Winter Haven Archives - Page 2 of 2

Christmas Bricktacular at LEGOLAND Florida

ENJOY A HOLLY JOLLY TIME AT LEGOLAND® FLORIDA

Christmas Bricktacular and Kid’s New Year’s Eve Brings Joy to Kids this Holiday Season

LEGOLAND® Florida is getting into the holiday spirit with brick-loads of family-friendly fun with its second annual Christmas Bricktacular and Kid’s New Year’s Eve. Sounds of the season and stunning holiday decorations fill The Beginning and Fun Town with festivities every Saturday and Sunday in December, 10am-5pm.

The Beginning is home to a truly Bricktacular sight – a more than 30-foot-tall LEGO Christmas tree made with a combination of 270,000forest green LEGO and DUPLO® bricks. The official tree lighting ceremony will be held Nov. 29 at 5pm with a special master of ceremonies.

Holiday festivities on Saturdays and Sundays in December during Christmas Bricktacular will feature tons of family fun:

· LEGO® Christmas Tree: The more than 30-foot-tall LEGO Christmas tree made with a combination of 270,000 forest green LEGO and DUPLO® bricks provides the perfect place for every holiday family photo. Through Dec. 25, a special family will be chosen to help light the Bricktacular tree each night.
· LEGO Model Build Activity: What LEGO lover doesn’t want a chance to build while at Central Florida’s newest theme park featuring massive creations of the world’s most beloved toy? Help LEGOLAND Florida build a LEGO Christmas Tree in the Wells Fargo Fun Town 4D Theatre Plaza that will stand over 20 foot tall when completed.
· LEGO Santa Scavenger Hunt: It’s Christmas Eve in Miniland USA and Santa is busy delivering gifts to all the good girl and boy minilanders. Help find Santa in this fun-filled holiday scavenger hunt. The whole family can enjoy searching for Santa in the over 30 million LEGO bricks that make up Miniland USA. One lucky hunter each day will receive a prize from the daily drawing.
· LEGO Santa and LEGO Toy Soldier: Guests will have meet and greet opportunities with LEGOLAND Florida’s special holiday friends, LEGO Santa and LEGO Toy Soldier.
Holiday Festivities and Entertainment: Festive decorations and sounds of the season will fill the entrance of the park and a variety of holiday entertainment will take place throughout the weekend to delight guests of all ages.
- · Holiday Shopping: LEGOLAND Florida is the best place to celebrate the season and pick up the holiday gifts that are on every child’s wish list – LEGO! With six specialty stores, the park is proud to offer a unique and often hard to find selection of LEGO products and more.

Along with LEGOLAND Florida’s Christmas Bricktacular, guests can still enjoy a full day of theme park fun with more than 50 rides, shows and attractions. Holiday events are included with normal park admission. The best way to experience LEGOLAND Florida for the best value is with the new LEGOLAND Florida Resident Pass. Pass members receive unlimited admission for 12 months to LEGOLAND Florida and the LEGOLAND Water Park, as well as all other Merlin US attractions (LEGOLAND California & Water Park, LEGOLAND Discovery Centers, Sea Life Centers and Madam Tussauds), free parking and 10% off food and merchandise with no black-out dates. A new monthly payment option of less than $10 per month is also available both at the front gate and online. The Monthly Payment Plan includes a down payment of $57.24 for and adult with monthly payment of $9.26 and $46.44 for child/senior with a monthly payment of only $7.51 (pre-tax).To purchase tickets, visit www.legoland.com.

Star Wars Miniland Cluster Opening At LEGOLAND Florida On November 9th

LEGO^® STAR WARS MINILAND MODEL DISPLAY

WILL OPEN NOV. 9 AT LEGOLAND^® FLORIDA

Today, LEGOLAND® Florida announced that the new LEGO® Star Wars Miniland Cluster Display will officially open for their guests to enjoy and interact with on Friday, November 9.

