Vegas Coasters...

Planning a January trip to Vegas, are the outdoor coasters(Desperato, Speed, High Roller, etc.) and stuff open at that time of year. I know that the Adventure Dome is open, we're planning on Circus Circus as our hotel, but are the others open, and what else would you guys suggest to do in Vegas?(Planning to do Cirque Du Soliel and Blue Man Group).

Thanks guys,

c.b.

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I'm Baaaack...

Outdoor coasters are open all year round weather pending as it tends to get a bit windy sometimes.

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I hope they kill that iron yuppie. Thinks he's so big. The great homer simspon

If you have a car, go see the Hoover Dam, about 45 minutes east of Vegas. It's amazing. Desperado is about that far west of Vegas, so you'll need a car if you want to ride that.

Do not miss the fountain show at the Bellagio, either. It's free and awesome.

And if you dig the Simpsons, there's a replica of the Simpsons house in Henderson, a suburb of Vegas. I plan to see that when I go again next month.

Just trying to think of some free things to help out with your finances. :)

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A day is a drop of water in the ocean of eternity. A week is seven drops.

If you have some extra cash i'd recommend going to a different, nicer, hotel.

(not to offend anyone.. but you know what i mean right?)

agreed sfft freak, Circus Circus is ghetto.

Yeah, everything north of Treasure Island is ghetto as far as I'm concerned. Even though up there is where the best coaster is.... (Speed).

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A day is a drop of water in the ocean of eternity. A week is seven drops.

'Speed' was a nice surprise...
'Manhattan Express' not so nice.

If you gamble...I thought 'Hard Rock' was great!
(And I'm not a 'Hard Rock' fan)

Check out Bellago & The Palms

Good Luck!
-Mark

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If Barbie is so popular...why do you have to buy her friends?

I actually thought Manhattan Express was ok...Speed just plain rocked, great ride. Canyon Blaster is a very smooth Arrow looper, we didn't get to go on the Stratosphere....

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CCI Lives On!
-Patrick

I am the master of Vegas coasters! Ridden them all a lot.

Speed: The Ride, I consider it the snigle greatest amusement attraction created, I love this coaster. It is super smooth, the first turn is so forceful and energetic, the loop rocks and the spike gives you about 5 seconds of airtime towards the front. It is a cheap $12 for an all day pass so buy it and ride it for like an hour in the day then keep the wristband on and ride it for an hour at night, nothing beats that.

Canyon Blaster is reasonbly smooth but if you have been on enough coasters it is pretty dull and not thrilling.

Manhatten Express, it has a perfect setting but it is still rather rough.

Big Shot this is a great ride, yuou get so much airtime and each time you ride it it is horrifying but so much fun.

High roller, a big piece of junk.

Just like the others, I highly recommend Speed: The Ride; don't miss it.

As far as staying at Circus Circus, cancel your reservation. The problem with Circus Circus is it's one of the most recognizable names on the Strip, and a lot of first time visitors end up here, and end up disappointed because it's been neglected and become rundown. You might as well go directly across the street to the Sahara; it's nothing fancy, but it's clean, comfortable and overall well kept for roughly the same price as Circus Circus.

If you're willing to spend a few bucks more (noticing you're going to Cirque du Soliel and Blue Man Group, I imagine you have a lot more than a couple extra dollars), try Monte Carlo or Luxor. These are both very nice properties, and if you get a decent deal they can be only slightly higher in price and is well worth it. ($10-$20 more per night).

Also, check out this site; it will tell you anything and everything you wanted to know about Vegas:

www.cheapovegas.com

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Zingo! said:

agreed sfft freak, Circus Circus is ghetto.

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I was under that impression, too. But in May I stayed there and it was nicer than I thought it would be.

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SFEG's #1 Most Requested Lost Item Retrieval of 2003:
Silver Motorola Flip Phone, shattered into five pieces.

