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LEGOLAND® California Resort: Entry Ticket

• Attractions
• Family Travel

22 LEGOLAND Secrets That’ll Make Your Trip Awesome

Kate Loweth

How to get early access to the park, where to swap those minifigs, and the best way to manage rides with little kids

These days, chances are you might be ready for a vacation. If a trip to LEGOLAND California is in the cards, then you won’t want to miss our LEGOLAND California secret tips. We’ve hit up the park, aquarium, and the best gift shops to bring you the inside scoop on making your trip to the brick capital the best ever.

1. LEGOLAND is open! You'll need to have a reservation and purchase tickets in advance to get in. Check out the packages here. 

2. MINILAND San Diego is open.  Don't skip out on a visit to MINILAND, especially now that they've added San Diego to the land. See if you can spot all your favorite locations like the Coronado Bridge, Del Mar Racetrack, and PETCO Park. 

3. Get the app! Before you even pack for your trip, download the LEGOLAND app onto your phone. It has an interactive map to aid in exploring the park, gives your ride wait times, a height guide for rides, directions, and even a car finder to help you keep track of where you've parked.

4. Shop without a care (or a carry). The stores at LEGOLAND have one of the largest selections of LEGO and LEGOLAND products in the world! There are a couple of bigger stores closer to the entrance of the park, but you can purchase from any of the shops throughout LEGOLAND, and they will have your item(s) waiting for you when you are ready to leave.

5. Start at the back. Head to the end back of the park upon arrival. Lines for big rides Coastersaurus, Safari Trek, and Fairy Tale Brook are much bigger in the earlier part of the day. 

6. When to go. Check out the crowd calendar before you book your visit to see how busy the park will be. Our biggest tip is to plan your visit to LEGOLAND while the kids are still in school. Otherwise, you run the risk of enduring crowds. You'll also enjoy milder weather during the months of the school year versus the scorchers in summer. Spring and fall temperatures for Carlsbad, CA typically range between 60 to 70 degrees, perfect for wee-ones making their way around an amusement park. But if a summer trip it is, there are still plenty of ways to keep them cool when the mercury rises. 

7. Rent a stroller. If you've got kids that might not make the whole day on foot, save yourself space in the trunk for that giant LEGO set, and just rent a stroller on site. Strollers can be rented on a first-come, first-served basis at The Marketplace in The Beginning. Singles are $17, doubles are $20 and they even have infant strollers ($17).

8. How to get a discount on LEGOLAND tickets. Get your tickets in advance ! Besides saving extra cash, pre-purchasing your tickets will also expedite your entry into the park. LEGOLAND offers an array of deals for customizing your theme park experience. You can choose between visiting the amusement park only or combining it with the water park, Sea Life Aquarium, or both. Purchasing your tickets from the LEGOLAND website is also the best choice if you're planning to visit the park for only one day. Costco members can also save big on ticket prices. Check if they have deals online and after you check out, your E-tickets will be sent to you within the hour (Psst ... there's a Costco store just two miles from the theme park if you prefer to purchase your tickets in person). Discounts are also offered to AAA members and Military with ID.

9. Where to stay. If you've got a LEGO maniac, or three, or four in your crew, and you don't mind shelling out the extra coin, then you won't want to miss staying at the LEGOLAND Hotel or LEGOLAND Castle Hotel . Your mini-master builders will go crazy over all of the resort's brick-tastic features including a choice of themed rooms to stay in, early entry to the park, nightly kiddie entertainment, plus a scavenger hunt to look for clues to unlock a treasure chest in your room. There's a huge breakfast buffet, restaurant, and pool, plus the hotel is nearly in the theme park itself—a great option if naps are still on the agenda.

If you want to save cash, but still have easy access to the park then you might want to try the Sheraton Carlsbad Resort. It has its very own entrance at the back of the park (Psst ... this is a great way to score first-in-line for some of the most popular rides), plus you won't have to deal with parking fees or hassles.

The Cassara Carlsbad  is another great option that offers both standard rooms and family suites. The fully remodeled and redesigned hotel now has a private pedestrian entrance to LEGOLAND and perfect views of the Carlsbad flower fields. We bet your crew will head straight for the resort's family pool and kiddie splash pad once you arrive.

LEGOLAND Hotel Online: legoland.com/california/legoland-hotel/legoland-resort-hotel/

Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa Online: sheratoncarlsbad.com

The Cassara Carlsbad | Tapestry Collection by Hilton Online: thecassaracarlsbad.com

10. Bring the minifigs. Have you heard about Minifigure trading? If not, we bet you and your little sidekick will think it's the best thing to come along since Emmet's double-decker couch. Just have your kid bring their old minifigures to the park, including all the parts and accessories, and they can trade them up for new ones. Every LEGOLAND employee (Hint: They're called Model Citizens. Get it?) has a super cool LEGO name badge with minifigures fixed onto it. If your tyke wants one of the Model Citizen's guys, they'll gladly trade with them. You'll also find trading posts throughout the park that offer armies of mini-men to trade for, and if your kiddo doesn't have a minifigure for making a switcharoo, there are plenty available for purchase at LEGO stores throughout the park.

