OT - Help with NYC Family vacation

[lucy_love]

I just got back from NYC with my mom, we did a girls trip.

Hop On, Hop Off tour bus is a MUST! It's a double-decker bus, best way to see the city in a short amount of time. We did the 2-day deal, you can get on and then get off when you want to. We really enjoyed this!

Also, like someone else said go to Serendipity and get the Frozen Hot Chocolate! They are world famous for it!

OOh eat at Little Italy for lunch! We shopped on Canal street (great deals I got a Gucci purse and a Louis Vuitton purse ) and then canal street brings you right to Little Italy, very easy! Make sure you eat on the porches on the outside. You will know what I mean when you get there.

We saw The Lion King, WOWOWOWOWOWOW it was AMAZING! I almost teared up in it a few times becuase it is just that good!

Empire State Building like everyone else said is a must, go early! We went at 10am and it took us about 15 minutes to get to the top!

We got back on Monday, I wish I was going back

 

[clb22]

Love this info. Subscribing for our trip later this summer.

Thanks!

 

[HeatherC]

Not sure if anyone posted this (didn't read through them all yet), but wanted to suggest the Marriott Courtyard Midtown East. We have stayed at the Marquis before and the rooms are very tiny. The Courtyard has rooms that are huge by NYC standards and the price is almost half of the Renaissance and Marquis. You can see reviews on www.tripadvisor.com.

It is within walking distance of Rockefeller Center and Times Square, etc., but is on a quieter street which is nice for bedtime!

Also check out broadwaybox.com for show discounts if you are planning to see a show.

I love NYC and we are planning to go for 3 days on the weekend before Xmas. We'll be staying at the Marriott Courtyard again. (We got a rate of $189 a night).

Good luck to you. Have an awesome time.

HeatherC

 

[HeatherC]

Also...have you looked into the New York Pass or the City Pass? Depending on what you want to see, it might be worth it.

HeatherC

 

[lucy_love]

but wanted to suggest the Marriott Courtyard Midtown East. We have stayed at the Marquis before and the rooms are very tiny. The Courtyard has rooms that are huge by NYC standards and the price is almost half of the Renaissance and Marquis. You can see reviews on www.tripadvisor.com.

It is within walking distance of Rockefeller Center and Times Square, etc., but is on a quieter street which is nice for bedtime!

Thats funny you mention that, I just got back from NYC on monday and we stayed at the Marriott Midtown East and LOVED it! The beds were amazing! I wanted to bring one home with me! Our room was on the 29th floor and we had a direct view between 2 buildings of the Chrysler building!

 

[DVCLiz]

Coming back because I forgot one of our very favorites - Ellen's Starlight Diner in Times Square!!!! Great food and ice cream desserts, but the best part is the serving staff - all young college-age kids who are performers. They sing all through your meal - each one does a song, or sometimes they do duets. They move all around the restaurant, sometimes hopping up on the back of your booth, etc. It is LOADS of fun!!! Last time we were there one of the girls sang "Proud Mary" and it was to die for. Don't miss it - even if you've eaten, go for dessert. Well worth a trip as an attraction on its own!!

 

[ntink]

I just found this website that lists all shows and if there are tickets available at TKTS frequently, occasionally or never. Also, if you click on the individual show it will give you a synopsis and a recommended age level for children:

http://www.tdf.org/TDF_ShowsSearchResults.aspx

 

[Merriwind]

Thanks for all the info and links! I'm sneaking in a short 3-day hop to WDW next week and then we have to go to Nashville with DH for work for a week. THEN, I will get my NYC plan in gear!!!

I'm going to need more than a week with all this great info!

 

[MACfamily4]

Many who posted on this thread earlier were planning to go to NYC sometime this summer. I'm not going until Apil '08, but being the compulsive planner that I am, I'm dying to know... how was it? What did you love? What could you have done without? Did you see any shows? What recommendations do you have? Any thoughts would be most appreciated. TIA!

 

[LMO429]

Many who posted on this thread earlier were planning to go to NYC sometime this summer. I'm not going until Apil '08, but being the compulsive planner that I am, I'm dying to know... how was it? What did you love? What could you have done without? Did you see any shows? What recommendations do you have? Any thoughts would be most appreciated. TIA!

Im live in NYC! Since you are a big planner and will be coming here in April of 2008 and you are on the disboards..i assume you love disney. I would get advance tickets to THE LITTLE MERMAID on Broadway!!!! you can get them on ticketmaster April is a great time of year to come to NYC..the weather is going to be good!!!