Thanks, guys! and den, I plan on doing both Hoover and Desperado. The reason we were thinkin bout Circus Circus was cause we wanted to spend money on stuff to do, not were to say. Not big gamblers, and as long as the place is clean(if its dirty then I'll consider somewhere else), I'm happy, as we won't be spending any awake time at the room. I was thinking bout the Luxor, but Circus is like 30 bucks a nite, and I'm not spending more than 50 a nite on a room. I'll have to check the Luxor, that was one of the places i thought would be nice to say, if affordable.

Thats the reason we're gonna go see Cirque and BMG, since they're not cheap, we figured we could get a cheap room. but if its a dirty hotel(don't care if its rundown, as long as its clean.), then let me know, I'll go elsewhere. Want to see Celine, but I'm not paying more for her than i did for Janet Jackson, as I'm a fan of janet, and paid $80 for tix on her last tour.

any body else that has info or tips let me know, either on here, or if ya can, I'd be happy for any and all emails. thanks for the link too, btw.

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I'm Baaaack...

The X-Scream on top of the Strat will be open by then, too. (It opens at the end of this month). Skip the High Roller, though..it sucks.

Also, Treasure Island will soon be known simply as "TI". Along with the new name, the freebie outdoor pirate show will take on a more adult theme.

Also, a warning: Manhatten Express is the absolute roughest roller coaster I've ever ridden. If you're going to take a lap on it, try to find a 2-for-1 or half price coupon floating around. At $10 or $12 a ride, it's simply not worth it.

Jerry
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Pinball and Coasters...Any Questions?

Well, I'm going to give a whole different opinion on the Vegas coasters.

Speed was nothing special to me. Maybe I've been on too many launched coasters? It's a good ride, just nothing that really made me go "Wow, this is amazing"

Canyon Blaster was a pleasant surprise. I didn't expect much and got a decent ride. (while you're at the Adventuredome, see if you can do Miner Mike just for the credit. It was down for repairs when we visited)

High Roller, is lame layout-wise, but just being on top of the Stratosphere doing circles made it worth it for me. Not a great ride, but certainly one of the most unique opportunities/

Manhattan Express was may favorite Vegas coaster. I know that opinion will be hard to find elsewhere, but I didn't think it was bad at all. Maybe it had to do with NYNY being the only casino we walked away ahead at or something, but I found ME to be quite fun.

Just thought I'd toss in my alternate perspecitive. :)

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www.coasterimage.com
Dorney Park Visits in 2003: 17

Nobody seemed to comment on Desperado. Never been on both but have heard bad reviews about ME and lukewarm reviews for Desperado.

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This space will forever be dedicated to Hercules-R.I.P. 1989-2003

Well, it seesm I just have this same advice over on R.R-C, and since we are posting our thoughts and reviews on the Vegas Rides, might as well give you my perspective.

BTW: Don't worry too much about your hotel (spoken by someone who went with a group that booked us in to the Westward Ho! (user pauses to accept the collective apologies and condolences of the group)) That place made Motel 6 seem like the ritz, but ya know what. I was only in my room a max of 6 hours a day, and most of the time the room looked just like any other hotel room......DARK. $50 for three nights though wasn't bad....... However, another thing to remember is that as the pendulum of Vegas is swinging back from "Family Atmosphere" (yeah right), back to "Sin City" Circus Cirucs is about the only major hangout left for families with children. That means that lots of families with children stay there "Think Billy, the hotel were at has its own amusement park"

- My Vegas Ride Reivews (remember you are going in winter, I went in summer, hours and pricing sibject to change, call ahead, yaya yada)

Well, from my visit taken this summer:

+ Manhattan Express - New York, New York Hotel and Casino. - TOGO
Hyper-Looper

Okay, 'hyper-looper' as being over 200'. It has a lot of potential,
unfortuantely it only realizes it in the physical sence, and not in
the ride experience sense.

The experience begins when you get shown to your assigned seat in a
taxi cab themed train, that is inexplicably leaving from a subway
platform looking station. It starts out allright, you leave the
station go through a tunnel, up a lift hill that goes out through the
roof of the casino. Then you crest the lift hill and take a
relatively short drop. On Manhattan Express the second drop is the
big drop. Savor this moment, becuase once you finish the big drop you
climb back up to enter a tighy comact mess of coaster trackage on the
roof of the building. Some interesting inversions, but awful
transitions. It's a headbanger, thats for sure. After the brake
run, you are slowly lowered back down the station by a weird kinda of
lift-hill-in-reverse. The sound you hear as you reneter the station
is the "Click" of a Coaster-Credit-Meter.

