Las Vegas, been there with kids?

[SueM in MN]

The pirate show someone mentioned in a pp is now called Sirens and I wouldn't call it especially kid friendly. You can see videos of it on youtube.

10 years ago Vegas was trying to be family friendly. They have since changed their minds.

Oh, yes.
Not kid friendly.

My DH and I went to Vegas 18 months ago. He had been before and was telling me about the pirate show and how it was pretty interesting.

So, we went and found it was interesting in a whole different way. I was surprised they could have a show like that out in the open. I felt really bad for the parents who were getting a LOT of interesting questions:
Like: Why are there only girls on that boat?
What do the girl pirates want the boy pirates to do?
Why are the girl pirates dancing like that?

So, not kid friendly at all.

 

[almacdonald]

I take my kids all the time, they have been many times since birth - but I'm also from Vegas and my family still lives there - so not exactly the same.


But -

My kids still like to do the fun stuff. Hoover Dam is kinda cool to go to. All the hotels are pretty neat to walk through. There are flamingo's for free at the Flamingo Hilton, A lion at the MGM (for free), Animal habitat (small) and Dolphins at the Mirage. There is a cool exhibit with trains, and everything is done in flowers or bark, etc. at the Bellagio -also the fountains out front and I love looking at the blown glass above the check-in area at the Belagio. The Volcano at the Mirage. The light show at the Down-town covered area, there is a small (not really worth it in my opion) aqaurium.

There are lots of things to do - how old are they?

The Bellagio doesn't take kindly to kiddies wandering around.

Honestly, Vegas is an adult vacation, where adult activities are allowed to take place, you're allowed to walk around with open liquor and there are people handing out escort flyers on every corner. I expect there to be kids when going to a place like Disney but in Vegas, kids are a PITA and I hate when people complain that something in Vegas isn't kid friendly... IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE!

 

[MrsPete]

I've got to side with the "not for kids" side.

Yes, some kid-friendly things can be found in Vegas -- pretty much, every hotel has something; however, these things are in the midst of BUNCHES of adult-entertainment, and they're not close together at all. So if you want to take your kids to see the lion cubs, the pirate show, the sharks, and all the other kid-type stuff, you're going to see one attraction, walk the better part of 1/2 mile . . . see one attraction, walk the better part of 1/2 mile . . . see one attraction, walk the better part of 1/2 mile. And to leave most of the attractions you must walk through the casino (no accident). Kids can walk through the casino, but they cannot go over to the machines -- usually the carpet is arranged with a "path" to follow to the exit. And then there's the cigarette smoke.

Yes, there is SOME kid-friendly stuff in Vegas, but don't get the impression that it's a family destination.

 

[luckey-lasvegas]

You can make up your own mind on the kid friendly thing. Is it Disneyland not by a long shot, but there are tons of family things to do. I just wanted to add one other plus to Mandalay Bay, The Lion King will be opening in a few months!!!

 

[Tasscrapper]

I just wanted to add my opinion that the TI pirate show is definately not G rated . . . more like R. I had been really excited to see it and dragged hubby there since we were staying at TI but I found it blantant, boring and not fun at all. We had to wait through the whole show to move because of the crowds. It was the one thing we felt was wasted time while we were there.

I'll be stopping there on my way home from Disneyland for one day to spend some time with a friend and we plan on taking the kids to the M&M factory/store which is really cool but that is it except possibly the Bellagio fountains.

 

[mamacatnv]

I took DS to Vegas when he was 12, we did the following:

We stayed at Treasure Island.
We wandered thru several of the hotels with some of the highlights being the Mirage where we saw the tigers, the flower gardens a the Bellagio, The laser light show at the Fremont Street experience and the Pirate and Volcano shows.
Rode the Coaster at NY NY (twice)
One night at midnight we went to Kahunaville (in TI) and had "virgin" drinks and appetizers. We watched the show the bartenders put on and ordered fancy foo-foo drinks.
A gondola ride at the Venetian, we then window shopped and enjoyed pastry on the square.
The Ceasar forum shops.
M&M Museum - that was fun!
The King Tut exhibit at the Luxor - heck, I pulled him out of school, had to toss in something educational!
The aquarium at Mandalay Bay. Love the clear see thru floor although it gives me the willies.
We went looking for and "pee'd" in a bathroom that was on the Travel Channels 10 best bathroom shows (it was in the Mandalay).

I know that Vegas has shifted away from "family friendly" I think there are lots and lots of things to do with kids, however the focus of the hotels on the strip is to cater to the adults. Take your kids, but don't be shocked by what they may see. It's certainly not DisneyLand but it's also not Bourbon St. in New Orleans or the Red Light Districts of Asia.

Don't forget to gamble a little - it's what keeps this state running and we need the bucks!

 

[everylastbreath]

I have to side with the "not for kids" opinion. Yes, although there is a few family friendly activities, a lot of them are not by the strip (Hoover dam, Grand Canyon). The ones on the strip require walking past those people who are handing out pretty raunchy materials, and you will in spots see them all over the street. Circus Circus does have some rides for kids, but in general the hotel is a total dump and I wouldn't want to be there at night, that part of the strip is not really the "best" area. Me personally I would never bring a kid to Vegas, just not something I would want my child exposed to.

