NYC - Times Square for New Year's Eve?
 

Hey there,

I know someone who is a single mom with two kids (18 and 8) who wants to do the whole Times Square thing for New Year's Eve this year. Just wondering if anyone knows:

a) a family-friendly economical place to stay, maybe mid-town
b) what time to get to Times Square on New Year's Eve
c) what to take with them
d) any other information they might need to know.

Any advice would be appreciated. :) Thanks!

You mean she wants to take the 8 year old there? I think it is a bad idea and totally inappropriate. NYE is an adult holiday.

If you need to go to the bathroom, you lose your place to stand, areas are cordoned off by the cops and they will not let you back in. People start arriving early afternoon.

As far as hotels are concerned, it is the busiest tourist week in NY.

"an economical place to stay -- midtown" is perhaps the funniest part of your post. Sorry, don't mean to laugh, but it isn't going to happen.

I read these Times Square NYE posts and know the replies that will be coming. Perhaps you could repost with the title "Should I drive splints under my fingernails or spend New Year's Eve in Times Square?"

I think that's a particularly ill-conceived experience. You arrive around 3pm and expect to stand without a bathroom break for 10 hours. Is this appropriate for an 8-year old? Well, only the parent can decide. Hotels can be extremely expensive that weekend in NYC, but you might find a bargain. I'd start looking, but I'd recommend you look for a hotel that is NOT in the immediate Times Square area.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...t-369890-2.cfm

and

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-york-city.cfm

That is possibly the single most expensive night in the year for hotels - nothing will be exonomical - anywhere in te city.

And that mob is totally inappropriate for an 8 year old child.

To be anywhere neaar Times Square you have to arrive by no later than 4 pm (the subways into the area start skipping the Times Square staion then) and stand outdoors until midnight. Andy restaurants in the area are reserved far in advance at VERY high prices (dinner at TGIFridays is about $300 per person). One your bloc if full th epolic block you in with sawhorses and, although you can leave you can't get back in. You need to bring your own food and beverages (non-alchoholic with you) and all large bags and back-packs are searched.

You will end up in a mob of at lest a million people - and it will be at least 12:30 or 1 am before you can make your way out of the area.

I can;t imagine anyone wold subject an 8 year old to this. ( I did it once when I was in college on a warm New Year's Eve - in the 40's (you can easily get wind chills in the teens) and before any of this security was put in place. I would NEVER do this again - it ended up being extremely uncomfortable, cold and I was exhsuted for a couple of days afterward (try standing for 8 hours).

If you can find a bargain place to stay in the city I suggest you keep as far from Times Square as possible - and have a dinner at a casuale (and much less expensive) place on the upper est or west side and watch the fireworks over Central Park . This is crowded but nothing like the situation at Times Square - you can go 30 minutes in advance and get a good view.

If an 18 year old wants to go with friends fine - but this is NOT the place for a child - even if s/he did have the stamina.

Sorry - if you want hotel recos you need to give a budget. I would think you'll have trouble finding a room for 3 for less than $400 that night anywhere in the city.

Hey All,

Thanks for the replies - my mistake - the 8-year-old is actually 10; and my friend had heard that Green Day was performing live (and free) for the Carson Daly New Year's Eve show. Since the whole family are big fans, it seemed like something worth sussing out.

She's read all your comments and and thanks you for your input - she'll be taking them into consideration when deciding if and how to go forward.

Cheers,
towebgirl
:)

How many tunes do you think they are going to play?

And even if they are, the 10-year old might be able to hear, but certainly won't be able to see. And 10 isn't that different from 8 in regards to this discussion.

Well a former neighbor of mine in N CA who was raised in Brooklyn but had spent years living in N CA took her two sons to NYC for NY Eve in Times Squares. She had never been to Times Square on NY Eve. Her sons were 11 and 13 years of age at the time. To say the whole idea was a complete disaster, towebgirl, is putting it midly. I can't remember all the details but I do remember an old friend of hers who still lived in Brooklyn told her to make her sons wear Pampers or whatever you call the adult diaper pants due to the bathroom situation. The boys refused and .. well consequently that was a disaster in it self.

