NYC visit - ideas

[EileenLS]

Hi. We are going to NYC next week for three days. We wanted to catch either Wicked or Lion King but they are very high demand shows. Tickets for our family of four is outrageous so we are trying to compromise on another Broadway show that will not break the bank. We have seen Mary Poppins and Mamma Mia. Has anyone seen Rock of Ages? Do you think it is family friendly? (DS is 15, DD is 12).

Has anyone purchased tickets at the TKTS center in Times Square? Wondering what the discount would be and if it would be worth the time and effort to purchase our tix there?

Also looking at the City Pass hop on and hop off tour. Any thoughts/ideas on other attractions would be very much appreciated!!

For restaurants we are looking at Ellens Stardust Diner and the View.

Thanks for any ideas/input!!

Eileen

 

[living20057]

We love going to NYC. I haven't purchased tickets from TKTS, but I have seen it. It was croweded, so I'm assuming they have been good rates. I have seen the Lion King, and would definitely recommended it. We did do the City Pass, but this is definitely an all day if not two day adventure. If you just stay on the bus and take the tour, it takes hours just to get through the traffic and around the route. I enjoyed the tour, we learned alot of interesting information. Don't forget to go to the M&M store.

 

[Fantasmic23]

I have to plug it since it was a major part of my life for 20 years: The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Even if you don't get off the ferry, they're worth a look.

Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum looks like a hoot, but it is pricey.

Same with the NY Skyride (Manhattan's version of Soarin'). Very pricey.

"Rock of Ages" is AWESOME and it you like 80's tunes, you're all set! My friend recently took her DD (12) and they both loved it.

I bought tix at the TKTS booth once years ago. It was for an off-off-broadway play and the tix were a steal. Go the TKTS website. It'll tell you what they had available at the box office last week and you can also get pricing information.

The Museum of Natural History is always fun and the Hayden Planetarium (especially the laser shows) is great.

Central Park ... If the weather is nice. The Alice in Wonderland statue is my favorite.

 

[Talkingwoody]

We are just 20 minutes from NY and get some great deals for last minute tickets. Goto Broadwaybox.com and look for discounts. Bring the print out to the box office to save on fees. TKT's has some great deals as well but lines are huge. If you are comfortable with Ebay, there are last minute tickets available for good prices but its hit or miss. You may want to goto box offices and ask for student rush tickets and or lottery tickets(Wicked). Bring student ID's and get half price. My daughter did this for The Little Mermaid some time ago.
Ellens Stardust is a lot of fun. Nothing fancy, food is OK but you are there for the experience. Some good affordable pizza is Johns. I think its on 44th St. old converted church, brick oven style.
Enjoy

 

[sk!mom]

We saw Rock of Ages last summer and all loved it- including DD13. DD13's and my favorite show was Billy Elliot. If we were going this summer, we would see American Idiot and Billy Elliot again.

We love, love, love Ellen's Stardust Diner. It's just a really fun experience. The food is OK but the desserts, shakes and such are great. We usually go for dinner once a trip and on last summer's trip we went back all three nights after the theater for dessert. It's a great after the theater spot if you have kids with you and can't go somewhere for a drink.

 

[gk90]

A couple of links for info on TKTS ticket availability and prices as well as discount info
http://tdf.org/TDF_ServicePage.aspx?id=56
http://www.entertainment-link.com/tkts.asp

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=26407241

Also a plug for a show that's an oldie but goodie--the revival of South Pacific is really excellent, one of the best shows I've seen on Broadway in years! Tickets are available thru TKTS and other discount sites and it's a small theater, not a bad seat in the house. We brought a 12 yr old who thought it was great.

 

[tinkrebell]

Dylan's Candy Bar is a great stop for kids of any age--and parents too! There are so many old-time, novelty brands of candy, plus a fun two-level store, that everyone will find something to go ga-ga over--and it's a relatively inexpensive, cute souvenir to take home. Dylan is actually Dylan Lauren, Ralph Lauren's daughter, and so the whole store is brightly colored and looks fabulous. They even have their own edition of Candy Land to buy =)

 

[Debbiebee68]

I have seen Rock of Ages twice. It is really a fantastic time. At this time I would not bring my kids because there are parts that I just wouldn't want to be sitting next to my kids watching (they are 11 and 7). There is a scene where a certain adult activity is occuring in a bathroom, and a pretty powerful line in reference to that scene is just flat out said. The music is awesome and my kids sing the soundtrack right along with me, because the soundtrack is just the music without the adult content. There are waiters and waitresses serving cocktails at the seats. The whole experience has more of a grown-up vibe to me. I could definitly see maybe an older kid to the show. It is a personal decision and whatever a parent decides has to be right for their family.

Incidently, there is a GREAT Italian resturant right next door to Rock of Ages, called Trattoria Trecolori that is reasonable by NYC standards.

Have fun with whatever you choose!

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

Lots of people going to NYC this summer! We had a blast. Here is a recent thread on places to eat, but I can tell you that our experience at Ellen's Stardust was very disappointing!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2511310

 

[aprilgail2]

I saw Rock of Ages and LOVED it but no way in heck would I take my 12 year old to see it! For a family of 4 Carmines is a great value I took my friend and my daughter there for lunch- we bought one dish to share between us all (its familhy style) and we still had almost half of it left.....the one dish cost 24.00! We all drink water so we fed 3 people on 24.00!!
I was not crazy about Ellens-its ok...nothing really special....we recently went to the King Tut exhibit and that was good...Madam Tussauds was really fun.
The museum of Natural History can be a really cheap day- their admission price is "suggested" so you can just suggest your own! We stopped by there for a quickie drive by type look and I gave them 5 bucks for the 2 of us and they took it and in we went!
Central park is a great place to go too- I can stay in there all day!