11. Get there early! Chances are your brick enthusiasts will be up by the crack of dawn and ready to go before you hit the button on the coffee maker, so why not take advantage of their excitement by heading to the park early? You're likely to score parking that's a stone's throw from the premium spots, plus you will spend less time waiting at the entrance. The best part? Even though LEGOLAND officially opens at 10 a.m., the turnstiles are rolling by 9 a.m., and by 9:30 a.m. some of the rides at the front of the park are already going.

12. Measuring up the rides. Most of LEGOLAND's rides and attractions are geared for the entertainment of kids ages 2 to 12, but if you've got an adrenaline junkie who has already taken on giant roller coasters and scream machines, the park will likely feel babyish to them. Still, there are a few great spots your older crew might try. The LEGO Technic Coaster has you sitting in a four-person car as you twist, turn, and drop. 

If you've got Littles tagging along on your adventure you'll want to check how tall they are before you go. Many of the rides have minimum height restrictions starting at 34 inches, and some require an adult or at least a responsible big kid to ride along with. Even if your wee ones fall below the line, there's still plenty of fun to be had—no rides necessary.

13. Use Ride Swapping. If your kiddos find themselves not meeting the height requirement, or they just aren't into thrill rides, parents can use the Ride Swapping system. One parent will ride with the tall enough child, then when the ride is over they can swap right away so the second parent can ride without waiting in the line again.

14. Avoid the wait with Reserve 'N' Ride. If you think you'll need good tactical maneuvers in order to avoid encountering a meltdown from waiting in long lines, here are a few solutions to try. LEGOLAND offers a Reserve 'N' Ride system, which allows you to hold a spot in line for their most popular rides without having to be in the queue. To set up a Reserve 'N' Ride, check out their website to learn more. When you purchase the pass, you'll get to choose between Express, Deluxe, and Ultimate. Download their mobile app to take advantage of Reserve 'N' Ride.

15. More tips on skipping the wait. To avoid long lines without having to pay reservation fees, you'll need to plan ahead and be prepared to check out some of the non-ride attractions at the park. To start, when you arrive at the resort, head to the back and avoid the buildup for the Coastersaurus and Safari Trek. At mid-day, when the park is at its busiest, you'll want to head into Fun Town and visit some of the area's less popular, but surprisingly enjoyable, attractions, including the LEGO Factory tour, Police and Fire Academy, or DUPLO Playtown. You can also make your way over to the Imagination Zone where your kids will spend hours building and racing their own LEGO car. And don't forget to check out MINILAND, where your pint-sized squirt will love wandering along paths passing world-famous cities and attractions scaled to just about their height.

16. LEGOLAND California is a certified autism center. Guests with autism can obtain an Assisted Access Pass from Guest Services located in The Beginning which allows easier access to rides without having to wait in line. You'll also see sensory guides throughout the park that will alert you to noise levels, smells, and other sensory triggers. Consult the Access Guide for additional information about accommodations at the park. 

17. The Hideways play area is a great spot to get some energy out. If your little ones have been antsy after waiting in lines for the rides, head to the Hideways play area for some all-ages fun. They can climb, slide, and run to their heart's content while you set up shop in a shady area. The Hideaways is right next to Granny's Apple Fries—a great bribe if you need to get the kids out of there. 

18. Bring a change of clothes. Even if you don't plan to splash around at the water park, you'll want to bring swimsuits , towels , and extra clothes to keep in the car—just in case. Pirate Shores has a few wet rides, a splash pad, and a play structure with mini waterslides and several dowsing features to cool off in when things heat up. If you don't want to carry your gear with you, there are lockers located at Pirate Shores for $10 (Psst ... this is the cheapest in the park), and for a quick dry try one of the family dryers afterward.

19. No outside food and drink. Outside food and drinks are not allowed in the park, but LEGOLAND does make exceptions for dietary restrictions and infants. There is a bag check at the entrance, but the staff typically turn the other cheek if you bring in your own water bottles and a couple of snacks . And speaking of food, you'll likely find LEGOLAND's dining choices are decent by theme park standards with options including pizza, burgers, and hot dogs, as well as some spots for BBQ, Ramen, and healthy snack items. Go ahead and splurge on those Granny's Apple Fries for your crew and don't forget the vanilla cream dipping sauce. They're delish!

20. What about the waterpark? Compared to other water parks you may have visited, many of LEGOLAND's slides and features will seem scaled back and probably best for the small fries, but if the hotel or condo you're staying at doesn't have a pool then it's definitely worth getting a Park Hopper pass . Peak hours are between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., so try for before or after those hours for the most low-key experience. Kids love the lazy river where they can build with soft, oversized LEGO right on their tube, and the CHIMA area will keep them busy for hours as they frolic in the Lion Temple wave pool or slide through the massive crocodile's jaw in Cragger's Swamp. You'll find several spots kids can play with LEGO, which are nice diversions when the park does its routine 10-minute pool break for lifeguard rotations. If you do plan to visit the water park, be sure to check their schedule ahead of time. The pools are typically open from spring break through Labor Day, plus weekends during the fall, but mid-week black-out dates aren't unusual.

