Las Vegas with kids

[DizOz]

I am still playing around with our itinerary for our trip in 2013 and recently had a night out with friends. They are heading over in 2014 (DH has a conference at WDW) and they are going to Las Vegas for a few nights.

I would love to go back but worry there is not enough to keep our 2 DD (Aged 14 and 11 when we go) entertained. Both girls are pretty easy going and low maintenance.

I am also a little uncertain taking them to the gambling Mecca of the world. But saying that we have taken them to Crown plenty of times for movies and dinner.

I am interested in fellow DISer's thoughts? Has any one done it? Would you do it?

[AllieV]

There is an indoor skydiving place just off the strip. Very cool for an afternoon. There are several malls that are unique. Mirage has the tiger exhibit. Mandalay Bay has a shark aquarium. And of course pools everywhere. I think there's still an indoor/outdoor roller coaster somewhere (maybe circus circus?). Luxor has an Imax and some video games.

Edit: the M&M "factory" on the strip. And there's a huge movie theatre in one (Venetian?).

[aussie shaz]

My kids loved it last year. They were 8 and 10. There is so much to do that we would have loved a few extra days (we stayed 3 nights).
There is a huge list of family friendly activities on the Las Vegas Tripadvisor site (just don't post on there that you're taking your kids. You'll get flamed!)
We didn't even get to go to the Premium Outlets there (shock, horror) because we didn't have time.
All of the hotels have shows going on, the Volcano at the Mirage (I think), the water show at Bellagio, M&M store, Coke store!
We went horse riding and saw a great Magic/comedy show.
We're not into drinking and gambling, so the kids didn't slow us down at all.
Go!! You'll all have a great time.

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Our kids were 7 and 11 when we went in 2009.

We saw a show, Cirque de Soleil (spell?), we walked the strip checking out all of the massive casinos, we did a bus trip to the Grand Canyon, they loved M&M world and the outlet mall.

I think it was fun. We stayed at The Venetian and the kids and I did the gondola ride which was fun.

Yes I definitely think your kids would enjoy it but I wouldn't go for too many days.

[marvel]

Our kids now 14 and 12 have been 3 times over the past 4 years, and although it's not their number 1 destination, they enjoy it. We make sure we have time to enjoy the hotel pool, we stay at the Palazzo, shopping, go to a show. We also still go to excalibur arcade, it's nothing special but the kids have fond memories of it from years past.

You also have lots to see at each casino, Forum shops in Caesars, lions at MGM. Oh, and the shopping! Did i mention the shopping

[DizOz]

Thanks for the feedback.

We were thinking of going for 2 nights and stay at the Bellagio, DW loved Oceans 11. We were also thinking of doing it on the way over to WDW rather than the way back.

I better not let DW see this, any mention of shopping and her credit card hand starts twitching. Last time we needed to buy 3 extra bags to bring back everything. This time may need a few more if we start shopping this early in the trip.

[Aust]

We stayed 1 night in September. I was umming and ahhing about going with the kids, but decided I wanted to at least see the place, so 1 night it was.

After the walk up the Strip from the coach stop to the hotel, our 2 older kids (11 and 8) refused to come out of the hotel room that afternoon, as they were freaked out by the homeless people on the street and the horror movie characters. Our then 3 year old hated the heat. So my husband and I took turns to go out and have a look around.

We did all go out to the pool area to look around, but it was all adults and no kids, so we didn't feel comfortable letting the kids go for a swim and make noise, splash around etc as kids do.

The next morning the kids were a bit better, as long as we stayed on the Caesar's Palace side of the strip, instead of the Paris side (where we stayed). They quite enjoyed looking at the shops and hotels, but overall didn't like Las Vegas. We managed to see about 1/3 of what I'd planned to.

My husband loved the place and wants to go back without the kids (or me!) so he can actually have fun!

[WanderlustNZ]

Originally Posted by DizOz

Has any one done it? Would you do it?

No and probably not.

I've been to Vegas twice and loved it both times. I'm just not sure it's the type of place I would want to take my son.

