LEGOLAND :: A Must Do When Visiting Orlando
It was the week before Mardi Gras break, and my family decided last minute to go on a trip. We went to Gatlinburg last year and visited Disney World for Mardi Gras 2020 before lockdown. We didn’t want to go back to the Smokey Mountains just yet, and we knew we were way too late to the game to do multiple days in Disney World, so we explored other options.
As many times I have been to Disney World (I even worked there!), I have never been to Universal Studios or LEGOLAND. I guess you could say we are a family of Disney fanatics and the thought of spending time at other theme parks didn’t make much sense to us in the past. However, in this situation, we decided to explore it.
Let’s Go to Legoland
We landed on checking out LEGOLAND, and my boys were very excited! They watched some YouTube videos and explored LEGOLAND’s website to see what rides they wanted to do. The idea of something new we have never done before was fun for everyone! But if I am being honest, I was very hesitant that LEGOLAND wouldn’t measure up to my standards of our favorite theme parks in Disney World.
Well let me just tell you, I was so surprised how much not only my kids liked LEGOLAND but also myself! Buying tickets was a breeze online, and I was even able to prepurchase parking as well. The drive from central Orlando took about 30 minutes and wasn’t bad at all. Once we arrived, we just showed our email that we pre-booked parking and parked right in the lot. You know how at Disney World parking is kind of a pain in the butt if you don’t stay on property? Well, LEGOLAND is so easy, and the walk is very minimal to get to the front gate. No trams, monorails, or ferries required!
Rides at LEGOLAND
Now, let’s talk about the park itself. There are multiple rides for preschoolers all the way to thrill-seekers. My boys are 14, 10, and 5, and I felt that each kid had a great experience, and for different reasons. My 14 year old loved Flying School, The Dragon, and The Great Lego Race. My 10 year old enjoyed Ford Driving School (where you get your license!), the Lost Kingdom Adventure, and Miniland USA. My youngest son is 5 and was so excited over all the play structures! He spent hours just playing in the DUPLO Tot Spot, Benny’s Play Ship, and The Forestmen’s Hideout.
As a mom, what I loved the most about LEGOLAND was how EASY it was. I didn’t need to plan on every single detail like other parks; it was liberating to just get a map and GO! I didn’t have to wake up before 7AM to book rides (I’m looking at you Disney Genie+) and the freedom of that was refreshing. The lines had very minimal wait (if any at all), and the boys could go on rides one after the other. As a family, we enjoyed the 4D Theater where they show multiple 4D films throughout the day (it’s also a great way to escape the heat) and the LEGO Ninjago Ride. The park was incredibly fun and easy to navigate!
LEGOLAND Hotel
We are already making plans on what we will do next time we visit. One thing for sure is we are going to stay at the LEGOLAND Hotel. It’s literally next door and seems like the perfect option! We also plan on going to their Water Park which looks like a blast. Just like the hotel, the Water Park is in walking proximity which makes it super convenient.
So I’m here to tell you to not sleep on LEGOLAND; you won’t regret it!