New York for 8 days with teen DD in June. How much to book in advance? (And top tips please)

[YoScience]

DD and I are of to NY for our summer holiday and we are starting to plan things to do.

I'm not sure of how much to book in advance, as torn between getting cheaper prices and wanting a bit of flexibility.

I have booked a show and a baseball game so far.

I've looked at the New York ass but it seems really pricy and not sure how much we would use it to get value for money

Have seen some group in deals for open top bus rides which I think might be worth it and I was going to book transportation from airport to hotel each way.

Just after advice really on whether it's worth booking other stuff in advance of playing it more by ear once we are there.

We also would like to go to Ellen's stardust diner and a trip to Coney Island.

Any other top tips or must dos(we will do Central Park, Empire State, Staten Islands ferry to see Liberty)

Ah I had wondered how people get down and up at same time.
Must go to loo befpre going up!
How long before your ticket time did you get to battery parK ?

We got to Battery park much too early because I had seen a massive queue for the ferry security the day before at about 2 in the afternoon and there was no queue when we went to collect our tickets. However we were able to get the first ferry that came along and when we got to the island we had a walk around and also were let up earlier too (more security). This was at Easter though. We collected our tickets at about 9:30 but the Ferry time on them was 11am. You can take up a camera, bottle of water and medication and the rest of your stuff has to be put in a locker.

The problem with the Statue of Liberty is that it takes a big big chunk out of your day to stand in a queue and climb a load of stairs. Far better to get a pic from the Staten Island Ferry or one of the Hudson river cruises.

But that's just my opinion - if you've got tickets you should do it.

Fleecy, it says in the website that there are no lockers and not to take backpacks, so is it ok to take a small backpack and put it in a lockers?

Yes we have allocated a whole day for Liberty and Ellis Island so we don't mind if there is a it of queuing involved, we probably won't go there ever again so want to make the most of it. Taking kids.

We did the Statue of Liberty with kids but dd2 was too small to go further than the plinth so we took the ferry, got amazing pictures from there and just didn't get off. We had a nice breezy ferry ride in the sun with great views. It was memorial day last year so really busy and the queues to get back on the ferry from the statue were incredibly long. Would have done Ellis Island but not with the kids as a lot of people see it as a memorial and go to pay respects.

Jersey gardens for shopping. 15 mins from the port authority bus station, no sales tax (coz its Jersey) and all of the outlet stores. Regular buses to and from so you won't need to spend the day there. A few hours in the morning are fine.

A very small backpack would fit in, don't take anything big. The cost is 2 dollars. There is food and drink on the ferry and a cafe, toilets and drinking fountains on the island. We also went for 8 days which was great as we could see everything and not rush around.

Look on the national parks website for statue of liberty where there is lots of info: www.nps.gov/stli/

This is what we (me and teen ds) did in 7 whole days: up Empire State building, Grand Central Station, Chrysler building lobby; Public library, looked at flat iron building; up top of the rock; 9/11 memorial and museum; walked around historic Wall Street area; Up statue of liberty and to Ellis Island; walked right around the tip of Manhattan; walked over Brooklyn Bridge to DUMBO; walked through China Town and Little Italy; saw Ghostbusters fire house in Tribeca; FAO Schwartz, Tiffany's, Bloomingdales, Macy's; Times Square; Central Park Zoo; Central Park and John Lennon memorial and saw Dakota building; MOMA; Museum of Natural History; Greenwich Village and Washington Square Park; Harbour Lights Cruise with Circle line cruises; Water taxi to Downtown; Les Miserables.

Oo, look at this news if you want to go to F A O Schwarz

Thanks everyone some brilliant tips here!

Sad news about the closure, we'll definitely make time to go before it closes it's doors.

Does anyone know if DD would be allowed in the revolving marriott bar/restaurant as she is 14?

just pricing up the new York city pass

I calculate it will be £262 for 2 adults, 2 children
and for the things we want to do I have looked online and the prices look like:
Cost of doing separate:
Intrepid (inc tour but dontknow if includes space shuttle) = £99
Empire state £64 basic ticket
Top of the rock £64
Natural history museum £34
= 261

so I am not seeing the cost saving? (I know the ny city pass includes also a couple of other things as its 6 things in total, but we already have liberty tickets and I am not sure we will do another boat cruise

is it worth it so you don't have to queue for entry as you have the pass?

any thoughts?

I had a look at the marriot revolving restaurant on line, they do brunch or a set dinner menu
we aren't available at brunch and the set dinner was $84 so not really worth it for my younger children although the place looks fab!
but it didn't say they had an age limit so I would have thought 14 would be ok

Heels, I looked at the pass and decided for us it wouldn't really be worth it. But I suppose it depends on what you want to do?

I was also looking at a helicopter ride, has anyone done one, would they recommend?

Also the shark boat around the Statue of Liberty?

I went to NY in June 2013. I only had three days but managed Top the Rock, Staten Island Ferry which gave great views of the Statue of Liberty and is free, walk through Wall Street and business district, 9/11 memorial, Central Park, Times Square, Greenwich Village (lovely). One of my highlights was the Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side which gives you the immigrant experience of NY. Just round the corner is Katz Deli, famous for "that scene" in When Harry Met Sally and if you are lucky you can sit in the actual seat Sally sat it. Go hungry though as the portions are enormous!

The Beast speedboat ride towards the Statue of Liberty is well worth doing.

We went in The View , just for drinks , when our children were 6 and 9 -no problem.
Ellen's is fun and can I also recommend Scott's Pizza Tour , I think that was my favourite attraction , along with walking the Brooklyn Bridge.

Oh and we went on a yacht tour at dusk , it was stunning .

We didn't bother with the New York Pass - felt it would force us to do stuff because it was on the pass rather than be free to do other stuff
Second Katz's Deli though

Breakfast at cupping rooms in soho
Best burgers at Zoe's soho
Cocktails at standard

Thanks for the view info.

Great, the beast looks much like the shark, will give it a go!

Two words..... Shake Shack.

Heels - think you're looking at the wrong pass. You need to look at the New York Pass here

It gives you free entry to 80 different attractions plus discounts in store etc

Marking my place here - some great ideas! I am going in October with DD who will be 16. Can't wait!

The other pass is hundreds of pounds so probably worth it if you are going to do 80 things but if only going to do 5-6 perhaps not so much!