Need NYC area advice

[Brent York]

This Sunday (6/7), I plan to stop by the following on a credit whoring trip, in this order:

 

Fantasy Shore - Staten Island

Victorian Gardens - Manhattan

Fantasy Forest - Flushing

Adventureland - Farmingdale

Boomers - Medford

Kids 'N Action - Brooklyn

Adventurers Family Entertainment Center - Brooklyn (schedule says closes at TBD, any idea when that might be?)

Luna Park - Brooklyn (closes at 11)

 

 

I've heard I need to take the subway to Manhattan for Victorian Gardens because of traffic and parking, but what about Long Island for Fantasy Forest, Adventureland, and Boomers? Is the LIRR a must?

Where should I park the car (with luggage) to get on the subway and possibly the LIRR?

http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1510732#p1510732

In this post, coasterbill said it took 4.5 hours to get off Long Island, and that was apparently a Sunday too.

 

 

Fantasy Shore is scheduled to open at 11 but it seems like people said this place opens when they feel like it.?

Also at Kids 'N Action, I know the credit is iffy, but where do you park?

 

Where do you usually park at Luna Park? Last time I was there (before Luna Park), I parked free in a "lot" (with a few other cars) between the park and the Cyclones stadium. Probably lucky and not a good idea.

 

I'll be driving up from Dover DE that morning (after hitting the Jersey shore and Ocean City MD parks the day before) and will probably stop at Funplex in Mount Laurel NJ on the way.

[coasterbill]

In this post, coasterbill said it took 4.5 hours to get off Long Island, and that was apparently a Sunday too.

 

To be fair I was coming from Montauk, I'd rather be hit by a bus than ever drive home from Montauk again. When I was up in the Montauk lighthouse looking across to Connecticut I considered the feasibility of swimming across the sound (risking hypothermia), leaving my car for dead, walking to a train station when I reached the shore and then buying a new car when I got home even though I wouldn't be able to afford it. I only considered this for a second because it's the worst idea ever but it's not THAT much worse of an idea than trying to drive home on a Sunday from Montauk, lol. Going anywhere on Long Island in June, July or August isn't fun but driving might still be better than taking the LIRR since Farmingdale isn't really that far out and it's way more convenient to have a car if you're going from Farmingdale to Medford.

 

If it were me I'd drive, but expect traffic to be horrible. Maybe you'll get lucky depending on when you get there and when you leave but you should allow plenty of extra time in your itinerary.

[DirkFunk]

I've heard I need to take the subway to Manhattan for Victorian Gardens because of traffic and parking, but what about Long Island for Fantasy Forest, Adventureland, and Boomers? Is the LIRR a must?

 

I think taking public transit to Long Island is more hassle than it is worth. You are right - parking and traffic in and around downtown Manhattan is going to be difficult for Victorian Gardens. However, taking the train to Staten Island and walking to the park there is going to be very time consuming compared to driving and parking (for free) there. If you absolutely *must* do this all in one day, I'd start at Staten Island's Fantasy Shore, then rip through Long Island & Fantasy Forest before bringing my car to park at one of the parking lots in Coney Island (there are several). At which point, I would take the subway to Kids N' Action (there's a stop very close to it), to Manhattan for Central Park, and then comeback to Coney Island and clean up there *last* as they are likely to close the latest by a huge margin over any of these other parks. I have no idea if that is all logistically possible, I'm just telling you what gives you the best odds of making this happen.

 

If you're stopping at Funplex on the way before you get to these, well - Funplex opens at 10AM. Assuming you have no traffic and everything goes well there and you leave by 10:15AM, the earliest you can realistically expect to be parked in Staten Island is 11:30AM assuming you speed, there's no traffic, and you immediately find a parking space. From there to Boomers (the furthest park), you're looking again, again, best case scenario speeding slightly, no traffic, immediate finding and parking, as being an arrival of probably 1:15PM. It may be possible, but some of this is really at the whims of the subway.

[Brent York]

Thanks guys.

DirkFunk,

I was already planning to drive to Staten Island, but knowing I can also drive to the Long Island parks makes things easier. And good tip about taking the subway from Coney Island. Is there by chance a parking lot where you think it's safer to leave the car than others?

Any tips on riding the subway? ie. paying, safety? Never ridden one before.

 

As for Adventurers FEC, I guess I could stop there (driving) before Coney Island, as I assume walking there isn't a good idea.

[DirkFunk]

Thanks guys.

DirkFunk,

I was already planning to drive to Staten Island, but knowing I can also drive to the Long Island parks makes things easier. And good tip about taking the subway from Coney Island. Is there by chance a parking lot where you think it's safer to leave the car than others?

Any tips on riding the subway? ie. paying, safety? Never ridden one before.

 

Jump the turnstiles and scream gutturally at people. Seriously, there's not much to it. You get a metrocard from a machine, then point the pass in the direction the reader at the turnstile/gate wants, it passes through and reads it, then you're free to go. Parking lot? I dunno, get a well lit one near a public thoroughfare.

 

Looking at the subway map, you should plan on taking the F Train from Coney Island & Stillwell. Get off at Avenue I Station and it should be less than a block walk south along McDonald Ave. from the station stairs to the entrance. When you get ready to go to Central Park, get back on the F train and take it to Manhattan and get off at 63rd and Lexington. Walk three blocks West and you can't miss it. When you're ready to go back, take the F train again the opposite way until it terminates at Coney Island.

 

As for Adventurers FEC, I guess I could stop there (driving) before Coney Island, as I assume walking there isn't a good idea.

 

Yeah, they have free parking. Walking is silly in this instance.

[coasterbill]

Jump the turnstiles and scream gutturally at people.