Moving on up the Strip…Is it all just a Mirage?

Before bedtime the night before, Kodi and Tom had taken a wee walk on Fremont Street, because it was their last opportunity to enjoy the lights and Downtown vibe. 

They had not done so many things on the loose agenda…..no Container Park, or El Cortez, no Downtown Grand, not even a trip to the California or Main Street Station hotels.  Kodi hadn’t planned to gamble there as she was in ‘playing where staying’  mode, but she’d planned to go to the MS buffet and perhaps the California’s coffee shop at least once.  The Funbook coupons and her fatigue had messed up those plans and she apologized to Tom.  He said she shouldn’t worry about it, as he had been plagued with low energy himself, and wondered out loud if being 4 years older had actually snuck up and done that to him.

In the morning, they headed for the now expected long line up at Magnolias, after ensuring their bags were ready to go, up in the room.  Tom had used his purchased o.j. the previous two mornings and Kodi had finished up the room coffee the previous night.  

When they finally got to Hostess stand, they were put into purgatory for a few minutes.  

This restaurant has three rooms. The one at the top of the stairs, which has the kitchen behind it, the one to the left of that room and one directly behind the wall where the benches sit against the wall holding the hungry diners who are ‘almost’ going to be seated.  Kodi had been to Magnolias probably 30 times and always wondered about the back room, which she figured was for groups or VIPs, as it had always been closed.  Today however, the hostess grabbed menus and led them through that forbidden door, as the area was being used for overflow.  Every other table was filled, and the line was still growing.

Not only did they go into that back room, but they were led to a big booth as well. Kodi sat with a view of the kitchen door, where the waiters and waitresses wearing jet packs zipped in and out, efficiently serving guests in all three rooms. Room #2 was served by cutting through this back room and out a door at the other end, thus avoiding the bottleneck of the cashier’s stand.

It really WAS a fancy room.  The ceiling lighting was different than the other two, some of the  booths were larger as well, and there were some round banquet-sized tables. Kodi was happy she’d finally seen it. 

Tom just fancied orange juice, a bagel and cream cheese, and tea with milk.  Kodi had been craving something for a couple of days, since it had turned cooler.  You know how that goes….it’s all you can think of , no matter what else is on the menu.   She ordered orange juice,  and then asked what were choices of hot cereal that day.  She was going to get it with blueberries . 

“We have no hot cereal “ was the waiter’s reply.  She looked blankly at him.  “None?” she squeaked.  She considered asking if he could pour boiling water over bran flakes for her and then bring hot milk with it, but figured it was a lost cause, so just ordered their ‘Simply Royal “ as well as black coffee.

When Kodi’s coffee came, she sipped it imagining oatmeal with brown sugar and blueberries…then decided, since her sweet tooth was singing, to put a packet of honey in the coffee. Hmm, better..🤔 but perhaps another one…or two.  When Tom’s meal arrived and his tea had lemon and honey on the side and no milk, the waiter left to get some.  Kodi grabbed that honey as well, and like a mad scientist, she also popped the chunk of lemon into the coffee right behind it. It was PERFECT!

The breakfast plate arrived, and her coffee flavour boost lasted through 2 refills.

The next item to be ticked off the list that day was to see if she could apply any cash back she’d earned to their hotel bill when they checked out.  She went to the Royal Players Desk, where there were only two people in front of her.  The gal she got there looked over everything and said that she was all set, and the front desk would apply the cash and any comps to her bill for the last three nights. She headed upstairs to get ready to leave.

The lobby line wasn’t too bad….Tom waited outside enjoying the sunshine while Kodi checked out.  The front desk ended up removing one room night’s charge, so that was a pleasant surprise.  👍 The stays had been pleasant and they both agree that they’d be willing to book in there again.

There was a sign on the front desk, with a location to give for Uber pick up.  Once outside, Kodi tried it. Searching, searching, searching, then disconnect.  She tried three times with the same results.  She then tried Lyft and it kept insisting the pick up point be the valet area at the D.  After a number of attempts when the same thing happened, they ordered a car and hoofed it over there just in time to meet the gal.

The ride was good, the car clean and the driver safe. It was approximately $20 up to the Mirage.  Tom handled the luggage, because the young lady was about 7 months pregnant, LOL.  They mostly paid their  drivers cash tips, figuring it might help with gas fill ups , and coffee runs better than them waiting for payment from the Company.  They decided on a minimum of $5, no matter what the cost of the fare.  There was a pick up at the Mirage for their driver when they were being dropped off, something that always made them happy.

Yes….it was real….

It was just after 1 p.m on a Wednesday, but Kodi doubted they’d get the room that early.  Tom had an aversion to leaving baggage with bellmen that had an outside drop off stand, so he had his fingers crossed.  The regular line was long.  The self-check-in kiosks were full, the  VIP line had only a couple of guests waiting. 

