What do I need if I want to go to Times Square to see the ball drop?

There is no ticket needed to watch the ball drop. However these are things you should do.

Arrive early to get a good spot and dress warm, it will be very cold that night and you never know what the elements can happen (snow or rain).

Absolutely, no alcohol or bags, or backpacks will be permitted. If you leave the closed area, you will not be permitted back in.

Stores will close early prior to the crowd coming in, so if you need to use the rest room. Find a place which you and your group can use.

Enjoy and have a good time.

No tickets--you just show up and grab a spot.

You need to get there by mid-afternoon. Once you have a spot, you will be behind police barricades and unable to move more than a few inches in any direction until after midnight. So, be prepared to stand in one spot for at least 10 hours.

There are no restrooms, so arrive with an empty bladder.

Dress as warmly as you can. No backpacks and no booze, but a small bottle of water and a few candy bars should be okay.

Patience. You'll be in crowd of like a million people, so it'll probably take hours to get out after it's done.

Say hi to Kathy Griffin.

Nope. It's free, but you have to be prepared to stand there for a few hours in a noisy, crowded environment.

Its a public event. But it a miserable time. Its better to watch it from a tv in a fun bar.

You don't need a ticket but you should look into adult diapers.

Some good shoes.

Make sure you wear a "depends"