21. Don't skip SEA LIFE Aquarium. If you've never been before, the SEA LIFE Aquarium is definitely getting the Park Hopper pass . Although it's a quick trip through the whole thing (typically an hour), it's the perfect size for small attention spans. Most of the exhibits are indoors with the exception of the touch tanks, so it's also a great way to escape warmer daytime temperatures. At the aquarium, you'll see jellyfish, seahorses, eels, and a Giant Pacific Octopus. There's also a large underwater tunnel that wanders through the Lost City of Atlantis, a 200,000-gallon tank filled with sharks, rays, and tropical fish to give you a scuba diver's perspective of these thrilling sea creatures. Kids can learn more about their favorite underwater animals during one of the special Tank Talks or Feeding Times, plus take part in an educational scavenger hunt to earn a special prize when they've found all the clues.

22. Pack extra clothes. Even if you're bypassing the water park, LEGOLAND has plenty of water features that kids won't be able to pass up. If your kiddos find themselves enjoying the several splash pads and play area but don't want to stay soggy, check out the cheapest lockers to stow your stuff, as well as dryers near Pirate Shores.

LEGOLAND California Carlsbad, CA Online: california.legoland.com

Additional reporting by Taylor Clifton, Rachael Brandon & Karly Wood

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Legoland California: The Complete Guide

Legoland California Highlights

Legoland and chima water park highlights, sea life aquarium highlights, what’s new at legoland california, where to eat, admission information, where to stay, the best time to visit, getting there, tips for visiting.

Courtesy of The Merlin Entertainments Group

Opened in 1999, Legoland California was the first Lego-themed park in the U.S. (There are now Leogland parks in Florida and New York as well.) As with the other Legoland parks in America and around the world, the focus is on children 12 and under and their families. Based on the popular toy brand and its characters, many of the attractions and other elements throughout the park appear to be fashioned out of the brightly colored bricks.

The heart of Legoland is Miniland U.S.A., which features elaborate, miniature dioramas that are all crafted out of Lego blocks. The exhibits depict famous sites and landmarks in the nation including facsimiles of Hollywood’s Chinese Theatre and surfer dudes hanging ten; San Francisco 's Golden Gate Bridge and Pier 39; the Las Vegas Strip and its iconic casinos; the French Quarter of New Orleans ; Lego versions of the White House and the Capitol building ; and miniatures of New York City skyscrapers and Central Park .

In addition to the theme park, Legoland California offers two additional gates (which each require separate admission). Visitors can cool down and enjoy the water slides, water play areas, and other features at the Legoland and Chima Water Park while the Sea Life Aquarium features marine life exhibits that are specially designed for children.

The theme park is large and loaded with things to see and experience and with two on-site hotels (which, like everything else at the property, is geared to families with young children), Legoland California is a true destination resort.

Because it targets children, Legoland’s rides are mostly on the mild side. (There are a few that deliver a modicum of thrills.) Rather than passive rides, many of the attractions engage visitors with interactive elements. There are even opportunities to build things with Lego bricks and accessories. Since some attractions have minimum height requirements as low as 30 inches, and others have no height requirements, even very young children will find plenty to do at the park.

On many of the attractions, kids participate in the action. For example, they get to steer their own miniature cars in Driving School and can earn a Legoland driver’s license if they correctly follow the rules of the road. There is a Junior Driving School for children ages 3 to 5.

On the Kid Power Tower, guests hoist themselves up and then get to let themselves fall to the ground. On the Aquazone Wave Racer, passengers have to pilot their vehicles to avoid water blasts, and at Skipper School, they can freely steer boats around a lagoon. The Fun Town Police and Fire Academy recruits visitors to rescue a burning building by using fire hoses. On the high-tech Lego Ninjago the Ride, passengers use martial arts-like hand gestures to hurl lightning bolts and other virtual weapons at villains.

Legoland California also offers some out-and-out thrills (albeit, the “pink-knuckle” variety) on roller coasters such as Coastersaurus, The Dragon (which travels both outdoors and into a castle to confront the namesake creature), and the Lego Technic Coaster. There is also the interactive Lost Kingdom Adventure dark ride, a Safari Trek that features encounters with Lego animals, and Lego City: Deep Sea Adventure, an underwater journey aboard an actual submarine.

Among the park’s shows is the wildly funny The Lego Movie 4D A New Adventure. The 4D presentation features Emmet, Unikitty, and other characters from the hilarious movie series. Other 4D shows include Lego City 4D - Officer in Pursuit! and Lego Ninjago: Master of the 4th Dimension.

Legoland’s water park has the usual suspects, including body slides, a mat racing slide, a family raft ride , a wave pool, and an interactive water play station with a dump bucket. It also offers Pirate Reef, a shoot-the-chutes boat ride in which everybody gets soaked.

But the water park is also unique in that, like the theme park, it offers some interactive, hands-on experiences. For Build-A-Raft River, guests can customize their inner tubes with oversized Lego bricks before floating down a lazy river. At Eglor’s Build-A-Boat, kids can use bricks to create a boat and then race against other participants. At Imagination Station, visitors can use Duplo bricks to build bridges, dams, and other structures in the water.

For young children, the park also offers pint-sized fun. At Splash Zoo, kids can frolic among Duplo animals, while at Duplo Splash Safari, there are sprayers and other ways for children to douse themselves and others.

Many of the exhibits at Sea Life Aquarium are hands-on, including opportunities to touch sea stars at the Southern California Rockpool, cavort with stingrays in the Ray Lagoon, and get up close and personal with other creatures in the interactive touchpool. Other zones include Shark Mission, Kingdom of the Seahorse, and San Francisco Harbor, which features animals indigenous to the region (including a giant Pacific octopus).

