Vegas Rolling | Lost Myths Ink, LLC

Vegas Rolling
MedioCom
©2002 by Sandra Brandenburg

Las Vegas in a wheelchair presents some interesting chances to use your problem solving skills. All the casinos are heavily carpeted and that has its' own special problem. Even if you are a lightweight (I'm not), carpets cause a drag on the wheels. Being a fairly active and persistent trio of travelers, we averaged two to three casinos a day. Thank heaven for my husband's strong arms and back. By the end of the week, even Tom was showing the strain.
I'd like to interject a word about smoking, here. Everybody smokes, almost everywhere, in Las Vegas. Next time, I'll bring along a spare inhaler. Cigars seem to be the smoke of choice. Californians are spoiled that way. Most of the large casinos are equipped to handle it and it is a minor inconvenience, almost as if one were outdoors. I'll note where this is not true.
Back to the carpet issue. Conversation with other chair users (we always check out each others equipment, it seems) elicited the fact that an electric chair showed the wear and tear within just a few hours. One woman suggested taking along spare batteries, so that a fully charged one was always available back at your hotel room. This idea might work for you. My spare batteries (my own arms) didn't last too long. Concrete, marble and other hard flooring are easy, but rolling yourself across endless seas of carpeting...well, it would take a stronger woman than I to last more than 15 minutes at a time.
Our own MGM Hotel room was gorgeous, and the bathroom vanity was perfectly accessible. However, there was no handhold by the toilet, and the tub/shower combo was the usual step-over kind. I understand that accessible suites are available. The other amenities: dining, shops, and access to other hotels are available via ramp or elevator. And the wheelchair facilities were just a few revolutions away, seldom more than a hundred feet. The tram was easily boarded and very convenient.
The lions at MGM were wonderful. Once you rolled up to the glass, you could see the lions at play and rest. It was crowded, but people were quite co-operative. I particularly enjoyed being able to view one grand dame of a lioness from underneath. You just roll into a tunnel and look up. It was a thrill, but the lioness appeared a bit bored and didn't understand what was so exciting. 
We attended the Grand Buffet, which was gorgeous. I don't believe I've ever seen as many shrimp and crab legs in one place before. You roll to the VIP stand and they send you up the ramp, only a few feet from other customers. The host took notice of our party in moments, whispered "Three, rolling" into her mike and someone came to escort us to a nearby table All the buffet sites were on the same level as the table. The food was good, the waitpersons charming. If you need special help, ask for it. Later, when we wanted to use our car, the valet service at the drive-up entry was helpful, cheerful and friendly. Unconsciously, after our first few hours of exploring the MGM, I expected the rest of Vegas to be as accommodating...Uh-uh. One of the major problems is finding the access. It is often virtually unmarked.
Caesars Palace is gorgeous, and you will find yourself uniquely placed for viewing the painted ceilings in the main entry. It really is easier from a chair. However, very little attention has been given to making access easy for the handicapped. Interior ramps are badly placed and slidewalks were under repair. 
By the way, a general point about slidewalks. (Think flat escalators.) If you have a fair amount of upper body strength and a faithful attendant, they are wonderful. However, for those of us who are more challenged, brace yourself. The entry and exit from slidewalks can be a bit bumpy. You'll have to make your own call about their safety. Most places have warning signs at the entrances and exits.
Back to Caesars Palace. The casino is huge and much of it is on one carpeted level. Near the 'shopping' end entrance, there is a slidewalk with a very short flight of steps. No ramp. Those who are unable to negotiate the steps will find they are in for a full quarter mile stroll on extremely uninteresting cement sidewalks. On a hot day, this can be daunting. Caesars has a great theme in the Race for Atlantis 3D ride (more about that later). I was greatly annoyed, however, to find that I couldn't see the much-vaunted garden because only people resident in the hotel were allowed in. This after a long, circuitous route to the entrance. The shopping area was also inconveniently designed.
