Kid-friendly Legoland opens a Ninjago ride and a new Beach Retreat resort
The folks at the super-kid-friendly Legoland Florida Resort understand Florida, and it shows at the new Ninjago ride and play area.
The play area features spinners and a shaded area where kids (and big kids) can add onto a themed Lego sculpture. But the interactive, 3-D ride itself — and its line — are in a refreshingly air-conditioned building. While we breezed onto the ride in five minutes on a Friday in May, markers show that the building can house a line more than an hour long..
If you go:
- 1 Legoland Way, Winter Haven
- Admission: $93 for tickets bought in advance, $106 at the gate. Prices include entrance into the water park. $73 in advance or $86 at the gate for Legoland only.
- Deals: From Friday through Monday, a Memorial Day Flash sale offers an “Awesomer Pass” for $99 per person — $50 off the usual price — for a year of admission to six attractions, including Legoland, its water park, the Orlando Eye and Madame Tussauds Orlando. The usual Florida resident deal is $106 per person for an annual Awesome Pass to Legoland and the water park
- Special dates: Weekends in July, including July 4, feature Legoland Knight Lights, extended park hours and special Lego light displays.
- More info: Toll-free 1-877-350-5346 or legoland.com
Ninjago loads you into an enclosed car wearing 3-D glasses. You use your arms to chop and hack away at bad guys for points. It’s fun — even my toddler understood that it was a good time to employ the karate chop.
The new Legoland Beach Retreat, located across the intersection from the park, is a colorful delight. Villages of bungalows house two rooms each, and every room has a curtained-off kids room with a bunk bed.
“Tell me that’s not cool!” our toddler said of the Lego crab gracing the wall of our room. Lego parrots guard every little house, and each village has its own playground. The pool is a kid’s dreamscape, with giant, floating Legos everywhere. The Beach Retreat’s staff was exceptional and catered to children. Nightly room rates start at $135, but vary by season. A shuttle takes guests to and from Legoland, but you also can park for free underneath solar panels at the park’s entrance.
Insider tip
If you’re headed to the park in the morning, bring along a small cooler with drinks. Most of the snack vendors don’t open until noon. Bring swimsuits and towels and make time to go to Legoland’s water park. The lazy river and crazy-fun slides were a big favorite with my family — one that we almost skipped. It’s the perfect way to fight the summer heat.
Contact Ellen E. Clarke at [email protected]. Designed by Lyra Solochek and Lauren Flannery.