Can someone give me some tips about NYE

My girlfriend and I will be in Las Vegas Dec. 29-Jan1. We have never been to Vegas on a holiday/NYE. I heard its crazy! I managed to get a room at Rio our first night, but luckily got a room at Flamingo for the remainder of our trip. I wanted to stay on the strip because everyone was telling me that was the place to be on NYE and it would be easy to walk out into the street where the part was at.

So what happens NYE?? Fireworks? I heared the strip is closed at 4pm and no one gets in our out with thier cars, this true? Are people allowed to then flood the streets of the strip?? Will it be very hard to get a bite to eat at a place with this holiday? We are leaving Saturday morning to get there. January 1st is when we come back. Should I leave extra early? I live in San Diego. Thanks everyone.

 

I got an email from the Stratosphere because I recently stayed there and am now on their list, and it said that the view of fireworks from up there is the best in the city. There is quite a view up there.

 

The streets close right before 6pm. They put up barricades along the edge of the sidewalk, which means that all people must stay on the sidewalk. The street is closed off, but not so that people can use, it is closed off solely for the police to use. Police cars patrol up and down, as well as police on horse, and anyone arrested is placed on the median until the next police van makes its way up and down the street. You will see probably close to 100 people handcuffed and seated on the median throughout the night, 99% of them will be arrested for 3 things....drugs, fighting, or drunk in public.

The pedestrian bridges remained open last year and I assume they will this year. A few years ago at least one of the bridges was closed all night. If you park in a parking garage along the strip you will be able to leave out the back entrance. I believe all strip casinos have back entrances. Koval, Audrie and Dean Martin will all remain open. Also after midnight you may only be allowed into a casino if you have a room key for it. Any more questions just ask.

 

No idea what Iceicecool is talking about as far as The Strip goes...

On the 29th and 30th they will set up the barricades that will run between the sidewalks and the street. Around 6PM on NYE itself they will close off The Strip to vehicle traffic from beyond Mandalay Bay to past Downtown.

You will then be allowed to go on to The Strip itself and stand in the street, thats actually where most people will go. As said there are barricades between the street and sidewalks, but that is more for crowd control, there are gaps in the barricades where you can enter the street.


Some other notes:
- Freeway on/off ramps close about 1-2 hours before The Strip does.
- Most (but not all) hotels will close their parkades to non guests in the early afternoon
- You can still get a taxi, but:
..... There could be some long waits
..... Where you find the taxis might not be the usual spot at the hotel (IE: maybe a second or side entrance is where the cabs are)
..... If you are going somewhere on the other side of The Strip expect to pay a lot for it as the cab has to go a long way around to get around The Strip closures (IE: if you are at Venetian and want to take a cab to Aria it could be $30-40)
- Stores are not allowed to sell alcohol on New Years Eve so if you want some stuff stocked up for the room buy it on the 30th
- You are not allowed to have bottles or cans on The Strip on NYE. All drinks in the casinos will be served in plastic cups or bottles and they will usually have a bunch of spare cups by the casino exit so that if you have a bottle or can (IE: from your room) you can pour it in to the cup.
- On NYE itself expect long waits everywhere, from going to the restroom, to waiting in line at any buffet or restaurants, to even a line up to use the elevators to get back to your hotel room
- if you are going out to see the fireworks try to head out around 11PM. Because there are security checkpoints along the way it could take a full hour for you to get out on The Strip at that time to get a good vantage point
- At most casinos they will be packed. Expect line ups or waiting lists to play at some of the table games and most slot machines will have somebody playing already and crowds circling for any available machine
- Most loyalty programs have little value on NYE. IE: being "Diamond" with Total Rewards won't get you much as the priority seating lines at restaurant and buffets become "7 Stars Only"
- Expect lots of people everywhere

 

Damn, seems there will be a sh!tload of people everywhere. I guess me asking reservations to put us on a high floor must of been a stupid idea after all. I have to figure out where were going to eat, since there will be lines everywhere. I'm thinking Belaggio buffet won't be happening this trip. Both of us don't drink alcohol, so that won't be a problem. I'm still excited to go, but this may be the only time I do this on NYE. Thanks to all.

 

I have a show at mgm for 930. I want to eat buffet at Cosmo or Bellagio and let's say I finish the buffet at 830. Will it be possible for me to get to the mgm by 930?

