bamakelly

Going to NYC in a couple of weeks (mid-Nov). I wan tto take my mom to the Empire State Building and she wants to see the Today Show. Are there better times to go to either place for shorter lines, etc? Any tips?

Thanks in advance!

tpatricco

Well for the Today Show, assuming you want to be in the audience on the Plaza, you'd have to go in the early morning. The show is broadcast live from 7:00-10:00 am EST, and to be near the front you need to get there fairly early. As for the Empire State Building, maybe others can advise.

bamakelly

Fairly early, as in 6 am? Or 5 am? Thanks for the info!

tpatricco

Not sure bamakelly, I watch every morning, but have never gone myself. On a regular day I'd probably go around 6am to try to get up front.

You can check on their website, as I'd expect bigger crowds on concert series days or like today when everybody was there in their Halloween costumes. Colder weather should keep some away (in the summer the crowds are generally larger).

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032633/?ta=y

Good luck & make sure to make a sign saying hi to all your fellow Fodorites!!

bamakelly

Thanks so much! We'll be there early in the week, which always seems to be less crowded (unless, like you said, there is a special event going on -- wasn't the show hysterical this morning?!). We'll be sure and hold up a good sign--maybe Al Roker will ask us what a "Fodorite" is! I'll check out the link.

Anyone have info on the Empire State Building???

offlady

Be prepared to stand in several lines to get to the top of the Empire State Building. When I went (years ago), I had to take the down elevator to the basement and stand in a line to buy the tickets. Then back to the lobby. Stood in line and took the up elevator but it only goes so far. I had to get off that elevator and take another elevator to get to the top. Once up there, I had to wait in an even longer line to get back down. They never showed that in Sleepless in Seattle (love that movie). I went in the middle of summer; maybe it won't be as crowded in November when you go. Maybe things have changed since???

paige

We were at ESB last Saturday morning. It took us appx. one hour from arriving at the building to getting to the observation deck. I had pre-purchased tickets on line so that saved some time. Also, we walked up the last six flights so we didn't have to wait in that last elevator line. Previous poster is so correct - you're in one line and then another and another and you have no idea how long it will take. I'd think if you go during the week (not Thanksgiving week) earlier in the day that the lines would be shorter.

bamakelly

Great info-thanks. We will buy tickets online to save at least one long line. I have been there before and remember the one-line-after-another; it's frustrating. We are flexible on time, so I guess we will try going early in the morning, unless someone has a better tip.

Jane_R

For the ESB, we went last year in October on a Saturday night. I believe we got there about 45 minutes before closing and there were absolutely no lines. We had a great view of the city at night. Most of us had been before so we weren't that concerned about spending a ton of time up there and didn't mind the evening views. But perhaps you and your mom would rather go during the day....

artstuff

Here is a link to a thread a couple months ago about the Today Show -

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34522707

Enjoy your visit to NYC. Peace. >-

Robyn

mclaurie

The ESB website provides info on the least busy times to go.

laurelee

Took my mom to the ESB a year ago too-one of our favorite memories. I bought our ticket before we left and went in the evening-say maybe 9 or so and went right up--it was a clear night and absolutely wonderful. This was at the busy tree lighting time too.

Margie

We went to the today last November on a non-concert day. We didn't get there until about 8:30, and had no problem seeing the hosts. You might want to go earlier if you want to see them more than once, because they are inside doing segments and then they'll come back out for 10 minutes or so and then you have to wait at least another half hour or more before they come back out. It was much more organized than I thought, and there were gates to keep the crowd out of the way of people trying to get to work in the surrounding buildings. The people around us were very nice and we took turns getting up to the "front". Cojo was there that day and he spent time going around to all sides of the Plaza, talked to people and posed for pictures with people. You don't have to be there at 5 (unless you were to go on a concert day) you're fine anytime from 7:00 on. If you go over to Dean & Deluca for a coffee and it looks very crowded, remember that there is a upstairs with more seating.

bamakelly

This is so helpful! Thank you!