Pricing: $12 per ride, $5 for re-rides IF purchased before leaving the
unload station. A POP plan is available for about $25.

Discounts: I was able to find a $3 off coupon in a Fun Book.

Extras: The rollercoaster is located in a FEC like area of the casino
called "Coney Island Emporium" (2nd floor, follow signs to "Roller
Coaster" Lots of arcade games, a few rides like some cute taxi cab
themed bumper cars. This area has a Nathan's Famous to complete your
Coney Island virtual experience. I found free ticket for your choice
of one of the FEC's smaller attractions in a hotel brochure rack.

Warning: They run strict no loose articles policies. This includes
purses, fanny packs, glasses, cameras, etc. Coin operated lockers
are furnished before you get to the queue area. 50 cents per use.
Assigned Seating, Single RIders will probably get paired. When you
get to the coaster, just get in line, the ticket booths are located
towards the end of the queue area. Your cash reigster receipt is your
ticket, and will be collected. Short walk from exit platform to
entrance platform, if you are masochistic enough for a re-ride.

+Canyon Blaster - Circus Circus Adventuredome. - Arrow Multi Element.

Don't let the Arrow nameplate fool you, this is one of the SMOOTHEST
Arrow multi elements around, if not the smoothest. The layout is fast
and simple. You leave the station, turnaround to the right, go up the
lift, turnaround to the left, through the vertical loops, turnaround
to the right, through the corkscrews, then through a partially
tunneled helix like section, then into the final brake run tunnel,
then back into the station. Very smooth, partially in thanks to the
newer Arrow style trains (like Drachen Fire had, and kinda like what
Vekoma is putting on Boomerangs these days), to which the park has
added copious amounts of cushiony padding. Try it, you may like it,
and ride again and again and again.....

Pricing: Ride requires 5 tickets, ride tickets are $1 each. POP
available for $20.

Discounts: $4 off POP plan available in Fun Books, and hotel borchure
racks. Makes it $16, ride the coaster 4 times, you have it made.

Extras: Adventuredome is a full fledged amusement park under glass, a
pink glass at that, should make an added challenge for taking photos.
Most of the items in this park are aimed at the younger set, but they
do have a few things of interest, mainly the coaster, a flume ride,
bumper cars, a Chaos, and an Inverter.

Re-Rideability: When you pass through the ride exit turnstiles, take a
hard right, there will be a bridge that goes over the track, and comes
back down just outside the station entrance.

Adventuredome is located in the very rear of Circus Circus and on the
second level. Follow the signs to "Theme Park"

+ Speed: The Ride - Sahara - Premier RIdes Shuttle

It's one of the last Premier launched shuttles with OTSR's. Don't let
this bother you as the ride is real fast and real smooth with minimal
to no headbanging. YOu start out in the station, get launched out,
make an overbanked turn to the left, go through a tunnel, come back
up, go through a vertical loop, then you go through an impossibly tiny
opening in the hotels sign, before climbing up the reverse spike.
Then you do it again in reverse. Highly Recommended.

Pricing: When I was there the old scheme of $6-8 per ride, or a
wristband for $15 had been eliminated. It is now no longer possible
to buy just a single ride, you MUST get the POP, however this comes
with some changees. Instead of one double ride for $8, you now get
unlimited single rides for $10. (You can include some other FEC like
attractions for $20 ($15 with Fun Book Coupon))

Exttras: Some race car simulators, included in the higher price POP
package.

Re-Rideablility - They make it TOO easy, you exit to the unload side,
and follow the exit path around to the back of the station track, and
cross on a draw bridge. Once there you go straight to exit the ride,
or turn right to go back to the seat queues.

