What Happens in Vegas Leaves Vegas
Loading ...I’ve been going to Vegas for more than 30 years and have seen the transformation. Long ago, people got dressed up at night to go to shows and dinner. Women wore dresses, men wore suits. Shows were elaborate and restaurant waiters donned tuxedos while music was playing in the background.
Then came the Mirage and the beginning of the destination resorts. With it came the strollers, kids and Disney crowd. Resorts added amusement parks, zoos, water parks and more kids and strollers came.
But along the way, the gamblers in the casinos finally got irked enough by parents with strollers that thought they were motorcyclists who could weave their way in and out without courtesy to others. Casinos reacted and removed the amusement parks, water parks and free kids meals.
Then Vegas started advertising to adults and that prompted their new tag line, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” Ultra clubs, dresses barely covering, topless pool clubs flourished.
Then came October 2008. Business crashed and visitors dropped from 36 Million to 28 Million annually. Hotel room rates plummeted and guess what happened? The Disney crowd came back.
So we are staying at Mandalay Bay for the beauty show and someone needs to tell me the following:
- Why do parents bring babies and kids under 14 to Vegas?
- Why do casinos allow strollers in the casino?
- Why do parents take their kids to the pool when it’s 120 degrees?
- They got rid of the bookstore and opened up a frozen yogurt store. There are over 40 flavors to select. You grab a large cup, pour whatever flavors you want and pay by the ounce. Why are people eating 16-24 oz. of yogurt?
- They got rid of a few slots and opened up a frozen daiquiri bar. You can select from 100 oz down to 24 oz. Why are people sucking down 100 oz. of sugar mixed with a bit of alcohol?
- They now have a new buffet promotion!! Pay only $39.95 and eat all day. That’s right. You can go for breakfast and eat unlimited pancakes, eggs, sausages, bacon, pastries and donuts. Then walk your kids in strollers for a couple hours around the casino and go back for lunch. Unlimited burgers, fries, pizza, barbeque and lots and lots of desserts. Yummy! Then take your kids down the Strip while it’s 120 degrees, cool off at M&M World then make your way back for dinner. Unlimited fried shrimp, fried chicken, more pizza and the huge sundae bar. Why?
I have never seen so many obese people as this last trip. Vegas is no longer about gambling, it’s about eating and eating humungous quantities. So they really need to rethink their advertising campaign since “What happens in Vegas really does leave Vegas,” all 10 pounds hanging out. Keep the bikinis and Speedos home!
Happy Thursday!
July 22nd, 2010 at 9:18 am
Larry, I do see your point about a place for children and strollers. I did, though, bring my boys to Vegas when they were 6 and 9 years old (they are, now, 19 and 22). We had a blast. It was inexpensive and there was tons to do. We kept places appropriate that we visited. We stayed in a condo off the strip. The only casino we visited with them was Circus Circus and even then, we stayed it the arcade area. When we did go to the casino to have adult time, we hired a nanny to stay with them. It wasn’t cheap but it was considerate. So my point is… it is the adults making selfish decisions regarding their children. I am the first to point out to management when unruley children are allowed to misbehave and ruin others’ experience.
July 22nd, 2010 at 9:23 am
I go to Vegas every year and that’s ALWAYS my biggest pet peeve. It’s sooo annoying to walk down the strip at all hours of the night and see strollers and little kids everywhere, sometimes even at 1 or 2 in the morning! Ugh!
July 22nd, 2010 at 9:34 am
that made me hungry.
Vegas is an adult vacation….enough said. take the kids to Disney World when they’re young, & when they’re of age take them to Vegas to do all of the grown folks stuff. Why expose childen to all bad things associated with gambling & Vegas? It’s equivalent to sitting them down in front of an R rated movie.
July 22nd, 2010 at 10:51 am
I love Disney, but I hate the strollers there too.
July 22nd, 2010 at 11:40 am
I got married at Mandalay Bay five years ago and from how you’ve described it, I don’t think I’d recognize it now. It was gorgous, 5 star all the way. We were there in May when the kids were still in school, but I cannot imagine what it would be like to be walking through a casino with a bunch of kids running around. There wasn’t a resturant in the hotel that would cost $39 for a meal, let alone for an entire day of eatting. Seems things have really changed out there!!!
July 22nd, 2010 at 12:11 pm
Weather it be gambling or food, Vegas has always been about taking peoples money.
July 22nd, 2010 at 1:02 pm
I was just reading through this and it sounds very unappealing.
Vegas = Gluttony
July 22nd, 2010 at 3:08 pm
I have never been to Vegas. As much as I would like to go, I just have never been able to afford it. I always end up spending my money more wisely… Like on bills and trips to see the family.
