Unlike most, I actually read the whole thread…and DMark knows his shit since he lives there.
But let me add the Vegas.com Kid’s Attractions to this thread.
Vegas with kids is fine as long as you’re going there for activities other than gambling, as the OP is. My story: I was one of about five adults travelling with a girls soccer team to a tournament there. Most of the time, the girls would be tired after the games and just eat and fool around for an hour or two and then go to sleep (We were staying at one of the station casinos far off the strip.) One night we took them to the strip to ride the roller coaster at New York, New York and see the Bellagio fountains.
We parked at the Luxor and went across the bridge to Treasure Island. When we got to the lobby with our group of 16 year-old girls, the troupe of Aussie guys with the washboard abs and tanned skin were drumming up business for their show, sans shirts. Holy shit! Those girls went apeshit. It was like I’d walked into a chicken coop. I’m not sure if any of them got any sleep that night.
Rent a car, drive north, and take him to a brothel?
Otherwise, never ask a kid what he wants for dinner unless he’s buying!
I’m just saying.
there’s an enormous arcade for kids on the strip called gameworks. mgm grande has an arcade, too and rides for little kids as well as virtual realty rides for bigger kids. (also luxor has one or more VR ride). we did the helicopter ride to the GC, which is no less than awesome (note: don’t eat beforehand. my niece and nephew got sick but it was a particularly windy day). also, sports zone at the hilton has sports sim games as well as other video games. if it’s warm enough, the mandalay bay has a fun wave pool. (i’m not sure if you can buy a day pass to use it if you’re not staying there.)
we love “the earl of sandwich” located at planet hollywood. i’m not fond of the buffets especially rio but most people like that place. dick’s last resort is fun (although is a chain) for kids at the excalibur.
We fly out in a few hours and this has been really helpful, thank you! I haven’t been in 15 years, so I appreciate the tips and am looking forward to it (especially the Stratosphere, helicopter tour, and the rafting!).
If you take a Pink Jeep tour, I believe you can go to the Grand Canyon West Rim, walk out on the Skywalk and also take a helicopter tour. Pricey but fun.
I would second the M buffet- fun for a kid who isn’t too picky because there is everything from sushi to prime rib, Asian fare and just about any dessert they could think of. Plus beer or wine for the adults is included. It’s one of the few buffets I like in town. Also, although not particularly kid friendly, the coffee shop in the TI is very good .
Talk about perfect weather for the trip! In the 80’s for the next few days!
(You will quickly discover that does not mean the swimming pools are warm enough to jump into yet - but great for the trips you have planned!)
Be sure to report back and let us know how things went and what you did and where you ate!
Springs Preserve is a great place to take the kids and, if you can, run out to Red Rock. There’s a kids trail that is pretty cool, but even just driving through is fun.
Most of my other suggestions have been made up thread, and they’re all fun. My son is 8 and has loved all of them, so I think a 10 year old will too.
This town isn’t nearly as seedy as people, especially as pkbites seems to believe.
Of course, if you WANT seedy, I can help direct you. 
Yeah, and it’s bullshit. Losers walking through casinos @ 2am with 5 year olds. I don’t care if they stay on that line, kids should not be in a casino at any time, but especially at 2am.
And who mentioned Circus Circus? I wouldn’t take a gutter rat there. What a dump!! Bulldoze it to the ground!
When is the last time you were in Vegas? I’ve been there the last two summers, and the Gameworks that was on the strip around the M&M/Coke shops was long-closed. I don’t recall any VR rides at either the MGM Grand or the Luxor, but I could have missed them (MGM Grand was doing a big renovation last summer).
Also, both the Mandalay Bay and Mirage have wildlife exhibits–Mandalay Bay is kind of a rainforest/aquarium setup, with the Mirage having the lions/big cats and a dolphin area.
This weekend? Remember that Sunday is St. Patrick’s Day, so expect a few more drunks than usual, especially near places with Irish pubs (like NYNY with its Nine Fine Irishmen pub).
I highly recommend the PHOF. Keep in mind that (a) in case you haven’t noticed by the name, it’s almost all pinball machines - they have a handful of video and other mechanical games, but they’re older ones, and (b) while admission is free, you still have to pay to play each game (the older ones are 25c a game; the newest ones can be up to $1/game, last time I looked).
Unfortunately, except for touristy things like watching the fountains at Bellagio, or going to an overpriced show (there are a few that are “family-friendly”), there just isn’t that much to do at night in Vegas. Casinos tend not to have “non-gambling areas” that aren’t restaurants or expensive shops.
The address is 953 East Sahara Avenue (near Sahara & Maryland); I think it’s in a strip mall of some sort. It’s about 5 miles away from the south end of the Strip.
So is most of what you just said. Sure, there are people that walk around with kids at ridiculous hours, they’re just…I don’t know what they’re thinking.
You are using a pretty broad brush and trying to paint everyone who visits, and lives here, as some type of gambling, boozing, irresponsible asshole.
On top of the fact that everyone is offering suggestions of places that are family friendly, you’re assessment(s) are total bullshit.
Would it surprise anybody to find out that **pkbites ** was last seen pushing a hot dog card through the French Quarter while wearing a cut-rate pirate’s costume.
Maybe the same guy who hacked the lone cashew hacked pkbites?
How do they know whether you’re having the buffet for dinner or for lunch?
Casinos are famous for not having clocks, after all…
**Ambien **strikes again!
Damn I didn’t know you were a mindreader. Besides the kid will be fine. I took my six year old nephew to a brothel there and he almost slept with as many girls as me. I was impressed.
Make sure you take him by Jean Philippe’s Chocolate and Patisserie in the Bellagio. The chocolate fountain is pretty cool.
How are little old ladies pushing buttons on slot machines going to stunt the kid’s growth, exactly? Yeah, 2 AM is too late, but during the day is no big issue.
Circus Circus was not bad about 30 years ago. The last time I strolled through it was indeed a dump. I thought I read somewhere that it was going to be torn down.
I hope the OP wasn’t planning on driving through the Strip. That place is way too congested, and I’m from New York so my standards of congestion are high.