Could you really have two more destinations that are polar opposite? Walt Disney World is family friendly, most places in Vegas you need to be 21 to enjoy the amenities.  You make memories at WDW you can’t wait to share with everyone and relive for years to come, Vegas has made it’s tagline to reflect not sharing all your memories (or those you do have).

I just returned from a great travel consultant conference with the Signature Travel Network and while I learned a lot and made some great new professional contacts my visit to Vegas has left me craving some magic.  As usual I spend a week in a new destination comparing it to my magic place. It’s habit and comes naturally. I would like to share the things that reminded me of WDW while in Vegas.

1. Ques. Lines. Corrals. Whatever you want to call them, I got to stand in my fair share. From cab stands to restrooms there were corrals to traverse and other guests in front of me. The longest lines were at restaurants, hotel check in, and surprisingly for the elevator to my room one night. I stayed at the MGM Grand which was a lovely resort but huge and held many guests and day visitors. With a UFC fight taking place, the Marine ball, and a thousand travel consultants descending on the hotel the lines backed up pretty quickly.

2. Gift shops. You think Disney exit gift shops are over the top? To get from point A to point B in Vegas in most resorts you have to pass thru multiple. And in addition to “What Happens in Vegas…” t-shirts and fuzzy dice the gifts can range into the temptingly destructive for your wallet such as fine art or designer shoes. The gift shop planners certainly know what they are doing in Vegas!

3. Money. As in Disney, Vegas also has the strange phenomenon that makes the money in your wallet become allergic to it. Before you know it your precious hard earned dollars and cents are taking off. In Disney they jump into pressed penny machines, in Vegas it’s slot machines.  Dining and entertainment options around every corner are also tempting your budget. At both places it can be easy to come away a lot lighter in the wallet area and not even realize it.

4. People Watching. Ahhh peopleofwalmart.com move over. For years I have enjoyed the people watching opportunities at WDW, Vegas has just as many opportunities and some that should come with a R rating. In thirty seconds you will see someone in their formal finest and then a visitor in their cut off jeans.

5. “Tragic Express”. While most people leaving WDW are sad on the ride to the airport or trip back home, that sad tone is there in Vegas as well. But there is a difference. Most in WDW are sad the great times and wonderful memories are over. In Vegas the tears are often the result of not winning that jackpot.