Oh, one more thing I had to add - Check what is in town the week you go, we were there one week that the "adult movie awards" were in town, and boy the stuff we saw on the streets!

 

[ronandannette]

We just got back last week...self, DH and DS (12). Actually it IS kind of like Disney...only with a mean streak. I couldn't believe how frantic and busy the Strip was during the day. It's also pretty hard to navigate from one hotel to the next as you have to travel via an unending series of escalators and skywalks. You can't get to any indoor attraction without traversing a gigantic casino, and time has no meaning as you're just as likely to encounter drunks and hookers at 11:00 a.m. as 11:00 p.m.

We actually stayed out in Primm Valley, at Buffalo Bill's, which turned out to be a VERY plesant surprise. It's connected to the area's other resorts and outlet mall via a really neat monorail. The gaming and nightlife were relatively low-key there, and the staff were very hospitable to children. It was an excellent property with it's own amusement park, food court, arcade and movie theater. We found these facilities to be equal or better in quality than those in the Excalibre, Circus Circus and New York New York, which we also tried.

Our activities included the Shark Reef at Mandalay, Tournament of Kings dinner at Excalibre, a visit to Red Rock Canyon, a round of golf at Angel Park and an afternoon split between M&M World and GameWorks (the MOTHER of all arcades).

We had a good time. We'll NEVER go back.

Annette

 

[RyJMom]

We are taking our kids 8 & 11 to Vegas for Spring Break. Hubby and I have been a dozen times without them so we know what to expect. We are flying into Vegas and spending the 1st night at the Luxor. We thought they'd think the pyramid is neat. We are getting up the next morning and going to the Grand Canyon. We will spend 1 night there in the park. We'll come back to Vegas late the following day and spend 2 more nights before coming home. I'm still up in the air as to which hotel for the last 2 nights but somewhere mid strip. I'm really looking forward to showing the kids Mom's favorite town. I've walked up and down the strip at all hours of the day and night and I've never really seen anything that shocking. I've never seen a porn slapper try to hand anything to a kid. Some of the billboards and ads are a little racy but we'll deal with that. Some of our must dos are: In & Out burger, Bellagio Fountains, M&M world, coaster at NY NY, rides on top of the Stratosphere. I've also heard good things about the Mac King show at Harrahs that we may try to go to. Sounds family friendly and cheaper than some of the other shows. I think as long as parents put the kids 1st Vegas can be a great family trip.

 

[dmked]

We just went in December. My kids (3 and 1) loved it. Our favorite was the tigers, lions and dolphins at the Mirage. The lions at the MGM were cool too. We went to Circus Circus, it was ok, but my kids aren't really old enough for all the rides there.
Just be aware that there are people EVERYWHERE handing out little cards with half naked women on them. And the guys handing them out have backpack type signs with the same pictures. My kids are little and didn't even notice, but it was annoying all the people trying to get you to take their cards.

 

[luckey-lasvegas]

We are taking our kids 8 & 11 to Vegas for Spring Break. Hubby and I have been a dozen times without them so we know what to expect. We are flying into Vegas and spending the 1st night at the Luxor. We thought they'd think the pyramid is neat. We are getting up the next morning and going to the Grand Canyon. We will spend 1 night there in the park. We'll come back to Vegas late the following day and spend 2 more nights before coming home. I'm still up in the air as to which hotel for the last 2 nights but somewhere mid strip. I'm really looking forward to showing the kids Mom's favorite town. I've walked up and down the strip at all hours of the day and night and I've never really seen anything that shocking. I've never seen a porn slapper try to hand anything to a kid. Some of the billboards and ads are a little racy but we'll deal with that. Some of our must dos are: In & Out burger, Bellagio Fountains, M&M world, coaster at NY NY, rides on top of the Stratosphere. I've also heard good things about the Mac King show at Harrahs that we may try to go to. Sounds family friendly and cheaper than some of the other shows. I think as long as parents put the kids 1st Vegas can be a great family trip.

The Mac King show is really good. Look for discount coupons or go to the tickets 4 tonight booth at M&M world.

 

[Tikitoi]

Mandalay Bay has Shark Reef. A nice aquarium to take the kids. There's also M&M store, Coca-Cola factory, the Gondolas at the Venetian were fun and we loved at the Mirage, they had the Secret Garden Exhibit.

 

[marvel]

Forget the naysayers, plenty to do with kids in Vegas if you plan properly and look after what you expose them to. which I am sure you will. We stayed at MGM and it was great, kids love just being in the pool, visiting the different casinos, toy shop in Caesars, Circus Circus arcade, different food courts, tigers at MGM, penguins at Flamingo (although that is now a bit lame) and the other venues already mentioned. Sirens at Treasure Island is not for kids as the resort has become a party resort rather than a pirate themed family oriented place. Red Rock Canyon is a short drive away and is also great if you are after some nature.

Sadly some parents do not research where they are going or seeing, but that happens everywhere, that is why these forums are so good. My kids now 10 and 8 have been to Vegas twice already, and love it.

Much more inappropriate stuff on tv and the internet.