One of the more unique exhibits at the aquarium is Sea at Night. It allows visitors to splash among (virtual) tides and experience a simulated nighttime oceanside environment complete with stars, even during the day.

The Merlin Entertainments Group

In 2022, Legoland will be debuting Lego Ferrari Build and Race, an interactive, hands-on experience in which guests will be able to build their own sports car models and then race them against other participants. There will be opportunities to build and race both physical and digital models.

In 2021, the park opened a new land, The Lego Movie World. Based on the popular (and very funny) movie series, the land features three new attractions. The highlight, Emmet’s Flying Adventure Ride, is a flying theater attraction (think Disney’s  Soarin ’) that transports passengers into The Lego Movie landscape. There is also the drop tower ride, Unikitty’s Disco Drop, and Queen Watevra's Carousel. Guests can also visit Emmet’s Super Suite and meet characters from the movies, have fun in Benny’s Playship playground, and snap together creations using Lego bricks in Build Watevra You Wa’Na Build.

It’s designed for the under-12 set, but Legoland California has fare to appeal to parents (and kids with more sophisticated palates). Sure, there are burgers, mac and cheese, and pizza. But there is also banh mi sandwiches, spicy rice and noodle bowls, porchetta, and pesto chicken salad on the menu as well. A good choice is Knight’s Smokehouse BBQ, which offers pulled pork, beef brisket, and other delicacies cooked on-site in a wood smoker. Craft beer is also available for over-21s.

For treats, Legoland offers ice cream, churros, popcorn, and other traditional park fare. Granny’s apple fries—one of the park's more unique, signature items, features granny smith apple slices that are smothered in cinnamon sugar and vanilla cream.

One-day passes to the park are available. Children 3 and under are free; all others pay the same price. Legoland often sells advance tickets at a discount online at its official site . It also sometimes offers 2-day tickets at a discount on its site.

Separate admission is required for Sea Life Aquarium and Legoland and Chima Water Park. Visitors can purchase a-la-carte tickets to the aquarium, but in order to enter the water park, you must first have a pass to the theme park. (Entrance to the water park is inside the theme park.) Packages are generally available that include Legoland park plus one or both of the other attractions. The resort also generally offers hotel packages that include accommodations at its on-site properties and passes to the park, water park, and aquarium.

Legoland offers annual passes, which come in a variety of levels. The higher levels, which cost more, include additional benefits such as admission to the aquarium and the water park, fewer blackout dates, and free parking.

Legoland California offers two on-site properties: Legoland Hotel and Legoland Castle Hotel . The rooms, which come in a variety of configurations, have Lego-inspired themes, including Lego Ninjago and pirates at the Legoland Hotel, and knights and dragons at the Castle Hotel. Both properties offer easy access to the park, water park, and aquarium as well as pools, play areas, and other amenities. Breakfast is included at the Legoland Hotel.

The theme park and aquarium are open year round. The water park is open daily in June, July, and August as well as some days in March, April, May, and generally weekends only in September and October.

Crowds are typically highest in March and early April during spring break, June and July for summer break, and late December for the holidays. If you want to avoid crowds, the lowest attendance periods are late January, mid-to-late August, September, and early December.

Legoland California is located in Carlsbad, California at One Legoland Drive. The resort is about 30 minutes away from San Diego. From the I-5 Freeway, take the Cannon Road exit. Nearby airports include San Diego (SAN) and Los Angeles International (LAX). There is also a nearby, smaller airport, Carlsbad (CLD/CRQ - McClellan-Palomar).

• You might want to consider visiting during the fall, when the crowds are (generally) fairly light, and the park offers its Halloween event, Brick-or-Treat. The scare-free event includes special shows, trick-or-treat stations, costume contests, and character meet-and-greets.
• While attendance is heavier during the holidays (especially later in December), Legoland does deck its halls with Lego-themed ornaments. It also offers a holiday light show, seasonal treats, and live music.
• Go San Diego offers passes that include discounted admission to Legoland California (as well as the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld San Diego, and other area attractions). Options include: the All-Inclusive pass, which offers unlimited admission to as many attractions as you wish to visit over the course of a prescribed number of days; or the Build Your Own pass, which offers discount pricing on specific attractions.
• The CityPASS program includes access to Legoland California. In the past, CityPASS charged one price for its Southern California pass, and offered admission to Disneyland Park , Disney California Adventure, Universal Studios Hollywood, SeaWorld San Diego, and San Diego Zoo, in addition to Legoland.
• The San Diego Tourism Authority offers San Diego's Fab 4 Combo Deal . The discount pass includes admission to Legoland California, SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego Zoo, and San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
• Take advantage of early admission. Guests staying at Legoland’s on-site hotels get to enter the park before the general public.
• If you visit during an especially busy time, you may want to consider purchasing Reserve N Ride , Legoland’s line-reduction program. It comes in three varieties, all of which allow visitors to make ride reservations and skip the lines; the more you pay, the less time you’ll have to wait before boarding rides.
• Download the Legoland mobile app prior to your visit. It offers resources to help plan your visit as well as enjoy your experiences at the park. The app can be used to purchase tickets, find out waiting times for rides, gain access to offers and discounts, see showtimes, and more.
• If you have young children who do not meet height requirements, take advantage of the park’s parent swap program. All members of your family can wait in line together, and parents can trade places going on a ride and staying with their children without having to get back in line.