Kodi loved the Mirage lobby. She looked around, and breathed in that wonderful tropical scent…and shuffled forward when the line inched along.  She saw the gentleman behind the VIP desk gesture, and it looked like he was pointing at HER…in the middle of the peasant’s line.  She made eye contact and pointed at herself, raising her eyebrows..  He nodded.   She looked at those just in front and behind her. They were on their phones and totally oblivious.  She stepped out of the line and up to the front desk, glancing at Tom as she went. He too, was totally oblivious, watching people come through the front doors and just generally looking the other way. 😂

Kodi just held her breath, producing her paperwork , saying good afternoon to the fellow and hoping she wasn’t making a fool of herself.  Years ago, she’d gone to Mirage on an offer, and had thought she should check in at this part of the desk, since she was an ‘invited guest’.  She’d actually been refused once it was her turn, and told to join the other line…so humiliating.😝

Everything went smoothly, and she was soon handed two keys to room 11020, a Resort two Queen-bedded room, as  close to the elevators as they could manage. There was $100 resort credit on the room and she needed to go the the MLife booth to have her $75 free play added.  See? An Easter Miracle!  Over the years, she had received perhaps a free room night a couple of times a year from MGM properties, but never something like this.  She thanked her ‘Angel’, never asking why he’d chosen to call HER up.  Maybe she’d reminded him of someone he knew. ( Probably because she looked like a sad old lady, and he didn’t want anyone to have to pick her up off the floor at some point. 🤣)

She walked over to the rock wall where Tom was leaning and whacked him to get his attention. He looked at her startled. “Wow that was fast, Do we have to go outside and check the bags?”

Kodi explained what had happened, and dragging the luggage, they headed to the back of the hotel with smiling faces. And, they actually got to stay put for 4 nights this time.  They might even use a few hangers this time!

They were surprised at how busy the slot area was, and as they approached the elevator banks they had to dodge groups of people coming from there and the corridor that led to shops and the pool.  There was a lineup outside of the Pantry, the coffee shop that you apparently needed to get on a waiting list for most days.  Not their thing, as that and the menu was via a scan , and not shown outside in print. Too hip for a Kodidog.

The room was great, and they were thrilled until Kodi saw the tub and shower set up. At least there was a grab bar…

They headed downstairs and walked the perimeter of the casino, getting the lay of the land. There was no buffet any more, but the California Pizza Kitchen was still there.  Rhumbar would be reopening shortly, after renovations, Carnegie Deli has closed and the new ‘Snacks’ is in its place.  Kodi had a My Vegas reward to use there later that day, so it was good to know where it was located.  There were a couple of other places to eat, but they were nearly covered for the stay, they felt.

Kodi got her free play added to her players card, which they switched out.  She was now the lowest standing status and it was no longer a MLife card,  now MGMRewards…oh well.  She hoped to save that free play for a few days, and ‘live off of’ her daily stake and winning!  More money spent on administration and less available for members everywhere it seemed.

They had gone their separate ways to play and agreed to meet at Snacks at 4:30, for the two for one sandwich deal that she had earned from the online games (apparently already on her card…when purchased, and only one venue during their trip needed to see the paperwork and confirmation # she had printed out.)

Neither of them had happy gambling news when they met up. As a matter of fact, they both arrived about 15 minutes early, LOL.

The reward stated 2/1 sandwich, but Pluto had told them that burgers were included in the deal.  Kodi checked before ordering though, because she’d found over time that various employees don’t always interpret rules and regulations the same way.  Burgers were a go!  There were a number of choices though, and they saw that there was also a breakfast menu.

They decided on the two/1  Bacon Cheeseburger, and ordered a side of Tater Tots to share.  The burgers came with a couple of gherkin pickles or hot peppers on the plate.  Kodi got them all, LOL.  

They were large and delicious.  They both decided to just have large glasses of water and asked for an empty glass. This was an honour system, as the water was at the self serve pop ( Soda 😉) fountain.  They had plenty of food for the two of them for just around $25 after the one burger cost was removed…Kodi put the balance on the room, because ….RESORT CREDIT!

They played all evening, with Kodi finally desperately using all of her free play after her daily envelope was empty.  She cursed the fact that neither she nor Tom could even get some entertainment value out of their twenties.  At least they had a pretty room to go back to...  

She was unable to get night photos from the room, no matter how many ways she stood on her head , because they had a number of bright lights shining directly up from underneath the window.  

They finished unpacking necessities including the cane, because….darn LOW toilet!  The bed was oh so comfy , and the sheets smelled of bleach…which Kodi rather liked, and she had sweet dreams.  The next day they would try their new bus passes, and head south on the Strip.