 

[janette]

We were there last week, Mary Poppins was 30% off but they would also be the more expensive seats. If you buy early you might get cheaper seats at a sold out show than you can at the Discount office. We saw Chicago, Avenue Q and Billy Elliot. Billy Elliot is the only one I'd recommend for younger kids, I saw Rock Of Ages last Oct and it also isn't one I'd take younger kids too.

We used a New York City Pass it was great, we did several things we just wouldn't have spent the money for. The Wax Museum & Sky Ride were too of them, okay attractions but I wouldn't have wanted to pay an additional admission. We were there for 7 days and got the passes at an additional discount through my work so it was well worth it. I haven't calculated our savings but it covered almost everything we did except the shows.

We also did a food tour and discovered that many of the best places to eat were on 9th Ave. There is a bakery called Amy's Bread that is very reasonable; it also has sandwiches etc plus regular bakery items.

 

[crjack]

We were there last week, Mary Poppins was 30% off but they would also be the more expensive seats. If you buy early you might get cheaper seats at a sold out show than you can at the Discount office. We saw Chicago, Avenue Q and Billy Elliot. Billy Elliot is the only one I'd recommend for younger kids, I saw Rock Of Ages last Oct and it also isn't one I'd take younger kids too.

We used a New York City Pass it was great, we did several things we just wouldn't have spent the money for. The Wax Museum & Sky Ride were too of them, okay attractions but I wouldn't have wanted to pay an additional admission. We were there for 7 days and got the passes at an additional discount through my work so it was well worth it. I haven't calculated our savings but it covered almost everything we did except the shows.

We also did a food tour and discovered that many of the best places to eat were on 9th Ave. There is a bakery called Amy's Bread that is very reasonable; it also has sandwiches etc plus regular bakery items.

I noticed that Rock of Ages is coming to Boston in the fall and my DD is 14 and would love to see it. Do you think that is still too young for this show?? She is pretty mature for her age but I'd rather get some imput before buying advanced tickets.

Thanks very much.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Re: Wicked

There are a limited number of $25 front row seats available for each performance. Limit 2 tickets per person, cash only. Names will be collected 2½ hrs prior to each performance and drawn 2 hrs prior to each performance. Winners must be present (with photo ID) when their names are called, or they forfeit their tickets.

TKTS is okay... their seat choices are often not great, however. The South Street Seaport location is better than Times Square. You're better off buying tickets through BroadwayBox.com. Those are better discounts, and often a better seat choice, plus, you know, you don't have to wait online all afternoon .

I would highly, highly recommend Billy Elliot and South Pacific for your family over Rock of Ages.

 

[janette]

I noticed that Rock of Ages is coming to Boston in the fall and my DD is 14 and would love to see it. Do you think that is still too young for this show?? She is pretty mature for her age but I'd rather get some imput before buying advanced tickets.

Thanks very much.

I'd rate it a milder R; if you'd take her to a movie with heavy sexual overtones I think it would be fine and unlike a movie there isn't any nudity just suggested. Really depends on your comfort level. I wouldn't have a problem with my 16yo DD seeing it if she wanted to; we saw Avenue Q and it had more sexual content than Rock of Ages.

 

[EileenLS]

Thanks everyone for the input and ideas! I think we will pass on Rock of Ages based on the comments here. I don't feel comfortable taking my DD age 12 so we are leaning towards Billy Elliott or South Pacific. Our first choice is for Wicked or Lion King but probably not going to happen!

I think we will forgo the TKTS booth as well. I printed the coupons from broadwaybox.com so I will go directly to the box office for tickets. I never realized that tickets can be purchased 1/2 price with a student ID! Does anyone know if that is for any performance or just certain ones? Can it be a high school/middle school student ID or just college ID?

It sure seems that Ellens Stardust has gotten some mixed reviews. Any other restaurant ideas keep them coming. We are leaving this weekend. Can't wait!!

Thanks so much everyone!!

Eileen

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Thanks everyone for the input and ideas! I think we will pass on Rock of Ages based on the comments here. I don't feel comfortable taking my DD age 12 so we are leaning towards Billy Elliott or South Pacific. Our first choice is for Wicked or Lion King but probably not going to happen!

I think we will forgo the TKTS booth as well. I printed the coupons from broadwaybox.com so I will go directly to the box office for tickets. I never realized that tickets can be purchased 1/2 price with a student ID! Does anyone know if that is for any performance or just certain ones? Can it be a high school/middle school student ID or just college ID?

It sure seems that Ellens Stardust has gotten some mixed reviews. Any other restaurant ideas keep them coming. We are leaving this weekend. Can't wait!!

Thanks so much everyone!!

Eileen

It's for all performances, and you can use a college or HS id but there's a method to the madness for each show.

 

[sk!mom]

I noticed that Rock of Ages is coming to Boston in the fall and my DD is 14 and would love to see it. Do you think that is still too young for this show?? She is pretty mature for her age but I'd rather get some imput before buying advanced tickets.

Thanks very much.

I let my DD see it at 13 last summer. I thought that it was fine for her. I would say that I'm a pretty middle of the road parent. I don't let her watch R rated movies, yet and wouldn't take her to Avenue Q but I'm fine with any PG13 movie for her and have been since she was 13 anyway.

 

[simpilotswife]

Ellen's is okay. You really go there for the experience...not the food.

I second the King Tut exhibit. We went a couple of weeks ago and it was great. To me that is something that is a once in a lifetime thing to get to do.

 

[crjack]

Thanks everyone for your input on Rock of Ages. I appreciate the replies and info.