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LEGO, the LEGO logo, the Minifigure and the Brick and Knob configurations are trademarks and/or copyrights of The LEGO Group. ©2024 The LEGO Group. Used with permission. All rights reserved. LEGOLAND is a part of Merlin Entertainments Ltd.

Trending Post : Legoland California Money Saving Tips

26 of the Best Legoland California Insider Tips

Thanks for sharing!

Planning a trip to Legoland California in 2022? I’ve got all the best Legoland tips for parents who want to experience Legoland with their kids this year!

These Legoland California tips and tricks will help you save money, save time, and plan your day. Be sure to also read my post that shows you even more ways to save money at Legoland California !

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link.

Planning a trip to Legoland? This exclusive Legoland Vacation planner will help you organize and plan every detail of your trip! Pages include My Day at Legoland, a page for keeping track of your pop badges, a list of essentials to bring into Legoland, and more!

Download the Legoland App

Download the Legoland App! First thing, or even before you get to the park, download their app. Although there used to be discounts for food and merchandise offered inside the app, I haven’t seen any in a few years. Still it’s worth downloading to keep track of wait times on rides as well as show times. You can even set a reminder for events and show times so you don’t forget!

Collect Pop Badges!

These are fun collectible badges that you can earn by going on certain rides, visiting areas like the Sea Life Aquarium or the water park, or by participating in certain challenges. We found a firefighter badge at the Fun Town Police and Fire Academy, and a First Coaster Ride badge at the Technic coaster.

Pop Badge challenges run at certain times throughout the year (especially around holidays), so stop by guest services when you come in and see if they have one running.

There is one challenge that is currently running — the elusive Mr. Gold pop badge challenge. Each day a select number of employees are given the Mr. Gold pop badge to wear, and if you spot it, all you have to do is ask them for it and it’s yours (only kids can ask)! This pop badge is one of the most coveted and you’ll probably hear kids asking just about everyone “do you have Mr. Gold?”

You can keep Mr. Gold or trade it in for prize at Customer Service!

Be sure to check out our Legoland Pop Badge guide so you know where to find them all!

Trade Pop Badges

Not only can you earn pop badges but you can trade them with park employees! Just like with minifigures, some employees have pop badges on their shirts and they are happy to trade with you. Pop badges can be found all around the park as well, on rides and lots of other places you can read about here .

Tip: if you plan to collect pop badges , you may want to purchase a lanyard to keep them on! You can also purchase lanyards for your pop badges at the Big Shop in Legoland.

Bring in Food and Snacks

You can bring in your own food. Although it is discouraged on their web site, as long as you bring small snacks in a backpack or keep your food in a 12″ x 10″ (or smaller) soft-sided cooler like this one , you’re golden. Of course, I personally think the food inside is some of the healthiest and best-tasting food I’ve ever had at a theme park, but if you are looking to save some money, this is a good tip.

We frequently bring in peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch and then eat dinner in the park.

Looking to for even more money saving tips? Check out my post on the best money saving tips in Legoland .

Sign Up for LEGO Mindstorms Classes

Inside the Imagination Zone, there is an often overlooked section right across from the Legoland Movie display area. Here at Mindstorms, kids age 9 and older can sign up for a Lego robotics class! They will learn how to code and command a Lego robot to do several different tasks. There is usually more than one themed class so be sure to try them all! Just be sure to sign up early in the morning to secure your spot. Classes are about 45-50 minutes long. Also a great option for rainy days at Legoland .

TOP SECRET MEAL TIP!

Healthy meal swaps! Adults and children can swap their chips for a piece of fruit. Children’s meals usually include either a box of raisins or an apple/orange, but if you’d rather skip the chips you can get another piece of fruit instead.

Annual Pass Holder Discounts

Annual Pass holders get a 10% merchandise discount and a 20% discount on food. We have also been able to convince some employees to let us use our Lego VIP discount (5%) in addition to the 10% on merchandise (ahem, Big Shop). It doesn’t hurt to ask!

Birthdays and First Visits

Birthday and First Visit Pins are available at Customer Service. Don’t forget to ask for a First Visit Pop Badge too! The Legoland Hotel and the Legoland Castle Hotel also offer birthday packages to guests of the hotels.

Don’t Forget to Check Legoland Hours

Don’t forget to check Legoland hours ! The park closes on certain weekdays in the winter, and the water park has seasonal hours.

Bring Minifigures for Trading

My kids really look forward to minifigure trading when we visit Legoland. It’s a good idea to buy a few minifigures before you go. Or, see what minifigs you already own and your kids might be willing to trade. Minifigures are also available for purchase in the park.

So where can you find places to trade minifigures at Legoland? The Big Shop, the Awesome Shop in the Lego Movie World area, inside Build Your World, at Lego Mindstorms, and inside the Lego Life building. I have also seen them in the shop at the Lego City Deep Sea Adventure, but during our last few trips there was no one working here and the shop didn’t have any merchandise for sale.

Have older kids ? Challenge them to make a monochromatic minifigure by collecting pants, shirts, heads, etc. in all one color. This is something my husband actually has fun doing too!

