The Disneyfication of Las Vegas

Las Vegas is in a state of constant renewal. Old buildings are torn down for newer, bigger and glitzier ones. The ones that have been built within the last decade or so are already undergoing major renovation in an attempt to keep up with the Joneses, so to speak. The whole place aims for an air of surrealism. Each casino practically screams for one to come inside. Every hotel and casino is housed in the most incredible opulence imaginable. One can walk inside any building and find huge marble statues, rich upholstery, mirrors and huge fantastic art hanging on the walls. Everything is geared to give everyone the feeling of being rich. Beautiful hostesses, elegant floor managers, all looking wealthy and influential treat you as if you were royalty, beckoning you to come to the tables and play. Possibly you can strike it rich and really become one of Vegas royalty. Whenever someone wins, a huge deal is made over the winner to show everyone else that yes, they too can have this kind of luck.

Hotels build miniature amusement parks within their grounds. One has an imitation of Venice Italy complete with canals and gondolas. For a price, the gondola will take you around for a little ride. Another has huge water fountains that dance to music and lights. Only in Vegas can one find an actual working volcano that erupts on demand. Every hour the hotels and shops dim their lights and the whole street puts on a dazzling light display with a roof-like canopy of electronic relays accompanied by sound.

In the late eighties, there was a move to make Las Vegas more family-oriented. Hotels brought in water parks and amusement park type rides. The Strip was gearing itself to provide competition to such amusement park giants such as Disney. Of course, this fizzled because the main concept of Vegas has always been and always will be gambling. Today, Vegas is toning down on the Disneyfication attempt by acknowledging their true roots. They are a gambling town and this is the reason most people go there. While there are still a lot of elegant classy hotels and shows that are more family friendly, one still has to be careful with children and what they could potentially be exposed to.

Las Vegas is probably the only city in America where pedestrians walk down the street carrying alcoholic drinks. Showgirls and nudity abound in the local clubs. Parents still have to be careful in making sure they don't inadvertently expose their young ones to some of the seedier aspects of Las Vegas. As Disney and all those places that are larger than life and distort perceptions of reality, Vegas does this with their huge hotels and glitzy décor. One could completely lose themselves in the surrealism of this place. They attempt to give people a sense of coming to Vegas and hitting the jackpot. They offer promises and dreams when in reality most people leave Vegas with a lot less money in their pockets.