The Most Bizarre Bathroom Tip To Survive New Year's Eve In Times Square
It's no secret that the Times Square New Year's Eve celebration has become one of the biggest and brightest spots to celebrate New Year's. Since it first took place in 1904, the tradition has evolved into a star-studded show that includes everything from live music performances and celebrity appearances to pyrotechnics. Plus, with roughly 1 million people flooding the streets of New York City to watch the crystal-covered sphere descend, the celebration stands as one of the best places in the world to celebrate New Year's Eve.
However, what many first-time attendees and hopeful visitors don't realize is that actually getting a prime viewing spot requires a lot of effort; this includes arriving pretty early in the afternoon and staying put until midnight. Throw in the fact that police barricade the area into sections, and once you're in... you're in — unless you want to risk losing your spot with no chance of making your way back.
All that being said, this entire situation creates one significant challenge that seasoned Times Square NYE-goers know all too well: It's really difficult to go to the bathroom during the celebration. Plus, considering there aren't any public bathrooms in the viewing area, the official recommendation from people who have tried, tested, and succeeded in their past NYE's viewing experiences is pretty simple: just don't go. Because from avoiding liquids entirely to wearing adult diapers, there's no strategy too extreme or sacrifice too great that'll pull dedicated revelers away from watching the ball as it hits the ground at midnight.
Not using the toilet is the only way to survive the night
Thankfully, attendees from previous years have a few recommendations that'll help newbies and first-timers survive the evening with their bladders (relatively) intact. For one, most people recommend using the toilet one last time as close as possible to entering the barricaded zone. That way, you'll basically enter "no man's land" with an empty bladder that'll hopefully hold out until the ball drops roughly 10 hours later.
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Beyond that, another obvious (albeit crucial) recommendation is to limit all water and liquid intake in the morning and during the event. This means no coffee or sodas, and definitely no street beers — the last of which are illegal to drink in public spaces, anyway, and will be immediately confiscated. Oh, and although adult diapers might sound like a great idea to keep your all bases covered — don't let the hype fool you. Most NYE veterans actually agree they're not as reliable (or pleasant) as you might hope, especially when you're going to be standing in the cold for several hours.
Lastly, once the celebration ends, make sure you're ready to make some moves — and fast. Given the fact that most restaurants around the area probably won't be too happy about thousands of non-customers using their bathrooms, it makes sense that the area clears so quickly once the countdown is over. With that in mind, the smartest solution is to make a beeline for Penn Station, where you'll find public restrooms, and empty the tank before anyone else gets there.