LEGOLAND Florida: 10 Incredibly Amazing Things You Shouldn’t Miss
Orlando, Florida – the theme park capital of the world – has done it again! LEGOLAND Florida may have only opened its doors a few years ago, but it has already drawn in thousands of visitors, all of whom are big fans of the Danish toy range. Kids and adults alike are sure to enjoy this colorful and vibrant world, filled to the brim with thrilling attractions and captivating characters.
Built on the former Cypress Gardens theme park site less than 40 miles from Disney, LEGOLAND Florida has slowly expanded into a one-stop-shop for kids with huge imaginations. In addition to rides and attractions, it also offers on-site accommodations, as well as a water park. From rollercoasters to virtual reality experiences, this is an experience that can’t be found anywhere else. It has even managed to make a name for itself despite being near fierce competitors like Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and Busch Gardens.
LEGOLAND Florida is undoubtedly the perfect place to take your young ones to. And with over 50 attractions, live shows, and more, fun for the entire family is a total guarantee!
Here are ten things that you definitely shouldn’t miss when visiting LEGOLAND Florida.
Miniland USA
This incredible attraction stars as the central point of LEGOLAND Florida. It features mini versions of all the best destinations in the United States, including New York City, Las Vegas, and even the Daytona International Speedway. Everything is fashioned out of LEGO blocks, from the monumental structures of Sin City to the crowds milling about! Boasting over 32 million bricks, Miniland USA will take you to the best scenes from coast to coast.
A Word of Advice: Many of the destinations may not be familiar to your kids, so draw their attention to Miniland USA’s interactive exhibits, including a space shuttle actually taking off from the Kennedy Space Center and functioning water sprays from the mini fire trucks and fountains found throughout.
LEGOLAND Florida Water Park
There’s no better way to cool off from the scorching summer heat of Florida than by splashing around at LEGOLAND Florida’s Water Park! An upgraded version of the previous water park at Cypress Gardens features seven different attractions, including an incredible wave pool, the Joker Soaker interactive water playground, thrilling tubing rides, and hair-raising death-drop water slides.
Since LEGOLAND Florida is a bit more exposed to the elements than both Disney World and Universal Studios, the heat will undoubtedly start to feel unbearable as the day wears on. While water spray stations are scattered throughout the park to help visitors survive the heat, taking the time to join in the fun at the water park is still the best way to go.
A Word of Advice: There’s no towel service at the water park so if you’re staying on the property, then be sure to bring towels from the hotel pool. You can also opt to rent a cabana and use the souvenir LEGOLAND towels that come with it.
The Dragon
Since LEGOLAND Florida’s main target demo is a younger audience, it’s a given that there are little to no action-packed and spine-tingling attractions similar to those found at Universal Studios. However, The Dragon is the park’s most thrilling ride, taking guests on a high-speed ride through a tunnel full of animated sculptures before blasting onto a twisty steel track. A combination of an outdoor rollercoaster and indoor dark ride sequences, The Dragon is definitely a wild ride that you won’t get enough of!
A Word of Advice: Riders must be at least 40” to ride The Dragon, but there are also other milder rollercoasters in the park, including the wooden Coastersaurus and the inverted Flying School.
Ford Driving School
Unlike your typical free-wheeling car attraction, everyone actually has to obey traffic rules and regulations at the Ford Driving School. This ride allows youngsters to get behind their very own Ford vehicle as they take on realistic streets where they have to stop at the red lights and give way to pedestrians. Naturally, they have to keep themselves from bumping into each other too! This is a great way for kids to learn the road rules, and they even earn a special “Driver’s License” afterward.
A Word of Advice: There are two “driving schools” in LEGOLAND Florida; one for ages 6 to 13 and a junior version for 3- to 5-year-olds. The mechanics of the attraction, however, remain the same.
The Great LEGO Race
Another phenomenal ride that combines virtual reality (VR) technology with the thrills of a real-life rollercoaster, the Great LEGO Race, puts visitors at the center of an action-packed road rally on a wild track that features hairpin turns, sudden drops, and competition like no other! Try to win against your formidable adversaries – a pirate, a wizard, a surfer, and a pharaoh as they steer a wide range of vehicles, including a LEGO pirate ship and an espresso-powered scooter. Take on this spirited race that will see you experience the action from every direction, all the while in a world entirely made of LEGO bricks.
