The Excitement of LEGOLAND

Many people don’t realize that LEGOLAND Florida is nearly as close to many of our villas as the Magic Kingdom And, if anyone is discounting this wonderfully family-friendly park, then they are really missing out.

Opened in 2011 on the site of the former Cypress, LEGOLAND is possibly one of the unsung heroes of Central Florida in that it is easy to overlook but it delivers a LOT for a typical day out. And that will be especially true this summer, with TWO great new features to enjoy, plus another exciting development on the horizon

Under the umbrella of the UK’s international Merlin Entertainment group, this is an experience that incorporates a good chunk of the natural Florida as well as all the excitement and creativity associated with the famous LEGO brand. It is situated on the southern shore of pretty Lake Louise in the charming city of Winter Haven, which itself dates back to 1911.

The historic Cypress Gardens flourished from 1936 to its rather sad demise in 2008, and was famous for its water-skiing shows, elegant Southern Belles in traditional dress and a giant Florida-shaped pool that once featured actress Esther Williams, as well as its well-maintained gardens.

A summer of festivities

The good news for all prospective LEGOLAND Florida visitors this year is that there are a lot of upcoming new features to look forward to, starting on May 3 with the world’s first LEGO Festival, which will run for six weekends in all seven LEGOLAND parks worldwide

The Festival will be “a larger-than-life celebration of play,” featuring five interactive zones and 49 all-new LEGO builds. Plus, every child who makes a Play Pact will help to bring playtime to underserved kids globally via the finale World Play Day. Children will be invited to celebrate the power of playtime through a special “Play Pact, a promise to build more, laugh louder, explore endlessly and play always!” Each LEGOLAND park will also team up with local charities to give kids in need a special day filled with fun and adventure.

The five themed zones are the Dance Zone, where kids of all ages have free rein to show off their best dance moves and meet mini-figure royalty in the shape of DJ GoodVibes; the Gaming Zone, with keen kids able to enjoy some classic character moments and enjoy a special surprise gaming partner; the Creative Zone, creating unique builds and characters with the help of master classes with the park’s Master Builder Alec, plus global playathons and endless LEGO bricks; the Music Zone, a chance for kids to rock out using special LEGO guitars and witness the Battle of the Bands with some of the best rock music of all time; and the Chill Out Zone, a chance to relax and unwind around beautiful LEGO Botanicals, listen to stories and build along with laid-back leader Hopsy.

At the end of the Festival, the various local children’s charities allied with LEGOLAND’s creative play-makers will benefit on World Play Day from every single Play Pact, marking the importance of play in children’s education – and allowing under-privileged kids the chance to enjoy some play of their own.

The debut of SEA LIFE Florida!

LEGOLAND’S upcoming new attraction is another stand-alone experience similar to the Peppa Pig Theme Park that sits alongside the main park. SEA LIFE Florida will open on May 23, featuring an impressive indoor aquarium that aims to be “a theme park under the sea.” Originally announced in 2023, it aims to build on the success of the SEA LIFE Orlando attraction at ICON Park.

This eye-catching family-friendly exhibit will showcase ocean life through a series of 25 awesome marine encounters and interactive experiences. Visitors can wander through a lush Freshwater Swamp, set sail in Key West Harbour and glide alongside gentle rays in Stingray Bay. There will be vibrant coral palaces, a fascinating Seahorse Nursery and the weird world of Jelly Invaders. The grand finale will feature the ultimate Oceanarium of the grand Ocean Tunnel, offering a breathtaking 180-degree view of the main aquarium.

In all, it will feature some 3,000 animals from 150 species, both from coastal waters around Florida and from other parts of the world. Among them will be menacing blacktip reef sharks and blue-spotted stingrays, as well as the super-cute big-belly seahorses. The main aquarium holds fully 150,000 gallons of seawater, while there is also a separate interactive touch pool featuring various invertebrates. Tickets will be available in combination with each of the LEGOLAND park itself, the water park, SEA LIFE and the Peppa Pig park.

And, in the future…

Here comes another exciting development for LEGOLAND with the announcement by Merlin Entertainments of an all-new indoor roller-coaster coming to both its Florida and California resorts. This first-of-its-kind ride will launch at both parks in 2026 and represents Merlin’s biggest ever single in-park investment in the resorts’ histories, spending approximately $90million on these two new attractions and promising an experience that combines the creative world of LEGO building with an exhilarating ride and storyline.

Fiona Eastwood, Merlin’s Chief Executive, explained: “As we prepare to unveil this exciting new attraction designed, co-created and imagined by the amazing creative team at the LEGO Group and the unmatched talent of our Merlin Magic Makers, we hope the mystery and anticipation adds to awesome thrills to come. These new coasters are unparalleled for LEGOLAND Resorts, promising to elevate two of our premier Resorts to new heights, utilising the latest technology and embracing the LEGO DNA, as only we can do.”

Florida resort President Franceen Gonzalez added: “While the details remain under wraps, one thing is clear. This new ride will take our guests on an unprecedented adventure, setting a new standard for fun and imagination. While you wait, we’re opening our new SEA LIFE Florida Aquarium on May 23, and these exciting attractions will give families a whole new reason to visit again and again.”

Exclusive hints and sneak peeks about the new attraction, including why it’s groundbreaking and the resorts’ first-of-its-kind, will be shared on both Florida and California’s social media channels and websites leading up to the opening of the attractions. Guests eager to be the first to get the latest updates can sign up at www.LEGOLAND.com.

PS: Don’t forget to get your theme park tickets in advance from our main ticket page on this link!

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