Anybody been to Vegas with small kids?

[5ofus]

What were your favourite things to do? I've read the guide books, trawled the internet, but nothing has really jumped out at me. Our three boys will be 2,4 and 6 and we'll be involved in a bit of weddingy stuff, but we'll have at least a couple of days where we have most of the day to ourselves. I want to do some outlet shopping (planning on shodding my kids for the next couple of years!), but am open to ideas and suggestions.

The boys are heavily into Pirates so we'll try and catch the Treasure Island show one night (do they still do that?), but apart from that...?

 

[WAMUMOF4]

What were your favourite things to do? I've read the guide books, trawled the internet, but nothing has really jumped out at me. Our three boys will be 2,4 and 6 and we'll be involved in a bit of weddingy stuff, but we'll have at least a couple of days where we have most of the day to ourselves. I want to do some outlet shopping (planning on shodding my kids for the next couple of years!), but am open to ideas and suggestions.

The boys are heavily into Pirates so we'll try and catch the Treasure Island show one night (do they still do that?), but apart from that...?

Sign up to Oshkosh I had the most fun at there stores at the Vegas outlets we got $1200 worth of clothes for $250 oshkosh for boys

 

[aussie shaz]

My boys were 10 and 8 when we went. Just be aware that the Treasure Island show is now quite different to what it used to be. Now its more about the scantily clad wenches than pirates!

We went to a cheap Magic show which was great. It was the Nathan Burton show. They would probably enjoy that. There is also the water show at the Belagio, the Volcano at The Mirage.

If you look at the Las Vegas Tripadvisor site, there is a sticky about things to do with kids. There is heaps of stuff. Just don't worry about what people say about taking kids to Vegas. Mine loved it, as did we.

 

[sarefromoz]

I've been but never with kids, but only three more months until we head over. My kids are desperate to go to the m&m store...seriously in all the things that are in Vegas, that's what they want to see the most .We've booked tickets to go O and plan to go to the tournament of the kings. My 6 year old dd is obsessed with Paris and the Eiffel Tower (thanks Barbie and your stupid fashion fairytale), so we'll probably head to Paris to check that out. Otherwise we don't really have anything else planned. Lots of walking around and seeing what family friendly things the hotels have to offer.

 

[Melbourne5]

We took our three boys who were 3,10&12 at the time. Loved it.

Favourites were ny ny hotel roller coaster and penny arcade, the indoor theme park out the back of the circus circus hotel, a helicopter trip to Grand Canyon, m&m world and all the shopping stuff too.

Plenty for kids and night time along the strip really good for free stuff, pirates, bel ago fountain, mirage volcano , gondola ride at Venetian .

We also saw lion king at Mandalay bay but don't think it's on anymore.

Would take them back in a flash.

 

[5ofus]

Thanks for the tips guys!

I actually looked the pirate show up after I posted the question and noticed it's more about the wenches than the pirates now My kids wouldn't notice though I don't think

Thanks for the tip on OshKosh, will definitely sign up.

M&M world will be a hit with my kids too I'm sure

I've been looking at a kids' museum which looks like a lot of fun too, so I might add that to the list. It's so hard to know how tired they'll be and how much they'll be up for! They usually go to bed at 7:30pm at home too, so night time stuff is probably out.

Probably the lions, tigers and aquarium too. I think we'll have a list and then play it by ear.

 

[aussie shaz]

When are you going? We went in August and it was about 43C every day. It really curbed our plans as it was just too hot to do a lot.

Also, most things don't open until about 11am, so if you're early risers, don't plan anything but pool time until then. Maybe the outlets would open earlier.

Most of the fun stuff is after dark. You'll be amazed how the kids stand up to the late nights.

 

[5ofus]

I admit, I am worried about the heat. We're going the second week of September so it could still be very, very hot. Didn't know most places don't open until later - but it usually takes us about two hours to get out the door on any given day so that should be fine

 

[Marlea98]

My boys were 10 and 8 when we went. Just be aware that the Treasure Island show is now quite different to what it used to be. Now its more about the scantily clad wenches than pirates!

We went to a cheap Magic show which was great. It was the Nathan Burton show. They would probably enjoy that. There is also the water show at the Belagio, the Volcano at The Mirage.

If you look at the Las Vegas Tripadvisor site, there is a sticky about things to do with kids. There is heaps of stuff. Just don't worry about what people say about taking kids to Vegas. Mine loved it, as did we.

My then 9 year old son got chosen to be the audience participant onstage at Nathan Burton. It made my very shy child's trip and to this day we are still boggling over how Nathan Burton did the things he did It's a great show and very family friendly. Keep in mind you can't bring drinks in, they must be bought inside the theatre. There are also photo ops and signings after the show plus things to buy.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Caseheidi]

It has been years since our last visit, so not current info, but the aquarium at Mandalay Bay was great as well as the Secret Garden at the Mirage. We had no idea there were dolphins in Vegas.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

I haven't been to Vegas with kids, but I did do a few kid-friendly things during my last 2 visits. Firstly though, I will say that I haven't been to Vegas in about 6 years. I know how quickly it changes, so anything I suggest below may not actually exist anymore or may look a lot different to when I was there. So perhaps take my suggestion with a pinch of salt.

As suggested above, the big cats exhibit in the Mirage was interesting, as was the fish at Mandalay Bay.

Also, I thought the indoor garden and the blown glass inside the Bellagio were both beautiful and potentially interesting for kids.

