How to See the NYE Times Square Ball Drop (What it's REALLY Like, 2024)

1/2/2023

Last year, we did something that had been at the top of our bucket list for YEARS - watching the Times Square Ball Drop on New Years Eve in person. We did a respectable amount of Googling and still, nothing prepared us for the reality of experiencing this event first hand. Lucky for you, we'll be covering everything from how early to get there, what to bring with you, and what I know every single one of you are actually wondering, "Are there bathrooms?!"

Other posts you might be interested in :

Check out our unique list of the 30 best things to do in NYC!

Our Essential Travel Resources :
There are a lot of travel companies out there, but some are better than others. These are our favorite websites and resources to help you plan an incredible trip.

For flights, we recommend using WayAway or Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to your destination.

Car rentals comparisons are best through Discover Cars - just make sure to bring your international driver's permit with you if you're heading somewhere international!

We always use AGODA for hotels. They have an easy-to-use platform where you can compare the best rates.

To keep cell phone service if you're traveling internationally, we always use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required).

For fun things to do, we always recommend Viator to find the best tours in the area, otherwise Klook also does the trick, especially for tours in Asia.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance.

Lastly, my packing list for your international or domestic travels.

What you NEED to Know

Like we mentioned above, no matter how much research we did before New Year's Eve, not a single site seemed to provide us with all the information we were looking for. Trust us, you'll want to be prepared for this nearly 24 hour event, so here's some things we wish we would have known before we stood in line to enter the viewing area.

The line to enter the viewing area is based on a FREE, first-come, first-serve basis.
The Times Square viewing area is cleared out and blocked off the night before, and is closed and guarded by the New York City Police Department.
There are multiple entry points according to their website, however when we visited everyone was being redirected to one main entry point - with one other open line for handicapped persons.
It is absolute insanity to get inside, but once you're past the barricades there's lots of open space - even when it fills up later in the day.
Each year viewers are given free goodies, so keep your eyes out! We got Planet Fitness hats & balloons, Kay's Jewelers gloves, Carnival necklaces and Hong Kong scarves to commemorate the 2023 New Year.
We waited for 13 hours, and there is NO bathroom. (More on that below.)
Backpacks, chairs and umbrellas are NOT ALLOWED - food, drinks, and games are.
The Times Square Ball goes up at 6 pm, and around this time is also when the singers begin practicing & news coverage begins. Meaning, spirits are lifted and the excitement begins. Before this is just a lot of waiting and chatting to the people near you.
There will be SO MUCH confetti - if you're worried about keeping some for memories you'll easily be able to scoop some up at the end. :)

Our First Hand Experience

Many blog posts, and even the official Times Square website, tell you to arrive around 3 pm, however this will only work if you want a viewing spot a few blocks away by Central Park. We arrived at the entry point around 10:30 am, and even at this point in the morning we felt claustrophobic and overwhelmed.

If you don't end up making it inside the barricade, or just want to avoid the crowds in general - check out this list of the best New Year's Eve Party's in the Big Apple!

Let's begin with the basics, where to enter the designated ball drop viewing areas. The official website says there are multiple entry points to Times Square on New Year's Eve, including : 38th, 49th, 52nd and 56th Street - all from 6th and 8th Avenues. However, the morning we went we only saw one entrance, and the rest of the day only saw people entering from this one area - 49th and 7th. By the time we arrived at 10:30, it was already madness. There was a huge line of people waiting to get let in, and a huge mass of people waiting at the front for the cops to open the gate. By 11 am, people were pushing, cops were yelling, and it felt like we might be squished to death. (sort of, just kinda kidding)

Once you've made it into the barricaded sections, life will be a lot easier than when you were trying to get in. A lot spacier, a lot easier, and a lot slower. The next 13 hours will feel like a lifetime, especially if it rains all day like it did for us. Will it still be worth it? Definitely! We recommend finding a comfortable spot where you can sit, and if it's near a barricade then you'll have something to lean on too! Since umbrellas aren't allowed, we recommend dressing in layers for the weather and bringing ponchos if it calls for rain - they also make great rainproof layers for sitting on! Lastly, none of the entertainment will start until 6 pm so bring some things to keep you entertained. (You can always people watch like us!)

It's important here to note that umbrellas, backpacks and chairs are not allowed into the viewing area. However, once we were in everything was great. We received our iconic Planet Fitness hats, Kay's Jewelers gloves and Carnival necklaces and the sectioned viewing areas seemed nearly empty. We made our way through all the empty sections, inching further and further to the front. We ended up choosing a spot all the way down at the intersection of 44th so that we could see the entire ball drop. (We could have continued about a block closer, however we felt we might not be able to see the whole ball drop and fireworks this close without straining our necks for the next 13 hours.) If you're more interested in watching the life performances, make sure to choose a spot closer to the Planet Fitness stage. We also found an empty spot against a barricade, which was great because we had something to lean on throughout the 13 hours of waiting.

The most asked question we've been getting since we attended the Times Square ball drop was about the bathroom situation! So to answer all your questions, NO - there is no bathroom you will have access to if you're viewing the ball drop publicly. You can definitely leave the enclosed areas to use any public restrooms, however you won't be able to get back in to the viewing area. We saw multiple people leaving the area because they couldn't hold it, and unfortunately they were not allowed back in. Your best bet is to limit what you eat and drink the morning of and night before, and wear some sort of pee pad or diaper just in case.

Our *PRO TIPS* to make the best of your NYE Experience!

Arrive before 11 am.
Sit near a barricade to lean against and bring snacks, water, a rechargeable phone battery and games to play.
Leave the umbrellas, backpacks and chairs at home. Opt for ponchos, small purses and other thin items to sit on like a large garbage bags or plastic shopping bags.
Wear layers - it could snow, rain, be windy, really anything!
Wear a pee pad or diaper if you're not sure about the bathroom situation, and limit your food & liquid intake!