekends they don't automatically give you the lunch menu, but if you ask for it they'll get them for you and honor the lunch prices (at lunch time obviously). That makes it very reasonable. It's pretty inside and they have nice bathrooms. (LOL) That's also an option for dinner if you decide to do AG for lunch, even the dinner prices are very reasonable.

 

[Grammyof2]

AG is the main reason for the trip. We are taking our Samantha, which is around 20 years old to drop off at the hospital and she is getting a new doll as her birthday gift. I hear they sometimes have specials when you check out if you spend over a certain amount. Is that true?

I can't get a reservation at AG till dinner time and I think we will have moved on by then. It really isn't that important to her to eat there.

Any other tips you know of?

 

[Bren's Mom]

I am not familiar with any special deals. There is a concierge as soon as you walk in, it definitely couldn't hurt to ask!

Yes, if only dinner is available I'd skip it too. I think you're better off going first thing to the store.

Near the store also is Rockefeller Plaza, that's nice to walk around, see where Radio City is, see the NBC Today show studio (through the window), there's a Nintendo store there that always has something new if your dgd has a DS or a Wii she might be interested in this.

Also be sure to leave time to check out street vendors for a new purse or shawl...and to get a pretzel!

There is a chain called Cosi, it's similar to Panera. If you see one of those that's a good place to stop and have a drink or a snack, or even lunch. Soups, sandwiches, etc.

Other options for meals might be Carmine's (split ONE meal!) or Ellen's Stardust Diner, both near Times Square.

 

[Ava]

AG is the main reason for the trip. We are taking our Samantha, which is around 20 years old to drop off at the hospital and she is getting a new doll as her birthday gift. I hear they sometimes have specials when you check out if you spend over a certain amount. Is that true?

There is usually a "purchase with purchase" special if you spend over a certain amount. Right now it's a sweater coat set for 18" dolls ($16 with a minimum $50 purchase) & an angel sleeper for Bitty Baby ($12 with a minimum $50 purchase).

A couple other places in Times Square that haven't been mentioned yet are Bubba Gump & Juniors. Bubba Gump is a chain but it's fun. Juniors has a full menu available (diner-type food) or you can just get cheesecake to go.

Have we given you enough choices yet? Haha.

P.S. - I have a 20-year-old Samantha doll too.

 

[bamor]

Yes, I would definitely hit the AG store first.
On your way towards Times Square, simply walk down 49th, you will walk right past Rockefeller Center. If interested, go to the Top of the Rock.
Ask, they might offer a AAA discount or google it before you go, you might be able to find a discount coupon.

While in Times Square (beware the line for the Ferris Wheel can be very, very long), Virgil's BBQ is right there. We thought the food was OK. Much prefer John's Pizza (260 west 44th st). Good pizza in what turns out to be a pretty cool building (old church). There is also a Shake Shack in the theater district now, 8th and 44th. Angus McIndoe has a nice lunch and Jr menu (also on 44th).

If it's a nice day, take a right out of Am Girl Place and walk down 5th Ave (about 15 min walk) This will lead you right into Central Park. The Central Park Zoo is right there.

www.hopstop.com for walking and subway directions
www.menupages.com for restaurant ideas

 

[Melrosgirl]

Skip the ferris wheel if you can resist it. It's so slow and boring and the line is very long (even with the "reservation time" they give you at the cashiers). Waste of time.

 

[irishprincess]

We want to go in about 2 weeks, when do they start decorating for Christmas?

 

[MinnieGi]

I'll assume after AG you'll head up to visit FAO Schwatz. Right diagonally from FAO is Central Park. My kids loved just walking/running and exploring around Central Park. We got some snacks from vendors close by and had a nice relaxing time after visiting the stores on 5th Ave.

 

[Janepod]

How old is your daughter? My son is 4 and LOVES the Ferris Wheel.

Have you seen the King Tut exhibit? It is also nearby. Tickets are expensive (around $30?) but you can get a deal on them through Costco.

If you make it to FAO Schwarz, walk through Central Park a little, maybe even hit the zoo if there's time.

 

[southern_redhead]

AG is the main reason for the trip. We are taking our Samantha, which is around 20 years old to drop off at the hospital and she is getting a new doll as her birthday gift. I hear they sometimes have specials when you check out if you spend over a certain amount. Is that true?

I can't get a reservation at AG till dinner time and I think we will have moved on by then. It really isn't that important to her to eat there.

Any other tips you know of?

There is usually a "purchase with purchase" special if you spend over a certain amount. Right now it's a sweater coat set for 18" dolls ($16 with a minimum $50 purchase) & an angel sleeper for Bitty Baby ($12 with a minimum $50 purchase).