Located in the NASCAR Cafe section, head to the NASCAR cafe, and stay
on the first floor but head towards the back. The coaster ticket
booth will be about 3/4 of the way back on the left. You will be
shown to a staircase leading up to the station.

+ Big Shot and High Roller

Okay, these two come in one place, AND coming soon is Xscreme, the
most demented SkySkater ever. As it is not open yet, I can't comment
on it.

- High Roller - Premier Rides Glorified Kiddie Coaster - $6

You sit in a car with OTSR. You go around the circumfrence of the
tower a few times, then you get a second ride. You go up and down a
little. Not much to it. Its only redeaming factor is its located on
the 112th floor. You will hear that "Click" of a coaster credit
meter as you exit this ride.

- Big Shot - S&S Space Shot - $9

Its a single tower Space Shot, its powerfuil, its got an Elvis
soundtrack, its got airtime. What's not to like. Has bins next to
your seat for loose articles. The Space Shot base is located on the
113th floor.

Pricing: You MUST buy a Strtoshere Admission Ticket (sold seperately)
to get access to these two rides.

When I went they had packs like this:

Ala Carte Pricing
Tower Admission - $9
Audio Tour (you rent a narrated tape on a walkman) - $4
High Roller - $6
Big Shot - $9

Combo Deals:
Tower + Audio Tour - $12
Tower + 1 ride on High Roller - $12
Tower + 1 ride on Big Shot - $15
Tower + 1 ride on High Roller + 1 ride on Big Shot $18
Tower + 1 ride on High Roller + 1 ride on Big Shot + Audio Tour - $20

Pay One Price Plan
Tower + Unlimited High Roller + Unlimited Big Shot - $22
(I have been told the POP plan is not always available, and not sold
at the Tower Base or the Top of the Tower Ride ticket office, I was
able to purchase this at the "Shows and Player's Club" desk on the
second floor of the casino. (Its a big marble looking area off to the
side, right next to the "Administrative Offices" Its worth looking
for because its the best deal)

Failing the POP Plan, DO NOT BUY the $18 2 Ride Combo Pack, and DO NOT
PAY ALA CARTE.

Here is save a couple bucks:

Purchase the "Tower + 1 ride on High Roller" plan for $12. Go up top,
get that coaster credit. At the unload station there will be a cart
selling ride tickets, good for either ride, for $4 each. Purchase the
$4 re-ride ticket, use it to ride Big Shot. Total expense $16. (Less
than the two ride combo if purchased at Tower Base) (If you ride Big
Shot, you can purcahse a re-ride ticket at the base of the exit
stairs.)

I don't know how Xscream is going to affect pricing, an Amusement
Business article estimates the ride price at the $5-$8 range.

Extras:
If you get your )hopefully) wristband at the Shows desk, you will the
have to walk completely though the mall like area to the other end to
access the tower elevators. Airport style security check involved
before boarding elevator. First elevator takes you fron 2 to 108.
108 is the enclosed observation area, has the view, some arcade games,
some gift shops, a snack bar, restrooms, phones. The XScream will be
up the stairs on 109 (the outdoor observation deck) For the rides,
go to the ride ticket desk area, there will be elevators behind that
desk that will take you from 108 to 112. YOu will exit the elevator
into the central core on 112 and will be shown to the doorway leading
out to your ride. If you choose Big Shot you will go outside then
climb the stairs to 113. After your ride, both rides exit to the same
place, where the Re-Ride booth as well as the On-Ride Photo booth
exist. If you have more tickets to re-ride, an attendant will admit
you back to the center core, if you are done you walk aronnd the
outside of the tower till you come back to the elevator back to 108.

At the base of the tower there is the StratosFair which has a couple
small rides. Don't be fooled when they advertise they have a
"Skywheel" If is NOT a Skywheel, it is a regular Eli Bridge Co.
Ferris Wheel called "Skywheel"

+ Desperado - Sorry, can;t help on this one

Might I recommend while you are there:

Star:Trek The Experience - LAs Vegas Hilton

IF you are a Trekkie this is a MUST STOP, a religious experience.
Even if you aren't a Trekkie, the special effects in this "Fully
Immersive Interactive Experience" are nothing short of breath taking
and awe-inspiring.

