Review: Staying in $1,000 NYC Suite Filled With Toys, Worth It

Jun 21, 2023

A few years ago, I introduced my children to the classic 1988 comedy "Big" starring Tom Hanks. Now they always keep their eyes out for a Zoltar machine like the one in the film when we visit carnivals or arcades.

Although we haven't had luck with that, I was able to surprise them with a stay in the three-bedroom Loft Suite at Graduate New York, which is inspired by "Big."

The hotel is located within the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island, just a stone's throw from Manhattan. But it isn't always easy to get to, especially with a good bit of luggage.

You can take public transportation from Manhattan to the island, but a taxi or car service is likely the easiest option.

Staying in the specialty suite will set you back anywhere from $900 to over $2,500 at peak times like around the Fourth of July or the winter holidays. We traveled with a group of families this summer, and it cost us about $1,000 for the night, which was reasonable after we split it.

The suite has two king-sized beds and a bunk bed and sleeps three to six people.

If you're going to drop big bucks for the "Big" suite, I recommend not planning a ton of activities around the city during your stay. We didn't want to leave the room — there's so much to play with and enjoy.

The 1,145-square-foot suite is comprised of three large rooms — each with its own bathroom — so it's perfect for sharing with friends or family.

There's an enormous amount of memorabilia from the movie throughout the suite including nostalgic toys, games, and of course, a Zoltar machine.

One of the rooms even has a large floor piano so you can recreate the famous toy-store scene.

The room with the piano has a red, metal bunk bed, similar to the one Hank's character Josh had in his NYC apartment. The He-Man and Pac-Man bedsheets even go along with the 80s theme.

In the bunk-bed room, there are a bunch of shelves filled with old-school toys and games.

The showstoppers are the pinball machine and the mini skate ramp with skateboards.

A second room has a large bed and an old TV complete with a VCR player and a VHS copy of "Big."

This room also has a trampoline, some massive stuffed animals, and an old-school boom box.

The closet in the TV room has replicas of some of Josh's clothes from the movie, including his beloved Giants sweatshirt.

The white, sparkly tuxedo he wore to a formal work event is even hanging in a frame on the wall.

The suite's primary bedroom has a small sitting area with a massive Gumby.

The rest of the decor reminded me of my parents' bedroom back in the 1980s. The furniture, bedding, and pillows looked straight from that timeframe.

In the primary bedroom, we found the sought-after Zoltar machine — which is actually functioning.

Before we checked out, my three kids were already asking when we could return.

It's a hefty price tag for just one family, but I see us making a return trip with a group. A room like this is too good not to share with friends.