LEGOLAND® Florida Resort is designed for kids ages 2-12 years old and features more than 50 rides, shows and attractions and the LEGOLAND Water Park. We arrived right as the park opened and planned to squeeze as much fun as possible out of our visit. Upon entering the gate we were already captivated by the enormous Lego creations and knew there was more to come. We had taken some time to visit the LEGOLAND® Florida Resort website before our visit, so the kids had decided we were first headed to MINILAND USA. Off we went! On our way there, we spotted a Lego® Minifigure trading post where Model Citizens (staff members) will trade a complete Lego® Minifigure (legs, top, head and hair/hat) for one of their Minifigures. We had packed a few Minifigures from home and the kids were excited to trade! We did this numerous times during the day and the kids loved it. You can also trade with Model Citizens who have Minifigures on their Brick Badges (name tags).
After securing our trades, we made our way to MINILAND USA and loved seeing some of our favorite cities and characters made from Legos. We even got a chance to see Benny and snap a photo. We saw a space shuttle launch, Washington DC, New York City, Las Vegas and so much more. We made our way into the Star Wars area which my kids had been talking about for days before the trip. It did not disappoint. We saw a Millenium Falcon that actually takes off and some Star Wars characters that were ready for a photo opp.
Our general plan was to head to the back of the park and work our way forward, mainly because the kids were so excited to get their driver's license, which was located in Lego City. As you walk through the different regions of the park, it is so fun to feel submerged in all-things-Lego. Both kids got their driver's license and we enjoyed many of the rides. We were visiting Legoland with a group and it was nice that many rides allowed for adults to join in the fun. The kids also had some "kid-only" ride time too.
After spending time in Lego City, we made our way back to the Land of Adventure and then to Lego Kingdoms hitting some of the rides along the way. We stopped for lunch in Lego Kingdoms then played for a bit in the Forestman's Hideout (playground) and the kids did some jousting.
Our next stop was World of Chima and the kids were dying to ride on the Quest for CHI. There are signs all around that warn - "You WILL get wet" so we braced ourselves. The kids and parents got in on the quest, while Grandparents stayed on land to squirt us with water canons. (I'm not sure who had more fun!) This was one of our favorite rides of the day. The kids had so much fun squirting everyone as we rode along and the onlookers did too, it made for lots of laughs, some great pictures and lots of wet clothes! We had brought bathing suits and sandals for the kids and they changed before the ride. There are also ponchos for sale and drying stations available as well. The kids loved getting soaked though! There are a few other splash pad areas as well, so they were glad to be dressed to get wet.
We made our way to DUPLO Valley which my 4-year old enjoyed (and my 8 year old too, whether he wants to admit it or not!). There are some smaller rides for younger children and even a little inside playground area (DUPLO Farm) as well. The kids took some of the grown ups for a ride on the Duplo Train. There is a baby care center located in DUPLO Valley for visitors who may need it.
We took a ride on The Grand Carousel and then planned to do some character meet and greets and see a short Lego 4D movie. Everyone enjoyed a chance to cool off and sit for a bit. The movie was fun, too, and it was nice to see our favorite characters from The Lego Movie on screen again.
We also made plans to watch the Pirates' Cove Live Water Ski Show and it was a group favorite. It was full of action and adventure and also some amazing water skiing stunts and performances, and of course Lego characters! We almost didn't fit the show into our day but were very glad that we did. We came out of the show right near an area where you could design and race your own Lego racecar. My older son loved this and kept tweaking his car to be faster.
We visited MINILAND USA a few more times during the day as we were coming and going from different posts and it seemed like there was always something new to see. On this day the park was open until 7 pm and MINILAND USA was lit up at night!
The adults were all dying to go on the Island in the Sky ride and we made our way there just before dinner. The views of the hotel and the park were amazing. The kids loved it too! It was so fun to see a bird's eye view of some of the rides and activities we had just enjoyed.
We had dinner and then did some shopping in The Big Store where the kids picked out some Lego toys to remind them of their visit. After shopping it was time for fireworks. On the day we visited there was a 7 pm fireworks display in Pirates' Cove. We all received viewing glasses and they made the show "Brick-tastic!" I don't want to tell you more, in case you have the opportunity to see fireworks there, but....wear the glasses!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTF-X_R6HB0
Here are some "Good to Know" tips:
•Be sure to grab a schedule of shows and character meet-and-greets from Guest Services, especially if there is a character you are hoping to see.
•At most rides we went on there was a little area with a sign that read: "Kids - Come and play while your parents hold your spot in line!" and there was a table or two of bricks to play and build with. How genius is this? Our kids loved being able to play while we did the "work" of waiting in line. A few times when we called them to come get on the ride, they were disappointed to have to stop building!
•We visited LEGOLAND on my son's birthday and he got a pin with his name on it from Guest Services. All through the day, staff members were wishing him a happy birthday. It was a fantastic touch!
•Wondering if your kiddo is too young? Check out this great list of rides or activities with little or no height requirement.
•Lockers are available to hold your belongings and strollers are available to rent.
•Throughout the park there are Model Citizens available to take photographs of your group. You can also take your own photos as well. There is an option to purchase a digital photo package which we opted for. It was so nice having a few group photos at the park as well as having some great character shots.
•There are many food options throughout the park. There are even some "allergy-friendly" options as well. The map we received upon entering noted gluten-free as well as vegetarian options. I spent some time communicating with food service employees before our visit and they were very helpful in communicating the best options for our dietary needs.
•There is also a Water Park, which was not open during our visit in February, but is sure to be a great addition to your visit.
I received complimentary passes for my family, to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
