Tourist Needs Advice

[ItsJavert]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 6:27am

Hi everyone!

I'm going to New York for the first time in late September, and I'm planning to spend a week watching broadway and other shows. I have already bought some tickets on-line before I realize there are cheaper ways like TKTS or rush tickets. I would very much like to try that, but since I will also visit other spots in the daytime, I doubt if I have much chance queue up very early before the shows. I could also try buying directly at the box office to cut the service fee, but I'm also concerned that if I don't buy the ticket in advance the good seats would sold out. So I need some suggestion on what I should do, keep buying everything online or try my luck when I get here?

Another question is will there be new shows in September which hasn't been announce now but will be announced in the future? I wonder if I should leave some space on my schedule in case of this?

At last, could someone help me make decisions on these shows?

Amelie

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 

Come From Away 

Groundhog Day

On Your Feet 

Thanks you! 

[ethan231h]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 7:10am

Honestly, see Groundhog Day and come from away because 1) there both great and 2) given how much the other shows are making....Amelie and On Your Feet *might* be closed by then. Charlie and the chocolate factory sucks

[dev101]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 7:46am

Anything that is really popular and selling quickly I would continue to buy online. Older shows like Lion King, Wicked, etc I think you could wait to but at TKTS or buy a week in advance from the Todaytix app. What shows are on your list? 

[B.JAMES]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 10:17am

The shows that are never at TKTS are Hamilton, Lion King, Aladdin, Wicked, Book of Mormon and Dear Evan Hansen.

Amelie, Groundhog Day and On Your Feet have great discount codes to use right at Ticketmaster.  You'll pay like $20 more than TKTS, but you will avoid the line and you will be able to pick your seat.

 

 

[canadian fan]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 10:30am

ItsJavert, I was in the EXACT same boat and had the same issues for my trip next month. My trip was planned back in October last year. I am a planner and debated between buying tickets to the shows I wanted to see as soon as they were on sale, getting the seats I wanted and paying full price (before most of the shows had even opened so no reviews even, which was another issue!) or waiting to save a few $$ but risking not getting the seats I wanted.  In the end, I have mixed thoughts on the way I approached this. On the plus side, I got tickets for DEH and CFA that I would absolutely not be able to get now. And I paid much less for a ticket when they first went on sale than they are selling for now. Also got my pick of seat for The Great Comet. Paid full price but got the exact seat I wanted. On the negative side, I feel I overpaid for a couple shows that do have discounts out there now and still have plenty of great seats available. I'm still happy with those shows, but feel I could have maybe gotten a better deal waiting. I would say there is no one way to approach it. But perhaps if I were to do it again, any shows that I knew were the hot shows of the season, I would buy tickets asap and not worry about discounts etc. For secondary shows, I would wait until things got closer and use discounts online through showbox etc. And I do agree with you about not wanting to stand in a line at a certain time everyday to get tickets, I don't want to spend my vacation worrying about that. Hope that helps!

[ItsJavert]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 10:39am

ethan231h said: "Honestly, see Groundhog Day and come from away because 1) there both great and 2) given how much the other shows are making....Amelie and On Your Feet *might* be closed by then. Charlie and the chocolate factory sucks

 

"

Thx! That narrows my choices a lot.

Updated On: 4/21/17 at 10:39 AM

[ItsJavert]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 10:45am

dev101 said: "Anything that is really popular and selling quickly I would continue to buy online. Older shows like Lion King, Wicked, etc I think you could wait to but at TKTS or buy a week in advance from the Todaytix app. What shows are on your list? 

 

"

I have bought Book of Mormon, DEH, Miss Saigon, Sweeney Todd, POTO and Sleep No More,  but may see more than once.

Interested in School of Rocks, Chicago, Lion King, Aladdin, Wicked and the new shows, but haven't decided yet.

And Hamilton of course but I'm all counting on lottery on this one *_*

Updated On: 4/21/17 at 10:45 AM

[ItsJavert]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 10:49am

B.JAMES said: "The shows that are never at TKTS are Hamilton, Lion King, Aladdin, Wicked, Book of Mormon and Dear Evan Hansen.

Amelie, Groundhog Day and On Your Feet have great discount codes to use right at Ticketmaster.  You'll pay like $20 more than TKTS, but you will avoid the line and you will be able to pick your seat.

 

 

 

"

Is it true that discount codes are mostly available for shows not very far from now? I found most codes available till June or July currently.

Updated On: 4/21/17 at 10:49 AM

[theaterdude2]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 10:50am

I'm wondering if you can help me. I bought tickets to see HELLO DOLLY the first day they went on sale and got great seats for my upcoming May trip. Since then, I've gone online to buy tix to the other shows - War Paint, Groundhog, Comet etc. It seems that if I want to sit downstairs - ALL of the seats are Premium, even in the rear orch. Seeing as I only like to sit up front in top price, I can't help but wonder what happens to all the reg price tickets. Do the producers make everything premium at a certain point? I looked at July for my next trip and the same thing is happening. Forget about discount codes - every time I've tried, if any are available they are on extreme sides or very very far back.