The LEGO^® Star Wars Miniland Cluster will include a scene from each of the six live-action Star Wars movies, as well as a scene from the animated series Star Wars: The CloneWars™ all created from more than 1.5 million LEGO bricks and built in 1:20 scale. Following a chronological path through the Star Wars™ timeline, guests will retrace the major events of the beloved Saga. Some of the 2,000 LEGO^® models will be more than 6-feet-tall. Interactive buttons will allow children to activate animations throughout the scenes.

I had the chance to attend the Press Conference at LEGOLAND Florida where we the Star Wars Miniland Cluster was announced and where we were able to see a few of the LEGO^® models, and they are amazingly detailed and even light up at night. The Millennium Falcon is AMAZING!!!! And the space that they have dedicated to this Miniland expansion is large in comparison to the other Miniland Clusters.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3P_BDwlFhY&feature=share&list=UUKUmCfXogxpwTIU_us3tbWQ

I am beyond excited about the expansion and cannot wait to see the completed LEGO^® Star Wars Miniland Cluster!!! Especially since the Miniland area of LEGOLAND Florida is my favorite part of the park!!!

I have included some of my pictures from the LEGO^® Star Wars Miniland Cluster announcement so you can get an idea about the look and feel of the area will be.

To purchase tickets, visit www.legoland.com.

What do you think???

LEGOLAND Brick Or Treat Offers Kid Friendly Halloween Fun

LEGOLAND Brick Or Treat Offers Kid Friendly Halloween Fun

Pirates, witches, Dracula and even Mr. Potato Head made appearances at LEGOLAND® Florida this weekend during its first kid-friendly Halloween celebration of LEGOLAND Brick or Treat presented by Wells Fargo. This month-long spooky, kooky event takes place on Saturdays in October from 10am-9pm and Sundays in October from 10am to 5pm.

During LEGOLAND Brick or Treat, presented by Wells Fargo, Miniland USA has been transformed into a fun, haunted scavenger hunt for the whole family with the invasion of LEGO® Monster Fighters and their enemies. With extended hours on Saturdays, Miniland USA gets a bit more spooky when the sun goes down and the fog rolls in on these LEGO® cities.

This thrilling family event also features trick-or-treating along the brick-or-treat trail, a kids’ four category costume contest with brick-tastic prizes and a build your own Halloween themed LEGO® pumpkin model activity station. Only found at LEGOLAND Florida, families can also check out the world’s largest LEGO Jack-O-Lantern made of 26,500 LEGO bricks and capture a great photo memory.

Activities Include:

LEGO® Pumpkin Build: Build your own LEGO Pumpkin at the model activity station in the Wells Fargo Fun Town 4D Theatre Plaza
LEGO® Monster Fighters Haunted Scavenger Hunt: Help the LEGO Monster Fighters capture monsters haunting the cities of Miniland USA in this haunted scavenger hunt. The whole family can enjoy searching for these creatures found in the over 30 million LEGO bricks that make up Miniland USA. With extended hours on Saturdays, Miniland USA gets a bit more spooky when the sun goes down and the fog rolls in on these LEGO cities.
Brick-or-Treat Trail: Trick-or-Treat along the Brick-or-Treat trail near the Pirates South Stadium for goodies, tasty treats and other fun surprises
Dance Party: Join us for our spooky Dance Party in the Haunted Miniland USA with a live DJ and dance games (Saturday only)
Kids Costume Contest: Show off your BOO-tiful costumes in the Kids Costume Contest in the Wells Fargo Fun Town 4D Theatre Plaza to win brick-tastic prizes like LEGO product and tickets to LEGOLAND Florida. Children may enter one of 4 specialized categories: Heroes & Villains, LEGO Monster Fighters, LEGO Themed, and most Creative.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJQLdkB6lkA&feature=share&list=UUKUmCfXogxpwTIU_us3tbWQ

This fun-filled Halloween celebration is made possible by our generous sponsors: Hurricane Grill & Wings®, LEGO Club^TM, LEGO® Monster Fighters, Old Navy®, PEPSICO®, Sam’s Club®, Sour Jacks, TECO® Energy, Webb’s Candy Shop, Wells Fargo® and Wendy’s®.

