MLP Fair Meet Up! Saturday - Rain Forest Cafe - 41 definites so far! 1 spot left!!

[SailorLibra]

I'm thinking we need 3 groups. One for 7, the big group at 730, and another at 8 since we have to stagger it and I don't want anyone to feel left out.

I'm coping some of the info over from the arena thread to help out here.

Shuttle Service at the Orleans Casino & Hotel | OrleansCasino.com - shuttle service

The Orleans offers free shuttle service to its sister property the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino as well as the Las Vegas strip. The shuttle operates 7 days a week from 9:30 AM to midnight and picks up guests approximately every 20 - 30 minutes from the hotel's Tropicana Avenue entrance. Coast Casinos hotel guests will receive priority seating on all shuttles.

Awsomeness. I guess that means we have to try to get most of us on there before 7pm to make sure there is room for us and we all get there if the reservations at 7:30.

Yes, definitely, if you want to take the shuttle, don't worry about meeting the group in the lobby. Just get to the shuttle as early as you can. There can sometimes be lines for these things, and even though hotel guests get priority seating (bring your hotel card!), you don't want to chance it. I don't know if the Strip is the first stop or if the sister casino is.

I'll have a car and can make a few trips and anyone else that has room in their car could help out. Maybe we should get some names.
Can anyone else help drive??

I just want to give you a heads up that if you're making several trips, you're probably going to need more than half an hour. Although the MGM is relatively close to The Orleans, getting on and off the property can be extrememly time consuming, especially if you're not familiar with the shortcuts. One trip there and back will probably wind up eating your whole half hour, if not more. 15 minutes each way is a pretty optimistic timeframe.
I'd reccomend NOT dropping anyone at the main entrance. You can spend forever and a day trying to get back out, and if you're in the wrong lane you'll wind up heading the wrong way on the strip and need to make a u-turn. Try going thru the light at Las Vegas Blvd and making the next left onto the property. There should be a quick way that will put you close to the convention center entrance, and is usually uncrowded. If you can find an open door over there, you're good. Otherwise dropping off in the parking garage is a good option too. Just pay attention around there, the property is massive and it's easy to wind up coming out on the wrong street.

Thanks for the tips! I know traffic gets awefully congested. I think we might suggest people taking the shuttle if they can get there early enough. Hopefully we'll have enough shuttlers and drivers to make just one trip.


*off to look at Googlemaps to get more familiar with that intersection*
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(Sorry if this is all info-overload -- I'm "thinking outloud". I just really like to be prepared!)

As far as a drop-off point goes, I think think the SE end of the intersection would work best, right by the escalators to the walkway. There is also a walkway from the NW (New York Hotel) side, but no close drop-off point. Click to enlarge.


The RFC is marked on the map -- from a front entrance, it should be to your left (lion habitat is to your right if you get there early).

I'm open to suggestons - especially from those that live there or go there a lot. I'll definitely be driving that area on Thursday and Friday, so I'll time it to have an idea of what it'll be like.

When you look at a map of the intersection, it looks pretty straightforward, and really it is. But Tropicana gets really congested at the Boulevard. The I-15 entrance is right there and you'll probably sit through the light at the freeway entrance once, and when you hit the boulevard it's likely you'll sit through it twice. If you make the left there, it's usually backed up as soon as you make the turn because the MGM entrance right there is a bit hidden and people are always slamming on the brakes to catch it.
I don't know if the map will show the next left, but I'm pretty sure there is a small turn lane with a light right after the boulevard. Otherwise, the next street up is Koval, which will take you in the back way.
The cafe itself is not really near the main entrance. It's on the other end of the casino, in the back corner. About midway through the property. It's not hard to find, the signage at the MGM is pretty good.
I don't want to make it sound all horrible or anything, but I was concerned when I saw you had a 30 minute timeframe for multiple trips. Anyone from Vegas will tell you that everyplace takes a half an hour to get to. Even if it's down the street! It's a mystery...

I don't want to make it sound all horrible or anything, but I was concerned when I saw you had a 30 minute timeframe for multiple trips. Anyone from Vegas will tell you that everyplace takes a half an hour to get to. Even if it's down the street! It's a mystery...

No, not at all -- it's good info to know! We may have to revise our meet-up time depending on who all needs a ride. We definitely don't want to show up late. I'll coordinate with Sailorlibra once I hear back from the RFC lady about the reservation and sort out the details. Then we'll send a PM around with meet-up times, places, transportation, contact numbers, etc.
I see that side road -- Island Way. RFC is right there on the edge of the casino area, right? So if you follow the casino signs once you're inside, it should be easy to find?