If anyone has any idea what is going on, please let me know. Thank you!

[ItsJavert]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 11:00am

canadian fan said: "ItsJavert, I was in the EXACT same boat and had the same issues for my trip next month. My trip was planned back in October last year. I am a planner and debated between buying tickets to the shows I wanted to see as soon as they were on sale, getting the seats I wanted and paying full price (before most of the shows had even opened so no reviews even, which was another issue!) or waiting to save a few $$ but risking not getting the seats I wanted.  In the end, I have mixed thoughts on the way I approached this. On the plus side, I got tickets for DEH and CFA that I would absolutely not be able to get now. And I paid much less for a ticket when they first went on sale than they are selling for now. Also got my pick of seat for The Great Comet. Paid full price but got the exact seat I wanted. On the negative side, I feel I overpaid for a couple shows that do have discounts out there now and still have plenty of great seats available. I'm still happy with those shows, but feel I could have maybe gotten a better deal waiting. I would say there is no one way to approach it. But perhaps if I were to do it again, any shows that I knew were the hot shows of the season, I would buy tickets asap and not worry about discounts etc. For secondary shows, I would wait until things got closer and use discounts online through showbox etc. And I do agree with you about not wanting to stand in a line at a certain time everyday to get tickets, I don't want to spend my vacation worrying about that. Hope that helps!

 

"

Thanks for sharing your advice and experiences! It helps a lot! It's very lucky of you to buy DEH at a lower price. I have very similar considerations. I imagine by the time I got there many casts would have been changed. Especially Sweeney Todd. I've heard Norm's contract is to August and I kinda worry about who will be the next Todd. But as traveler you just can't save money and get all you want at the same time lol.

BTW could you list the shows you felt overpaid?

Updated On: 4/21/17 at 11:00 AM

[canadian fan]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 11:50am

Sure, the shows I paid full price for and wish I had waited are:

Ground Hog Day (reviews mixed, and AK may not even be able to perform)

Dolls House Part 2 (still thrilled to be seeing it, but could have paid much less than my full price ticket)

Six Degrees of Separation (reviews mixed)

Shows I paid full price for and am glad I did are:

DEH - would not even be able to get a ticket now.

Great Comet- got my choice of banquette seats

Come From Away- actually got last row tickets for a great price ($47) they are not available now.

Sweeney Todd- would not be able to get a seat at a table if I had waited.

The only slot I waited on was Sunday evening, and once the reviews were positive I bought tickets for A Play that Goes Wrong with a discount code on broadway box, so I was happy with that.

 

[ItsJavert]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 12:06pm

canadian fan said: "Sure, the shows I paid full price for and wish I had waited are:

Ground Hog Day (reviews mixed, and AK may not even be able to perform)

Dolls House Part 2 (still thrilled to be seeing it, but could have paid much less than my full price ticket)

Six Degrees of Separation (reviews mixed)

Shows I paid full price for and am glad I did are:

DEH - would not even be able to get a ticket now.

Great Comet- got my choice of banquette seats

Come From Away- actually got last row tickets for a great price ($47) they are not available now.

Sweeney Todd- would not be able to get a seat at a table if I had waited.

The only slot I waited on was Sunday evening, and once the reviews were positive I bought tickets for A Play that Goes Wrong with a discount code on broadway box, so I was happy with that.

 

 

"

Thanks for sharing! I'm glad I've bought DEH and Sweeney Todd either!

[bear88]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 12:07pm

You came out ahead, canadianfan. You overpaid for Doll's House, certainly, and probably Six Degrees too. You couldn't have predicted how things would play out with Groundhog Day. You can get tickets for Great Comet, but the banquettes are tough. Dear Evan Hansen is a very tough ticket, and your price for Come From Away is not available now - not even close. Sweeney Todd is also difficult without planning ahead.

[canadian fan]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 12:20pm

bear88 said: "You came out ahead, canadianfan. You overpaid for Doll's House, certainly, and probably Six Degrees too. You couldn't have predicted how things would play out with Groundhog Day. You can get tickets for Great Comet, but the banquettes are tough. Dear Evan Hansen is a very tough ticket, and your price for Come From Away is not available now - not even close. Sweeney Todd is also difficult without planning ahead."

Agreed Bear88, overall I'm happy with things. I'm focusing more on the positive side of things than the couple areas I could have waited.

