So, how many of the Marriott Marquis $110 Priceline bid winners are going to actually hang out in Times Square for the New Year's Eve festivities? (I assume lots, since the TS location of the hotel lends itself to that.)

This website has some info on the countdown to the drop of the famous lighted ball in Times Square. It seems that people start gathering 7 hours ahead of midnight -- i.e., around 5 PM. What isn't clear from the website, though, is how easy or difficult it will be for pedestrian traffic to move about during those hours leading up to midnight. (By about 6:00 PM the area will be closed to vehicular traffic.) I myself wouldn't want to have to stand in one place for 6-7 hours!

I've booked a flight and will be in NYC, but do not have a reservation at a hotel in the Times Square area (and am ambivalent about whether that would really be desirable or not). Instead, I just booked an award res at the Sheraton Russell (a real bargain at 10,000 Starpoints per night, considering that the room rates, when tax is added in, are approaching $400 per night!).

Any inside info on the Times Square festivities would be appreciated. ^