Marcho

Hello,

We are a family of 2 adults and 3 kids from CO. and will be visiting NYC (first time) this month!!

Thanks to all of your comments here I have a better idea on the places we want to visit and places to eat. I have been reading NYC trips reports for several months and I still have a few questions, I hope I can get some suggestions here!!

We will have busy days and one of my questions is about the CityPass, is it recommended to buy? I read this helps to avoid the lines at museums and buildings (Top of the Rock and ESB).

Other question I have is about Broadway shows. We are very excited about Wicked, is it recommended to buy tickets now or wait until we are there in NYC? I read tickets for this show are not for sale at discount places.

I hope some local can recommend a good place for pizza!

Thanks,

Marco

nytraveler

No - buying any sort of pass - except the weekly Metropass for the subway - $32 per person - is a terrible idea. It is practically impossible to make these passes worth their very high cost. And no they don;t help you avoid lines. At museums the lines are generally not very long. And it's perfectly possible to buy advance tickets for most sights online yourself - and then walk right onto the immediate entrance line. If you have a pass you first have to change it for actual tickets before you get on the immediate entrance line. It's only better than just wandering up and waiting a long time for the chance to buy a ticket - so a lot of money for no benefit.

As for Wicked it sells out almost every performance. If you can still get tickets NOW - tonight - online at the official ticketseller do so. But at this very late date I think you may have to go to a reseller and pay premium prices - above face value to get tickets. It's not as bad as Hamilton at $1K per ticket - but don;t expect it to be inexpensive.

If you want a discount go to broadwaybox.com to see what shows ar discounting. Take the discount code, go to the official online ticket seller and buy tickets now to get 5 together and have the best choice of tickets. If you wait until you arrive you are likely to find only the most expensive tickets remaining.

Also you dont mention the age of your kids but do be aware that the minimum age for most broadway shows is 6.

IMDonehere

There are five types of pizza places:

1. Whole pie to shared by everyone
Lombardi's, John's (You will see Gramaldi's over rated)
2. Individual pizzas
Pizza Fresca, Motorino
3. Weird combos
4. Slice places-these are are all over the city and vary dramatically. In this category are 99 Cent places. The most famous is Di Fara in Brooklyn. But between the subway trip and the line will take most of a day. Artichoke is good. Joe's West Village and 14th St.
5. Chains=anyone who eats at a chain will not be allowed back in NY.

A lot of others should post their favorites

nytraveler

Chain pizzas are essentially the same as the frozen ones bought in a supermarket - they do not use the best olive oil nor real fresh cheese and are not worth the money or calories. NEVER eat at them.

You have good recos above.

doug_stallings

To make CityPass work for you, you have to buy it at a discount and you have to be interested in all the major attractions that are included (but you absolutely must do at least 5 or more of the minor ones since you can pay what you wish to visit the Museum of Natural History and the Metropolitan Museum. I don't normally recommend CityPass because it's so expensive, but since your trip lasts so long, you might actually see some savings. Add everything up to see if it makes sense for you. It doesn't really help with lines because there are no long lines like you'll see in Europe except at the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building.

FYI: If you use Citypass, you cannot reserve your Statue of Liberty tickets in advance, so you'll have no chance of seeing the crown (to be honest, it's too late for that anyway) and will likely not be able to even see the pedestal. You need to reserve Statue of Liberty tickets NOW. Preferably for an early morning ferry.

You definitely should be a weekly Metrocard. That will save you tremendously. Everyone (including the kids) has to have his/her own card.

Buy non-discounted theater tickets (e.g., Wicked or something new and wonderful like Shuffle Along) now to get better seats. Buy discounted seats you can get at TKTS after you arrive. You have alot of time, so you'll have your pick. Go to TKTS around 5 or 5:30 to avoid lines if you just want to see something and don't particularly care what. Just be aware that getting 5 tickets together at TKTS is VERY UNLIKELY. You must be willing to sit apart. You'll likely get your seats but not together. If you want to sit together, there are a lot of online discounts you can use right now to buy theater tickets for most of the same shows you'll see at TKTS.

Marcho

Thanks for your responses!

maxima

Depending on the ages of your kids, they may have free or reduced entry to many museums. For example. the Metropolitan Museum has a pay what you wish policy, though you may see a suggested admission. There is no need to buy tickets in advance and there is no extra charge for special exhibits. for kids under 12, accompanied by an adult its free, over 12 same suggested, pay what you wish applies and you get free same day to the The Met Breuer, and The Met Cloisters, though not likely that your would go to more than one the same day.

Modern Art has a student admission. If you go on Friday after 5 its free

The Frick is pay what you wish on Sunday up to 1pm

the Jewish Museum is free on Saturdays

Natural History has a pay what you wish policy but that doesn't apply to the planetarium and other exhibits. but there is a kids/student price.

you would need to price the Citypass, as well as what you realistically expect to see, and pay, in order to see if it pays. Also if your 10 tens includes the day you leave you might not be able to see much depending on your flight time

maitaitom

I hope you can make it out to the Cloisters. One of the biggest highlights of our autumn 2015 trip. Have a great time.

http://travelswithmaitaitom.com/20950-2/

lantana

I really enjoyed your report, @maitaitom
You certainly had delightful weather! And you covered a lot of ground. Great photos - and you're funny
I will be visiting many of the same spots in a couple of weeks. Can't wait!