Revelers ring in 2014 in Times Square

Craig Ruttle/AP

Confetti flies over Times Square, seen from the Marriott Marquis, two hours before midnight during New Year's Eve celebrations.

Hundreds of thousands of revelers - some hailing from climates that are far more enjoyable than New York in winter - jammed Times Square on Tuesday to count down as the famous crystal ball dropped for the start of 2014.

Early birds were already huddling behind metal police barricades that went up at about 8:30 a.m. to ensure they got a prime spot for the big New Year's Eve celebration - the first time in a decade that New York's mayor wasn't on hand for the fun.

But while the departing Mayor Bloomberg opted for a low-key night with friends, and Bill de Blasio was busy taking the mayoral oath at his home in Brooklyn, there was no shortage of partyers in Midtown for the main event.

The early arrivals quickly had plenty of company, with the sidewalks filling by the minute to something very close to standing room only. Many traveled from all over the globe to brave 30-degree temperatures to be front and center to see the ball drop.

'I came for the atmosphere, for the magical air - not for this weather, though!' said Manuel Fabbrizi, 29, who made the trip from Italy with his brother and staked out a spot beginning at 8 a.m.

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Tourists and native New Yorkers alike were bundled up in layer upon layer, fur coats, scarves, hats - you name it.

Kristine Dandan, of Australia, made the once-in-a-lifetime excursion with her mother, May Dandan, 40, who spent a whopping $2,800 on a plane ticket to get to the Big Apple before the clock struck midnight. 'This is my first time doing this and my last time,' said the younger Dandan, 25. 'It's one of those things you want to take off your bucket list.'

One determined Rhode Island woman - a veteran of Times Square New Year's Eves - knew exactly what she was getting herself into. Phyllis Mulligan, 53, drove more than 200 miles Monday night to ensure she had a clear view of the sparkling crystal ball when Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor - a New York City native - began the 60-second countdown.

'I left my house at 1 a.m. and drove through the night to get here,' said Phyllis Mulligan, 53, of Newport.

'I got here before 7 a.m. to make sure I got a good spot,' said the Newport resident, standing with a cardboard sign that read: '2014 is my year!'

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Mulligan, who has attended four previous New Year's Eve celebrations in Times Square, blended in with the throngs of partygoers, claiming a corner in front of Toys 'R' Us at Broadway and 44th St. that allowed for a perfect sightline to the big-screen television and the crystal ball.

She said she came by herself because her family won't go through the marathon day she endures to be amid the thick of it.

'My family won't come because they won't stand outside for that long,' said Mulligan. 'They want to stay in a hotel room and watch from above, throwing confetti down on people,' she added. 'I want to be down here where the action is.'

Mulligan, dressed in two coats, two pairs of gloves, hand warmers and leg warmers, said she is now a pro at camping out for a spot and knows what to do.

'You can't go anywhere. If you leave, your spot's gone,' she said. 'You can't even go to the bathroom for hours.'

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Mulligan said she tries to come every other year to Times Square for New Year's Eve. She rents a car, drives down early the morning-of and then makes the trip home on New Year's Day.

It's a lot of effort for a few hours of excitement, but for Mulligan it's all worth it when the clock strikes 12.

'This is very important, very special to me, I love it. You meet so many different people here, it's a big outdoor party and it's wonderful,' Mulligan said. 'It's totally worth it. It's only once a year.'

Others wanted to flock to the city to ring in the new year with a loved one.

Ben Humpago, 30, flew in with his girlfriend, Kiri Zainal, 27, to get a little more excitement than just sitting around 'for hours waiting for fireworks' in their native London.

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'The biggest thing for me tonight is seeing the confetti drop and kissing at midnight,' said Humpago. 'I've done New Year's Eve in London, so I wanted to do it here.'

A trio of young women who came all the way from Japan caught the 10 a.m. New Year's Eve countdown for Tokyo on the big screen in Times Square - and decided to stick around for the main event.

'This is so cool! I can't believe how many people are here and how huge it is!' said Mau Maahata, 20, of Kyoto. 'I can't wait until midnight.'

Maahata and her two friends, who were in town for the week on their first trip to New York, wore matching '2014' glasses and took in the scene around them, stopping often to take pictures and ask other revelers to take their photo with Times Square as the backdrop.

The girls, on their first trip to New York City, said they enjoyed the countdown for Tokyo's 2014, which featured animated scenes of Mount Fuji, dragons and messages scrawled in Japanese.

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'It was awesome. There were a lot of Japanese people here,' said Yuko Iwai, 19. 'It was very fun and festive.'

'I called home to Japan to wish everyone a happy New Year,' she added.

Ayaka Inui, 20, who is from Nara, Japan, said she has high hopes for the city's sendoff of 2013.

'Tonight is going to be crazy, we're hoping it's going to be a great party,' Inui said. 'We'll be here all day to keep our spot for tonight.'

Another group of youngsters took three modes of transportation from Harrisburg, Pa., to see one of the most buzzed-about dance moves of 2013 performed live by their favorite singer.

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'We can't wait to see Miley Cyrus,' said Kiera Shiley, 18, standing near the corner of Seventh Ave. and 45th St.

'There's going to be a lot of twerking in Times Square tonight,' chimed in her friend, Courtney Boyd, 18. 'It's gonna be awesome!'

Other acts scheduled to perform were Icona Pop, Blondie and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.

Mayor Bloomberg had led the 60-second countdown to the big ball drop, but this time Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor was set to do the honors.

For the first time in a decade, there was no mayor was present for the big event. Bloomberg decided to sit out the festivities for a quiet celebration with friends and family, and mayor-elect Bill de Blasio was busy readying for his swearing-in ceremony.

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Another group of youngsters ready for their first New Year's Eve experience in the Big Apple didn't have to travel quite as far.

'We drove, took a train and then a bus to get here,' said Kiera Shiley, 18, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

'We got into the city around 9 a.m. and came straight here,' said her friend Courtney Boyd, 18, standing near the corner of 7th Ave. and 45th St.

'We can't wait to see Miley Cirrus,' said Shiely. 'There's going to be a lot of twerking in Times Square tonight, it's gonna be awesome!' Boyd added.

As the crowds in Times Square swell, more and more of the city streets will shut down in advance of the evening's celebrations.

As of 3 p.m., Times Square is closed to cars, the NYPD said. Parking is also prohibited in the area through 1 a.m. Wednesday. Numerous cross-town streets around Times Square are also shuttered for the duration of the celebration.

Public transportation - the best way to get into Times Square - will run as normal all afternoon. But as evening falls and crowds grow larger the subway exits for stations between 42nd and 49th Sts will be closed.

On Wednesday, Jan. 1, subways and buses will run on a Sunday schedule, the MTA said.