Along with LEGOLAND Brick or Treat, guests can still enjoy a full day of theme park fun with more than 50 rides, shows and attractions. Brick-or-Treat is included with normal park admission – No upcharge for events. The best way to experience LEGOLAND Florida for the best value is with the new LEGOLAND Florida Resident Pass. Pass members receive unlimited admission for 12 months to LEGOLAND Florida and the LEGOLAND Water Park, as well as all other Merlin US attractions (LEGOLAND California & Water Park, LEGOLAND Discovery Centers, Sea Life Centers and Madam Tussauds), free parking and 10% off food and merchandise with no black-out dates. A new monthly payment option of less than $10 per month is also available both at the front gate and online. The Monthly Payment Plan includes a down payment of $57.24 for and adult with monthly payment of $9.26 and $46.44 for child/senior with a monthly payment of only $7.51 (pre-tax).

For the most current information on LEGOLAND Florida special events, operating schedule and to purchase tickets, visit www.LEGOLAND.com.

LEGOLAND Florida Makes Learning Fun With STEM Focused, Interactive Educational Programs

LEGOLAND® FLORIDA MAKES LEARNING FUN WITH STEM FOCUSED, INTERACTIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS

LEGOLANDFL_Education — LEGOLAND Florida provides interactive entertainment for families with children ages 2-12 .

LEGOLAND® Florida sparks imagination and creativity beyond the walls of the classroom and makes learning fun this year with hands-on and interactive field trips. Just in time for the 2012-2013 academic year, Central Florida’s newest theme park rolls out eight dynamic, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) focused educational programs for grades K-6 including new curriculum using WeDo Robotics LEGO® Education Set especially designed for grades 1-2 and continues to offer free field trips to Polk County 2^nd graders.

From learning about how structures are made and what makes them strong in Tall Towers to Amazing Machines where students build their own amazing machine equipped with gears, levers, pulleys and motors, teachers can find just the right program to match what they’re learning about in the classroom.

Due to the overwhelming success of last year’s second grade program, LEGOLAND Florida is bringing it back to ensure that all 2nd graders in Polk County Public Schools will get the chance to participate in one of the eight programs free of charge.

“Research shows that early exposure to math and science, primarily before 3rd grade, increases the likelihood that a child will continue in that field. By showcasing math and science in a fun and interactive way at LEGOLAND Florida, we aim to ensure a positive view of these sometimes difficult subjects,” said Kim Isemann, Director of Sales and Marketing. “We’re proud to offer Polk County 2^nd graders an opportunity to visit LEGOLAND Florida and experience our education classes.”

With eight educational programs incorporating STEM and the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards, LEGOLAND Florida is dedicated to affordable extracurricular education. Each of the eight programs is seasonally priced and starts at $8 per student and includes a 45-minute educational session and a full-day at the park. Field trip reservations are limited per day and can be booked by appropriate school officials by calling 1.877.350.LEGO .

Field trip programs include:

– Tall Towers (Grades K-3): Students learn about how structures are made and what makes them strong and then test their creation on an earthquake table.

– Funtastic Gears (Grades K-2): Students build a theme park ride using gears to alter the speed and direction.

– New! Robotics for Young Beginners (Grades 1-2): Students will build a Florida alligator and make it move to learn introductory concepts of robotics using motors and sensors. Program uses WeDo Robotics LEGO Education Set.

– Get Moving (Grades 2-5): Students build a car and predict which car will win the race and why – all while learning about friction, inertia and wind resistance.

– Energy Lab (Grades 2-6): Students build a solar-powered car where they collect, store and transfer the solar energy to power their vehicle.

– Amazing Machines (Grades 3-6): Students build their own amazing machine equipped with gears, levers, pulleys and motors.

– Dr. Heartbeat (Grades 3-6): With students at the helm, “Dr. Heartbeat” and other NXT-bots complete a variety of life-saving operations and medical procedures using a computer, light & sound sensors and motors.

