The Legoland Experience

Last fall we planned an epic family trip to California. My boys were a great age for their first Disney trip, and we decided to try Legoland while we were in the area.

When I heard we would be staying at the Legoland hotel, I was intrigued. I’ve never stayed at an on-site resort hotel, and I couldn’t wait to try the Lego experience. I wasn’t disappointed.

Giant Lego bricks decked the outside of the hotel. Inside the lobby, a giant Lego pit featuring a community-built, perpetually evolving tower provided a great place for my kids to play while we checked in. The bottom floor of the hotel also featured a kid-sized Lego castle, perfect for games of exploration and hide-and-seek, complete with table nooks for quiet Lego building time.

Once we checked in, the kids received their Lego VIP bracelets (giving them early entry into the parks) as well as a hotel scavenger hunt promising to lead to treasure. It was late, so we headed to our rooms, watching for scavenger hunt clues along the way. We were a few floors up, so we had to take the elevator, which might have been my favorite part of the entire experience. Here’s why:

As soon as the doors closed, we were thrown into a disco party. It’s like this place is made for kids or something….

Actually, the hotel really is built for kids. I fell in love with the Legoland Hotel the minute I saw the kid-sized potty seat built into all the toilets (I have high standards). There was a step stool to aid in teeth-brushing and hand-washing, and the room came pre-equipped with a bucket of Legos for playtime. A recessed area with bunk beds just right for my boys was tucked away in an alcove by the door. We decided to leave the top bunk empty, let the five-year-old sleep on the bottom bunk, and pull out the trundle for the three-year-old — perfect!

Ian and David, of course, were focused on the scavenger hunt treasure. After eagerly counting picture frames and Lego spiders, they found that their scavenger hunt answers formed the combination to a treasure chest filled with chocolate and a small souvenir Lego kit.

The next morning we hit the breakfast buffet, the one downside to our stay. The buffet was yummy, but the majority of hotel guests arrived there when we did, about an hour before the park opened. The line stretched down the hallway of the hotel. I definitely recommend hitting the buffet as early as possible or waiting until the park opens; the line was non-existent when we left.

The park entrance is just a short walk from the back door of the hotel. We watched the park opening festivities, complete with life-size Lego characters, before sneaking into the side door accessed via our VIP bracelets.

Since we had spent the previous few days at Disneyland, it was interesting to contrast the two parks. I loved, loved, loved Disney, but smaller crowds and a smaller park made Legoland an easier experience for families with young kids.

Very few rides had long waits, and almost every attraction was appropriate for an elementary-aged child. My two guys had plenty of fun without feeling left out of the best parts. Highlights for them included the DUPLO area with water-spray fountains and games, the boat and car rides that allowed kids into the drivers’ seats, and the miniature splash park (the larger Chima water park was closed when we visited).

The whole experience was pleasant and gentle instead of hectic or rushed — at the end of the day, we didn’t want to leave!

There are a couple of areas where Legoland could learn from Disney. Several attractions at the park, such as miniature golf and rock climbing, had extra fees; this gave Legoland a bit of a Six Flags feel instead of a premium park experience. I also missed the “cast member” experience of Disney — at Legoland I had to hunt around for an employee if I had a question, whereas at Disney their staff practically lined up to help visitors.

Food is the other area where Disney has an edge. Legoland did have some healthy-ish snacks available, but they were limited and hard to find — we saw milk and fruit available at one stand, but the pizza buffet we ultimately chose for lunch didn’t offer those options.

After the Legoland park closed, and after we spent a ridiculous amount of time browsing the Lego store, we headed back to the hotel to gather our luggage and check out. The kids loved being able to play in the Lego castle one more time and say goodbye to the hotel (I insisted we ride in the elevator again).

We had a great time, and we didn’t even experience half of the amenities the hotel offered, such as mini-figure character dining, free Lego building classes for the kiddos, and nightly family-friendly entertainment. Our park tickets included a free second day, but we needed to hurry back and catch our flight home.

I definitely hope to pay Legoland a return visit. The next time I plan to check in early in the morning, head to the park, and enjoy the hotel in the evening before heading back out to Legoland for another day of fun.

After our visit, Legoland is high on my list for recommended vacation ideas. I’m generally not a theme park fan, but Legoland is fun, simple, and (relatively) affordable. Currently the park in California boasts the only Legoland Hotel in the U.S., but Legoland Orlando is opening a hotel this summer.

Will your family be paying Legoland a visit soon?