About eight years ago, the Excalibur Hotel & Casino
underwent a major transformation that softened the medieval/Renaissance theme
made popular during the family-oriented “theme resort” strategy of 1990s Las
Vegas.
Most of the theme aspects have been removed, including the
entertainment area under the casino, which is known as the “Fun Dungeon.” When last I visited the Excalibur, the Fun Dungeon was full
of kids cavorting and being entertained by singers, puppeteers, magicians, and
other like-wise costumed characters.
It was a fun, joyful place to walk around
while you carefully tried to avoid stumbling over unfettered youngsters.
No light-hearted fun anymore. Everything down in the dungeon
is very … well, dungeonesque. It’s dark down there, and not too many kids are
running around. It’s mostly video arcade games, with a few carny-type games
that they tried to upgrade to a classier level.
The entrance to the jousting dinner show – The Tournament of
Kings – is down there, and I suppose that when the shows are over, the place
sees more action and probably makes a lot of coinage. I doubt that the Thunder
from Down Under show produces as many Dungeon patrons as the knights on
horseback show does.
Still, one should remember that the largest Megabucks
jackpot of all time was hit at the Excalibur. Someone walked away with $39.7
million in March 2003.
Hmmm, I wonder if s/he spent any of it in quarters at the
Fun Dungeon?
2 comments:
I can't recall if I've ever been to the Fun Dungeon. Sometimes these casinos are so big that it's easy to get lost. I think I've been there (a long time ago), but didn't know I was in the Fun Dungeon. I wish I paid more attention! :-)
If you've been to the Excaliber jousting knights in armor show, you've been to the Fun Dungeon.
~ Craig
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