Here's one good advise: DO NOT go on New Year's Eve! It's a death wish, I'm telling you! In 2001, my sister got an annual passport from a friend and she wanted it activated on December 31. So, we went...and lived to tell about it. New Year's Eve was probably the WORST experience we've ever had. It was a major catastrophe. The crowds upon crowds, at one point, you don't walk, you shuffle. We got on about four attractions and the rest of our time was spent sitting at food tables to gawk at the huge mass of moving people. The only best part that we managed to stay for was the midnight fireworks. They were the most awesome display we had ever seen. The sky lit up like daylight. I couldn't ask for any better performance than that to ring in the new year.
And then, driving home, Mom almost got us all killed. She fell asleep at the wheel and we started to veer off the road. I was awake the whole time because I was eating a lollipop. To think if I didn't buy that lollipop, I'd be asleep in my seat and probably not be here telling this story. I shouted, "WAKE UP!" but we were already off the road and slamming into fields of dry grass. It was a real frightening experience. What a warm welcome into the new year, nearly dying!