goldenstate5

Judging that the ride isn't scheduled to open in 2016, it should be something huge. Test Track was only closed for 7 months, Maelstrom looks like it will be closed for closer to 15 months. Apples and oranges. TT got repainted and had some lighting, video and redressing of old sets. This redo will most likely rip out all the existing sets and install new ones surrounding the existing flume. Most likely some sophisticated AAs of Frozen characters. Not a tiny overlay, but 15 to 17 months seems about right.

Looks gorgeous! I read that the park was able to let in 2000 people, I really hope it reached that number today. This NEEDS to be a success to prove that an elaborate recreational pool... I'm sorry "Wet 'N Wild" won't win against something that actually looks professionally done.

The park looks amazing! I can't wait to see it in action with paying guests. Do you plan on getting the family tube slide up and running by the end of the season?

For reference, they announced the Calico and Camp Snoopy redos at the end of the summer correct? I'm guessing that's when we'll hear some news. This is what I'm truly excited about, as it could be something incredible and original. If they play their cards right, this could be a contender against Disney's 60th celebration.

Like Robb says, call Buffalo Bill's minutes before you drive out. They operate their rides like a permanent carnival: if so-and-so couldn't come in that day, well then shucks the Desperado just can't operate. Saturday is your best bet as that is a big money-making day for them. A rental car, of course, will be infinitely cheaper than a taxi and honestly I'd recommend it for the entire stay if you seek transportation for much of it. Aside from downtown (and unless you want to do some zip-lining... don't bother with downtown), the strip and yes, Primm too, boast free parking and it's not at all limited. Every single hotel property has gigantic parking garages so a spot is extremely easy to find. Due to the Adventuredome's summer hours you can about check out the park anytime. If you seek only one ride on Canyon Blaster and El Loco, I'd recommend going late and buying separate passes (I believe it's $8 for CB and $10 for Loco) and knocking them out in five minutes flat. Multiple rides I'd recommend the all-day pass which is just $29. Not sure which convention you're going to, but the prime convention centers (Sands and LV) are both within walking distance of Circus Circus. If you're close enough you could jog over there and actually do both in a single hour. Monday would actually be the BEST day to do this: little crowds and you don't have to plan your whole day around it. Manhattan Express I'd recommend going on Saturday night if you don't have a flight to catch. This is the one I'd be worried about a line (aside from the massive costs), not to mention you'll probably need a drink afterward to soothe the pain. While you're there you might as well check out the new outdoor mall they're constructing, which includes a brand-new lavish Hershey's Chocolate World. As for other things aside from gambling, it really depends on how much you're willing to spend. For every amusement that's free, there's another extremely costly one just around the corner. Since you will be spending most of your time at a convention and wanting to catch the four coasters I'd absolutely 100% recommend not to do the "strip walk". If your hotel is in the middle of the strip you may consider walking to either end which won't exactly kill you, but the entire thing will completely burn you out. It's not so much that it's a straight line but the fact that most hotel and resorts have gotten wise and force you to take detours into their casinos (cough cough City Center cough cough), making the walk even longer then it should be. A lot of hotels on the west side of the strip have free monorails between their properties if you do: make note of them and use wisely. Luxor has some pricey novelty exhibits like Bodies and Titanic, Excalibur has a midway/arcade/defunct simulator-in-cobwebs, Mandalay Bay has the Shark Reef aquarium that is literally the last thing you can reach on the strip, MGM Grand has... CSI the Experience (how the tried-to-be-mighty-has-fallen), Bellagio has its fountains... and then there's the ultimate tourist trap aka Showcase Mall/Hawaiian Marketplace. Unless you REALLY love M&M's avoid it like the plague. After about a dozen of malls that mix in high-end shopping with kitsch and novelty you finally get to the Linq which is fun (and new!) because it's mostly kitsch and has the High Roller, Brooklyn Bowl and Ghirardelli. High Roller is pricey, but the night view is totally worth it and it's a world-record holder right now so that's a plus. Across the street is Caesar's which has the Forum Shops containing the only animatronics on the strip... and Hangover merchandise. After that is the Venetian with pricey gondolas (they are both indoor and outdoor) that look romantic with a couple and hysterically pathetic with a single person. The Grand Canal Shoppes are a carbon-copy of the Forum Shops except without robots and with more water. (not to mention higher price tags) Outside the Venetian is the tiniest Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum ever built. I only mention this because right now it contains a cute 4D Marvel Avengers show at the very end... it's up to you if you think it is worth it. Back to the west side, The Mirage still has its volcano show at night and the indoor casino still features its lush greenhouse. You can also pay to visit the Secret Garden which contains tigers and dolphins. Next door is the Treasure Island. There's no show anymore. Everything there is being knocked down to build the zillionth shopping mall on the strip that will combine bars, restaurants, high end shopping and kitsch. Hooray. The only thing of note is that a tram will take you from TI to the Mirage. The Fashion Show Mall next door isn't attached to a property and aside from a neat and eclectic food court out front (not to mention "the cloud")... it's not much of mention either. About the north end of the strip is where things get a little depressing. Two flat lots lie on either side, one (which used to be the Stardust) is being made into Resorts World Las Vegas, the other (which used to be the original [and far superior] Wet n Wild) is... just collecting dust. The Sahara is also shut down and being turned into SLS. Quite literally it's just Circus Circus lying in between a vast wasteland. LVH and the Stratosphere lie at the very end of the strip. The Stratosphere will soak up a ton of cash if you let it. There's a fee to access the observation deck (it's double digits) and there's of course separate fees for the rides (also double digits). However there are tower packages available to reduce costs. If you're really terrified of heights but still want a thrill, ironically I'd recommend the big shot. It may propel you higher than any single ride on the strip, but at least it doesn't dangle you over the edge. Just off the strip, there's the Rio which also opened up a super-expensive zipline attraction that propels you from its tallest tower to the other... and then you go backward. Strangely enough, the entire experience has you facing AWAY from the strip. I'm not sure if I'd recommend however it is the tallest zipline available in the area right now. Otherwise, like I mentioned earlier be prepared for a lot of construction. Vegas is undergoing yet another transformation into a bizarre megalopolis that offers unlimited shopping (the city is trying to attain the notoriety of being the shopping capital of the world), a vast array of awe-inspiring and grand attractions (a far cry from the cutesy/Disney-wanna-be attempts of the 90s) and even a sports arena that is rumored to bring an NBA team into the city. And, of course, gambling and hotel rooms. Finally, gambling with $100 to $150 on the strip is really only worth it if you prepare to lose it all. However in case you do get lucky I'd first pick up a rewards card at any property you're staying with. It's free, and usually gives you discounts on any restaurants you dine at on said properties anyways. (many hotels are owned by the same corporation, especially MGM/Mirage and Caesar's) If you want your money to last, and you happen to pick up a rental car I'd recommend driving out east into Henderson. Local casinos such as Green Valley Ranch, Sunset Station (which just happens to be a stone's throw away from the soon-to-open Cowabunga Bay water park) and Fiesta Henderson offer cheaper minimums on all their tables which could easily give you at least an hour of play. If you're worried about gas, no worries as these hotels are only within 10 to 15 minutes driving distance of the strip on the 2-15 freeway. (by contrast, Primm is about 30 to 40 minutes out on the I-15) Hope this helps!

