Why,why,why do people bring kids to Las Vegas?

[debden]

Just back from my first trip ever to Las Vegas. I've decided I'm definitely a Disney girl! I couldn't get over the number of people who brought their small children to LV. I was disgusted with the way they had to walk through the very smokey casinos with the baby strollers and toddlers in hand. Even the outside show at Treasure Island was R-rated. I felt so bad for the little boy beside me thinking he was going to see a pirate show - it was alot of women in skimpy costumes and "pirates" doing the bump and grind! I think Las Vegas is a great place for adults to let loose and have some fun, but leave the kiddos at home with gramma!

Yeah I remember a long time ago Vegas used to be exclusively an adult playground but not any more! They've made it kid friendly too!! I don't think all of the hotels are kid friendly.Some still cater to mostly adults but alot have included kid friendly programs.
Debbie

 

[Freyja]

It doesn't bother me when people bring kids to Vegas, but what really bothered me was at 3 a.m. in the Venetian an obviously drunk father was pushing his infant from table to table running the stroller into pretty much everything in the vacinity while the poor baby tried to sleep. That was pretty ridiculous.

Now that is ridiculous and pretty disgusting as well. I certainly hope that´s not the image people have in their heads when I tell them I take my kids to Vegas.

 

[mommaU4]

Horrible parent checking in! I took my kids to Vegas, heck we took them to see the early show of Sirens at TI too!! They were 8, 3, 10 months.

My three at the Venetian - their happy place outside of Disney.

DD(4) decided after that trip that she wants to move to Vegas and work there, it's her dream.

We stayed at MGM with them, and two nights at the Venetian. For the Saturday night we were there we moved out to Lake Las Vegas though for some quiet.

They LOVED LOVED LOVED Vegas to the point of being pissed when DH and I took a parent only trip in August. I think they were mostly mad because they were missing out on the In-N-Out burgers DH and I took turns going to the casinos at night while we were there and we made sure the kids were in bed at a normal time. On our parent only trip I was shocked at how many people were out at midnight with little ones on the strip! Our first trip I just didn't see the strip at midnight. We were back in the room by 9!

My kids loved Sirens of TI!! And we all love In'n'Out. I even started a thread the other day about how I missed those burgers so much now. BUT soon enough we will be able to get some once again, when we move there this June!

Oh, and I think I can top you for "horrible parent". I took a pic of my son with some showgirls while we were waiting for a magic show. They are fully covered and don't reveal anymore than what you see on the beach.

 

[mommaU4]

Now that is ridiculous and pretty disgusting as well. I certainly hope that´s not the image people have in their heads when I tell them I take my kids to Vegas.

I hope not too. And a parent like that, who is so obviously irresponsible, probably acts like that at other places too, not just Vegas. Maybe they stumble around drunk at Epcot for all we know. It's the person, not the place, IMO.

 

[Freyja]

I hope not too. And a parent like that, who is so obviously irresponsible, probably acts like that at other places too, not just Vegas. Maybe they stumble around drunk at Epcot for all we know. It's the person, not the place, IMO.

Exactly!!!

 

[hydster]

Dh and I go to Vegas a lot. We have stopped in Vegas with our kids on the way to and from Disneyland and our kids loved it. Of course before we went we sat them down and explained some of the things that happen like the porn slappers. Our kids loved the fun atmosphere of it and had a blast watching the Bellagio fountains while eating at the Paris Mon Ami Gabi for dinner outside on the patio.

Yes there were some things I wish my kids didn't see like the porn cards but they saw them and we explained what they were to them on their levels and they were just fine with it. And to avoid a lot of the porn slappers we rode the monorail instead of walking the strip. They still got to see the strip but we avoided long walks, crowded sidewalks and the porn slappers for a good portion of the trip.

Walking through the casino with kids is not a big deal usually unless mom or dad decide to pop in a few bucks because then the kids can't be there and security will escort you and your children out. Most of the hotels you can go in and out of without having to go through the main casino area IF you are willing to look for those entrances or exits.

My oldest is really into art so we took them to the art exhibits at Venetian and Bellagio. Wasn't a problem with any of them and they enjoyed seeing Monet and other impressionists. They loved the fact that they got to see the "world" in 1 place. Where else can you go from NY to Paris to the Knights of the Round Table to Venice and on and on. They also loved Madame Tussauds Wax Museum and Magic Merlin at Excalibur because the ride sim changes every hour. It was cheap and entertaining for them. We took them to FAO Schwartz and they bought a few things to play with but the 3 level store was great fun and we all had some good times.