A couple other places in Times Square that haven't been mentioned yet are Bubba Gump & Juniors. Bubba Gump is a chain but it's fun. Juniors has a full menu available (diner-type food) or you can just get cheesecake to go.

Have we given you enough choices yet? Haha.

P.S. - I have a 20-year-old Samantha doll too.

Wow! I am enjoying this thread I'm trying to talk my husband into an NYC trip with the kids sometime in the next year or so.... We went to AG Atlanta last weekend and, yes, they do the "purchase with purchase" thing. We got the sweater set. It's really cute - a long cream colored cardigan with pink sash and a pink knit beret type hat. We actually "qualified" for 2 so DD got an extra to give to her BFF at Christmas. I didn't realize the BB sleeper was the same deal or I'd have asked for one of each. They didn't offer but perhaps that was because we weren't purchasing BB stuff this trip. We ate at the bistro for the first time - I was a little underwhelmed (at $40 for 1 adult and 1 kid) but the atmosphere is fun and girly plus I saw it as a one time deal. I think NYC and Chicago are the two that have the cafes. The Chicago store took hours to look through and we did pics and hair styling. We didn't do styling in ATL and the store was smaller. If NYC's store is huge then for sure make that a big part of your day, she won't want to leave! Make a ressie for lunch before you go. Look around for a bit (maybe get her pic made with Samantha?) and then send Samantha off to hospital before you eat. She can mull over what she saw while eating and then head back and make purchases before leaving. Have fun, DD and I loved our AG trips and can't wait to go back!

And, can we join the 20 year old Samantha club? DD has my Samantha and Felicity from (*cough, cough*) years ago...

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

We took DD to AGPlace last year for her birthday. We too, took the ferry from Jersey to the city and did the bus.

Personally, I am not a fan of FAO Shwartz or the TRU, you've seen one TRU, you've seen them all. This one just has a huge Ferris wheel that you have spend some big bucks to ride in.

We had the lunch @ AG Place and it was good! We are going it again in January for her 6th birthday. I think it was $25 per person and you got appetizers (like a veggie/fruit/cheese tray with other little finger foods), the lunch, a dessert, and it began with cinnamon rolls. It was all yum! But you need ressies and there's a specific seating time (example, if you chose 2:30, EVERYONE is sitting and starting their meal @ 2:30 but we had fantastic service). And the dolls get a little tea cup and plate and a little seat to sit on. Such fun!

I agree though, go directly to AG Place when you get to the city.

 

[disneydreamersx4]

We are taking our DD's for dinner at AG in December for Christmas as a surprise gift. It sounds so lovely but they sure want to rush you out, they told me you have one hour to finish your meal. We like to sit and talk alot so I think we will feel rushed. I'm sure it is cute to have the dolls at your table

 

[Vickie46]

I would suggest to call ahead and ask for an American Girl personal shopper! They make your trip so more enjoyable and its no cost.

 

[Sagginit]

what kind of restaurant do you want to eat at? times square has lots, there are many nice delis and fast food type places in a one or two block radius of AG. ruby foos is on bway and between 49th & 50th. the edge of times square and reasonably price with a nice ambiance. i would skip TRU, i did it once and it was a huge waste of time, and the staff was way rude. i would suggest eating in the rockerfeller plaza area, then heading up 5th to FAO. magnolia is also at the rock and for me it never gets old, ill be there tomorrow on my lunch break since i havent been in a few weeks. they also have the ice up now so you can watch the skaters. depening on her age she might like a trip into tiffany's too. oh and st.patricks is right there too, that is another free thing to do while in the area.

 

[Tree]

I
Other options for meals might be Carmine's (split ONE meal!) or Ellen's Stardust Diner, both near Times Square.

I have to second Ellen's Stardust dinner! I was just there a couple of weeks back. It seems a popular place for little girls and American Girl dolls. I saw a few there. The waiters all sing and you can request that they sing a song to you.

Mary Poppins is also playing on Broadway....

 

[rileysmommy]

My question is...how easy or difficult is it to get to the store? What is the best way? I can drive in or take the ferry or take the PATH but after that I don't know the best way to get there. Thanks for any help anyone can offer on that.

 

[Ava]

My question is...how easy or difficult is it to get to the store? What is the best way? I can drive in or take the ferry or take the PATH but after that I don't know the best way to get there. Thanks for any help anyone can offer on that.

I never recommend driving in the city, I find it to be a huge hassle.

I'm not sure where the ferry lets you off, but if you take the PATH to 33rd St you can transfer there to the B, D, or F subway line. Go uptown 2 stops to the 47th-50th St/Rockfellar Center stop, then walk 1 block east to 5th Ave. AG Place is at 5th Ave & 49th St.

 

[disneydreamersx4]

Does anyone know if the ferry in Staten Island runs in December?