Excalibur on the Strip: How to Make This Castle Work for Your Family

Traveling with kids on the South Strip comes down to three things: the room you book, how quickly you can reach food and fun between naps, and what the extras really cost after you tap your card. Excalibur Hotel & Casino checks those boxes when you use it the right way. It sits at 3850 S. Las Vegas Blvd., next to New York-New York and connected to Luxor, with a free tram linking all three. The hotel still trades on its castle look, but the practical wins for families are newer Resort Tower rooms, a legit arcade, a pool with a slide on weekends, and the rare Las Vegas dinner show that welcomes all ages.

Which room is the real upgrade for families at Excalibur?

Ignore the marketing names for a moment and zero in on two towers. Rooms in the Resort Tower are the “newly renovated” ones. The standard Resort Tower Two Queen is 352 sq ft and sleeps up to 4. If you want that same footprint but a view, the Resort Strip View variants keep the 352 sq ft layout and add the outlook. If you are offered a “Superior” label, that bumps the Resort Tower King to 372 sq ft and sets max occupancy at 2 adults, which may matter if you rely on a rollaway.

The Royal Tower rooms are the classic, non-renovated side of the property. They match the standard size at 352 sq ft with Two Queen maxing at 4 and King at 3. The upside is often price. The trade-off is style and finishes that feel older. Suites exist in both towers. The Resort Luxury Suite is 682 sq ft with a max of 3, and the Royal Two Bedroom Luxury Suite is a true family layout at 1,034 sq ft with a max of 7 guests.

Practical bedding add-ons at Excalibur are straightforward. A rollaway is $35 per night, an extra person charge is $35, a refrigerator is $25 per night, and cribs are provided at no charge. Check-in is at 3 pm, check-out is 11 am. If you travel with dogs, Excalibur has dog-friendly rooms; up to two dogs are allowed with a combined weight under 100 pounds and a nightly charge applies. The dedicated on-site dog park makes quick breaks easier than most Strip hotels.

Two small logistics make the difference between smooth and stressful. First, mobile check-in through the MGM app saves you from a lobby line with strollers. Second, if you need wheels, the on-site AVIS desk operates daily from 6:30 am to 3:30 pm, closed noon to 1 pm for lunch, which is helpful for a same-day grocery run or a Hoover Dam detour before nap time.

Pools, arcades, and the dinner show your kids will talk about

Excalibur’s pool complex reads like it was designed by someone who has actually traveled with kids. The Pool Complex is typically open daily from 9 am to 6 pm. The dedicated Slide Pool operates on Saturday and Sunday, from 10 am to 5 pm. Drenched Bar & Grill serves counter-service meals by the water from 10 am to 5:30 pm. Expect four pools, a waterslide on those weekend hours, and 19 cabanas to rent if you want shade and a home base.

On days when the heat or wind cancels pool time, drop to the lower level for the Fun Dungeon arcade. It runs Monday to Thursday from 10 am to 11 pm and Friday to Sunday from 10 am to midnight. This is a proper family arcade with midway games, retro titles, and crane machines, not just a few cabinets beside a bar. Dairy Queen and Orange Julius sit right there for a quick bribe after you call last game.

For night plans that fit a 6-year-old and a grandparent, Tournament of Kings still delivers. Tickets start from $74.40 excluding tax, which is the ticket price plus a set service fee. All ages are welcome. Children ages 3 and under may attend free on a lap and share the accompanying adult’s meal. Typical show schedule is Wednesday through Monday with 6 pm and 8:30 pm performances. There is also a “dinnerless” ticket for the 8:30 pm performance that starts at $65.82 before tax, sold in person at the Excalibur box office. If your crew skews picky, dietary accommodations are available with advance notice the same day.

Feeding a family without wandering the Strip is exactly why Excalibur’s buffet matters again. The Buffet at Excalibur is open daily from 7 am to 2 pm. Weekday brunch runs $32.99 for adults and $18.99 for ages 5–11. The Friday price is $38.99 for adults and $19.99 for kids 5–11. The weekend Mimosa Brunch on Saturday and Sunday is $43.99, and the All-You-Can-Drink add-on is $21.99 for beer, wine, mimosas, and well drinks. The best part for families is a standing offer: one child 10 and under eats free per paid adult. If you prefer a sit-down meal, Buca di Beppo serves daily starting at 10:30 am and stays open late on weekends, while TAP Sports Bar opens for breakfast on Saturday and Sunday at 9 am and for dinner service most evenings.

What will you actually pay beyond the nightly rate?

Parking on the MGM campus is consistent and predictable, which is not something Las Vegas is known for. At Excalibur and its sibling garages, self-parking for non-hotel visitors is $20 for up to 24 hours on weekdays and $25 for up to 24 hours on weekends, subject to event surges. If you are a registered hotel guest, your self-parking is a flat $20 per day on weekdays and weekends. Nevada residents get up to 3 hours complimentary self-parking with a valid Nevada driver license at the exit gate, except during special events. If you drive a coach-sized truck or camper, Excalibur is one of the few MGM garages with oversized vehicle parking at $50 per 24 hours when space is available.

MGM Rewards members with Pearl status or higher receive complimentary self-parking. That includes anyone with Pearl via the Military & Veterans Program. Regardless of tier, the parking system gives you in-out privileges across MGM garages within the same parking type for the 24-hour window you have paid or qualified for. If you are attending a Raiders game or major concert, there is reserved event parking sold for Allegiant Stadium days that includes Excalibur as one of the designated garages.

