OT: NYC tips for trip with DD5

[Nlbnikki]

We are going to NYC sunday for the night and going to AG monday for shopping & dinner. I am looking for ideas of what to do during the day. Any ideas would be great. We are staying 4 blocks from Times Square.

 

[MelAnderson]

We went to NYC last summer and had a blast. My son enjoyed playing on the piano at FAO Schwarz which is on 5th Avenue. The World of Disney & Build a Bear Stores are also on 5th. The M & M Store in Times Square was a big hit - we went twice! We had breakfast at Ellen's Stardust Cafe (Times Square) and the singing waiters were pretty entertaining.

If you have time, you may consider the American Museum of Natural History. That would certainly take up a few hours.

HTH and have fun!

 

[KadysMom]

We went on December 21st with DD6 for the night. We stayed at the hilton on the Avenue of the Americas. I can definately tell you what we did for the weekend if you want..... Let me know if you want more details

Saturday Rockettes show then Dinner at Delfriscos
Sunday Shopping at Build a Bear, American Girl and World of Disney
Toured Times Square. Rode the Subway and then went to Dinner at Ellen's Stardust Cafe before catching the train.

 

[EthansMom]

We took DS to see The Blue Man Group (off-Broadway) for his 5th birthday last summer. It was a little pricey (~$80 a ticket) but he had a blast!

There's also a bubble show of some sort in NYC that is supposed to be great for kids.

 

[momof296&02]

Everytime we head into the city we stop in at Toys R Us in Times Square for a ride on the Ferris wheel. If you have time for another meal you should try Serrindipity- if i'm not mistaken it's in the 70's. or Mars 2112 the kids love both places. If you are adventorous you can try out door ice skating. Have a blast in the big apple!

 

[gonemousin']

Since Monday is a holiday (MLK Day), I would highly recommend getting to AG Place at store opening, especially if you want to have your DD's doll's hair styled (the hair salon gets busy quick). Folks start lining up to get in the store fairly early. Once it fills up, it can be a tough store to move around in IMHO. But it's a fun place and I'm sure you'll have a great time! FAO Schwartz is a fun place and they have a great little snack cafe called FAO Schweetz. The food is affordable, mostly organic, and pretty tasty - and their hot cocoa is awesome! Since you're staying near Times Square, be sure to check out the giant Toys 'R Us. Lots of fun in there!

Have a great trip!!! My DD's can never get enough of our trips into the city.

 

[ntink]

I would actually recommend going to AG after 4pm. By that time, anyone who has come in on a day trip usually has to head back to the bus. We have lucked out the past two times doing this. They are open until 7pm on Sun and Mon.

 

[java]

For breakfast go to Ellen's Stardust diner.
here is the menu
http://www.ellensstardustdiner.com/breakfast.htm

The wait staff are aspiring Broadway actors and singers. They sing non-stop during your meal. It is fun and an inexpensive place to eat surprisingly. And the food at breakfast is pretty good! My daughter loved it.

You can ice skate- for free at Bryant park
http://www.bryantpark.org/amenities/thepond.php

or pay (we prefer Wollman rink to Rockefeller center)

Serendipity was closed by the board of health
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/450165/serendipity_3_closed_for_health_violations.html

I don't know if it was reopened or not- but it just closed in November so I wouldn't put that on my list.

My dd liked getting her nails done at one of the millions of nail places in that area.
We also found some street festivals by looking here.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE1D7133FF93BA35755C0A966958260

We walked around , had some zeppoli!! mmmm and bought some hair scrunchies.

Really you will find plenty to do just by walking around. The Museum of Natural history takes at least a day imho. I would save that for it's own trip.
Have fun.

 

[Nlbnikki]

Thanks for all the ideas. We have a 3:00 persanal shopper appointment at AG,thought DD would get a kick out of having someone help her besides mom and dad. Then we have dinner after that in the cafe. How expensive is mars 2112? I think I am just as excited as DD.

 

[bnorm27]

They do some type of opening ceremony at FAO every day at 10AM. They have piano dancers and story telling, but I think that is just on weekends. I would call and see if they are doing it on MLK day, you never know.

They do character meet and greets at the Disney Store too. I would certainly call to see if they are done during the week and at what time.

Hopefully the weather will cooperate. It is supposed to be really cold in these parts on Sunday night.

Hope you have a blast!

 

[RichNKatHolly]

If you have the time and appetite for an awesome (and huge) sundae, don't miss Dylan's candy bar. Tons of the retro stuff that we parents remember too.

http://www.dylanscandybar.com/jump.jsp?itemID=0&itemType=HOME_PAGE

Enjoy the trip!! Wollman Rink is awesome too - just try to get there before noon.