Where to Start Your Day at Legoland

Hotel guests at either the Legoland Hotel or the Castle Hotel get early access to the park and some rides. Guests can go in as early as 9:00 am and access the Ninjago area, Coastersaurus, Fairy Tale Brook, and Coast Cruise.

Gates for everyone else open around 9:15, so you can hang out in the Beginning or shop at the Big Shop. You just won’t be able to go past this area.

Once all the ropes have dropped and you are free to roam the park, head all the way to the back of the park first . The lines at places like Coastersaurus, which opened first for hotel guests, are crazy long in the morning. So make your way back to The Dragon or to Lego Movie World and ride those rides while the lines are still short.

Places to Charge Your Phone

I love taking pictures whenever we are at Legoland, but it definitely drains my phone. Especially if I am posting to social media too! I always bring along a charger with a long cord , and I’ve found a few good places to recharge.

Stop off at the Builder’s Guild, a covered Lego-building spot in the Castle Hill area. There is an electrical outlet on the bottom part of the seating area.

There’s also a plug right outside of the Awesome Shop in the Lego Movie World area.

Bottom line here is just keep your eyes peeled around the park for electrical outlets. Don’t count on any restaurants having plugs as most seating is outside. It’s never a bad idea to invest in a portable charging unit !

If you’re willing to shell out money to recharge your phone, the hotels do sell charging units you use and return, and there are cell phone charging lockers right inside the entrance to the park (next to package pickup).

Rides With the Longest Lines

Which rides have the longest lines at Legoland?

Coastersaurus, Unikitty’s Disco Drop, Emmet’s Flying Adventure, Technic Coaster, Safari Trek and Lego Ninjago the Ride have the longest lines on busy days. The Dragon also tends to have a longer line but when they are running two coasters it moves pretty quickly.

The line at Skipper School can get pretty long on a busy day too, especially when there are drivers that just can’t seem to grasp how to steer the boat.

Coastersaurus and Safari Trek get crowded early because they are near the entrance and they open first to hotel guests. Avoid these rides until later in the day.

I always tell people to head towards the back of the park first, to the Dragon or to the Lego Movie World, and ride those while the lines are still short in the morning.

Shop at the Big Shop Early

Arrive at the park early and hit the Big Shop. At the end of the day, this shop is very crowded and will have very long lines. If you shop early you’ll avoid crowds and you can use the package pickup option so you won’t have to lug your purchases around all day.

Use Package Pick-up

Package pickup at Legoland works for any store, not just the Big Shop. The only thing you can’t do is drop off those gigantic stuffed animals you’ve won at the skill games. Nope, you’ll have to drag those around with you all day. Hope you have a stroller!

You Will Get Soaked on Pirate Reef

You’ll thank me for this one! I see so many unsuspecting parents get on this ride and wish they’d known… you get soaked! That’s right, no matter where you sit on this ride you are going to get very wet.

Pirate Reef is a unique ride inside Legoland because it can be ridden by both guests of the waterpark as well as guests of Legoland. There are two separate line entrances and exits.

Waterpark guests usually already have their bathing suits on, but many people entering from the Legoland side don’t realize quite how wet soaked they are about to get.

If you’re not cool with getting absolutely soaked on this ride then make sure you have a poncho or skip this one altogether! Or, shell out the $5 for the big “human dryers” in the Pirate Shores area.

The Scariest Ride at Legoland California

Well, it really depends on what you are scared of, but the tallest and fastest rollercoaster at Legoland California is the Lego Technic coaster. It has a steep drop at the beginning, and then the majority of the ride is a series of hairpin turns way up high. I can only do this ride once or twice a visit. Those hairpin turns make me feel like I’m going to be flung right out of the coaster.

However, this is my teenager’s favorite ride and I know it’s very popular with older kids and adults . When the ropes drop in the morning this is one of the places you’ll see people running to because the lines for the Technic coaster do get pretty long — at peak visiting times I’ve seen close to an hour.

Fill Up Your Water Bottles for Free at Freestyle Machines

Bring in your own water bottles and fill them up for free with nice cold water at any of the Coke Freestyle machines around the park! Just select “water” on the screen and fill away.

Where to Find Adult Beverages

Beer and wine are sold at the Knight Smokehouse BBQ in Castle Hill and at the Garden Restaurant they have beer, wine, and hard seltzers. Inside the waterpark there are even more options like the Mai Tai shown above. And yes, you can walk around the park with drinks in hand.

Legoland is “Cashless”

During the pandemic, Legoland converted to a cashless resort. This means they no longer accept cash as a form of payment. So make sure you have your credit cards! If you prefer not to use credit cards then use your cash to buy a Visa gift card before your vacation. Oh, and gift cards from the Lego retail stores DO NOT WORK at Legoland !

Check Ride Closures Before You Visit

Unfortunately some rides do close for maintenance throughout the year, and you don’t want to have a broken-hearted kiddo that finds out his or her favorite ride isn’t open when you visit! Check out this page to see what rides are closed for refurbishment !

Bring Bathing Suits for Water Attractions

Bathing suits for kids and swim diapers for toddlers are a good idea if you plan to let your kids play in any of the splash pad areas inside Legoland. There is one in the Pirate Shores area and one in the Lego Movie World area as well.

There are also two rides you will get wet on — Pirate Reef and Splash Battle. These are both inside Legoland (not the waterpark).