LoveItaly

It all Depends.

8, 10, 15 - still too young and inexperienced to suffer through a NYE in Times Square. I did it years ago and my ass was black and blue from getting it grabbed several times during the night. That was late 70's. can't imagine it's any better. Really think about this. It could be a nightmare.

OK, Aduchamp, that did give me a great chuckle!

When I was 18, I spent New Years Eve in TS with my boyfriend. I haven't recovered yet!

cpg, I think I was there that year, too (seriously)!

<<my friend had heard that Green Day was performing live (and free) for the Carson Daly New Year's Eve show>>

Seriously, it would be better to watch it on TV...just not worth the effort and expense - it would be ridiculously far from "free".

If your friend wants the kids to experience a true New York City NYE appropriate for their ages, she can let them stay up until midnight and then have them go outside and bang some pots and pans together.

NY Traveler, I have to ask, dinner at TGIF's is $300 per person?? What do they serve on New Year's Eve?

If there's anywhere NOT to be with a 10yo, it would be in Times Square on NYEve.

I can't imagine the waits at the restaurants within the blocked off area. The lines are usually very long to begin with. On that night, with no place for folks to go until 11:45pm? I can guess that's why they jack the prices up sky high.

NY Traveler, I have to ask, dinner at TGIF's is $300 per person?? What do they serve on New Year's Eve?

Two portions of that onion thing.

An alternative for the 10 yrs old is the Big Apple Circus 9:30pm performance that ends around midnight with freebies and apple cider for kids, champagne for adults.

They can go before the crowds come in to see the ball in Times Square and do a walk through after the crowds in the early morning.

There's also a Dave & Busters Party (near Time Square) where kids are permitted includes drinks, games food and music ($100-195 pp).

The ESPN Zone also has a party that is in Times Square, you can be there without fussing with the cold and crowds.

There's also fireworks in Central Park.

I stood in Times Square once,yes it is difficult w/o a bathroom, yes it is cold and crowded, but it was fun in retrospect. Would I do it again, no, but I'm glad I did it once. It is not a place for kids unless you are able to stand up front near the VIP section and that is difficult.

Some tips on standing in Times Square:
http://manhattan.about.com/od/events...square2006.htm

Good luck.

Yes, TGIF was $300 per person last year. They serve their usual food (3 courses) an a drink or two. (Other days the dinner there is about $35unless you have a coupleo f drinks.) You're paying for the location - as you will at anyplace in that neighborhood on New year's Eve.

Sorry - you cna;t just walk into any restauratn in that area on New Year Eve - you will need a reseration. and you can;t try to go for a cheap dinner and the walk out into the crowd - the police don;t allow that - and there are just too many people squashed together as it is. All public transit into the area stops at about 4 pm and doesn't start up again until after midnight - so you're a good long walk from any bus or subway.

NOT something to do with kids.

I still say bang some pots and pans

Here is the BEST suggestion you can give your friend with kids, watch the concert on TV from the comfort of their hotel and then head down to the Times Square area, I think the closest they will be able to get will be just south of 57th St, the crowds won't be as bad and they can still the the ball from that area. Then they can walk up to Central Park from there to see the Fireworks and head back to the hotel exhausted but having experienced it all.

If they want a more family evening the Concert for Peace at St. John the Divine is free and there will be 4,000 people in attendance. St. John's is the largest Gothic Cathedral in the world and the music is good (I'm one of the 200 member chorus), full orchestra and guest STARS, It's really a wonderful evening.

Listen to travelbuff.

Agreed. Being in the center of Times Square is not something to be done light by anyone or at all with a child.

k_brklyn: Yours is the first 'positive' thing I've read about Times Square on NYE yet 3/4 of a million make it every year. Interesting. I'm going for my first time this year and expect it to be a memorable hardship. :)

I wonder how many people return for a second (or more) year?
A friend lives within the blocked off area so can have a nice relaxing dinner party, walk out the door and 1/2 a block and watch the ball drop. He goes every year, but only for a few minutes.
I wonder how many people who travel in/to NYC just for this event come back the next year and/or later years.