Kid friendly hotels in Las Vegas--need suggestions please!

[Disneyatic]

We are planning on going to Vegas for about a week Spring Break of 2009.
I have been looking at different hotels and am not sure what would be the coolest one for kids. We'll have DD9 and DN12 with us.
I have stayed at Caesar's previously for business and it was really nice, but I think I would rather have something more fun.
I like Circus Circus, but it's pretty far off the main drag and I would like to stay in the middle of the action if possible so that we can mostly walk. I also think that Excalibur looks fun...
Can anyone offer suggestions or experiences??

[BrerGnat]

New York New York. The coaster will be right up their alley and the theming is cool.

MGM Grand may also be an option.

Mandalay Bay has an AWESOME pool (like Typhoon Lagoon, practically) but it's far down the strip, although there is the monorail to take you closer to the center.

I would definitely focus on the pool. In the summer, that is what the kids are going to NEED to do. Of all the hotels in Vegas, I think Mandalay Bay has the best pool area.

[andreallybadeggs]

I was not too impressed with Circus Circus when we visited LV...seemed a little run down although they certainly had some much better room rates than other resorts. We stayed in the Monte Carlo and were pleased with our choice...it was mid-range price wise, fairly well situated on the strip, the room was nice and clean and, while the pool could not compete with Mandalay Bay's, it was a very nice area with a lazy river kind of set up. Our daughter enjoyed it a lot. Have a great vacation.

[Mulan]

Our kids liked MGM. They liked spending time at the lion exhibit. Also there is a Rain Forest Cafe here. The pool was cool. They spent many hours on the lazy river. They want to stay at the Mirage next time they go. They like the dolphins there. We are booked there this Sept. (without kids) so I'll see how it is. The Excalibur looks cool. There is an arcade/carnival there if your kids like that and a Krispy Kreme.

[Pipalotta]

Circus Circus is no longer even there, it is now condos and such. Excalibur is even farther down the strip than Circus was. I agree with other people that the pool will be the most important thing. I would also like to warn you that many college students do go to Vegas for spring break as well, so be advised you may see more skin than you would expect, especially in areas where most people are fully clothed.

[Janet89]

Flamingo has a very nice pool and is right in the middle of the strip. They have areas with slides that the kids would enjoy. Mirage is not too far with their "Secret Garden". The Shops at Caesars is also very close. The rooms aren't special, but they were clean and typical for a hotel.
If you don't care about being in the center, go with MGM. We have not stayed there, but our friends have. They have a good pool with lazy river. As someone else mentioned, they have Rainforest Cafe. They are right across the street from NYNY, though the roller coaster has a pretty tall height requirement, 54", I think . . . Excalibur is right next to NYNY. I have heard their rooms aren't very good. Just heresay, though.

[sisterdisco]

First....I LOVE to gamble. . . .
I have tried to justify a family vaca to LV, but have gotten talked out of it every time.

LV used to advertise to families, but they don't anymore. When we went out there, there were a few things here and there for kids.....

The Excalibur had a midway style game area for the kids.

Be prepared.....there are people handing out cards w/ nudity and advertisements for unmentionalbles on them.

If Disney World opened a Casino in DTD wouldn't it be perfect?!

[Lorraine444]

Treasure Island?
I've been researching Vegas myself, I have a 13 year old boy..... There is much to see & places to go without gambling. Freemont Street Experience free, the colored musical water falls free.
The rides in hotels 10.00 a ride though. I would like to venture off to the Grand Canyon, they have a horseback riding in the Canyon with campfire & dinner for not that much $$.

[Janet89]

Be careful with the TI "show". I think it used to be geared toward families with a pirate theme. It is now a ship full of women with few clothes fighting another ship. I've heard of a few people being "surprised" when they took their children.

[RAIDER]

I would agree with the majority concerning New York New York and Excailbar for kids and depending what interests them you could possibly throw in the Luxor as it has the imax and virtual ride in their and Treasure Island

[KrystalR83]

I was just there in April. I stayed at the Circus Circus. There are many things there for kids to do. They have the Adventuredome that was always packed with kids and a fun arcade area. The downside to the Circus Circus is it is far down the strip and the room were kinda shabby.

