Matt Holthe's Fleeting Thoughts

I'm beginning to think we picked the worst possible week to visit Disneyland. We booked this trip a long time ago for the first week of September. Our thought - we get the extra day (Labor Day) without having to use that day as vacation. Disneyland posts the park hours schedule about 45 days in advance. (Which is quite a bit different from Disney World, where things are around 180 days in advance). Two weeks before our visit, Disneyland is open 8:00 AM - 11:00 PM and has the Fantasmic show and Fireworks show at night. Sunday, August 25 is the last listed day for Fantasmic. Starting Monday, August 26, the park hours are 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM. Although Fantasmic is gone, the Fireworks are still there. Starting Tuesday, September 3, park hours are 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM, and they don't list either Fantasmic or Fireworks.

A lot of Las Vegas hotels (most, in fact) are now charging resort fees. This is an extra charge per night for stuff that used to be free - like newspapers, internet access, and so on. It basically makes the hotel nightly rates look better because those don't include the fees. Thanks to the Las Vegas Advisor web site, there's a list of current fees. The link is: Hotel Resort Fees . Some of the items that I might actually use included in these fees are boarding pass printing, bottles of water, and internet access. I'm never going to use the phone calls, fax service, or shoe shine service. The fitness center is doubtful, but might be used. Same with parking - I might rent a car once, but it's doubtful. The newspaper would probably be read, but isn't a necessity. Here's all the hotels that I might possibly stay at (basically, eliminating the ones in Henderson) and their resort fees and what you get as of July 17, 2013: Aria - $25.00 - In-Room Internet acces...

I was watching part of an NBA Summer League game tonight at dinner (it was on one of the bank of TV's - it's not like I was actively watching). It got me thinking... what about a Las Vegas trip next year during the NBA Summer League and watching a game? In 2013, the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas runs from July 12-22. There are 4 games (every 2 hours starting at 1:00 PM) Friday July 12 through Tuesday July 16 at COX Pavilion and 3 games (every 2 hours starting at 3:30 PM) Saturday July 13 through Tuesday July 16 at the Thomas & Mack center (a couple days have 4 games starting at 1:30 PM). Wednesday July 17 starts the tournament at both locations following a similar schedule to the round robin (3 or 4 games at each location). Saturday July 20 starts the final 8 teams at the Thomas & Mack center (4 games starting at 1:00 PM). Sunday the 21st is the final 4 (2 games starting at 3:00 PM), and Monday the 22nd is the final at 6:00 PM at the Thomas & Mack center. Ticke...

I haven't been to Las Vegas in a while, and there's many new things that I'd like to see and do on my next trip there. Secret Pizza restaurant at the Cosmopolitan. The last time I was in Vegas, the City Center was still under development. So, really, seeing the City Center is on my list. Mr. Lucky's 24/7 restaurant at the Hard Rock for the $7.77 unadvertised steak special. THE Steakhouse in Circus Circus. There's a food theme here, isn't there? High Roller Wheel at the Linq (still under development - scheduled to open in December). I want to see what happened to O'Sheas. more information Of course, there are the standby items that I'd like to revisit: Mirage Volcano Sirens of TI Fremont Street Experience Fountains of Bellagio Fall of Atlantis at Caesars Forum Shops

The first half of 2013 was a good pace for my Hilton and American status retention. I'm 70% of the way there with Hilton stays (21 out of 30) and I'm 68% of the way there on American segments (41 out of 60). But, as of right now, I have absolutely nothing on the schedule. Naturally, that won't hold out the rest of the year, but there's almost always something in the works - something out on the horizon. Hopefully business picks up a bit - I don't like scrambling at the end of the year to keep my status.