Yep! Casinos are signage central!! Just look up at any place there's a turn in the flow and you'll find a sign telling you what's where. Once you're inside, it should be very easy to find. Even if they don't have the cafe itself listed (it might just be under Restaurant Row or something) you can follow the signs to the Lion Habitat. It's right next door.

Hey I just emailed the hotel about the shuttle and if it hits the sister place first or the strip.
Here is another option that might seem crazy.
PUBLIC TRANSIT hehe.
Here is the link for the one bus that runs down the street.
http://www.rtcsouthernnevada.com/transit/route/201/201(1-11-09).pdf
this is the link to the schedual for this bus. Just an idea.

*whew*

Hope that catches everyone up!

 

[FairlyVanilla]

Yay! I'll be there! Thankfully my friend Taeha signed us both up!!

 

[SailorLibra]

I'm updating the 1st thread now, there have been some more updates.

UPDATE: Looks like we can't extend the 30 person reservation without imposing "group" restrictions, but we've now set up a 2nd reservation at 7:00 for 12 people -- 4 spots are open -- PLEASE LET ME KNOW BY MONDAY if you want to join that reservation

WHAT: Meet-up for dinner!
MGM RFC MENU page1
MGM RFC MENU page2
MGM RFC MENU page3 (kids)

WHERE: Rainforest Cafe inside the MGM Grand hotel (see map below). Restaurant is on the outskirts of the casino area near the Lion Habitat, so follow the casino signs if you get lost. HOTEL MAP

WHEN: MLP GROUP 1: Saturday June 20th, 7:30pm RESERVATION FILLED
MLP GROUP 2: Saturday, June 20th, 7:00pm -- 4 SPOTS OPEN!

TRANSPORTATION: Please allow plenty of travel time! Traffic in Vegas can make the 2 mile trip a 30-minute one.
~~Driving yourself: I’d recommend giving yourself 45-60 minutes to get there. With traffic, the drive could take 30 minutes; the garage is in the back of the hotel (see hotel map) and it’s a good walk to get to the front. If you’re willing to help carpool, please PM either myself or SailorLibra. Due to traffic, we will probably only be able to make one trip.
~~Free Orleans Shuttle: It says it runs every 30 minutes. I called and she said if traffic is bad, it could be longer and it may make other stops first (like to the sister casino Gold Coast) and it fills up fast. I’d recommend getting there as early as you can, probably no later than 6:30pm. Hotel guests get priority seating but it can fill up fast. Pick up is at Tropicana Ave hotel entrance.
~~Public Transport: Shuttle and public transport options: www.orleanscasino.com/...le-service
Also suggested Public Transport: www.rtcsouthernnevada....11-09).pdf See page 5, 201 Eastbound Saturday Regular Routing. Looks like the bus stop is at Decatur Rd, which you’ll have to walk to.
~~Need A Ride: Please post/PM if you need a ride and we’ll do our best to coordinate one for you. We’ll set up a time and place to meet before heading over; likely it’ll be at SailorLibra’s booth at the end of the convention.
~~Walking to MGM: I can’t with good conscience recommend walking the 2+ miles to MGM, but some are getting a group together, so it is an option. Average high temp for Vegas in June is 100 degrees. It is very dry, which makes it more comfortable than humid heat, but you also don’t realize how quickly you can overheat and dehydrate. Heat stroke is a serious thing, so PLEASE TAKE WATER, wear sunscreen, walk indoors when you can and don’t walk alone.

30-person Reservation for 7:30pm
SailorLibra
blu_clouds
BabyBlueRibbon
princessmaker & hubby
StrawberryReef & hubby
relceleste & guest
victorose & BF
ponysforme
lindallama & daughter
greywolf1978
LLBPonyGirl & mom
greenapplekitty & hubby & daughter
taeha
FairlyVanilla
jupiter_oski
elfpony
cards4me (Melissa) & hubby Peter & son
snapdragon
pandorarose3 & mom

12-person reservation at 7:00pm -- 4 SPOTS OPEN
lunar_scythe & friend
Gypsy
windypony & baby
PinkSparklePony
ashlyne & hubby Steve

We currently have 4 spots open for the 7:00pm reservation if you'd like to come. Please let me know ASAP so I can let the RFC know how many to expect

We’ll PM everyone confirmed on the reservation next week some time with a contact number and to make sure the info gets to everyone involved. Can’t wait to hang out in the jungle!

 

[SailorLibra]

In case I may not get a chance to update everything, please also stay tuned to the thread over at the Arena,
My Little Pony Arena » Forums » Pony Talk » MLP Fair 2009 » MLP Fair meet-up: Rainforest Cafe - 4 SPOTS OPEN!

I don't want anyone to miss out on the information.

 

[ashlyne]

Got 3 more confirmed for the 7pm reservation:

goddessofpeep
Childwize
BabyMedley

So that leaves 1 spot left!