– Adventure Bot (Grades 3-6): Students can go on a mission using Adventure-bots to retrieve golden marble treasures and hide them from the treasure hunters using a computer, light and sound sensors and motors.

These dynamic educational programs and more than 50 rides, shows and attractions specifically geared toward families with children ages 2 to 12 can be found daily at LEGOLAND Florida. To find out more, visit www.legoland.com.

LEGOLAND Florida – Winter Haven, FL

Brick-or-Treat comes to LEGOLAND Florida this Fall!

CELEBRATE ALL YEAR LONG AT LEGOLAND® FLORIDA

-From spooky, kooky Halloween fun to holly, jolly holiday cheer; families and friends can celebrate all year long at the newest Central Florida theme park and water park attraction-

BOT Pumkin Castle Witch Scarecrow — Celebrate Halloween this fall with Brick-Or-Treat at LEGOLAND Florida

Just because summer is coming to an end that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop. LEGOLAND® Florida has extended their Florida resident Premium Pass offer through August, 31, 2012 so guests can enjoy more interactive fun all year long. Plus, enjoy the all-new water park and special seasonal events including the park’s first big celebration of Brick-or-Treat, a kid-friendly Halloween event.

During Brick-or-Treat, ghouls, ghosts and goblins will descend on Miniland USA transforming it into a fun, haunted scavenger hunt. The whole family will be able to search for scary LEGO® creatures hidden within the 30 million LEGO bricks that make up Miniland USA.

This spooky, kooky event also features trick-or-treating, a brick-or-treat trail, a kids’ four category costume contest with brick-tastic prizes and a build your own Halloween themed LEGO model activity station. And don’t forget to check out the world’s largest LEGO Jack-O-Lantern that can only be found at LEGOLAND Florida.

With the purchase of the Premium Pass, guests will get to experience not only Brick-or-Treat on Saturdays and Sundays in October, but,LEGOLAND Florida’s first birthday celebration, Christmas Bricktacular, Kids’ New Year’s Eve Celebration and much more.

Premium pass holders receive unlimited admission for 12 months to LEGOLAND Florida and the all-new LEGOLAND Water Park for just $159 plus tax with no black-out dates. Plus, free parking, discounts on food and merchandise and a complimentary subscription to LEGOClub Magazine are also included. Guests can purchase the Premium Pass at the front gate or online.

All events are included with park admission and subject to change without notice. For the most current information on LEGOLAND Florida special events and operating schedule, visit www.LEGOLAND.com.

LEGOLAND Florida – My Thoughts and Hopes

LEGOLAND Florida….Oh, LEGOLAND Florida…I have struggled about how I feel about you, and I have to be honest and say that after some careful consideration I am still confused about how I feel about us. So let’s take this one step at a time…

Rides & Attractions

There are ten themed zones at LEGOLAND Florida that are chocked full of Rides and Attractions that offer “Pink Knuckle” thrills.

“The entire LEGOLAND experience is designed for families with kids ages 2 to 12, so there’s no longer any reason to delay the decision to take that first family theme park vacation,” said Adrian Jones, LEGOLAND Florida general manager. “Our highly immersive rides and experiences are designed to encourage children and their parents to play together, and are perfect for creating cherished memories for every member of the family.”

One thing to consider when looking at the number of Rides and Attractions at LEGOLAND Florida is the age group that they are designed to entertain. This means that a lot of their rides go at a slower pace, and are not very thrilling. Another careful consideration is the size and scale to which they are built. The Rides & Attractions were definitely sized for children to enjoy, the seats are smaller and the details are at lower levels which at times made it uncomfortable to experience for adults.

The Safari Trek vehicles are pretty tiny...

Our interactions with the Model Citizens of LEGOLAND Florida manning the Rides and Attractions were amazing! Since a lot of the Rides and Attractions require guests to ‘work’, they are great at cheering you on to pedal faster or push harder.

