7/12: Stilettos & Strollers

[Al Lutz]

Dodging brides & bullets on a 7/7/07 Las Vegas visit: A look at casino theming & attractions, Part I. Discuss it here. (And don't worry that this is taking the place of a Disneyland update, it's not. We'll have one of those ready pretty soon. )

[SpokkerJones]

A review of Las Vegas? Not only that, but stuff that opened years ago?

This is definitely one of the more bizarre updates. And it's only part 1. Color me confused.

[Barbossa]

I finally got to go to Vegas for the first time this past April. Man, what a zoo. I stayed in Reno for three nights the day before going to Vegas. Reno is much more homely. After Vegas, we headed over to, where else, Disneyland.

[nish221]

"Since the Mirage went up"? Gee, Al, it sure has been a while...

I'm a little miffed that they sold Alladin shops and they're redoing it. That was one of my
favorite spots esp. the thunderstorm. Had very nice theming all around.

[Club 33]

Interesting article Al; unexpected to be sure. I go to Vegas 3 or 4 times a year, and have been doing so for a while, and it's been interesting to watch the progression from "Bring the Kids!" to "Don't Tell the Kids", so to speak. TI was the most interesting transformation: they renamed it from Teasure Island to TI (like Pleasure Island at WDW, oddly enough), painted the entire thing a dark red color, changed the pirate show to a burlesque-esque tease show (without nudity of course) and opened up several more clubs.

For me the most interesting thing in Vegas is how it's managed to get the best of dining (probably the most interesting restaurant city in the country right now) and entertainment (if you can get past the fact that all of the shows are cut to 90 minutes, it's practically the west coast Broadway).

[GrimGrinningGhost]

AHHHH - Vegas! Love and Hate - My wife loves it , I hate it...well maybe hate is too harsh, I tolerate it.

I suffer through these trips with her by looking for $1 Import beer and dropping by her table to collect her initial bankroll (hopefully) so she's playing with house money. This is HER Disneyland and I want to keep her happy!

[mrderp]

I personally found the theming in Paris to be less than a letdown when I went to Vegas, but I wholeheartedly agree that Bellagio is one of, if not the most, beautiful properties in the city. Beyond the glass sculptured lobby that Al showed is an atrium so beautifully planted that it will take your breath away. The Venetian was the only hotel that gave Bellagio a run for its money IMHO, but I imagine Al will cover that in the next part.

[duanedude1]

I can't believe that they are "re-theming" the desert passage into just another lame mall?! That's un-theming, not re-theming. They could have left the sky ceiling and truly re-themed the shopping area into old Hollywoodland, like Disney/MGM Studios was originally, or left it alone. That is a bummer. One thing I loved about Vegas was the theming at the resorts, not usually as immersive as Disney, but evidently inspired by it. With people able to gamble and see shows in their own backyards now, they have to out-do everyone else to keep people coming. The PH people have got to be blind not to see this. Is that why the company was in such dire straights financially? I have no idea why they wanted to buy the Alladin, was it just for the gambling? What a waste! By the way, as we are not huge gamblers, and didn't see any expensive shows when we were there a couple of years ago (Ms. Dione was out of our budget's price range). The theming and family-friendly attractions made the trip fun. If that is true, why were we there? For a taping of "Wheel of Fortune" at the mostly unthemed LV Hilton. My wife was a contestant in the same showroom where Elvis shook his pelvis. She won over 60 grand, so she was one of the few big winners to leave Las Vegas with a lot more than we came with. (actually untrue- they sent us the check later). We beat the house odds in the city that never lets you go home richer that you came.

[SpectroMan]

I welcome articles like this, even if some of the info is outdated - we're seeing it thru Al's eyes (although I'm HIGHLY surprised that he hasn't been there since 1989!)

The problem with Vegas today, to me, is simply the level of outdoing one another on the hotel/casino front. Whereas classics like Aladdin, Dunes, Frontier, Stardust, Sands, etc. stood for up to 60+ years, the Luxor is already getting stale and it's not even 20 yet - simply due to the fact that some of it's neighbors are doing bigger and better things. It seems, then, that the City is always going to be doomed to an implode/rebuild cycle that lets NO history remain unscathed.