The pirates show has featured scantily clad woman for quite a long time - at least as long as 9 years which is how long ago I first saw the show. It is/was (?) also a prime spot for pick-pockets as the crowds on the pavement can get shoulder to shoulder. Part of me thinks the show would be okay for young kids as their naivety would see beyond the skimpy outfits, while the other part of me thinks it's an area that's best to avoid.

I also remember there used to be a free show each day inside Caesars Palace Mall that featured the gods (Zeus etc). It wasn't hugely memorable, and I'm not even sure it still exists. But if you're in the area, and it still happens each day, it could be worth checking out. Similarly there is/was a free mardi-gra in the sky at Rio. It was colourful and may appeal to kids (although once again, it featured scantily clad woman)

Lastly there was the light-canopy show in the old part of Vegas (sorry name escapes me). I wasn't that fond of the area, it felt a bit seedy, but the show was enjoyable considering it was free.

 

[Caroline NZ]

We are thinking of the Titanic Artefacts Museum. Also the Love show.

 

[cola]

The pirate/sirens show, the boat the pirates comes from the northern end of the 'sea' so if you do watch it that might be the best end to be. It gets really crowded, I'm not sure how small kids would manage.

There is a chocolate shop in the Bellagio with a chocolate river, overhead in perspex tubes. It probably goes well with the M&Ms.

The lions are gone from MGM now, but there is a lion park in Henderson now open, if they were the lions you were thinking of.

Red Rock Canyon might be worth looking for a nearby national park.

Your kids are too small for the NY NY coaster, but I'll say it's one of the roughest coasters I've been on. I like smooth fast coasters more than rough ones.

 

[wiigirl]

It has been years since our last visit, so not current info, but the aquarium at Mandalay Bay was great as well as the Secret Garden at the Mirage. We had no idea there were dolphins in Vegas.

 

[Kristin5]

We went in September 2011 with DS who was 4 (nearly 5). And he loved it!

We stayed at the Paris hotel because for some reason (we still don't know why!) DS adores the Eiffel Tower. He actually had a fall on our first day there, outside our hotel, so they gave us a free trip to the top of the Eiffel tower, and he really enjoyed that. (Yes, they were worried we might sue them so they bent over backwards to make us happy for our entire stay).

He also loved M&M world and it is at the top of his list for a repeat visit. There is a movie theatre there where they show a 20 min M&M movie, a real hit!

There is the Circus Circus casino which has heaps of stuff for kids, including rides and games. More daring kids might also like the ride at Stratosphere and the rollercoaster at New York New York (but I don't know what the height requirements are).

DS also liked the pirate show at Treasure Island and the Volcano at Mirage. Oh, and the water fountain show at Bellagio. There are the white tigers to see at Mirage as well.

There was a show-type thing at Rainforest Cafe too, which DS enjoyed.

But the whole of Vegas is fun for kids - there's so much to see!

 

[aussie shaz]

My then 9 year old son got chosen to be the audience participant onstage at Nathan Burton. It made my very shy child's trip and to this day we are still boggling over how Nathan Burton did the things he did It's a great show and very family friendly. Keep in mind you can't bring drinks in, they must be bought inside the theatre. There are also photo ops and signings after the show plus things to buy.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

My son was also chosen. He loved it and we still talk about how he was in a Vegas show at 10!! We loved Nathan.

 

[viaggiamo]

We were in Vegas in October as DH had a convention to attend. We stayed for 5 nights. I had been before pre-kids, so this was a different trip for sure!

We loved:

M&M factory
Acquarium at Mandalay bay; this was really really good.
The bellagio tree (he talks), the foyer there and the chocolate shop.
Had a gondola ride, complete wth singing opera lady, at the Venetian.
We went to the Dolphin "zoo" at Mirage, but it was really sad and I would go back there again.
We loved the outlet shopping.
If we were there longer we would have done a helicopter tour at night to see the lights.
Bellagio fountains at night.
We also swam and the Mandalay Bay pools are cool.

That said, I don't love Vegas and don't think I'd take our children back there again. It's a place you either love or hate I think...

Have fun.

 

[5ofus]

We were in Vegas in October as DH had a convention to attend. We stayed for 5 nights. I had been before pre-kids, so this was a different trip for sure!

We loved:

M&M factory
Acquarium at Mandalay bay; this was really really good.
The bellagio tree (he talks), the foyer there and the chocolate shop.
Had a gondola ride, complete wth singing opera lady, at the Venetian.
We went to the Dolphin "zoo" at Mirage, but it was really sad and I would go back there again.
We loved the outlet shopping.
If we were there longer we would have done a helicopter tour at night to see the lights.
Bellagio fountains at night.
We also swam and the Mandalay Bay pools are cool.

That said, I don't love Vegas and don't think I'd take our children back there again. It's a place you either love or hate I think...

Have fun.

I feel the same about Vegas. I've been once already sans kids, and always said once was enough. If it wasnt for our close friends getting married we wouldn't be going, but then again, the wedding is giving us the chance to 'stop in' at Disneyland. For ten days. LOL

 

[Marlea98]

My son was also chosen. He loved it and we still talk about how he was in a Vegas show at 10!! We loved Nathan.

How cool! He's got his autographed pic in a frame on his desk

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[viaggiamo]

I feel the same about Vegas. I've been once already sans kids, and always said once was enough. If it wasnt for our close friends getting married we wouldn't be going, but then again, the wedding is giving us the chance to 'stop in' at Disneyland. For ten days. LOL

If I "had" to go to wing a trip to DL and the USA, then I would sacrifice myself too.

Have fun. There is alot to do with children and we filled 5-6 days easily. Definately go to the northern (I think) outlets: the ones with the more upscale brands as these are much much better than the other ones. Great shopping!