Back in the room, plan the small but common charges. Rollaway beds run $35 nightly. The extra person fee is $35. A compact refrigerator rental is $25 per night and a crib is complimentary. Late checkout to 3 pm is available for a fee if inventory allows. Wi‑Fi and fitness center access are covered by the property’s daily resort fee, which is itemized at booking. If you want a single price that already covers meals, parking, and a show, MGM’s two-night All‑Inclusive Experience at Excalibur and Luxor bundles room, daily resort fee, three meals per person per day on set menus, two show tickets from a defined list, one ride per person on the Big Apple Coaster, and self‑parking. The package has been advertised with entry pricing starting at $330 plus tax for two nights for two guests, and limits and blackout dates apply. For families with two adults and one or two small kids, run the math against what you would spend at the buffet and TAP in a normal day and compare it to the a la carte approach.

How do you get around from Excalibur without a car?

Strollers do not love Strip crosswalks. The castle solves that with both bridges and rail. Walkways connect you to New York-New York and Luxor without ever crossing traffic. For longer hops with little legs, the Mandalay Bay–Luxor–Excalibur free tram runs Monday to Friday from 8 am to midnight, and Saturday to Sunday from 10 am to midnight. Figure on a few minutes between trains. That gets you quickly to Mandalay Bay Beach for a day visit, to Luxor for Blue Man Group or the museum exhibits, and to New York-New York for the coaster ride included in the all-inclusive bundle.

T‑Mobile Arena is close enough for most families to walk in 10–15 minutes from Excalibur when the weather cooperates, and rideshare pick-up is at the Royal Tower entrance if a nap or night chill shortens your stride. If someone needs a car for a half-day errand, the AVIS desk hours of 6:30 am to 3:30 pm cover morning pickups and lunchtime returns.

Key things to know before you book

• The Resort Tower rooms are the renovated ones. Standard Resort Two Queen rooms are 352 sq ft and sleep 4. Royal Tower rooms match the size with older finishes and often a lower price.
• Rollaway $35, extra person $35, refrigerator $25, crib free. Check-in 3 pm, check-out 11 am.
• Self-parking for hotel guests is $20 per day. Non-hotel visitors pay $20 on weekdays or $25 on weekends for up to 24 hours. Nevada residents get 3 hours free except during events. Oversized vehicle parking is $50 per 24 hours at Excalibur when available.
• MGM Rewards Pearl and above get complimentary self-parking, including those with Pearl through the Military & Veterans Program.
• Pool Complex hours are typically 9 am–6 pm. The Slide Pool runs on Sat–Sun 10 am–5 pm. Drenched Bar & Grill is 10 am–5:30 pm.
• Fun Dungeon arcade: Mon–Thu 10 am–11 pm, Fri–Sun 10 am–12 am.
• Tournament of Kings tickets start at $74.40 before tax; ages 3 and under free on a lap; “dinnerless” seats for the 8:30 pm show start at $65.82 before tax at the box office. Typical show nights are Wed–Mon at 6 pm and 8:30 pm.
• The Buffet at Excalibur runs daily 7 am–2 pm, with weekday adult brunch at $32.99, Friday at $38.99, kids 5–11 from $18.99–$19.99, and one child 10 and under eats free per paid adult. Mimosa Brunch on weekends is $43.99; AYCD add-on is $21.99.
• The free tram to Luxor and Mandalay Bay operates Mon–Fri 8 am–12 am and Sat–Sun 10 am–12 am.
• All‑Inclusive Experience bundles room, meals, two show tickets, one Big Apple Coaster ride per guest, and self‑parking, with entry pricing advertised from $330 plus tax for two nights for two people.

Reader Q&A

Does Excalibur actually have a kid-friendly pool and when is the slide open?

Yes. The Pool Complex is generally open daily from 9 am to 6 pm, and the Slide Pool operates on Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. Drenched Bar & Grill at the pool serves food from 10 am to 5:30 pm, so you can keep everyone fed without leaving the deck.

How much is parking and can I get it for free?

Registered hotel guests pay $20 per day for self-parking. Visitors pay $20 on weekdays or $25 on weekends for up to 24 hours, with prices higher during special events. Nevada residents get up to 3 hours free with a state driver license at exit, and MGM Rewards members with Pearl status or higher receive complimentary self-parking.

What time can we check in, and are cribs or rollaways available?

Check-in is at 3 pm and check-out is 11 am. Cribs are free on request, rollaways are $35 per night, the extra person fee is $35, and a refrigerator rental is $25 per night. These are subject to availability, so request them early through the app or at the desk.

What family-friendly show is on site and what does it cost?

Tournament of Kings runs in Excalibur’s round arena most nights Wednesday through Monday with 6 pm and 8:30 pm performances. Tickets start at $74.40 before tax, children 3 and under are free on a lap, and there is a dinnerless option for the 8:30 pm show that starts at $65.82 before tax at the box office.

Here is how to narrow it. If you want a straightforward two-queen room that feels fresh, pick the Resort Tower Two Queen. If you need at least one separate sleeping space, target a Luxury Suite in either tower or the Royal Two Bedroom Luxury Suite. Planning to eat on property and catch a show anyway? Price out the All‑Inclusive Experience for your dates and compare it to booking room-only plus buffet and tickets a la carte.

Published: September 28, 2026 · Reviewed by the Hey Las Vegas editorial team