Times Square Applebee's NYE Prices Soar

This New Year's Eve, Applebee's in Times Square is offering a pricey way to watch the ball drop. Prices start at $729 per person for a party of eight, increasing as the group size shrinks. A two-person table costs $849 per person, and a couples' package will set you back $2,299.

The package includes a multi-hour open bar (21+), dinner buffet, champagne toast, live DJ, and a guided walk to Times Square to see the ball drop (security permitting). For those staying at Applebee's, a midnight champagne toast is offered.

This is a significant increase from last year's $650 per person price tag. According to BallDrop.com founder Joshua Perla, the high cost reflects the prime Times Square location and the coveted view of the ball drop.

Other Times Square NYE Options

Other venues offer similar, and sometimes even more expensive, New Year's Eve packages. The AMC Theatres on 42nd Street offers packages for nearly $1,000, and Bar 54 at the Hyatt Centric starts at $1,399 per person. The Marriott Marquis offers packages ranging from $1,250 to $8,500.

While tourists might be willing to pay these prices, some locals express disbelief at the cost, preferring more affordable alternatives.