My biggest problem with the Rides and Attractions at LEGOLAND Florida was that their load/unload process was extremely slow. I am hoping that this is just because this is relatively new process to the model citizens of LEGOLAND. However the Rollercoasters had only one car running, except for the LEGO TECHNIC® Test Track Coaster, and the automated times between cars on other Rides and Attractions were slow, like on The Lost Kingdom Adventure.

The ride vehicles from 'Lost Kingdom Adventure'.

One thing to definitely experience is the Factory Tour in FUN TOWN. There you will be able to watch a short fun film about how LEGOS are made, followed by a very cute re-enactment of they are REALLY made. As a bonus, at the end of your tour you will receive a very special and free gift.

Zoe absolutely enjoyed the Rides & Attractions, and at the end of the day that is what matters the most! Her favorites were Coastersaurus, AQUAZONE® Wave Racers, and The Ford Driving School.

Shows

Our day at LEGOLAND Florida was super full and went by entirely too quickly!

With our hectic schedule, we only got to watch The Pirates Cove Live Water Ski Show at Pirates’ Cove.

The view as you walk up to Pirates' Cove.

Pirates’ Cove is nestled along the beautiful shores of Lake Eloise, and is the home to some swashbuckling LEGO ‘mini-fig’ pirates who star in “The Battle for Brickbeard’s Bounty”, a live action, water-stunt show that is full of action, fun, and most importantly water-skiing!!!

Who knew these guys could ski so well???

The show itself was really entertaining and cute! And the water skiing elements were really well placed and executed. I can’t imagine how hard it is to get those flips right all of the time!!!

My only wish was that the story featured Miranda as more of a strong female lead who didn’t have to be ‘saved’ when things didn’t go as well as she hoped with Brickbeard the Pirate.

Dining

There were definitely a lot of counter service options at LEGOLAND Florida, from burgers to healthier entrees using ingredients that are locally grown.

Another option was an all you can eat pizza and pasta buffet that was really reasonably priced.

The signature snack of LEGOLAND Florida is Granny’s Apple Fries that can be found in FUN TOWN. These are Granny Smith apples that are lightly fried, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar, and served with icing. I didn’t get the chance to try them…but I will next time!!!

Also, there is a real coffee shop located just inside of the Market Restaurant in THE BEGINNING.

Services and Model Citizens

LEGOLAND Florida offers all of the things that you would come to expect from a theme park.

Stroller rental is located at the front of the park, $9 for a single and $14 for a double, alongside of the locker rental area, package pick-up, and photo (pictures are taken on rides and by photographers located around the park) area.

The Annual Pass Center is also located inside the park at THE BEGINNING with Lost Parents and Ticket Upgrades.

First Aid is located near The Factory Tour in FUN TOWN, and there is a Pet Kennel located outside of the front gates.

Again, every Model Citizen of LEGOLAND Florida that we encountered was extremely helpful and friendly. This was a gigantic plus, and made things more enjoyable!

My Favorite Part…

I have to say that my absolute favorite part of LEGOLAND Florida was the MINILAND area.

I could seriously stay here all day and take pictures!!! The detail and craftsmanship that went into this area is absolutely mind blowing!!!

I will be doing a post in the near future of all of my favorite pictures, but here are a few to tide you over…

My Biggest Concern…

The cost of admission, $75 plus tax for ages 13+ and $65 plus tax for ages 3-12/60+, seems a little steep. While it is less than Disney, I feel like it is a little too high once you factor in travel and daily costs of visiting a park that is 45 minutes away.

Also the Annual Passes are a better value if you plan on visiting often, but without a payment plan I have a feeling a lot of people might balk at the purchase price. In Florida, where many of us have several annual passes, we are used to having this option, and hopefully it is one that LEGOLAND Florida will re-visit and offer in the future.

What I’m Hoping…

I really hope that LEGOLAND Florida succeeds and continues to grow! I really enjoyed a lot of our experiences during our day, but I feel like there is still a lot of tweaking that still needs to be done in terms of park operations.

Also I am looking forward to experiencing the upcoming Special Events at LEGOLAND Florida around the holiday Season.