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I don’t have hotel recs but you’re looking at 20 mins to midtown and maybe 30 mins to UWS/UES from Fulton on the subway, plus walking time maybe. Definitely doable. I’d personally prefer WTC area to midtown. You’re near Battery Park, TriBeCa, Soho.

@lindseykaye: I agree, travel from the Millennium Hilton will be very straightforward - it's right near a lot of different subway lines. Plus (personal bias, as it's where I live) I prefer being downtown - there's a lot of fun stuff to do in the more downtown neighborhoods (not necessarily the Financial District, but Soho, Tribeca, Chinatown, East/West Village etc.).

The Conrad in Battery Park is a nice option with suites - not sure what their prices are like for that time of year, though. It might be at the high end of your budget. That would be a bit farther away from subways, but on the water, which is really nice.

I would also stay downtown. Probably better rates, it’ll be a bit calmer (you’ll probably want to get away from the chaos) and actually might be easier if you can stay near a subway line that goes to Rock Center. There’s also lots to do down there around the holidays. If you stay midtown your only option to get to rock center and such might be a longish walk or a cab. Which is fine with adults but maybe not in the winter with kids.
Use Google Maps for directions from wherever you stay to Rockefeller Center and choose the transportation option that looks like a train. That will show you which lines you can take and how long it will take including walking to and from subway. Staying near the RW line would be a good option for you. That will stop Herald Square (Macy’s), Times Square, one Avenue away from Rockefeller center, the bottom of Central Park where you can take carriage rides or easily get to the zoo, 5th Avenue, and Bloomingdales. Also will stop in SoHo and Union Square downtown.
Fantastic option for dinner with Kids is Max Brenner in Times Square. It’s basically all kids but has really good adult food and drinks. It’s a chocolate themed restaurant. The desserts at the end of the meal are awesome (chocolate pizza, s’mores you make at the table, fondue, etc).
We live here and my son asks to go all the time, but we keep it less frequent so it remains exciting.

I work in midtown. I think a scooter in holiday midtown crowds would be challenging and suggest that you have your 7yo stay on foot.

The financial district won't be as crazy as midtown so I think that's a good choice with kids. It's a long trek to the UWS/UES, but midtown is pretty quick. Christmas time is really hectic so I would avoid the scooter when looking at the holiday displays. The scooter could come in handy in the financial district, Central Park (and other parks), and UWS/UES though.

@lindseykaye: I live close to 59th and Lex (I'm on 66th and another avenue on the East side). It is a good location that is pretty central to a lot that you want to do and also has that NR subway line I mentioned in my previous post, so you could take it to get to Rockefeller Center and save a little walking/energy. You can probably get away with only paying for you and DH on public transport (definitely not the baby, the 7yo it just depends on who is working that day). But its still only I think $2.75 per subway ride or something like that.
The hardest destination on your list will be the Museum of Natural History. You will definitely need to take a cab or several modes of public transportation to get there. There aren't really any subways that go cross-town uptown.
If you don't think you will have time to explore other things besides what you listed, then maybe the Lex & 59th is a better option. Just be prepared to walk and do some cabs, and bring lots of layers for the kids.
What are your kids like (the 7yo) with walking? My 4.5 yo is a city boy so he walks and walks and never complains about being tired. He has literally walked 4-5 miles roundtrip in an afternoon when he was like 2.5yo and didn't complain once. My 10yo nephew, on the other hand, is in the burbs and when he came to visit if we walked 5 blocks (which is about 1/4 mile) he complained and whined and asked why everything is soooooo far. Lol. So, just be prepared for that.

@lindseykaye: i think lex and 59th would honestly be a lot easier/better for you guys based on what your list of activities are, you are walking distance from almost all of them. to get to the AMNH from there is not so bad, you are right on top of the subway station and you can take that up to 77th and get on a crosstown bus at 79th, which stops right in front of the museum. it does require two modes of transit, but i would think it's at least as easy as getting to midtown from WTC area, plus it's much more residential so should be less crowded than midtown. (or if you guys love walking honestly the fastest way to get there might be walking from the CP zoo, but that will probably tire out your 7yo...in that instance since you'll be in CP, though, a scooter would probably be great because there will be plenty of room.)

if you do end up staying on 59th with a 7yo girl i would definitely recommend checking out serendipity. it can be a little overrun but their frozen hot chocolates are classics!

@lindseykaye: Oh, and I would trade FAO Schwartz for the new CAMP store. Camp is a different concept--it's smaller, but it's a toy store that is also kind of a playspace with rotating "exhibits". My kids LOOOVE it.

@Anagram: my 4.9yo just asked this morning when we can go back. We went once in like Jan. He still talks about it.

@SweetiePie: My almost 6 year old has been planning for ages to go to CAMP on her actual birthday, and play and pick out 1 toy, and eat one of the ice cream smore's desserts. We're having a party, but on a weekend. So that's her day-of-birthday plan. She talks about it constantly, because we didn't let her buy anything last time.

We just got back from a trip to NYC with a 5.5 year old and a 2 year old. It was so fun but exhausting! We stayed on the UWS at Hotel Beacon so we could walk to Central Park and the Museum of Natural History. My husband's company covered the room so it was on the higher end of your budget, but I'd definitely recommend it!

@lindseykaye: I'm biased because I'm an Upper West Sider, lol but I def prefer the area around the Beacon to 59 and Lex, which is near where family of ours lives! the UWS is a little quieter/more residential, and there's more mid-range restaurants--like, in between fast/to-go type restaurants and super high end/less kid-friendly places. And it's very family friendly. I don't know how it compares price-wise to the Beacon Hotel, but if you're interested in the UWS, I know the Lucerne has suites, and my work has also put people up in the Belleclaire although I haven't been inside...