First timers visit NYC Lots of ????? About This Page:

[coasties]

OK so we are back from our Wonderfully Magic vacation ....time to plan next summer!
Since we are due to transfer in early 2010 we wanted to take advantage of our geographic location of less than 6 hours from the Big Apple. We have NEVER been to NYC. PLEASE HELP! Here are the details to date:

When: Last week of July 09 ( approx 24-2ndAug)
Who: Me, DH and two DD's 13 and 7. Very laid back go with the flow family. Nothing too fancy LOL
How: Drive
What:so far... Statue of Liberty, empire state, times square. toys r us. Build a bear, ground zero, central park, natural history museum, Grand Central Station
I am researching places to stay and am clueless as to what would be better. Stay in the city or outside? Being military we may be able to stay on base somewhere, so that is an option. If we do this is it easy to ride the transit system? We are familiar with the Metro in DC and LOVE it so hopefully that will help.
Where to eat? Other sites to see? Would taking any tours be beneficial for first timers?
Any information, tips advice, web sites will be greatly appreciated TIA!

[DISNEY03]

NYC is a lot of fun. If you can stay in military housing that would be your best choice because unfortuneatly the city is very expensive to stay in. Your line-up sounds good but i think you have to add WOD NYC, it's on 5th & 55th. Watch the places to eat, they are more expensive than usual. There is a good pizzeria uno around the block from the museum(across from the teddy roosevelt garden).
It might be worth it to do a bus tour, do the red opentop buses, or the cruise but the buses you can get on and off as you please at different locations.
Good luck and have fun with your planning, we live on Long Island and go to the city a few times a year but I'm not familiar with the subways because we usually walk everywhere.

[coasties]

We def. plan WOD!!!,just forgot to include it on my list as I was typing LOL. Thank you for your info. Since you walk does that mean you drive yourselves into the city and park or do you take the train in? If you do drive where do you park? Thanks again!

[DrDolphin]

I thought I just read that Disney was not renewing the lease on the NYC WOD store.....

[Diz]

Originally Posted by DrDolphin

I thought I just read that Disney was not renewing the lease on the NYC WOD store.....

Sad, but true!

Here's a small blurb about it: World of Disney New York City to Close in 2010 - realdisney.com

Since it looks like you're planning for 2009, it should still be open then!

[chezp]

Originally Posted by DrDolphin

I thought I just read that Disney was not renewing the lease on the NYC WOD store.....

I read that too - but I can't remember when it's closing, sometime in 2009 is all I recall.

I agree that if you can stay in military housing, I'd look at that, as hotels are pricey in New York.

On our list of things to do for October, we've got the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island (I have very fond memories of that from a trip I took to the city on my own in the 1990s and wanted to share it with DH), Ground Zero, Central Park and Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller Center. We've only gone for that, as we've done the Empire State Building before - that is a must-do for any first time visitor.

Macy's is somewhere else I wouldn't miss.

[disney]

also times square i know you said toys r us but there is m& m store , espn cafe , hershey store , and if you want keep me in mind i'm only a train ride from the city if you like to have a little meet too . also if you guys like baseball the mets or yankee game in there new stadium. there are alot of meuseaums , ooh madem tooso wax meuseum also . good luck on planning hope to catch up with you guys one day .
jeff (disney)

[coasties]

OK so in doing my research today i found we can stay at the navy Lodge on Staten Island and it looks like there is a ferry from there to the city. Will we have to pay for parking at the ferry terminal or should we leave the car at the lodge and take a taxi to the ferry?
Thank you to everyone with all your info thus far!
Can anyone recommend a good tour company for our first day?

[DISNEY03]

If you can leave your car, definitly do so. We ususally take the RR in from the island. WOD's lease is up in 2010, we were just there and I asked a cast member and that was his response. I'm not sure what the name of the bus tour is but they are all over the streets trying to sell you tickets to go on the big red bus.
Have fun!

[sillyolebear2380]

I would leave your car at the hotel.. and just take the ferry.. We just went to the museum of natural history and were happy to learn that military go in free.. Both my kids loved it and they are also 13 and 7. We also went to american girl and my daughter loved that. Seeing a play is always nice and if u go get the tickets the day of u can get half off.. it is over by 42nd street where u can get the tickets. but u have to go early. AS for restaurants.. great hispanic restuarant 3 blocks from the museum and it is cheap. The zoo and aquarium in central park is cheap and lots of fun...

[bsblady01]

I would also go to the bronx zoo and the broklin aquraum

[chezp]

Originally Posted by DISNEY03

I'm not sure what the name of the bus tour is but they are all over the streets trying to sell you tickets to go on the big red bus.
Have fun!

I can't rember their name either. We used them on our honeymoon and found them to be great, although it was winter and the buses were a bit on the cold side!

[kelleigh1]

Originally Posted by DrDolphin

I thought I just read that Disney was not renewing the lease on the NYC WOD store.....

Good thing we're going to visit in a couple weeks. Wait till I tell hubby this - then he'll agree that we just have to go when we're in the city next month.

[disney]

Originally Posted by bsblady01

I would also go to the bronx zoo and the broklin aquraum

brooklyn aquarium ( the new york aqurium) and let me add coney island with the origanal nathan's . if it is still there next year .

[Dave Marx]

It's probably a Gray Line tour.

There's probably bus transport from the Navy lodge to the Staten Island ferry. That's definitely better than driving to the ferry - parking will not be cheap.

There are a lot of great attractions in Lower Manhattan, within walking distance (or short bus/cab ride) from the ferry. That's true for the Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero, the Financial District, City Hall, and the South Street Seaport, among other places. I strongly recommend South St. Seaport. The commercial portions were developed by the same people responsible for Baltimore's Harbor Place, and it also has a seaport museum with a bunch of historic ships to visit. Great place to eat, and great views of the Brooklyn Bridge from there, too.