Legoland: Florida Opening October 15, 2011

[mickeyfan1999]

I think it will be a great park, what a better place then Central Florida.

[cbisson]

i worked at the one here in Cali for 3 year. its alright. but i hope they build more rides for the thrill seekers. here in Cali its mainly for kids 12 and under. but again i worked there for 3 years so its boring to me cause i saw every inch of that place.

[marine_2003]

I think Legoland would be a great addition to central Florida. One of the biggest reasons is it will bring more jobs into the area, but also give another park to attend. Don't get me wrong, I love the Disney Parks, and Universal, but sometimes you just need somewhere else to go.

[cbisson]

you have to go at least once

[HitchHikingGhostFangirl]

I think Legoland would be a great addition to central Florida. One of the biggest reasons is it will bring more jobs into the area, but also give another park to attend. Don't get me wrong, I love the Disney Parks, and Universal, but sometimes you just need somewhere else to go.

Then go to Sea World....Sorry I could resist.

I think it's good that it's not actually in the Orlando area, there are already too many people here and too many tourist-y thing. Pretty the tourists to another area for a change.

[OperaSinger]

Interesting. You are probably right though, Disney is kind of intertwined with Lego so I would think it would go on their property.

That has no validity. Disney is intertwined with Universal and has filmed COUNTLESS movies, commercials, etc. at Universal Studios on BOTH coasts. That doesn't mean Universal is gonna have a park in Disney! HAHA

[cbisson]

only time will tell

[BeachGurl]

That has no validity. Disney is intertwined with Universal and has filmed COUNTLESS movies, commercials, etc. at Universal Studios on BOTH coasts. That doesn't mean Universal is gonna have a park in Disney! HAHA

Not that this needs to be argued because its already been announced that its going where Cypress Gardens was, but Universal already has its own theme park in Orlando so I don't get where you were really going with that statement.

[peaches magee]

New website is up! Looks like Fall 2011 for the opening

http://www.legolandfloridaresort.com/

P.S. Just looked up the website for Cali... it's really $67.00 for a one day ticket!?

[peaches magee]

Apparently a community preview for Legoland in FL went very well...

http://brickpal.com/2010/07/09/commu...oland-florida/

[aspen_snow04]

New website is up! Looks like Fall 2011 for the opening

http://www.legolandfloridaresort.com/

P.S. Just looked up the website for Cali... it's really $67.00 for a one day ticket!?

I bought mine through Costco for $50 something. Such a waste of money. I left VERY disappointed and after only a few hours.

[disneylover1955]

I know the announcement happened in the beginning of this year but I thought I would share it anyways for anyone (like me) who didn't know! Can't wait to see this park next year!

Central Florida will be home to the world's largest Legoland by the end of 2011, Merlin Entertainments Group said Thursday.



The park, which is planned for the former site of Cypress Gardens, is expected to include between 40 and 50 main attractions. In addition to Lego's signature attractions -- such as kid-powered rides and giant Lego brick models -- some of Cypress Gardens' top draws are expected to stick around. The historical gardens will stay intact, according to Nick Varney, Merlin's chief executive officer.

Merlin said it plans to keep the popular Splash Island Waterpark operating, although it will be a separate, ticketed admission. Cypress Gardens' water ski shows and one of its two wooden roller coasters will probably be integrated into the new Legoland as well, Varney said.

The details of Florida's newest theme park were announced at a news conference this morning that was attended by government and tourism officials, including Florida Governor Charlie Crist.

Officials hailed the capital investment -- which Crist said would be hundreds of millions of dollars -- and the fact that the park will create more than 1,000 jobs.

"Obviously in these challenging economic times, these jobs are fabulous," said Florida Sen. J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales.

Varney kicked off Thursday's event by calling Legoland Florida's "worst-kept secret," referring to the fact that details of today's announcement leaked out Wednesday, after an email surfaced confirming that it was indeed Legoland that was coming to Central Florida.

Merlin said it scouted multiple locations in the Orlando area, but eventually chose the out-of-the-way Polk County spot because of the value of its existing infrastructure.

Renovating a pre-existing theme park, instead of building from scratch, will help Merlin shave years off the development timeline, allowing it to get the park up and running in less than two years.

"If we'd gone anywhere else it would have taken 4 or 5 years," Varney said. He added that the company eventually hopes to turn Legoland Florida into a resort by adding an on-site hotel.