I think of Vegas as an adult's Disneyland. When my son is grown and left home, my husband and I plan on going back multiple times. However, while he is young we'll probably stick to more family-orientated destinations.
In saying that, I never say never. If a situation arose where we were traveling through Vegas, son in tow, I would want the following:
1. To stay in one of the hotels without a casino. I didn't like that most hotels require circumnavigation of the casino floor just to get to the room lifts. Kids aren't allowed to linger in the casinos, and I would feel awkward dragging my son through one quickly to get to the lifts.
2. To go during the cooler season. I love LV in the evenings, but like the PP, I wouldn't want to take a child onto the strip in the evenings. For that reason I would be doing all my tiki-touring during the days. However Summer days (and Spring and Autumn days for that matter) can get oppressively hot. A child could get dehydrated quite quickly. The cooler months would be much more comfortable.
3. Lastly, I'd probably stay between Sunday and Thursday to avoid the weekend revelers.

[cola]

I think of Vegas as a grown ups Disneyland, sort of. Even if gambling and drinks don't come into it, it is a LOT of walking, usually baking hot walking. The walking between casinos is usually the killer, there are all of the 'attractions' and then lots of walking to get to the next bit of 'attractions' in the next casino, much further than you would have to walk in theme park. If your kids whine about walking it could be difficult. The attractions should be enough to keep most tween/teens entertained enough, younger than that and the heat and distances will probably get everyone a bit down, and if you are going during winter it can get COLD, particularly once the sun goes down, they don't often get snow IN Vegas, but they do get it outside Vegas, and they bite in the air is COLD.
The off-Strip accommodation can be a good idea with kids, IF you have an in house babysitter, somewhere like Cancun can keep anyone that likes pools and isn't interested in The Strip well entertained.

[nzer]

We'll be there in 4 weeks, and we're taking our 2 daughters (10 & 7). We're there for 6 days, but we are staying about 10 minutes off the strip. We've got lots of plans for things to do...Hoover Dam, Red Rock, Grand Canyon etc. We definitely plan on taking our girls into the strip during the day to do things there too, but we are a bit lucky because we will have my Mum with us so either her and me or me and my husband will head in at night to have a look around. I've had lots of friends and family saying it'll be fine having the girls there and that there's plenty for them to do.

Originally Posted by aussie shaz

There is a huge list of family friendly activities on the Las Vegas Tripadvisor site (just don't post on there that you're taking your kids. You'll get flamed!)

I agree...they are VERY anti-kids on that site.

We are well aware of what Las Vegas is all about, but like to think that we are sensible enough to gauge whether somethings appropriate for our girls or not... isn't that what we do all the time as parents

(gotta say I'm quite excited about M & M world!!! )

[Marlea98]

We will probably go back again but without the kids and if we had to take the kids we'd avoid evening times. The homeless situation is also hard to take, too.

[Andona]

It's not just the homeless people , it's the porn slappers that made me feel uncomfortable walking the strip when my kids were young. They're the guys that push brochures for hookers into the hands of your 8 year old

If your kids are uncomfortable in crowds them the strip at night can be a bit scary for them, the place is packed.

Andona

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[Marlea98]

Yes, even holding both of my kids' hands the slippers still insisted on giving him those cards

[WanderlustNZ]

Originally Posted by Andona

It's not just the homeless people , it's the porn slappers that made me feel uncomfortable walking the strip when my kids were young. They're the guys that push brochures for hookers into the hands of your 8 year old

I agree. Even when they aren't passing you their cards and brochures, there is no way of avoiding them. They're usually littered all over the footpath.

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

I must be blind because I didn't see any homeless people and yet some of you are saying it was rife. I need to get my eyes checked . Perhaps we were just lucky. We probably didn't do lots of "strip" walking at night, not sure if that was when it was more obvious.

I had heard about the people handing out cards to "shows" but we didn't have much trouble with that either. The streets were very crowded though and it was damn hot, that I know.