I don't want to give this show away, suffice to say that it combined
live actors, with a motion sim ride, and at least 2 other sensory
experiences, and a 'tour' of the Enterprise. Admission to the
Experience includes admission to the Star Trek Museum.

Pricing: Star Trek: The Experience - $30 - This includes all day
admission to the Museum and unlimited access to the Experience. (The
ticket taker will give you a handstamp)

Admission to the Museum Only - $20

Extras: Quarks Bar - a Star Trek themed bar, SPace Quest, an outer
space themed casino, the slots are touchless.

MEN - You MUST visit the bathroom in Space Quest casino. (And be able
to pee). Their urinals are entertaining.

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A word on Fun Books

Fun Books are coupon books given out by casinos. They have food
coupons, drink coupons, hotel discounts, some match play bets, and
more. These USED to be free for the asking, but now several casinos
make you jump through hoops to get them But then often have discounts
for the atrractions in their casino.(Like having to present a voucher,
or having to get a players club card) I purchases a book called the
"American Casino Guide) (Barnes and Nobles $12 with Readers
Advantage). In addiiton to a wealth of knowledge it also has its on
Fun Book coupons, including the vouchers needed to get several hotel
fun Books.

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David Bowers
Mayor, Coasterville

If you're going to have a car and you only want a clean room for cheap, I'd check out hotels that aren't on the strip. I'd check the rates for downtown Vegas, where it all began and home of the Fremont Street Experience. I stayed at a HoJo halfway between the strip and downtown. The only time I was ever in my room was to sleep, so it didn't matter to me. So definately do some searching outside the strip for some really cheap rates.

Lastly, just an idea for other things to do while in Vegas that hasn't been mentioned yet. Gamble and get drunk for free. ;)

Oh, just saw bout the Simpsons, that is cool, I love the simpsons, and so does my friend who is going too:).

Thanks so much, coastervill dave, very useful! Oh, and the real reason we're going to Vegas is cause we're both Huge Trekkies, and I've wanted to hit ST: TE since it opened. Too bad Borg 4D isn't gonna be open. I'd probably listen to what Gonch said bout the coasters, as I've got a twisted sense of fun, and the arrow name on canyon blaster won't scare me, I like arrows:).

Incidentalist thanks for the advice. Not sure if we're gonna have a car or not yet as we're flying, and just may rent a car to hit Hoover, Simpson house, and Desperado. Oh, and I plan on doing some gambling for the free alchohol, thats what vegas is all about!!!

Last but not least for now, How is the Excalibur as a hotel, anybody know?

thanks, c.b.

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I'm Baaaack...

I don't know about the rooms, but it's a decent casino if you can handle the theme (not my favorite). It's in surrounded by decent hotels (Luxor, Mandalay Bay, Monte Carlo, NYNY and MGM Grand) so I figure it's got to be a relatively decent hotel. It's off to one end of the strip, Mandalay Bay is the last one on this end, and it's a hike to get to the Stratosphere and Sahara from there. But that's why we have taxis. It's also real close to the airport.

One other thing to do if it's up your alley. Mandalay Bay has a decent aquarium. It's a bit pricey but I'm an aquarium fan and I found it rather entertaining and it's no more overpriced than anything else in Vegas. The way I look at it is with the free booze and the cheap buffets, they get you back for any attractions that you might want to take in (coasters, shows, etc...).

As far as the noncoaster rides are concerned... Star Trek has excellent theming and overall feel, but I found the actuall ride to be somewhat uninteresting. The ride at the Luxor is very similar the the Star Trek but with slightly less elaborate theming and better motoin simulation IMO (flying and falling feels almost realistic). There is also one at Caesars Palace that is IMAX 3D, that one has nice theming and great visuals but those 3d visor things just seem a bit large and heavy. You also may want to see the M&M's place, they have a free 3d movie with Red and Yellow (and also try the M&M ice cream).
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"I don't need a compass to tell me which way the wind shines."
-Mr. Furious