Check out a yankee or met game as well!!! They will be knocking down yankee stadium and Shea Stadium and both teams will have brand new stadiums come 2009!!! So that is a part of NYC history that will no longer be there if you decide to come back after 2008.

there is so much to do here!! you def will enjoy yourself!!!

if you have any other questions ask

 

[MelAnderson]

We went to NYC at the end of July. Big hits with us (my son is 5): The Beast, FAO Schwarz (dancing on the piano), TRU (Ferris wheel + just the store), Top of the Rock (my son loved the elevator ride to the top and looking at the views), Heckscher Playground in Central Park, Washington Square Fountain & Playground in the Village, M&M Store (we went twice). We all liked Ellen's Stardust Diner, it's touristy, but fun. My son liked the train that went around the top of the restaurant. He liked the AMNH, but got tired towards the end. The Mystic Creatures exhibit was a waste of $$ IMO.

He was bored at the Met, but was asleep most of the time we were there, so I really enjoyed it. The Hershey Store was a big disappointment. The Chicago store has a bakery and the NY store is very small.

HTH

 

[pigget74]

Trying to decide when to take our kids--what ages would you recommend? As of September we will have a 13, 10, 2 and newborn. We had thought about getting someone to watch the younger two and only take the older ones. Just not really sure on how to do that.

 

[Merriwind]

Hi all-

We went the first week in August. Had a very nice time. LOVED the Marriott Marquis hotel. Had a room on the top floor overlooking Times Square. What a great view. Lovely lobby and other "hang out" areas. Thank goodness DH is a Marriott Platinum. We get access to the concierge lounge, which had free wifi, drinks, snacks and great tables for playing cards.

Ate at Mars 2112 the first night--awful. Dreadful food, about 120 degrees in the "spaceship." Disgusting, sticky floors, ugh. At some point we ate at Jekyll and Hyde's too, which was very disappointing in the food category--soggy nachos, inedible pasta a la vodka, etc., but a fun place. We also walked around Rockefller Center, went to St. Pat's, played tourist that night.

Sunday, we wandered Central Park, went to the Met with DSIL and Dniece. DD and DH had "real dirty water dogs" from the cart in front. Went back to Times Square and visited the M&M store and the Hershey store and got candy for the girls.

Monday was a full day at the Natural History Museum with Dmom and Ddad, Dis, bil and 2 Dnephews. Great day, great fun!

Monday we hit the Children's Museum of Manhattan. DD9 is a little old for it, but she is absolutely in love with ancient history. Their entire 1st floor is a new ancient Greece exhibit and we spent a few very happy hours there. Walked back to Times Square via some luncheonette, which we enjoyed immensely. Went to Lincoln Square for their outdoor festival in the evening. Enjoyed some performances, then walked to a great little Japanese place, Pacific Echo.

Wednesday, unbeknowst to us, the subways were flooded. That was the day we were planning to do the hop-on bus to the SI ferry to ride past the Statue of Liberty. Took us three hours to get from Times Square to Little Italy--ugh. Not a fun day. Did the evening bus tour later, which was great! Ate at a place a couple doors down from Ferrara's, which was good. Too hot and tired to really look around Little Italy or Chinatown.

I had got tickets online for Curtains for Thursday night. DH was still whupped from WEdnesday, so DD and I did the Times Square stuff--Toys R Us, I don't remember what else. We walked to FAO Schwartz, which DD loved. (Much nicer store than TRU). She waited to play the BIG piano, which she loved. She played Doe a Deer from the Sound of Music. Had a great time. Looked at all the dolls. We couldn't stay too long, as I wanted to rest before th eshow. Show was great. Some of the humor was a little risque, but it went totally over DD's head. It was happy, catchy, funny. We got great seats--Row M, Center orchestra, for $77 a piece. The TKTS line couldn't beat the online prices, so after checking there a few times, we just booked online.

Friday was pouring. We eventually made it back to FAO and ST. Pat's. Ate lunch at Junior's (of Cheesecake fame). It was good. Late dinner at Ellen's--great singing! so-so food, but I don't think we choose well.

I wouldn't have had such a good trip without all the help I got from the DIS. Thanks so much to all!!!!!

 

[MACfamily4]

Good Stuff! Thanks for all the info. I forgot about The Little Mermaid coming to Broadway. That will be a "must do." We have Ellen's on our list of places to eat - probably after we see Grease. I love to have something to plan for, so if anyone thinks of anything else, let it fly!