A Word of Advice: Guests have to be at least 42” tall to ride. If some in your party can’t meet this requirement, check out other exciting attractions like the Kid Power Towers, Technicycle, and the AQUAZONE Wave Racers. Also, visitors can choose to ride the Great LEGO Race without wearing a VR headset.
LEGO NINJAGO Ride
Launched in 2017, this 4-D ride in LEGOLAND Florida gives those found at Walt Disney World and Universal Studios a run for their money! This interactive ride converts passengers’ movements and hand gestures into animated fireballs and lightning blasts that fight against a whole host of evil forces, racking up points and bringing them one step closer to victory.
Based on the NINJAGO show and line of toys, this ride allows big kids – not to mention little ones – to put to use their best karate moves!
A Word of Advice: Children below six years old or 48” must be accompanied by a parent or a guardian on this ride.
Pirate’s Cove Water Show
Another revamped idea from Cypress Gardens, LEGOLAND Florida modified this classic water ski show and turned it into an adventure full of swashbuckling pirates and massive galleons. Performers dressed as LEGO mini-figures hang on to tow ropes, plying the waters of Lake Eloise in death-defying stunts that are sure to delight the whole family!
A Word of Advice: The Pirate’s Cove Water Show lasts for 20 minutes, so be sure to check the showtimes beforehand. Additionally, the park offers many other entertainment options, such as a 4-D Theater where visitors can sit back and enjoy a couple of LEGO-themed shows.
Royal Joust
Does your kid have a weird obsession with fairytales, knights and princesses, and all things medieval? Then the Royal Joust ride is perfect for them! Watch as they saddle upon an adorable horse seemingly made out of LEGO bricks, riding through a magnificent old-fashioned forest filled with jousting knights and enchanted animals. This magical ride will take them back in time and bring their fantasy to life! Without a doubt, this is an unforgettable experience that you’ll hear about for ages to come.
A Word of Advice: The Royal Joust is for kids aged 4 to 12. Guests must be at least 36” tall and weigh a maximum of 170 lbs to be allowed on the ride.
Beetle Bounce
Situated in LEGOLAND Florida’s Land of Adventure, this scarab-themed dual-drop tower ride is a thrilling experience like no other! Launch 15 feet up to the air toward several scarab beetles and whoosh back down again. And again. And again! Your little one will certainly be screaming their lungs out on this gravity-defying experience.
Word of Advice: If some members of your family can’t meet the 36” height requirement, then there are plenty of other mellow yet fun attractions in the Land of Adventure. For instance, the Lost Kingdom Adventure is a great video game ride that lets riders shoot mummies and skeletons to rack up points. Let your kid channel their inner Indiana Jones on this archaeology-themed ride.
LEGO Movie: Masters of Flight
One of the newer additions to LEGOLAND Florida, the LEGO Movie: Masters of Flight ride, will make you feel as if you’ve dropped right into the set of the Hollywood blockbuster that stole the hearts and minds of kids everywhere. Sit back and enjoy a 3-D journey with Emmett and friends as they take you through the film’s universe, complete with his turbulent driving style!
LEGO Movie: Masters of Flight is beloved by park visitors of all ages – kids love the thrilling yet silly action. At the same time, adults can’t stop laughing over the ridiculous situations and pop culture references. Considered to be one of the funniest shows across all of Florida’s theme parks, this is a ride that you really can’t miss!
Word of Advice: Another noteworthy attraction in the LEGO Movie World is Unikitty’s Disco Drop, wherein riders will drop, spin, and bounce atop Cloud Cuckoo Land. This ride is only for the most daring of guests!
Have you had the chance to visit LEGOLAND Florida yet? Then let us know down below which rides, attractions, and shows your kids enjoyed the most – we’d love to hear all about them!
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Photo: VisitCentralFL via Flickr
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