Drove by the park yesterday since I had to stop by the Galleria mall nearby. The slide tower that is up looks massive, lovely, colorful and GREAT and the buildings really are beautiful as well. So much better than Wet n Wild. I'm curious to see how it all gets built and gussied up by mid-June. I don't think any more time can be chewed out of the summer, so the best of luck to you, Shane.

Aren't they installing a new show in there? Either way, I'm in favor of anything that demolishes that horribly dated venue out of existence.

It's movie-based. The main room is filled with simulator pods. It's basically a version of The Simpsons Ride that's tamer and directed towards more younger guests. (though ironically it has the same exact height restriction as not only Simpsons, but Transformers as well) Did USF retain the stationary, height-friendly seats from Hannah-Barbera and Neutron? If so, why weren't they installed here?

This is pretty much dead-on for my thoughts. I worked for both SFMM and USH, so my thoughts on those two are a bit tainted. (although Six Flags truly is the worst theme park company to work for, period) Knott's is great but it's really more enjoyable as a group, whereas Disney works both on a personal level and in a group as well.

During spring break and summer the park goes til 10 PM or even midnight on weekdays. I've been in the dome around 5 PM on a winter night, and it is indeed dead as a doornail in there most of the time.

Hopefully. I've seen way too little advertising here. Has anybody else in the Vegas area even spotted a commercial for El Loco yet? Have yet to try the ride, and of course right when I get some free time the dang park closes for maintenance the entire week. Looks like a whallop, though. Although I'm still not sure what's more impressive: the ride, or the fact that they actually covered up the former Rim Runner drop with rockwork!

I can understand their point of view to an extent. A few weeks ago, I visited a Halloween attraction, and as we were about to go through a maze, one of my "companions" turned to me and said: "Just got to be total d-bags, that's how to conquer these things." However, the actions of the "GP" shouldn't give the scare actors, or other employees, the right to be even bigger d-bags. True, and I remained neutral on the subject, having never experienced it myself. Speaking of the giga rumors, I just feel the need to input that I was the first to tell my coworkers that Deja Vu was getting the boot back in August, thanks to the internet. My coworkers were shocked, heck even my supervisor was shocked, they basically had not heard anything. So fyi, I really wouldn't go by any regular old employee's word.

This past summer I worked as an usher in the SFMM entertainment department, and one day backstage I struck up a conversation with a stilt walker who does scare patrol during FF. Pretty much he told me that they're given absolute immunity, guest service is out the window and the idea is: get the scare, the end. They use this loophole to scream whatever they want at the customer, mostly because they have to fend themselves against the normally unruly crowd. The only thing that's off limits is obviously physical assault. They say that due to the way customers treat them, they feel this is only fair. During my summer, I only encountered a few volatile customers (though to be fair, next to nobody went to the shows), but apparently Fright Fest brings the absolute worst out of people. Kinda glad to be out of there now.