{"id":69510,"date":"2024-01-14T00:43:22","date_gmt":"2024-01-14T05:43:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.therockysafari.com\/?p=69510"},"modified":"2024-01-17T20:27:08","modified_gmt":"2024-01-18T01:27:08","slug":"new-years-eve-olive-garden-party","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.therockysafari.com\/2024\/01\/14\/new-years-eve-olive-garden-party\/","title":{"rendered":"What It’s Like to Celebrate New Year’s Eve at the $450 Olive Garden Party In Times Square"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When it came time to decide how I was going to spend New Year’s Eve, I found myself seriously considering the possibility of heading into Times Square at 11 AM to watch the ball drop in-person for the first time in my life. What I didn’t know was that I’d end up there thanks to Olive Garden’s<\/a><\/strong> party instead.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Rocky in Times Square After the Olive Garden After-Party<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
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They say you can’t put a price on the experience of watching the Times Square ball drop live from New York City. I am not joking when I say it has been a lifelong dream of mine to spend New Year’s Eve in Time Square and to see the famous ball drop happen live. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I needed<\/strong> to see 3,000 pounds of confetti overtake the sky only to soon fall on top of me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Despite living so close, it’s one of those things I’ve never done before! In fact, most people from this area haven’t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Most New Yorkers flee from Manhattan on New Year’s Eve. I’ve had friends and family tell me they’d rather chew glass than participate in going to Times Square on December 31st. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They say an estimated one million people congregate to view the ball drop in New York City<\/a><\/strong>; a shocking percentage of them are wearing adult diapers in preparation of standing in place for 12 hours or more just to see the ball drop!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Determined to find a way to get a good view of the ball, I began conducting research and discovered the possibility of attending a VIP NYE Party at Olive Garden in Times Square<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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New Year’s Eve celebrations have created some of my favorite memories. From partying the night away in Spain<\/a><\/strong>, to playing games with close friends, to finally fulfilling my dream of seeing the ball drop in-person, I’ve had some of the best nights of my life on New Year’s Eve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s a holiday I deeply appreciate because it creates an opportunity for reflection, togetherness, and aspirations as we welcome in the new year. A fresh start. A new chapter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Before purchasing a $450 ticket to attend Olive Garden’s Times Square NYE Party, I was mentally preparing to stand among the millions who gather 12+ hours early to await the big countdown!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With that in mind, I wanted to make sure I’d have a fun time with whatever decision I made! Although I wasn’t thrilled about standing outside in the cold for hours and hours, I was willing to persevere and do it if that was the only way to make it happen.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Entering the Olive Garden Party<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Thankfully, it’s not… there are other ways to cheat the system. It turns out that over the past 10 years, some of the chain restaurants in Times Square have begun hosting VIP New Year’s Eve dinner parties<\/a><\/strong>. These events sell out quickly and cost a small fortune to attend. The little carrot they dangle over customers’ heads is the “chance to see the ball drop.” (It’s never guaranteed.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I Went to the New Year’s Eve Olive Garden Party in Times Square<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I chose to take a chance with Olive Garden’s Party in Times Square which required a ticket just shy of $500. Although it’s still pricey for “dinner at Olive Garden”, it’s by far the cheapest Times Square party I could find (and you’re paying for more than just “dinner.”)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Applebees in Times Square<\/a><\/strong>, not far from Olive Garden, charges $800 per person. Bubba Gump Shrimp<\/a><\/strong>, located above Olive Garden Times Square, charges more than double Olive Garden’s price with a fee of $1,015. In comparison, Olive Garden’s $450 deal begins to look sweeter and sweeter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The thought of spending New Year’s Eve at Olive Garden started out as somewhat of a joke. I told my sister I was going and asked if she would want to tag along and she looked at me like I had a third head. The more I thought about celebrating in an Olive Garden… I was intrigued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Understandably, it was hard to commit to the party since there was little to no information about the event online except this humorous article published on Vice<\/a><\/strong> six years ago!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I searched endlessly for ANY reviews and the only additional information about the party I could find were some photos on Jackson Krule’s blog<\/a><\/strong> and this article on People<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Honestly, the photos and stories Jackson Krule published made me think the party might be a bit corny but I love corny things so I decided to take a chance and purchased a ticket to go on my own.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Photo Source: Vice<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
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Going to Olive Garden by myself would either be the saddest or silliest thing I’ve ever chosen to do. I had been graciously invited to house parties, but something within me told me this was the year to go. The weather was going to be nice. (I didn’t even need gloves or earmuffs! Thanks<\/em>, climate change<\/a><\/strong>!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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But gosh, I have to tell you from comparing Jackson Krule’s positive experience back in 2017-2018 to my own in 2023-2024, Olive Garden has ELEVATED this New Year’s Eve Times Square Olive Garden Party. I was so impressed. I had the time of my life there!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reason so many people DREAD the option of going to watch the ball drop live is that viewers are corralled into sections at the discretion of the New York Police Department. Once the police close your section, you cannot re-enter for any reason if you choose to leave. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Even from a food standpoint, you have to pack wisely; they are very strict about what you can bring into the area. Space is limited and large bags aren’t allowed. I suppose people grab granola bars and other small snacks while waiting for the midnight countdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While, yes- these parties are expensive, all of the following considerations played a part in how I personally justified Olive Garden’s $450 cost as a total steal!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Included with the $450 Olive Garden ticket, you get:<\/p>\n\n\n\n