Here's the link to Sony Wonder Tech Lab: http://wondertechlab.sony.com. On the homepage it says it's free but tickets are required. Lots of reviews on Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/sony-wonder-...y-lab-new-york). Looks like a mixed response...

To 5alive
ESB tickets are not dated or timed which is the beauty of buying them in advance online. If the weather is bad when you thought you'd go, you can go another time and have lost nothing. You buy in advance and save yourselves waiting in the ticket buyers line. You only need to go to the 86th floor. The views from the higher floor are not that much better and it's a very small area. You gain nothing.

TOTR tickets otoh ARE dated and timed. Since lines are usually not long enough to warrant buying in advance, you save yourself the possibility of buying tix for a bad weather day.

We took our then 8yo DD to the Sony Wonder Tech Lab last summer and were a bit disappointed in it - but the price was right!

In my opinion...the Met museum is more dramatic and exciting than the Museum of Natural History except for the dinosaurs at mnh. A short visit there, a walk across the park, with some rock climbing, and then the Met makes a nice afternoon. Of course, ice cream in the park and the great Met giftshop as well.
Going downtown to Tentament, Chinatown, Lowe East side usually does not impress kids..too "dirty". Our kids loved Chinatown because they went there often since they were babies. They liked buying firecrackers and cheap toys. Not big thrill when you only have two days. A water trip is always a winner.

I have kids slightly younger than yours 7 & 9 and we all enjoy Central Park - zoo, playground and just exploring the park. I have taken the circle line and enjoyed it. We like the AMNH - last time we went to the butterfly exhibit. It is huge so you need to have a plan. I agree skip the ESB. Blue Man Group or Stomp both sound like reasonable choices or go for half price tickets for Spiderman or Wicked if you can get them. Make sure you eat pizza unless you are coming from Italy :)

nytraveler,
if your comment is for me, I probably should have referenced my own post and my oldest has researched out some destinations--his priority is some electronics shopping. I just had a question about ESB because I misunderstood a prior post. AI have been of two minds about Sony but saw it recommended here so I asked.

Original poster here again. Just want to say another big THANKS for the slew of great ideas and advice! I have gotten my kids involved in some of the planning but they just want to find a way to fit it 'all in', which just won't be possible.

I did change my mind about going to a play. There is a Wicked show at 7:30 on our last night there so that will be great not to interfere with things we can only do in the daytime. It will be a late night, but my kids are night owls and staying up should be fine. Now I just have to figure out what seats will be best (I started another post about that one because I really am confused and it's a lot of money!).

I agree about the posts to skip the ESB, but my son is really keen on going there. Think it is just one of those things that you think of when you think of NYC. Since he's getting the raw end of the deal with being dragged to the American Girl Store, then I will make a point to go there at some point for him. It is good to know that I can buy the advance tickets without a set time/day. That way we can just work it into our schedule wherever it fits best (maybe even Monday morning).

Thanks again!

<Think it is just one of those things that you think of when you think of NYC.>

I understand what he's thinking: It's iconic. That is the same response my kids had.