And of course, bring bathing suits if you are visiting the waterpark! Proper swimwear is required inside the waterpark, and “Swim wear with exposed zippers, buckles, rivets, or metal ornamentation are not permitted.” So don’t try to get away with a t-shirt and jean shorts.

Bring Your Own Towels for the Waterpark

If you are visiting the waterpark while you are at Legoland, you’ll need to bring your own towels. (Unless you want to buy the expensive ones inside the waterpark.)

When we visit the waterpark what we usually do is rent a locker inside the waterpark and leave our towels and swim suits in there when we are done. Then we don’t have to carry them around the rest of the day while we enjoy the rides in Legoland. Just make sure you pay attention to the waterpark hours. They often close earlier than Legoland, so you’ll have to grab your stuff before they close.

Rides for Adults

Yes! There are definitely rides for adults at Legoland California, and while they may not be like coasters at Six Flags, you can definitely still have fun on them.

In addition to the Technic Coaster I mentioned above, adults will enjoy The Dragon, Coastersaurus, Unikitty’s Disco Drop, Emmet’s Flying Adventure, and Pirate Reef (if you don’t mind getting soaked).

When you’re exhausted and need to get off your feet, I recommend the Coast Cruise! All you have to do is sit and listen to corny jokes from the ride operator.

The only rides that adults CANNOT go on in Legoland California are Royal Joust and Beetle Bounce.

Buy a Refillable Cup

Probably one of the best investments we’ve made at Legoland is the refillable cup.

The refillable cups at Legoland have chips in them that allow you to fill up at any of the Coca Cola Freestyle stations around the park. Activate it for one day and pay $16.95, two (consecutive) days for $19.95, and $8.95 for daily reactivation (if you buy it one day and come back to visit later in the year). Or, you can pay $29.95 for 365 days. So, if you plan on visiting Legoland more than 2 days in a year, this is a great deal.

Since we are passholders we definitely visit more than two days a year and this 365 day refillable cup was a great investment. You can fill these over and over throughout the day, you only need to wait about 10 minutes between fills. Pro tip – bring other cups or water bottles for the whole family, fill the refillable cup and pour it into your other cups. Yes you have to wait 10 minutes but it’s still worth it.

I hope these top secret tips help you on your next visit to Legoland California!

Do you have any other Legoland California questions I didn’t answer in this post? I’d love to hear them in the comments below. I keep this list updated and I’m always on the lookout for new tips each time we visit. Have a great time on your Legoland vacation!

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Perfect!!! Thank you ! Can’t wait for our trip.

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Legoland California on a Budget: 10 Money-Saving Tips

By: Author Leslie Harvey

Posted on Published: February 16, 2018

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My family takes many of our theme park vacations at Disney destinations. Don’t tell, but we recently decided to cheat on the Mouse. Our destination for a long weekend getaway: Legoland California in Carlsbad near San Diego. With an 8 year old daughter and a 4 year old son, my family is firmly in the Lego-loving sweet spot. Although we treat ourselves to splurge vacations on occasion, this trip was all about budget travel. We snagged $29 flights down to San Diego during a major Southwest Airlines flight sale, so it seemed only fitting to do the rest of the trip on a dime as well.

Although theme park visits are rarely super cheap, I’m happy to report that Legoland can be done quite inexpensively. Here are the tips and tricks that saved us money so you can visit Legoland California on a budget with your family too.

Trips With Tykes uses affiliate links. We may receive compensation when you click on links featured in this post. See our full disclosure policy  here .

Everything is awesome!

Money Saving Budget Tips for Legoland California

1. stay in an off-site hotel.

While the Legoland California Hotel  is amazingly cool and well-located just steps from the park entrance, it is very expensive. Rates can often start well over $300 or even $400 a night. (Note that since this article was originally published, the brand new Legoland Castle Hotel  has opened too!)

The Legoland Hotel wows – but at a big cost.

In contrast, the prices for off-site hotels very close by can be exceedingly reasonable. We ultimately booked at the La Quinta Carlsbad , located only a 5-7 minute drive away from the park. Why? We found a two bedroom, two bath family suite with a fridge, microwave, and bunk beds for the kids for just $113 a night. The La Quinta brand can certainly be hit or miss, but the 4 star TripAdvisor reviews for this particular hotel didn’t lead us astray. This was a standout value property – very clean with excellent customer service and a free hot breakfast that saved us even more money.

Two room family suite at the La Quinta Carlsbad was just over $100 a night. Bunk beds!

Remember: just because you aren’t splurging on one of the two official Legoland hotels l doesn’t mean you have to miss experiencing them. We spent plenty of time in the hotel lobby of the Legoland California Hotel letting our kids play and build on the giant pirate ship. We also treated ourselves to character dining at one of the restaurants, Bricks (more on how we saved money on that later). The kids were none the wiser and we saved hundreds.

Even if you aren’t staying at the Legoland Hotel, your kids can take advantage of the free play areas in the lobby.

2. Snag a Ticket Deal

If you are used to Disneyland where ticket discounts are very minimal, refocus your thinking. Legoland has bigger deals, particularly for multi-day tickets. (See more Disneyland vs. Legoland differences in this comparison guide.)

Two day tickets at Legoland California offer a great per day value.

