One day in NY City

[Mimmy Mouse]

Going with my 2 daughters and 3 granddaughters (ages 11-13) to NY City on Saturday 4/16. We have been before and have done American Girl and a walking tour. They really want to go to the new Disney Store. Has anyone been there yet? Wondering what to expect there. Also, any suggestions for a bus tour. There are so many of them, wanted to get a good one. They all come up to you as you walk down the street, Not sure which is a good one. Some even have boat tours. Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[Jessica527]

There are a lot of bus tours out there, but I always found it fun to do my own walking/taxi tour. It actually comes out to be the same money spent.

There are really cool pop up map of NYC that you can find at local shops in the city. I would suggest picking 3 attractions that you want to see, like Empire State Building, Times Square and Central Park. Take a taxi from location to location and spend as much time as you want there. Now this doesn't include someone telling you everything about the place you are visiting, but it is so nice to be able to spend some downtime at each location instead of rushing.

There is also a really nice $1-15 costume jewelry shop in Times Square. If you ask a local merchant they will tell you where it is. We spent an hour in there just looking at everything!

I hope this helps

 

[plb626]

If only spending a day in the city, I would skip the Disney Store. The one on 5th ave was much nicer. I would go to the Toys R Us store, that is pretty much next store to Disney and go on the Ferris Wheel inside the store. The ride is $4 a person. There are also a lot of activities in the Toys R us store that the kids would enjoy a big dinosaur, lots of lego displays, Barbie's house.....

Also I would go to either the Top of Rock at Rockfeller Center or Empire State Building. If you go to Top of Rock, it is near St Patrick's Cathedral and then Central Park.

 

[bigmama67]

I don't know the name of it but some of the buses are hop-on, hop-off so you can spend time at an attraction which interests you and then move on at will.

Also in Times Square (right near TRU) is M&M World and DS is asking to go there. I have to find out more about it as I'm not sure if it's just candy or has more to do.

We went down to the South Street Seaport a couple of years ago and it was really great...lots of cool shops and restaurants and historical sites to see.

Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty is also pretty amazing if you haven't been (or haven't been lately)...they restored the building at Ellis awhile back.

Have fun!

 

[ceecee]

We bought a package that included night and day bus tour, ellis island/statue of liberty and Top of the Rock at Rockefeller ctr. Might be too much for a one day thing. We really enjoyed walking around Times Square, the Disney Store is 2 stories and has some exclusive NYC stuff, nothing exciting there. TRU is really neat, it has a ferris wheel inside and you can ride it.

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

If you go near the Disney Store stop in, but don't make a special trip over there. We stayed in Times Square and it was outside our hotel window so we went as soon as we arrived and we not impressed.

On the first floor they have some cool NYC merchandise- we got DD a NYC snowglobe with Minnie as the Statue of Liberty for $28 (a similar sized one at WDW was selling for $44 last month) and a Christmas ornament. Once you get to the 2nd floor, it is like a regular Disney Store with most of the same merchandise.

 

[Anthony1971]

The one on 5th is nicer
however here it is...it is an overgrown mall DS with more and the layout is nicer. For boys the have build your own McQueen and other as well as lot of cool $$$$ super hero stuff. Girls they have some Dinsey couture as well as all the dresses etc. I think this store will be better for girls then the one on 5th if you want to buy princess stuff but do not expect something amazing because it is not.... I laways ask where the rest of the strore is
Yes TRU is almost next door so you can go there as well they have a Barbie house for all on floor 2 that is worth seeing

 

[shamrock30]

I would walk around Chinatown, possibly eat lunch but definitely get some ice cream from their ice cream factory. I'd also take the Staten Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty from a distance.

I'd choose the Top of the Rock over the Empire State Building. It will save you a lot of time, and it's at least as nice.

 

[Mimmy Mouse]

Thank you all for your ideas and thoughts. Just hope that the weather is nice and not raining. Have a great day

 

[java]

oh if you go to Chinatown-
Eat at Joe's Shanghai on Pell Street(It's 9 PELL! There are about 5 restaurants on that block that all have some version of that name - but go to Joe's Shanghai! So yummy and inexpensive. They make the best dumplings- and their General Tso's chicken is the best I've ever had.
Oh and we were very disappointed in the new Disney Store. They could have made it great. They made it horrible to navigate and small. I would come up with a plan B.

 

[jackie101]

I am getting . We went to NY last year for 3 days we did the ferry ride to see the Statue of Liberty but now the kids want to either go in it or get close to it. There are so many tours options. What is the best to do? We did the hop on off last yr and lloved it but the ferry did not drop us off at the statue. Hope this makes sense
We would love to include ripleys but it seems like known of the tours has that with them

 

[java]

I am getting . We went to NY last year for 3 days we did the ferry ride to see the Statue of Liberty but now the kids want to either go in it or get close to it. There are so many tours options. What is the best to do? We did the hop on off last yr and lloved it but the ferry did not drop us off at the statue. Hope this makes sense
We would love to include ripleys but it seems like known of the tours has that with them

ok sounds like you took the free Staten Island Ferry?
There is a different Ferry that goes just to Liberty Island.
There is information here
http://www.ny.com/transportation/ellis.html

 

[jackie101]

ok sounds like you took the free Staten Island Ferry?
There is a different Ferry that goes just to Liberty Island.
There is information here
http://www.ny.com/transportation/ellis.html

thanks.
There are 6 of us and they only allow you to reserve 4

 

[bigmama67]

Jackie, why not reserve for 2 groups of 3 under different names?

 

[jackie101]

Jackie, why not reserve for 2 groups of 3 under different names?

I just tried it with 6 and it let me
Thanks so much everyone!!!!