[JudyDenmark]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 12:30pm

ItsJavert said: "At last, could someone help me make decisions on these shows?
Amelie
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 
Come From Away 
Groundhog Day
On Your Feet "

100% Come From Away, followed by Groundhog Day. No question. (Not sure what else you're considering, but I'd say the other three "don't miss" shows right now, at least from this season, are Hello Dolly, Dear Evan Hansen, and Great Comet) 

As far as discount codes, it's very likely that there will be some for late September, but you're right that they haven't been released yet. I'd definitely get Evan Hansen and Dolly now, since they're the most sold out and you'd want to have them in pocket, but you could probably wait longer on others to see if a code pops up this summer. I'd check again shortly after the Tonys.

[thealtoslament]

Posted: 4/21/17 at 12:38pm

Of the shows you want opinions on, Come from Away and Groundhog Day are your two best bets. They've gotten the best reviews. Amelie has been hit or miss for the people on the board. On Your Feet! is supposed to be fun but might not be around for much longer. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory hasn't opened yet, but there are a lot more negative reactions than positive ones, and the articles about it I've seen on websites have the smell of "damage control".

[ItsJavert]

Posted: 4/22/17 at 7:48am

JudyDenmark said: "ItsJavert said: "At last, could someone help me make decisions on these shows?
Amelie
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 
Come From Away 
Groundhog Day
On Your Feet "

100% Come From Away, followed by Groundhog Day. No question. (Not sure what else you're considering, but I'd say the other three "don't miss" shows right now, at least from this season, are Hello Dolly, Dear Evan Hansen, and Great Comet) 

As far as discount codes, it's very likely that there will be some for late September, but you're right that they haven't been released yet. I'd definitely get Evan Hansen and Dolly now, since they're the most sold out and you'd want to have them in pocket, but you could probably wait longer on others to see if a code pops up this summer. I'd check again shortly after the Tonys.

 

"

Thanks! I'll probably wait for discount codes too. Already bought DEH. Creat Comet seems to have been closed by then.

[ItsJavert]

Posted: 4/22/17 at 7:48am

JudyDenmark said: "ItsJavert said: "At last, could someone help me make decisions on these shows?
Amelie
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 
Come From Away 
Groundhog Day
On Your Feet "

100% Come From Away, followed by Groundhog Day. No question. (Not sure what else you're considering, but I'd say the other three "don't miss" shows right now, at least from this season, are Hello Dolly, Dear Evan Hansen, and Great Comet) 

As far as discount codes, it's very likely that there will be some for late September, but you're right that they haven't been released yet. I'd definitely get Evan Hansen and Dolly now, since they're the most sold out and you'd want to have them in pocket, but you could probably wait longer on others to see if a code pops up this summer. I'd check again shortly after the Tonys.

 

"

Thanks! I'll probably wait for discount codes too. Already bought DEH. Creat Comet seems to have been closed by then.

[ItsJavert]

Posted: 4/22/17 at 10:39am

thealtoslament said: "Of the shows you want opinions on, Come from Away and Groundhog Day are your two best bets. They've gotten the best reviews. Amelie has been hit or miss for the people on the board. On Your Feet! is supposed to be fun but might not be around for much longer. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory hasn't opened yet, but there are a lot more negative reactions than positive ones, and the articles about it I've seen on websites have the smell of "damage control".

 

"

Thanks for your suggestion!

[bear88]

Posted: 4/22/17 at 8:45pm

The only shows that will probably be tough tickets (i.e. you can't get them without paying a fortune or waiting in a cancellation line or Stubhub) in late September will be Hamilton, Hello, Dolly, and Dear Evan Hansen. The only other possibility, of the newer shows, is Come From Away, especially if it wins the Tony, but I doubt it will be all that difficult. (Great Comet is easy to get tickets shortly in advance even now, and demand will probably decline after Josh Groban leaves the show in July. Groundhog Day probably won't require an advance purchase, either.)

You also expressed interest in long-running shows like Wicked. You can always wait on that show. Tickets aren't cheap, but you don't need to buy months in advance. You should benefit, at least a little, by going after school has resumed but others would know better than I would, as I'm just an occasional tourist.

[ItsJavert]

Posted: 4/24/17 at 3:00am

bear88 said: "The only shows that will probably be tough tickets (i.e. you can't get them without paying a fortune or waiting in a cancellation line or Stubhub) in late September will be Hamilton, Hello, Dolly, and Dear Evan Hansen. The only other possibility, of the newer shows, is Come From Away, especially if it wins the Tony, but I doubt it will be all that difficult. (Great Comet is easy to get tickets shortly in advance even now, and demand will probably decline after Josh Groban leaves the show in July. Groundhog Day probably won't require an advance purchase, either.)

You also expressed interest in long-running shows like Wicked. You can always wait on that show. Tickets aren't cheap, but you don't need to buy months in advance. You should benefit, at least a little, by going after school has resumed but others would know better than I would, as I'm just an occasional tourist.

 

"

Thanks you!