[sir clinksalot]

Ugh, that Planet Hollywood mall looks TERRIBLE. The Aladdin shops were some of our favorites.

Sad, looks like every other mall in the world.

[Mr Ness]

Oddly enough, I was in Vegas on the 7th as well, attending a wedding with two other cast members. I personally hadn't been there in about a decade, and we were trying to put our fingers on how the execution of Las Vegas' theming differed from that of Disneyland's, since Las Vegas felt so much tackier.

We also did the Star Trek Experience that day, which, in a word, was amazing. The Klingon experience was much better than the Borg one, though.

[Experiment626]

Originally Posted by Club 33

TI was the most interesting transformation: they renamed it from Teasure Island to TI (like Pleasure Island at WDW, oddly enough), painted the entire thing a dark red color, changed the pirate show to a burlesque-esque tease show (without nudity of course) and opened up several more clubs.

I hate what they did with the Treasure Island. The logo at the entrance looks horrible with the big neon "TI" instead of the cool looking pirate skull. I just went last month and went through it and was saddened by it's new look.

[XterraceEmp]

Originally Posted by SpectroMan

The problem with Vegas today, to me, is simply the level of outdoing one another on the hotel/casino front. Whereas classics like Aladdin, Dunes, Frontier, Stardust, Sands, etc. stood for up to 60+ years, the Luxor is already getting stale and it's not even 20 yet - simply due to the fact that some of it's neighbors are doing bigger and better things. It seems, then, that the City is always going to be doomed to an implode/rebuild cycle that lets NO history remain unscathed.

<<Bold: mine>> According to the news this morning here in Vegas, The Luxor is due to be remodeled relatively soon. I had to go to work so I missed the story.

The problem with the Aladdin (now Planet Hollywood) and the Desert Passage is that the initial design of the Aladdin created traffic flow problems with pedestrians. It was too difficult for most visitors to locate the entrances to the casino (due to the extensive rock work and sidewalk paths) which is where most of the revenue is generated. Thats why in recent years before the PH buyout you would see giant signs that say "Casino Entrance". The whole interior of the Aladdin is now modern contemporary with clean lines, so its only natural to make the attached mall flow with similar style. They are completely reworking the front rock work as well.

I personally like the mall inside the Venetian more than Desert Passage. The new property to keep an eye on is The Palazzo which should open some time next year. The Palazzo is owned by the Sands Corp, who also owns the Venetian along with some property in Macao. Wynn will also be opening a new tower called Encore.

Soon to be gone is The New Frontier. I'm not sure if they are building another hotel/casino or if its going to be something to tie into the Trump property behind it.

The main item I wanted to touch upon and Al briefly spoke of was LBE's. I started a thread under Kevin's Columns called "Location Based Entertainment - Las Vegas" pre Al's Vegas update. I think it would be wise for Disney or any other company to build this type of environment on a scale that makes Circus Circus look like a county fair. I've heard that Disney, Knotts, Six Flags, Universal have been looking at land here in Vegas. Its second hand information and I don't know where my real estate friend heard it, but I think it would be great. There is NOTHING for local kids and families to do here in Vegas. The removed Wet N Wild and removed Scandia. As this city grows, entertainment for families aside from gaming environments is necessary....and an added benefit to those who travel here with kids.

[Experiment626]

Originally Posted by XterraceEmp

<<Bold: mine>> According to the news this morning here in Vegas, The Luxor is due to be remodeled relatively soon. I had to go to work so I missed the story.

I wonder if the giant addition of their lounge bar has anything to do with the remodel. I saw that when I went last month (that's where I stayed) and I did not like it at all. I hope they only remodel it to make it stay as the whole ancient Egyptian look, otherwise I just lost my favorite hotel forever.

[flynnibus]

wow. I haven't been up and down the strip in a few years. last trip we were in luxor and Mandalay bay for about a week and only went outside one time! and that was for dinner and back out in town.