Mandalay Bay End of August

[BullGator]

I am heading to Vegas in a few weeks and am considering staying at the Mandalay Bay since I have heard it has a great pool, which will keep the girlfriend busy while I play. I have found out I can get 25% the room rate if I play 5 hours a day in their poker room. Has anyone played at the Mandalay recently, or used a Poker room rate? Does it generally work? What is the room like, I have read mixed reviews and want to know what I am getting into before I obligate myself to play 5 hrs a day there.