In exchange for building a Legoland in Winter Haven, Merlin Entertainments will receive $5 million in incentives from Polk County over a 10-year period. The package includes $150,000 per year for job creation and $350,000 per year in marketing support, Polk County economic development officials said. The company said it has also talked with government officials about improving road links between Orlando and Winter Haven, but did not provide specifics.



The Florida park is Legoland's second U.S. location, after Legoland California in Carlsbad, Calif. The addition of a Legoland in the Sunshine State is part of a broader push into the U.S. for Merlin.

"We see it as a big development market for us," Varney said. Lego, Varney said, "is without question one of the strongest brands in the world."

Merlin did not provide attendance projections for the Florida park, but said its other Legolands draw between 1.5 million and 2 million people a year.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/trave...,1659229.story

[Qsk50]

This looks like a fun place. I have never been to the one out in California ( I think that's where it's at) so I have no clue what this place is like. Is it mostly for kids or like Disney, where adults enjoy it just as much?

[disneylover1955]

This looks like a fun place. I have never been to the one out in California ( I think that's where it's at) so I have no clue what this place is like. Is it mostly for kids or like Disney, where adults enjoy it just as much?

I went to Legoland here in California and it was cool but I definitely enjoy Disney more! Its interesting that this will be the biggest legoland built and when this park is completed central Florida will have the same theme park companies as California (Sea World, Disney, Universal, and Merlin) with the exception of a parked owned by Cedar Fair and another owned by Magic Mountain!

[Phylers]

This looks like a fun place. I have never been to the one out in California ( I think that's where it's at) so I have no clue what this place is like. Is it mostly for kids or like Disney, where adults enjoy it just as much?

I haven't been there either (in the US, I've never actually been West of Texas), but I've heard and read that it's more kid-focused. It won't stop me from checking out the Central Florida one, though. Who can resist giant Lego models?

[minniemose35]

Legoland sounds really cool. We've been to Cypress Gardens a few times many years ago. Incorporating the ski show and the gardens into the new park's theme is a great move to get adults that don't have kids to visit. We may just have to check the new place out.

[mshalloween]

My husband has been talking about Legoland for what seems like 2 years now. He is SO excited about it. What a kid he is!! We'll definitely be going next year! Thanks for the article!

[Dozy]

Florida nearly has a full tick list all the major theme parks, just needs a six flags. And if a Legoland is going to Florida, perhaps a whole Harry Potter theme park in the UK, hmm?

To answer peoples questions Legoland is more kiddie, but still great to take the family to. Just a big no no for teenagers and thrill seekers. Although when I was younger I use to go to Legoland Windsor all the time. Hopefully they will include this park for Merlin AP holders (international parks owned by Merlin you can get 20% off ticket prices). Even though I love Disney Parks, I also love Merlin, globally second largest after Disney and strangely, British.

[wdwfan8]

Legoland is a blast! Have AP at the park. Rated #4 family theme park. Best for: age 4 to 14

[spartacus519]

I gota definitely check that place out when it opens.

[Fab5Fan]

Planning a central FL theme park trip around Thanksgiving time. Legoland site says October of this year so hopefully there isn't too much delay. Mainly going for my kiddos so no worries there, wasn't expected any major thrills LOL

[Qsk50]

Legoland Florida is scheduled to open October 15, 2011.

According to their Facebook page they are taking applications:

Wanna work at LEGOLAND Florida? Check out our new postings at www.LEGOLAND.com/jobs! We'll be hiring 800 additional Model Citizens between now and our grand opening on October 15th.

[photographymom517]

Just a heads-up -- there was a coupon for a free child's admission in the Orlando Magazine from 2010. It said that it was good throughout the entire year of 2011 so you would be able to use it at Legoland in Florida in October, November, or December! The coupon said it was good for the new Legoland in FL so its definitely allowed to be used there!!!

[Carol]

Legoland will certainly be worth visiting for people who haven't been to one before. We go to the one in San Diego every time we visit LA.

From what I have seen of the pre-advertising for the Florida one, it is just about an exact duplicate of the San Diego one so I am not sure that we will visit when we are in Orlando next year as it is probably not the best use of our theme-park dollars - we will have annual passes to both Disney and Universal so paying $60ish each for four people is pretty steep when there really isn't anything new for us to see, do or ride.