The Venetian shopping mall is much more accessible. The whole thing is tile and easy to roll on. You can see everything from your chair, and it is worth seeing. I particularly enjoyed the strolling players. They sing a few arias from some well-known operas and their voices are beautiful. While you're there, be sure to visit the Gugenheim Museum. Your attendant does not pay an entry fee, which is nice. We found the staff to be courteous and helpful, and since it was an unguided tour, we had plenty of time to enjoy the art. Inside the casino we encountered the usual problem of carpeting. The carpet is necessary to keep the noise down, but it is darned inconvenient. The Venetian Casino area is worth a visit. Be sure to check out the wall and ceiling art.
Have you ever wanted to experience a desert storm? Try the Aladdin. Wow. There just isn't enough to say about this. Unbelievably gorgeous, like being outside, in the desert night, with the temperature soft and warm. You have to see this place to believe. The casino is...carpeted. Oh, well, nothing's perfect. Everything was beautifully accessible.
Paris is gorgeous. The mall is beautiful and looks like a movie set. I believe you could film a movie about making a movie on a back lot, there. It seemed that way for most of Las Vegas, in truth. Anyway, you might just want to pay the price to go up the Eiffel Tower. It is about half the height of the original and once up top I had a wonderful view of Vegas right from my chair. We bought our tickets and, when we went to the elevator, had to wait only a few minutes before we could go up.
Treasure Island deserves a couple of special mentions here. The buffet wait staff were extraordinarily helpful. It was the only buffet where someone actually offered us special help. The free exterior show was one high-light of Treasure Island for me. It's easily accessible, and most people are co-operative about letting you up close. You might want to get there a little early so as to find a good spot that doesn't put you behind a post. The inside was very nice. Pallid praise, I know, but by then I was getting a bit jaded and very tired of endless miles of carpet.
We saw Mystere, the Cirque du Soleil show, at Treasure Island as well. The show was beyond wonderful, of course. There were a couple of steps to be negotiated, but everyone was helpful. We had requested handicapped seating, and they honored that request. However, do watch out for the bathrooms near the theater. They are a trap for the unwary. The turn to go into the bathroom wasn't wide enough and I had to abandon the chair. If I were less mobile it would have been a major source of annoyance. And don't bother trying to negotiate the carpets, there is nothing extraordinary about the casino itself. Why wear out your arms or your batteries? We did make the effort, and had to replace the rubber on one of my wheels because it wasn't up to the freight.
The experience at the Excaliber was similar. The casino isn't very theme oriented, and the shopping area is a bore. However...if you haven't seen the Tournament of Kings, it's worth the special trip. Elevators at the Excaliber are easily accessible. The one into the theater is small and you may have to wait your turn. You get dinner and a show for the price and it's a good way to spend an evening. The dinner is only a trifle above adequate, but eating with your fingers puts you in the mood for the show. Napkins are plentiful. We did have a bit of a problem, here, though. We had asked for aisle seats and were not provided with them. In fact, the staff wanted us to abandon my chair and negotiate a full flight of steps, if possible. A great deal of bustle was required to achieve our purpose, but we were finally given seats on the service level. The view from there is quite good, and we were entirely unaware of the staff rushing about behind us. All that remained was to watch the very entertaining program and suspend disbelief (Mordred equipped with magical powers? King Arthur had two sons?).
The Fremont Street Experience is best enjoyed from the Center Stage Restaurant at Jackie Gaughan's Plaza Hotel & Casino. The parking garage is convenient to the small casino, and even though you end up passing through the casino, the carpet doesn't go on forever as it does in the big mid-strip jobs. The elevator is easy to find and convenient. the music is piped in, the food is really good, and you have a perfect view of the light show outside. One small drawback is that the cigarette odors are fairly strong in these older, smaller hotels. I didn't find it to be that big a problem though. The air in the restaurant smelled fine. Once outside at street level, I found it harder to enjoy the show through the press of the crowd.
New York, New York was back lot worthy. I felt as if I was on the set of an old movie musical. We entered on the level of the bridge from MGM, and it was carpeted and a bit confusing, but we found a nearby elevator down to casino and mall level. The casino provided great views of the interior skyline. Yes, I did say skyline. Cobbled streets and little shops and restaurants, why I was wishing I could sing with Frank Sinatra in a sailor suit. It was charming and...oh, yeah, the casino was carpeted.
Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden was at Mirage. There was a nice little walkway through a rain forest inside the casino, and a couple of lions on display. The Mirage also has a pleasant shopping area where we found swim suits at bargain basement prices. (It was November.) The place was not all that exciting, and there were some serious problems with access doors near the Secret Garden. As you approach the ramp to the garden, beware of it's 'slight' angle. In truth, it is deceptive. Have someone keep a good grip if you aren't in a powered chair. The good news is that you can see the dolphins, tigers, lions and other assorted wonderful beings without ever leaving your chair. I was in heaven when a white tiger walked up to the fence between us and made friendly huffing noises at me. I huffed back. One must always be polite. This is not a show. Nobody does tricks. The dolphins may or may not do the things their handlers suggest to them, and that's okay. It's fun to watch them being natural. The breeding program has been successful so there are quite a few youngsters there. Nobody even suggests that the big cats might pander to human interests. We watched while two female snow lions engaged in a 'marking' war, spraying scent on one poor tree and cuffing the male in their enclosure for trying to interfere. You might want to be sure any youngsters with you already understand the facts of life.
I have one serious slam...Circus Circus was a colossal waste of time. The circus itself was only accessible via a long circular ramp that no wheelchair battery could outlast. If you call on a service phone, someone will come to help you after a lengthy wait. What a bore. The elevator to the 'arcade' area was halfway through the casino after you left the tram. And although the workers were pleasant, the tram was difficult to board and exit. A real rolling no-no. 
The Luxor was beautiful and accessible, and huge...We didn't even get to the casino proper, but did enjoy the King Tut museum and the shopping there. This area was not carpeted. a matter to be grateful for, and the architecture inside really took your breath away. However...the 3D rides were, I thought, unnecessarily rough. Appropriate for strong, healthy kids, but not for anyone else. They also seemed to be badly maintained. The film was not in sync with the motion. Which brings me to the subject of 3D rides in general. 
All of them involve some jerking, rocking and leaning and, if you do have problems with upper body strength, are not for you. That said, I really love them. I have a heart condition and must be careful, though. The Race for Atlantis at Caesars Palace is a good ride with charming effects and well-maintained. However, it is just at the upper level of my strength. You might want to think twice about it. The Star Trek Adventure is at the Hilton. It is, perhaps, the best such adventure I have ever been on, and that includes Star Wars at Disneyland. Not much bumping and jerking, and a lot of story and fun. And before you ever get on it, you take a run through the museum. Bear in mind that the angle of the circular ramp is fairly steep, so be prepared. Old costumes, phony technology, bits and pieces left over from all the TV shows and movies make it worthwhile. It's a trekkies paradise. Go and have fun. Or live long and prosper...whatever. But afterwards enjoy the shopping, your own picture as a crew member, and a trip through Quark's Bar. 
We rented a car and spent some of our valuable vacation time seeing sights outside of Vegas proper. The tour of Red Rock Canyon was more than worthwhile if you like gorgeous scenery, and I do. You might want to take a picnic and relax out there. It's easy to while away half a day in gorgeous natural tranquility. However, the visitor's center was closed when we took the drive. You might want to check before you go. The rest of the park is unplumbed, with chemical toilets. They are accessible, but...can be something of a problem for people with challenges. Go prepared. Moist towelettes might be a good idea. 
Old Nevada is nearby and easily good for another half a day, especially if you've got kids along. But...rolling is not really possible. The staff is helpful, but you can't help but be aware that you're a pain in the...neck. It's rustic and the kids will have a blast with an old melodrama (that building has a ramp), and a couple of funny street shows. But much of the site is unramped boardwalk or dirt streets. Also, don't try to take your chair on the little train. Next time, I think I'll give it a miss.
Not so for the Lake Mead Cruise. The long ramp down to the quay is easily accomplished, and you will find nice plumbed toilets down there. If you can't last for an hour or two, however, be aware that bathroom facilities aboard are extremely cramped, and not truly accessible. However, there a couple of nice spots aboard to park your chair and enjoy the scenery and the information that floats out over the loudspeaker. I loved seeing Hoover Dam from shipboard. The black hills and gentle motion of the boat soothed my soul after the uproar that is Vegas.
This article proved by <a href="http://www.mediocom.net">MedioCom</a>