Also does anyone know if you can bypass lines at either Cosmo or Bellagio with platinum players card?

 

Auggie,
No booze sales on NYE at all in the stores?
I get in on NYE day in the morning and I was hoping to grab a few for the room?
Do I need to have the cab stop on the way from the airport?
Thanks

 

The following things I have witnessed on NYE on the Strip:

people throwing bottles into the crowd
people climbing and hanging from light poles/street lights
hundreds of people peeing in public
a random guy punching another random guy and running off
large brawls
police on horseback running people over responding to large brawls

Something to know about NYE on the Strip is that a majority of the people on the streets that night will be from low income neighborhoods in Vegas. Most all of the tourists will be inside casinos or at NYE clubs/parties. It is a mob mentality and if you're not used to that you will not like it. It once took me 45 minutes to go less than 100 feet. It was surrounded by craziness so I decided to get out of there and it took me forever to walk to the nearest side street, Flamingo, to get out of there.

I'm attaching a picture so you can see what I mean by the street being closed off. Last year they opened up a few crossovers along the Strip, but those bottlenecked right away. Other than those crossovers or the ped bridges you will not be able to cross the Strip. Its best to choose one side of the street and stay there all night.

To the original posted coming from San Diego, remember if you drive during peak times it can easily take you 8 hours each way to get there. Especially if you plan on leaving after 10am (or earlier) on the 1st. I live in SD also and I will only fly to Vegas on New Years. Also restaurants will mostly be open for people with reservations or you will be waiting well longer than an hour. Most of the fast food outlets will be able to serve you quickly.

The following picture is from last year, I took it from my room at Cosmo, you can see one of the crossovers and how crowded they get. You can also clearly see how the rest of the street is blocked off for police vehicles only.

 

For people that have done NYE in LV.

Is it worth it?

 

JWBlue, I was there last year and had a great time. Not sure of your age, but I'm done with crowds etc. I spent the evening at Mandalay Bay; playing the slots and people watching. There were a number of live bands playing in MB's bars and you could see and hear them from the casino floor. Drinks were easy to get as always.

Closer to midnight, went back to our room at theHotel. We were high up and could see all the fireworks from there. Sweet!

 

NYE tips?

I have a show at mgm for 930. I want to eat buffet at Cosmo or Bellagio and let's say I finish the buffet at 830. Will it be possible for me to get to the mgm by 930?

Also does anyone know if you can bypass lines at either Cosmo or Bellagio with platinum players card on NYE?

 

show on time

you have plenty of time its 15 minutes on a heavy night , I ate at wicked spoon at cosmo then got a cab to see KA at mgm had time to spare my friend even ate at mgm buffet and had 15 minutes til show.

 

I just saw this posted on twitter from the LV police and thought it might be helpful.

http://ow.ly/i/1j6oO

 

This is on new years eve. I assume the won't be any cabs due to closure of the strip?

 

Easily.

15 minute walk or shorter.

Especially since there will be not be any cars on Las Vegas Boulevard so it can be crossed anywhere.

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=3600+S+Las+Vegas+Blvd+Las+Vegas,+NV+89109&daddr=MGM+Grand+Hotel+%26+Casino,+3799+South+Las+Vegas+Boulevard,+Las+Vegas,+NV&hl=en&ll=36.107196,-115.172961&spn=0.014961,0.033023&sll=36.10626,-115.172982&sspn=0.014961,0.033023&geocode=FeoFJwId4oki-SmbyzAAMMTIgDGm-FVb9Bc5Cw%3BFaXhJgIdvKci-SF_EHa9BUXZnSklDoKTzMXIgDF_EHa9BUXZnQ&dirflg=w&mra=ltm&t=m&z=16

 

Yes,
Yes,
Yes.

At least once.

Now - is that opinion worthwhile? Hard to say.

 

My only NYE in Las Vegas was many years ago. It was fun back then, but for some reason I've never made it back to LV on NYE since.

Here are some shots taken that trip, with some taken recently from more or less the same angles:

http://omababe.blogspot.com/2011/06/downtown-las-vegas-then-and-now_06.html

 

Heres a cool gallery from the sun. You can sort of watch the strip fill up.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/photos/galleries/2011/dec/31/nye-2011-strip/#146081

Pictures 36 and 45 will show you how packed the strip will be.