For us it was a positive experience but we don't make a habit out of it and I don't know that I'd want to take a small child in a stroller or one that still needs a nap because it would just be a pain in the rump to *us*. Our kids were 12, 10 and 7 this last time we went.

If a parent wants to go and party and gamble until all hours of the night then by all means leave the kids at home. If you can do a little "partying" with the kids in tow and still make it fun for the adults as well then I say go for it!

Any destination CAN be kid friendly if the parent does their homework first. If you know going in what to expect you can tailor your trip with your kids to one that will be enjoyable for all of you. If you go with unrealistic expectations then yes it may not be such a great idea or fun for anyone.

 

[KikiFan]

The things you cannot do with children far outweigh the things you can do with children on the LV strip. Anything that you go to Vegas for is not worth going if you have kids because you can't do them. If you think otherwise, you are just fooling yourself. If you are into taking your kids for shopping, shows, tigers, botanical gardens and coasters, just go to NYC. In all our trips to LV, I have never seen kids at the restaurants we go to, the spa, the shows and they definately are not allowed in the casino...to be honest, I have seen very few children at the pools. There already is a Vegas for kids, it's called Disneyworld.

My parents took us to Vegas when my brother and I were kids. We were driving cross country and we stayed there for 2 days....we hated it. There was nothing for us to do, and this was during the "family" time in Vegas. My parents wanted to gamble - and who could blame them - but they did not want to leave us behind or give us money and let us go. I remember Circus Circus....it sucked, and that was a long time ago when that place was a big selling point.

Well I'm sorry that you had such a bad experience there as a kid, and I can understand how that colors your opinion. But I have to disagree with you, there are lots of things, to do with kids in Vegas. Especially, since most Vegas trips are three or four days. I've taken my daughter to Vegas three times and she loves it, second only to Disney. She loves simulator rides and Vegas has plenty, she loves seeing and experiencing things like the gondola ride or the Pharohs tomb in Luxor, seeing the tigers or the living statues. As for NY, it's a heck of a lot more expensive then Vegas.

Sadly it's a handful of negliegant parents that make the rest of us look bad. But those same parents are at Disney too.

 

[goofygirl]

Why would I need a warning for that? All it means, is that there´s a lot more space for my 2 strollers

I just noticed you're from Iceland- WOW!! You come a long way! Iceland is a place I'd like to see sometime before I die, it intrigues me.

 

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

Oh, and I think I can top you for "horrible parent". I took a pic of my son with some showgirls while we were waiting for a magic show. They are fully covered and don't reveal anymore than what you see on the beach.

 

[Freyja]

I just noticed you're from Iceland- WOW!! You come a long way! Iceland is a place I'd like to see sometime before I die, it intrigues me.

That´s also the reason I can´t just leave my kids with their grand-parents while us adults spend a week-end in Vegas. We went to Vegas for 3 nights when we visited So-California for 2 weeks last easter. After all it takes us approx. 15 hours to get there.

You should definately come and visit Iceland. It´s a beautiful country.

 

[mommaU4]

OMG!! That's too funny!! It's like some kind of then and now pic or something!!!


Freya,
15 hours????? Holy crap! I don't think I could do that! Well, maybe for Vegas I would. LOL

 

[Jynohn]

I just returned yesterday from my first trip to Vegas, and while the kids there didn't bother me at all, it definitely made me re-think my plans to stop there on our trip out west next summer. More than anything, it's the smoke everywhere that would make me think twice. It was unavoidable no matter where we went, and I had a sinus headache the entire trip. I felt bad seeing some of the babies there with clouds of smoke hanging all around them.

I could see where parents could still have a good time with kids in tow, but it just wasn't the place for me. It's the first trip I've ever been on where I actually couldn't wait to go home. Made me homesick for Disney!

 

[disneysteve]

More than anything, it's the smoke everywhere that would make me think twice. It was unavoidable no matter where we went, and I had a sinus headache the entire trip.

I agree 100%!! This is the main thing that keeps us from visiting Vegas. The smoke is absolutely impossible, even walking the strip outdoors. And forget breathing inside the casinos.

At least in Atlantic City now, smoking is banned everywhere except on the casino floor, so you can escape the smoke by walking a short distance.

If Vegas passed a similar ban, we would be much more likely to go back more often.