 

[elf]

Something we like to do besides the above listed, is Central Park Zoo it's very small there are two sections a petting type zoo and a regular zoo. It has seals, penguins, and a polar bear and some other smaller animals. It's very pretty and we were there during the holiday week. It was clear, crisp and cold but the sun was shining. I wouldn't do it in the freezing cold or rain.

They really like the toys r us ferris wheel too. Although its always very crowded. We purchased tickets and had to come back at a later scheduled time (like a fastpass). Tickets were $4.00pp.

I went to Mars 2112 last April and there was only one Martian out and about and hardly any people. The burgers were not as good as the year before. But the kids loved it anyway. They like the ride to get into the restaurant. Burger, Fries, drink, dessert I think were about $15 for kids $20pp for adult.
Have a great time!

 

[java]

DO NOT GO TO MARS2112!

We have gone several times and the last time was our LAST time. The service and food has gone way downhill! The waitstaff can't be bothered with you. I was also cilantroed to near death. Even my kids thought the food was awful- I mean how can you screw up chicken tenders?

For what it is it is a big overpriced bad food not even entertaining anymore kind of place.

 

[OU1247]

John's Pizza on 42nd street is AMAZING!!!!!

 

[MandM-Mom]

We went in april with DD6 and my niece who was 4 at the time and we had a great time at AG Place. We did the luncheon and then headed down to the central park zoo. They loved the zoo and they loved the park itself as well. THe day we went there were quite a few street performers and they enjoyed that. We did spent quite a while in the Disney Store if you plan right you might see some characters.

 

[problemchild718]

Thanks for all the ideas. We have a 3:00 persanal shopper appointment at AG,thought DD would get a kick out of having someone help her besides mom and dad. Then we have dinner after that in the cafe. How expensive is mars 2112? I think I am just as excited as DD.

Why would a little kid need a personal shopper? I'm not trying to be rude, but it seems like the experience of doing the city and those special places with mom would be awesome enough without a personal shopper
DD and I have been there a few times and she loves it-I'm sure she would rather shop and have a tea party. Maybe I'm missing something???

 

[Nlbnikki]

It is a free service to give her special treatment. We will still be with her but it is someone who is an "expert" on AG in general.

 

[SunKat]

Thanks for all the ideas. We have a 3:00 persanal shopper appointment at AG,thought DD would get a kick out of having someone help her besides mom and dad. Then we have dinner after that in the cafe. How expensive is mars 2112? I think I am just as excited as DD.

My family dined at Mars 2112 a few weeks ago and I have the kids menu here.....Corn Dogs $9.95 .....Pasta $9.95......Mac and Cheese $10.95...Burgers $10.95....Meatballs and Penne $9.95...Chicken Fingers $10.95..Grilled Cheese Sandwich $9.95 and Mozzarella Fingers $9.95. Juices are $2.95, shakes are 4.95..chocolate milk $2.50. There's a special for kids for $16.95 which includes their meal, unlimited soda, dessert and a $5 game card for the arcade.

My daughter loved this place, especially the Star Tours-type ride to get to the restaurant. It's a fun, unique place, worth a try at least once. The characters that come around aren't anything special, but the atmosphere is fun.

 

[bamor]

Hey There!
We loved the Central park zoo...15 mins down 5th ave to/from the AG store
John's Pizza is great, stay away from Mars 2112, Ellen's for breakfast only
For a show, try the New Victory Theater on 42nd st....family shows/sometimes there are discounts on www.broadwaybox.com ( BTW We LOVED Mary Poppins and I think there may be a discount now) Balcony seats are fine for either show.
The Ferris Wheel in Toys r Us in Times Square
Top of The Rock at Rockefeller Center/food court below and watch the skaters
The Museum of Natural History is great
Skating in Bryant Park....just behind the NY Public Library (btwn 40 and 42)
for walking/subway directions, www.hopstop.com
for menus/restaurant ideas....www.menupages.com (west 40's and 50's)
There are LOTS of great tips on www.tripadvisor.com for NYC.
Have fun, we head back next month!

 

[flagdaytwins]

Just wanted to re-iterate that the Toys R Us ferris wheel gets crowded and you will probably have to get a ticket for a later time in the day. (You don't just get in line, you get in a ticket line first where they tell you what time you ride the thing). Yes, it's neato but I wouldn't call it a ruined day if you don't do this. I think it's a rotten system not geared towards kiddos in mind!

IF IT IS NOT freezing cold, consider taking the subway down to the Staten Island Ferry terminal (the ferry is FREE) and do a round trip to view the Statue of Liberty from the ferry. The Ferry does have indoor seating....and the terminals themselves offer great views of lower manhattan.