We went to the Excalibur and I think that would be a great place to stay with your kids. The arcade there is huge.

[Jarrod]

Be sure to check out specials offered by Four Seasons. It is located at the top of Mandalay Bay, but has its own entrance. You can enter and leave Four Seasons and its private pool area without having to walk your kids through the Casino. The other cool thing is that you get free access to the Mandalay Bay pool and you get a discount to Shark Reef (our package included free tickets to SR) which the kids loved. We found that we could hang out for a while in the morning with our kids at the Mandalay Bay Pool, but by mid-afternoon the scene becomes a major meat market for the college kids. Not really what we wanted our younger kids to see, so we would move over to the Four Seasons pool area, which is also really nice and not a scene you have to worry about. FS caters to kids and welcomes them, where some of the other nicer vegas resorts discourage children by charging extra person charges for even the youngest guests. We really liked it because we could venture out during the day and see what we wanted to, but when the sun starts to set and the strip gets adult oriented, we could escape that scene with our kids. PLUS, this is an opportunity to spend a vacation at a real 5 star experience at a reasonable expense. Check it out

[MicMouse]

We went last spring with our 5 year old and two year old twins. Fortunately for us, my sister and brother-in-law live in Vegas, so we didn't have to worry about hotel accommodations.

With that said, Vegas definitely "ain't Disney World." Be prepared to see all kinds of things -- especially the things you probably wouldn't want your kids seeing. My 5 year old fondly remembers the huge billboard with the lady in the thong, as well as the business card sized ads for "ladies of the night" scattered all over the place.

Check out the Spongebob 3-D ride at the Excalibur and the gift shop at TI. New York New York is a neat place to walk around. Inside the Venetian is cool and there is a great magic shop there (I think its the Venetian) You could do the Madame Toussoud (sp?) wax museum and see the M&M store too.

Although Vegas isn't wholesome fun like WDW, you can still find a lot to do with your kids.

[NJGIRL]

This is just my opinion and I do not want to insult anyone but we were in Vegas Oct 2007 and my impression of Excaliber was not good.
We weren't in any of the hotel rooms but in the arcade and casino. The arcade was dirty and outdated and most of the games were broken.
We did really enjoy the Knight Tornament Show there.

We stayed at the Venetian and it was a great hotel but my suggestion for you would be Mandalay Bay. The pool/water park is wonderful. I also feel there is more to do for kids at that side of the strip. You have the MGM tigers there, the Luxor attractions, M&M store, the Mandalay aquaium.

We were there with my 10 year old so if you need any suggestions on what to do let me know.

[Cinderelley]

My first suggestion would be to pick a different place to go. Vegas definitely isn't catering to the "family" crowd anymore. But if you guys are really set on going, try to plan the things you want to do during the day where the "adult entertainment" isn't shoved in your face every few steps (yes, there are people on the sidewalk who literally hand you advertisements which are then mostly thrown onto the ground for all to see).

If you're happy with just any old hotel room, Circus Circus is great for the kids at a reasonable price. My kids loved Adventuredome at that age (but that was also when Vegas was more kid friendly.)

The pirate show in front of Treasure Island is called The Sirens of TI. It's about an all scantily-clad female ship battling an all male ship where they take the captain captive. If you do decide to watch it, get a spot early because it fills up. This is shown in the evening.

When we were there in March or April, the volcano at the Mirage was being worked on. I don't know if it's back up and running or not. The kids might enjoy seeing the animals here.

The water fountains at the Bellagio are very nice. I'm not sure kids would enjoy the atmosphere at the Bellagio to stay at though.

The Stratosphere has rides at the top if they are adrenaline junkies. It's at the far end of the strip though.

NY NY has the roller coaster. I think excalibur has the dinner with the "knights" competing.

It would help if you explained what the kids are interested in.

The monorail only runs on one side of the strip though. If you're planning on using it, you should also consider where the stations are at in relationship to the hotel you pick.