Don’t get me wrong I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY want to go! I think getting to experiance it once would be just enough for me. One Day!
And as for the question for kids in Vegas, there are places I am sure, but everywhere it seems you need to be 21. It would be pretty boring for a kids who isn’t.
July 22nd, 2010 at 4:46 pm
It’s all about the Money Baby!! It’s a Corporate world out there and if bringing back families with their kids is gonna sell THEY WILL GO THERE!!
Once the economy picks back up way up they will dump the family enticement and go back to the old ways, WHY? Because they can.
We all knew the answer to that question but it is always fun to blog about.
July 22nd, 2010 at 8:04 pm
idk, that $40 buffet sounds pretty good to me!! esp at 4am. The real question is why are you at the Mandalay Bay???
July 22nd, 2010 at 8:21 pm
Exactly, who has the moolah to go to Vegas anyways? With Bills and Braces and Funerals to pay for? I would love to go to Vegas someday also, but Im saving my moolah for Australia or Ireland, culture and scenery. Someday, Someday… but my someday will come, I first will enjoy my children growing up and hopfully wanting to join us on our trip, as a family. That is the most satisfying to us, our boys enjoying the company of their parents and wanting to endevour our company. Family is #1, no money or trip can take that away, in the end family is all you have!
If you have not any money at least you have your family:) No trip no problem a bonfire in the backyard and some conversation…
July 23rd, 2010 at 8:43 am
We are going to Vegas in March for my cousin’s wedding. I have never been before. My whole family is going including my brothers who are 18, and 20. I know they obviously can’t gamble unless they are 21…but does anyone know if they are still allowed in those such places? Thanks.
July 23rd, 2010 at 8:50 am
Where does everybody get the idea that Vegas is expensive? It is one of the cheapest get a way vacation spots on the planet. Espescially now because they are not getting the people there. Just like every other vacation destination. You can get really nice rooms on the strip for 39.00 to 59.00 per night just about anywhere. Breakfast for 2.99, Ninety-nine cents for a hot dog and a draft beer ( my personal favorite). Then all you can eat dinner buffet for around 10.00! While you gamble the drinks are all free. And it doesnt take a million dollars to be able to gamble. I take a couple hundred to gamble for 3 days total…Very rarely do I ever leave that town without making enough to pay for most of the trip or even come home with money. As for the comments that Vegas is all about the money…OF COURSE IT IS! They are not in business to lose money. Just like any other business, but you can still have the time of your life for 2-3 days for thousands less than a place like Disney! Ever try to feed a family of 4 at Disney…Huh! your lucky to get out of there for less than 150.00! Vegas is not for everybody… Its fast paced, wild, and never ever sleeps. You can get anything you can imagine for a price. It’s a place I will continue to visit as often as possible.
July 23rd, 2010 at 8:51 am
As sad as all this reality is, I actually got a good laugh out of this post. I, myself, have an 8 year old daughter, everything you described to me is just unimaginable to me.
I would never dream of bringing my child to Vegas (it seems like eating, eating, eating is the selling point for bringing a kid to Vegas), let alone pump her full of an assembly line of non-stop food.
That’s why places like Disneyworld, Cedarpoint, Sea World (what have you) are created – for kids, for families. And there are reasons why places like Vegas are created – for adults.
I don’t believe the original intent for Vegas was ever to be a fine line between a playground for adults and a playground for kids. Could you imagine what the Rat Pack would have thought if a whole gaggle of kids, mom, dad, and a stroller with a crying baby came in to one of their shows?
July 23rd, 2010 at 9:14 am
As a parent I feel there are places where it’s inappropriate to bring my kids. I’m taking my first trip to Vegas in September and the kids will stay home with grandma (we’ll all have a better time that way). I love my children but it’s good to get away and have some adult time once in a while. When I am going some place meant for adults and leaving my kids at home, I certainly don’t want to have to deal with someone else’s crying or bored kid.
As for the all day buffet…how can someone eat all that greasy, fattening food in 120 degree heat? It makes me ill thinking about it.
July 23rd, 2010 at 9:41 am
i’m pretty sure these buffets have more to offer than fattening foods…choose what’s best for you.
July 26th, 2010 at 4:29 pm
I had a great time when I went to Vegas and I didn’t have a problem with children at my hotel. I do agree that kids should not be in Vegas. What is there really for them to do? Think about it…..Vegas is all about the strip, the night life, the hotels and the casino’s. Who would think these things are fitting for a child? Plus you figure in the flight there and home..who wants to have crabby, overtired, crying, whiny children while cruising through the clouds? Surely not me. I say keep them home!