Visiting TDR toward the end of the New Years Event

[gelatoni fan]

I'm currently planning to visit TDR for the New Years Event. My priority is seeing both the New Years greetings and eating the New Years exclusive foods so I was thinking of arriving on Jan 4th at about 6PM and leaving the parks on Jan 7th at about 3 PM. I went to DisneySea on Jan 1 one year when Mythica was still around but have never visited when there was no event before. Questions:

1. How early should I grab a spot if my goal is to be 2nd row or better at the front area of Mediterranean Harbor and Castle Front?
2. Would it be worth shifting my trip a day later (5th to 8th) so that I can experience more "non-event" or should I keep my current itinerary? I am able to park hop.

 

[MKTokyo]

1. Crowds will be down by January 4th. The hardcore people will arrive at the park & go directly to sit down, no matter how early it is, so it really depends on how many hardcore people are in the park that day. You'd probably have to arrive 2-3 hours in advance & spend all that time waiting if you want the first or second row. Might be better to arrive 45-60 minutes in advance & still have a perfectly adequate view.

2. Doesn't really matter. The event lasts only a week & you mentioned you wanted to try the exclusive foods - some of them do sell out, so I'd probably keep your plan as-is.