Legoland Florida: A Family Guide
Legoland Florida: A Family Guide
A Family Guide to LEGOLAND, Florida
Orlando, Florida, is overflowing with what is easily an endless number of attractions that are the equivalent to months' worth of vacation. Among these attractions are several theme parks and water parks that draw not just kids, but also adults and families.
One such family exploring this beautiful city was ours, my husband, our three sons. Our children had been nearly begging us to take them to LEGOLAND, and I am a big kid when it comes to these things, so I am always down for some fun, but, my husband was a bit skeptical. A park of just LEGO bricks? OMG, I am so glad he played along because we had so much fun! Keep reading to learn of how we all ended up having a blast in LEGOLAND, Florida.
LEGOLAND Florida a Family Guide
Here is a quick guide for all other families who'd like to give this budding theme park a try.
Is LEGOLAND for You?
A big yes!
If you have kids who can spend hours creating and demolishing block buildings, this is the place to choose for your next family vacation. However, even if you or your kids are not LEGO fans, I'd still suggest you try the park. It is fun with over 50 rides, and not as crowded or pushy as its more famous neighbors. Plus, its a LEGO Heaven.
A great deal of attention has been given to creating a complete LEGO experience for the visitors. This LEGO theme park has everything from kid's lunch boxes, pool toys, to drink cups, and everything else inspired by LEGO.
The LEGO movies contributed to creating a huge fan base that kept on growing each year. With the inception of the idea of LEGOLAND, a gateway was opened for the LEGO fans to connect and experience the wonderful LEGO world in reality. However, most of the fans that visit the place are around the age of 5 to 10 years.
Where is it and How to Reach
LEGOLAND is in Winter Haven, Florida, a small city southwest of Orlando, famous for its canal-linked lakes. Talking about Orlando, besides adventure parks, Disney World, Universal Studios, and Islands of Adventure, the city is renowned for its traffic.
It will take you about 75-minutes to reach there from Orlando International Airport [MCO]. The distance is the same if you get down at Tampa International Airport. But if you are heading to the park from the Orlando Sanford Airport, it will take double the time to reach. You won't find a convenient mode of transportation from Orlando to LEGOLAND. You might have to shell a few more bucks to reach there with comfort and safety. However, LEGOLAND runs shuttle service from one of the parking garages at Universal Studios. A minimal cost of $5 per person needs to be paid. The downside to this is that the LEGOLAND shuttle service only runs once a day from both directions, i.e., from Universal Studios and LEGOLAND. You can check for its schedule and make reservations on the official LEGOLAND website in a jiffy.
As for us, we made LEGOLAND our first stop and stayed at a hotel in Winter Haven then we drove to Orlando the following day for more florida fun (more on that later).
Don't underestimate the smaller size of LEGOLAND, though easy to navigate, it may still need planning and up to 2 days to explore thoroughly. The LEGOLAND website has a plethora of information to help you plan your visit and you can even call and ask questions if you can't find your answers on the site. Another straightforward way to plan for your visit is to use the LEGOLAND app. You can buy tickets, check ride wait times, navigate the park, and dining options using the application.
Best of LEGOLAND: What All Is There for You
LEGOLAND is divided in three categories: rides, characters, and shows. We have listed the main attractions below:
Duplo Valley
Located in the Windsor Resort, LEGOLAND, this is probably the most thrilling section of the park for 5-year-olds. Attractions like Ninjago have made things even more enjoyable for the kids. You can book a room at one of the LEGO themed hotels to have a complete experience at the valley.
Waterpark
is a bonus that is worth extending your stay. It has a lazy river, a wave pool, interactive areas, and thrilling slides. There is enough to keep those energetic kids engaged the whole day.
Miniland
An adorably intriguing place, Miniland is a large LEGO village featuring an army of massive LEGO creatures from New York City, Las Vegas, Star Wars, and space shuttles. You can visit mini California to see several sunny sights and experience the beautiful skyline of San Francisco. It would be a rush to see the Dayton International Speedway and the Kennedy Space Center.
