Build Your Own Ferrari at LEGOLAND

The first new attraction of the year is now open, and LEGOLAND Florida has beaten everyone to the punch – again – with an exciting new addition to their Central Florida park.

As they did last year, with their Pirate Quest ride, LEGOLAND has unveiled our destination’s latest highlight, and this is sure to thrill Ferrari fans, as well as LEGO fans in general.

The grand opening of the LEGO Ferrari Build & Race took place on March 8, and it boasts one of the most eye-catching icons even by the usual LEGO standards.

The centrepiece of the attraction is a stunning life-size Ferrari 296 GTS model that weighs almost two tons and comes complete with realistic engine noise, which is likely to see just as many dads in line as their kids!

What is Ferrari Build & Race?

The active part of the experience is a hands-on opportunity that puts guests in the driver’s seat to build race cars entirely out of LEGO bricks and then test them using cutting-edge digital technology and real-life racing scenarios.

After admiring the model, young racers – and their parents – tap into their creativity in the experience’s three build and test areas. They can build a LEGO Ferrari car and then test it out on a race, jump and engine test track. Each track features different obstacles, challenges and a chance to clock in the fastest time.

The big draw, though (at least for sports car fanatics) is the world’s only life-size 296 GTS model. Built brick by brick with more than 424,000 LEGO elements, it took a total of 1,850 hours to complete.

A full LEGOLAND “pit crew,” including a designer, six Master Model Builders and three animators, ensured that every detail matched that of a real Ferrari. The finished model measures a full 15 feet long by 7 ½ feet wide and four feet tall.

It comes complete with working headlights, an open driver’s side door and a roaring engine, and it serves as the welcoming showpiece of the attraction’s “garage,” inviting guests to slide behind the steering wheel and imagine what it would be like to race on an F1 racing team.

What Ferrari think of the experience

In a confetti filled opening ceremony at the Winter Haven park, Rex Jackson, Managing Director, LEGOLAND Parks, North America, explained: “We are thrilled to open this unique attraction for our guests. LEGO Ferrari Build and Race is unlike any other attraction we have here at LEGOLAND Florida Resort. It celebrates the global popularity of Ferrari and F1 racing while challenging everyone to imagine, build and race the LEGO Ferrari-themed car of their dreams.”

A Ferrari spokesman from the company’s US headquarters joined the opening ceremony, and added: “We are happy to strengthen our collaboration with [LEGOLAND owners] Merlin Entertainments, a key strategic partner for Ferrari, expanding our offering to engage Ferrari fans of all ages.

“After the success of the LEGO Ferrari Build and Race attractions at LEGOLAND California, Billund in Denmark and LEGOLAND in the UK, we are delighted to open this attraction in Florida.”

Jackson added: “This attraction furthers our ongoing collaboration and relationship with Ferrari. The LEGO Ferrari Build and Race has quickly become a USA guest favourite at LEGOLAND California and now our guests on the East Coast can design and race LEGO cars again and again.”

The Ferrari experience

Once guests have fine-tuned their vehicles at the initial design stage of the attraction, they then are able to use LEGOLAND’S own digital technology to scan their cars and virtually race them around the track, which occupies an entire wall of the attraction and includes real-life min-models among the digital read-outs.

In what is touted as a fully customisable experience, guests can also digitally modify their LEGO car’s engine size, tire specs, power and aerodynamics, and they can even add a personalised number plate and colourful stickers.

The would-be Ferrari racers than have three laps to set their fastest time and use touchpads to give their car extra acceleration, as well as the ability to change lanes. All guests are encouraged to join in the fun and cheer on each race as they watch leaderboards that update in real time.

Surges of speed can be added and tire pressure manipulated. Virtual weather conditions change regularly in the attraction and guests can tinker with their physical models so they can try to improve their race times.

The park’s youngest drivers are not forgotten, either, as LEGOLAND has also added an element of pint-sized fun, where the pre-school crew can create their own designs in the LEGO DUPLO build zone, complete with larger bricks specifically made for smaller hands.

There’s more to come

While the new Ferrari attraction is the headline addition for 2024, there is still more to come from this attractive park in future. In recent years, they have added major attractions like Pirate Quest (2023), the Peppa Pig theme park (2022), LEGO Movie World (2019) and LEGO Ninjago World (2017), and they have already flagged up another newcomer for later this year.

As the owners of the SEA LIFE indoor aquariums, Merlin Entertainments will be creating an all-new SEA LIFE Florida Resort at LEGOLAND later this autumn.

The latest version of this highly popular attraction promises to offer the amazing wonders of the underwater world, a family-friendly aquarium that will feature a diverse range of marine life, captivating exhibits and oceanic exploration, “culminating in the ultimate seascape.”

It all serves to underline how there is always something new to enjoy in this amazing destination of ours, and it will be better value than ever in 2024!

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