The moment I discovered that you could book a Home Alone experience at The Plaza hotel, I added it to my bucket list.
I watch Home Alone every year on Thanksgiving Day after dinner, and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York on Christmas Eve. It’s been a family tradition for as long as I can remember.
So, when Matt surprised me with the Home Alone package at The Plaza as a Christmas present, I did what any millennial would do, I just about lost my dang mind.
There’s honestly nothing more exciting than living out Kevin McCallister’s greatest mistake of his life at one of the most famous hotels in the world. The whole thing was so fun and nostalgic.
Here’s a recap of our adventure at New York’s most exciting hotel experience.
The Home Alone Experience at The Plaza
What is the Home Alone Package?
For any guests that book at stay at The Plaza hotel in New York City, you book a special package to re-live your favorite Kevin McCallister moments.
The Home Alone package includes:
- A 4-hour limo ride around NYC.
- A lovely cheese pizza you just you during your ride around the city.
- A giant DIY ice cream sundae served via room service, complete with tons of toppings (Two scoops? Make it three, you’re not driving.)
You’ll also get to stay in one of those rooms with an extra-large bed, that does in fact have one of those refrigerators that you need to open with a key.
The package is available year-round, but in my personal opinion, it’s best to do it during the holiday season, just like when Kevin got lost in New York.
How Much Does the Home Alone Package Cost?
Obviously, a stay at The Plaza, one of the most well-known hotels in the world, isn’t going to be cheap.
The rate for the Home Alone package varies by room type and travel dates, but based on rates listed on the Plaza’s website, the cheapest option for one night is between $2,500 – $3,000.
My Review on the Home Alone Experience at The Plaza
I’m starting this review with a spoiler: Matt and I loved our Home Alone experience at The Plaza.
I really feel like the hotel took great pride in bringing the movie to life, but aside from that, the service at The Plaza is amazing.
We checked in promptly at 3pm and headed to our room. The Plaza had a huge, $450 million renovation in 2008, so although it’s not the same lobby or hallways you see in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, I promise that you won’t care. It is beautiful.
We had the Plaza King room and it felt huge compared to our NYC studio apartment. The bathroom was luxurious, and spacious – Kevin-approved for sure.
I could go on about the room (quiet, super comfy bed, etc), but this is about the Home Alone experience, so let’s not delay!
Based on the hotel’s website, I knew we were getting the limo, pizza, and sundae. But I was ecstatic about a few unexpected extras in our room.
On the desk under the TV, they had a DVD of Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, along with a note written in “Kevin’s handwriting.” But for me, the most special detail of all was a small box featuring replicas of the turtle dove ornaments that Mr. Duncan gives Kevin.
Maybe I’m just cheesy, but I think most people can relate to having one of those friends that they never forget, even if they don’t see them often. These ornaments were a thoughtful addition and wonderful surprise to take home as a memory.
After we settled into our room, it was time for our limo ride!
Limo and Pizza
At 4:30pm we made our way down to the lobby to grab our limo and pizza.
I think I must have been overly excited or maybe a little nervous with so many people outside of the hotel, that I booked it straight into the limo without taking a second to enjoy the moment.
Our delightful driver Slava asked me if I wanted to get out of the limo and try again because he wanted to present the pizza to us just like in the movie, so I could get a video. I thought this was so nice of him, and the fact that he was happy to participate in making the experience “movie official” really set the tone for a great limo ride.
He had the movie playing in the limo and even had Coca-Cola to pour into champagne glasses, just Kevin did. I live for thoughtful touches like this.
Limo Tour
The limo tour is not a guided tour, so you need to pick where you want to go. If it’s your first-time visiting NYC then this is the perfect moment to view the classics like Fifth Avenue, Radio City, Empire State Building, etc.
Truthfully, I didn’t really plan this part well on my end, but Slava had a wonderful idea to drive to Brooklyn to see the Christmas lights in the very festive Dyker Heights neighborhood. It was beautiful and something Matt and I likely wouldn’t have driven to ourselves. Now having seen it, I 10/10 recommend it if you’re visiting NYC during the holidays in general.
We had plenty of time to see everything and made it back uptown to pick up some friends for our last hour to drive by Rockefeller Center. Seeing that big, iconic tree from a limo really was awesome and unforgettable.
After we said goodbye to Slava and our limo, we went back to the room.
Giant Sundae
At 9pm our GIANT ice cream trolley arrived. The guy bringing it in was just as excited as we were and was more than happy to take videos and set up the cart where it would look best for photos.
Matt and I made the biggest ice cream sundaes we could imagine, put on the fancy hotel robes, and fell asleep watching Kevin running around NYC on TV.
It was literally one of the best days of my life.
Is the Home Alone Package at The Plaza Worth It?
It probably comes as no surprise after reading this post that yes, the Home Alone package at The Plaza is worth it.
If you’re a big fan of the movie and have always dreamed of living out your childhood fantasies a la Kevin McCallister, you will love this.
The Plaza did a great job at capturing the nostalgia of the movie. While the pizza, limo, and ice cream sundae were individually all amazing, it was really the other thoughtful touches added that made this experience feel extra special.
The staff members at The Plaza were so attentive, and every person we spoke to during of our adventure was equally as excited and happy about our Home Alone experience as we were. It made it that much more enjoyable to take photos, videos, and capture the moments.
I have been lucky enough to stay at some nice and famous hotels, and movie package aside, The Plaza has been one of my favorites. Kevin wasn’t lying when he said the rooms are luxurious and spacious. They are. But everyone at the hotel also made a point to greet you with a smile, say hello, and several employees took note and remembered us during our stay. We felt special and important, and when you’re paying a lot of money for a hotel, you want to feel that.
While expensive, I think experiences that make you happy are extremely fulfilling, instantly and in the long run. Matt and I will have the memory of this night forever.
This felt like a once in a lifetime experience.
It’s unlikely that we will it do again (although I would do it in an instant), but every time we pass The Plaza I will think of our amazing stay there and how I got to eat pizza in a limo while driving down Fifth Avenue.