LEGOLAND Characters
Characters at any theme park or adventure park are highly impressionable and leave a lasting memory on a child's mind. LEGOLAND has taken care of that with characters like Hya, Master Wu, and Kai. You can take your kid to the Ninjago Land for a meet-and-greet session at the LEGO Movie World. You will also get the opportunity to meet-and-greet these characters at the retail stores located at the park's entrance.
Best LEGOLAND Rides
LEGOLAND has a number of hair-raising rides that can make you quiver after you are done riding them. Average height that is allowed on the rides ranges between 36 and 40 inches. For some rides the permissible height goes up to 48 inches. The choice of riding solo or with an adult and one height requirement are also offered to kids. Some of the most thrilling ones that are a must-ride for everyone include the Beetle Bounce, AQUAZONE Wave Racers, Coastersaurus, DUPLO Splash Safari, Flying School, Kid Power Towers, LEGO NINJAGO the Ride, Merlin's Challenge, The Dragon, and The Great LEGO Race.
Shopping at LEGOLAND
Kids do love to shop and what would be more exciting than taking them for a splurge at the LEGOLAND shops! The theme park is dotted with lots of stores, the best of which are Big Shop and the LEGO Studio Store. If your kid (or, ahem you) are wanting to go all knight, head to The King's Market. There you will find a variety of swords and armors to buy. You can also help your kid go all ninja by buying ninja gear at Wu's Warehouse! Whatever you do, never miss out on buying LEGO Building Sets and movies at the LEGO Studio Store. They make memorable souvenirs.
Best Time to Visit LEGOLAND
Many will say the best time to visit LEGOLAND is during the summer season, when you can splash in the Water Park to your heart's content. But, Our family thoroughly enjoyed Christmas Time at LEGOLAND, and the Water Park wasn’t even available.
While, the park is hardly ever as crowded as its famous neighbors, it peak hours are between 1 PM to 3 PM. The theme park is also the quietest when schools are in session. However, if you are traveling with kids, it is almost impossible to make it to the fun-filled land during off-season. In this case, you best bet is to skip the peak time and ditching the long queues by entering the park before 11 AM or after 3 PM. While the park officially opens at 10 AM, you will find turnstiles start rolling at 9 AM and in half an hour, many rides at the front also start running. Arriving early has another perk. If you are riding your own car and need parking, you will get a discounted price.
LEGOLAND: Where to Stay Onsite?
Adopting greatly from Disney World, LEGOLAND spent a great deal of time in creating the best accommodations that match the LEGO themes. Currently, LEGOLAND has three LEGO theme hotels on-site.
The original LEGOLAND Hotel is a paradise for LEGO fans. With two large themed play areas created in the lobby, children always have something fun to do. The hotel carries out regular activities such as the builder's workshop.
Even the elevators are interesting with lights and music. A decent-sized pool is designed outside the hotel with ample rubber LEGO bricks that the children can use to build their own water fort.
Also, the LEGOLAND theme park is directly connected to the hotel, making it easy and convenient to travel during early hours. You can choose from the different room themes to make your kid even happier: Pirate Adventure Kingdom, LEGO Friends, and LEGO Movie.
Hotel rates vary widely based on the season. Rates for a standard room range from $150 per night up to more than $1,000 per night during the holidays (but includes hot buffet* breakfast and parking).
Depending on what type of room you want, a typical spring break family vacation week will set you back $300 to $400 per night. Virtually all of the rooms at LEGOLAND Hotel have a separate bunk/trundle bed area for the kids. There are also safes in the room – not for the thieves but for the kids. They will need to accomplish a scavenger hunt to get the combination to the safe correct and reach the goodies hidden inside.
Conclusion: A Family Guide to LEGOLAND
What was once a bit of a sleepy theme park has really upped its game by adding a range of new attractions, multiple themed hotels, and a Water Park. The frequent discounts on park tickets make the trip to LEGOLAND much more affordable than Disney World and Universal Studios. At least for now, the lack of a fever pitch of crowds also makes a day at LEGOLAND a lot more bountiful. Take advantage while you can!
