dew1990

Can you recommend appropriate shows for a family with 8yr old and 13 yr old. any free shows to recommend?

Loki

B1G1 Free - Ron Lucas at Rio (puppet show type guy), Mac King at Harrahs, they used to have a bird show at Tropicana

Not free - Blue Man at Luxor

dew1990

thank you. . .Has anyone been to Ovation at the Aladdin? comments?

MFNYC

If they still have that pirate show at night at Treasure Island, also the moving statue/lazer shows at the Forum shops (at Ceasar's). There also this Race to Atlantis virtual reality ride at the Forum shops (not free but my kids loved it) that my kids loved. The Shark acquarium (also a fee) at Madalay is very good. For a major production, the CIrque De Soliel shows are excellent (we saw Mystique with our kids, similar ages).

rjw_lgb_ca

The old pirate show at TI (the new branding for that resort) is now a cheesy PG-13 extravaganza called "Sirens" with wench-pirates. Not appropriate for kids, and it stinks in any case. The "family attractions" in Vegas are drying up and blowing away-- harried parents running after their kids aren't gambling in the casinos, so the whole city is going "adult" again.

The Cirque shows ("Mystère" is probably the most age-appropriate) are a good idea, though expensive.

Tess

FYI--the Pirate show at Treasure Island (now dumbly called TI) has changed and isn't suitable for kids, in my opinion. Pretty racy...

Lance Burton's magic show at Monte Carlo is great and very family friendly but it's not free. Some friends of our recently went to Vegas with their kids and had fun at an Excalibur show but I don't know what it's called. Check their website.

MFNYC

I met Mystère, not Mystique. Too bad about the pirate show.

HowardR

Definitely Cirque de Soleil's Mystere.

Hoosiergirl

I am bringing my 10 yr. granddaughter in June and think I have about decided to try the Blue Man Group. She wanted to see Mystere but the time we are there it will dark (no shows on Monday or Tuesday). The name of the Excalibur show is Tournament of Kings and it is a fun show and good for kids. Also at Mirage the Siegfried and Roy tigers are there as well as the dolphin pool which is a neat place to visit but it's not free either. Is that roller coaster still at the Paris? Have a great trip!

antmaril

The Cirque du Soleil shows are really your best bet - either Mystere or "O". They are both fantastic shows. Our son has seen Mystere, "O" and LaNouba (in Orlando). Loved all three -- we've actually seen them more than once.

Brasil_Nut

Don't forget Circus Circus for free shows and carnival games. We saw a cat show there...trained house cats doing things I would have never believed possible.
Most of the big, night shows are geared for adults, as they should be! Your best bet is to plan on spending a lot of time at MGM's amusement park, where there is a lot to do for them...nearby is also a water park, about a mile or two up the strip. Circus Circus is near MGM. There is a knights-in-armor dinner show at the Excalibur that is enjoyable. The swimming pool at your hotel should be a hit with them as well. We have taken teenagers to Vegas and it is hard for even that age to find things to do. I wouldn't recommend taking kids unless you already have them with you and you are driving through on your way somewhere - it really isn't a kid town.

Tess

I think MGM's amusement park is no more, but New York New York still has their roller coaster.

Jean_Valjean

For shows, I agree with everyone that your best bets are Cirque du Soleil, Blue Man Group and Lance Burton. None of these are free.

The shops at the Venetian (including the gondola ride), at Caesar's Palace and at the Aladdin are pretty cool. The Mirage has the "volcano" and the animals. Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay is really cool. The Circus Circus has an indoor amusement park called Adventuredome (or something like that). The Excalibur is also very kid friendly. NYNY has the roller coaster...

rjw_lgb_ca

Circus Circus is not "near" the MGM Grand-- on the same street and in the same ZIP code, yes, but almost three miles away. CC is also always teeming with running, screaming kids and harried parents-- and disgruntled foreign tourists that were sold a CC package tour claiming that it was a "luxury resort" (the place is a horror, plain and simple). The MGM Grand doesn't have an amusement park-- that would be CC (called Adventuredome). The 8-year-old might find CC fun for a couple of hours, but the 13-year-old will hate it.

I think you've probably got all the kid-friendly stuff listed here already. There frankly isn't much left in Vegas for the kiddies anymore. Whenever I see families in Vegas these days, I see bored kids and exasperated parents trying desperately to find something for everyone to do.

justbeachy

dew1990: Lance Burton at the Monte Carlo does a great magic show. Can also recommend: "O" at Bellagio, the Star Trek Experience at the Hilton, Shark Reef at Mandalay, Secret Garden at the Mirage. Roller coaster at New York New York, 3 rides on top of Stratosphere (Big Shot, High Roller and XScream). Not sure if Nascar Cafe is still open, didn't make it that far down the strip last time we were there. If so, they had a decent roller coaster (not far from Strastosphere). Try to get out to Red Rock Canyon for some hiking. It's just 25 minutes outside of the city and the kids will enjoy it(so will you!).