Folks play waiting game to get into buffets on Christmas Day

By William D'Urso

Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012 | 8:04 p.m.

Traffic on the Las Vegas Strip labored along at a slow pace Tuesday, Dec. 25, with the sounds of the holiday interrupted by some honking and naughty words from impatient drivers. Pedestrians wore light jackets and sunglasses while the sun bounced off of cars. People filled the sidewalk to capacity. On Christmas Day, the Strip is the same.

More than a few ventured out to for a bite to eat. The ravenous hordes in line -- some waiting as long as three hours -- chose to brave the strip for Christmas dinner to avoid messiness and complicated preparation, or just to be with friends on a day off.

Jared Andrews and his family set their sights on the Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace. Usually they stay home in Oregon, but this Christmas, Andrews decided to do something different in celebration of his wife’s birthday.

“We heard this is the buffet capital of the world, and this is the $17 million buffet,” he said.

He had been waiting with his wife and two daughters for two hours.

“Just a half hour away,” he said.

The chance to eat a nice meal without the added legwork brought many to the trough Tuesday.

“(The buffet is good) like everything else here,” said Callie Dycus of Las Vegas. “It’s just easier than dealing with preparation and cleanup.”

A few miles south at the M Resort, Neo Liu had been standing in line for over an hour. He was by himself.

“I’m here with my girlfriend. She’s still gambling,” he said with a laugh.

The Los Angeles resident broke his normal routine of visiting family because of the deals he found, and because he had heard the buffet at the M Resort was one of the best in town.

“This is one of the main reasons we’re here,” he said. “Vegas is kind of the closest getaway.”