The Christmas Trip-Nothing to see here

Shari, that might have been at Wynn.  That's around the time when Wynn opened.  Steve Wynn tripped over a stroller at Wynn and declared "no strollers!"  I remember security at the door at Wynn and they prohibited entry with a stroller.  That didn't last long and they eventually had to relent on that.  Could have been at Bellagio too, but Steve Wynn was long gone from Bellagio by that year, I believe.  Anyway, thanks for reading, though.

tkacmarynski, thanks for reading the TR.  You are right, too many kids at Bellagio, actually all  year, worse every year, double worse during the holidays.  I'll be rethinking my Christmas get away plan.

The "get off my plane!" incident illustrates yet another reason why air travel during the holidays is insanity. The total weight of the cargo isn't known until the plane is loaded, and during Christmas, everybody checks packages, like two new bowling balls for cousin Billy, bags of pink cement for aunt Hattie, etc. So they could reach takeoff weight limits, but they won't know for sure until they see if the plane fills up. Under normal circumstances, the takeoff limits would almost never be reached.

There are two other considerations that affect weight and balance limitations. Weather enroute or at the destination could influence the airline to load more reserve fuel than is normally required (the minimum is allowing for 45 extra minutes aloft on domestic flights). Also, density altitude considerations could mean that a plane can no longer take off with a given weight if the temperature has risen substantially (takeoff distance is longer with hotter, less dense air). Flights that originate in or stop in Denver can be affected by this problem (actual altitude+increased density altitude). Oh, and if the winds aloft forecast changes, the projected amount of fuel needed could rise.

Given that modern airliners are designed with a generous amount of wiggle room insofar as their design limitations are concerned, I suspect that you could stuff a plane full of fat people and have everyone check two 35 lb. bags and everything would actually be just swell. But CYA and "better safe than sorry" are good policies.

Thank you, Kevin.  It was announced before departure that we would encounter some winds and possible turbulence, and that there would be slight diversion in the route to avoid the worst of it, so you've probably called it.   A couple times during beverage service the flight attendants were instructed to take their seats.  I didn't sense any really bad turbulence.  Maybe it occurred after our first cocktail...LOL.  The cast offs didn't act surprised at their eviction.  Perhaps they were so advised before boarding that this might be the case.  They probably were given seats on a flight that connects at Phoenix.

Turbulance? You ain't seen turbulance until you fly into RENO!

Purses bouncing off of the ceiling,drinks splashing into the windows and small children flying into the isles.

Drammamine may be required on those flights.

Vomit comet.

I totally agree. RENO approaches are not for the faint of heart. 

Hubby and I spent a week at Thanksgiving.  Half at Bellagio and half at the Platinum one block off strip.  OMG  The abount of kids was staggering.  Standing in line to check in, three were screaming tag and running.  Is it now OK to drag these kids through the casino?   They were everywhere.  And the stroller brigade.  Kids at the restaurants either throwing bread or eyes glued to phones.   Arent there any adults only hotels?  There sure should be.  We've been going for years, 3 to 4 times a year and only remember the kid problem being annoying in the summer.  Making me think twice about what time of year to go or wether to go at all.

Me too, Christine.  Thanks for reading and replying.  For years we'd go either at Thanksgiving or Christmas.  Now...maybe not either.  Sad.

What we need are adults-only entire states. Oh, wait, there's Florida (non-Disney).

I hate to assume the old-fogey things-wuz-better-in-tha-good-ol'-days mantle, but it seems to me that NO ONE teaches their children any more that there are rules for behaving in public, and that you shouldn't behave the same way in public areas as you do on the playground or at home. I guess it would be cruel not to indulge the little nippers or to restrict their boundless energies.

The thing I've given up is going out for Sunday breakfast; with kids screaming and running around like it was a grade school playground, it's anything but pleasant and relaxing. The parents just chat away or play with their phones while the little noise boxes shriek and chase each other up and down the aisles. Discipline would be mean, and it's just so hard.

Of course, my ultimate solution is Kid Island, where we send them immediately after birth and don't see them again until they're 18--or 21. But Trump ruined that plan when he failed to purchase Greenland.

I've been told by friends that it doesn't take long to become numb to the whining and crying and even the shreiking of their little darlings.   A couple weeks home from the hospital...the walls close in, cabin fever rules. 

And, even better, now mom and dad each have a cell phone to turn to and avoid the dirty looks from other diners.  

I honestly believe Steve Wynn could have set the trend back then.  But he is a business man.  If he bars the kiddies, mom and dad will take their strollers (and their dollars) elsewhere.  We who seek a quiet adult 'gaming' experience are hosed.  Madness....madness!!!