We pre-purchased 2 day tickets online from Get Away Today , a travel agency that specializes in SoCal family vacations that I partner with and recommend (putting my money where my mouth is!). Get Away Today had a two day Legoland hopper tickets for both adults and kids that include admission to both Legoland California and the Sea Life Aquarium for just $89 total. Quality theme parks simply don’t get much cheaper than $45 per person per day.

(GET AWAY TODAY BONUS: Visiting SoCal on a longer trip? Use promo code  TYKES10  for an extra $10 off all vacation package stays of 2 nights or more.)

If you are wondering whether two days at Legoland is too much, I’d say no. While you can certainly get the flavor of the place in a day, ride lines are too long to ride the majority of the attractions in a single day.

Whatever you do, definitely do not wait until you get to the gate to purchase your tickets. Gate price for a single day non-hopper was a whopping $125, making our $89 two day hoppers a crazy value in comparison.

3. Order Kids Meals

Legoland only has counter service restaurants and snack stands throughout the park. There are no sit-down-and-be-served dining options. What does that mean? Adults aren’t limited to the adult menu! Kids meals can be a great way to save money and even sometimes to have more variety in meal choices. And the food at Legoland California is much better than standard theme park fare so you feel like you are getting your money’s worth even more so.

Healthy delicious meals at Legoland California on the cheap.

All the kids meals at Legoland California come with a drink (Honest Kids Juice Boxes, Milk/Chocolate Milk, or upgrade to a soda for $2 more) as well as a side of fruit (either raisins or a fresh apple). Most kids meals we saw were $8.99. While probably not enough food for hungrier adults, my husband and I found them to be enough, particularly since we wanted to save room for some of the snacks and sweet treats Legoland is known for – like apple fries!

Save room for Granny’s Apple Fries.

4. Bring Snacks

Technically, Legoland bars outside snacks. Realistically, they are totally cool with families bringing small amounts of food and drink into the park. We had no problem bringing some bottled waters, cokes, and kid snacks like goldfish and peanut butter crackers in my purse.

5. Focus on the Cheap Souvenirs

As you can probably guess, stores at Legoland are plentiful. They are well-stocked with nearly every Lego set imaginable – Star Wars, Lego Friends, Disney Princesses, Knights, Elves, and more. If your kids have Legos, you know that those little pieces of plastic are expensive. My advice? Skip buying the big expensive sets while you are there and go for the cheap souvenirs instead.

My older child loved adding to her pressed penny collection while we visited Legoland California. Machines were just about as plentiful as they are in Disneyland. At just $0.51 each, it’s easy to let your kids pick a few as the day goes along.

Building her own minifig souvenirs for trading at Legoland California for under $10.

Another inexpensive souvenir to consider is a Lego minifig. You can custom build a set of 3 of your own at the store right at the park entrance for just $9.99. Alternately, opt to purchase a packaged single minifig for $4.95 each. Then, spend time trading minifigs with the Legoland California employees. It is just like pin trading at Disney and provides hours of funs for a one time, low cost investment. (Get the scoop on how to trade minifigs at Legoland California ).

6. Be Smart About Parking Fees

Legoland currently charges $20 for regular parking and $30 for preferred. It probably goes without saying that budget travelers want to opt for the cheapest choice. Since we were arriving straight to the park from the airport our first day of vacation and arrived at the park a bit after opening, we splurged on the preferred parking our first day. The $10 upcharge was actually well worth it to be a very short walk from the gates.

On our second day, we arrived more than a half hour before park opening expecting to again find out how smart we were paying a little more for preferred parking. We soon realized that the regular parking available at the earlier hour was just as close as the preferred parking. D’oh!

My advice? Plan to arrive early and pay only for the basic parking because you’ll be able to snag a cheap spot very close. Or even consider a hotel that has a free shuttle to the park and save on parking costs altogether!

7. BYOS – Bring Your Own Stroller (And Towel. And Sunscreen. Etc.)

While Legoland certainly has the essentials to purchase or rent if you need them, the best way you can save money is by preparing and packing all the gear you need yourselves. Stroller rental fees are $14 per day for single strollers ($17 for doubles) at Legoland, so definitely bring your own if you think your child cannot quite walk all day yet. We were glad to have our ultra-compact gb Pockit for my 4 year old son. Even though he goes without a stroller at our local theme parks, Legoland California is big enough and hilly enough that you will want a stroller for preschoolers.

Grateful for our free stroller at Legoland California after a long two days!

The same principle holds true for most other supplies. If you plan to visit the water park during the times of year it is open, for example, bring your own towel and sunscreen too.

8. Skip the Prize Booths & Extra Fee Based Attractions

One thing I didn’t love about Legoland was the plethora of state fair style “win a giant stuffed animal prize” booths that seemed to be all over the park. They are quite expensive and rarely very rewarding. Naturally, my kids definitely noticed them and begged to participate. We held firm and instead focused on the free offerings at Legoland California. Frankly, the rides, playgrounds, food, and Lego buildings are more than enough entertainment.

9. Skip Photo Pass & Reserve ‘N’ Ride

Similar to Disney parks, Legoland has a skip-the-line product called Reserve ‘N’ Ride as well as its own Photo Pass service. Both offerings cost extra.

While Fastpass is free at Disney, Reserve ‘N’ Ride costs between $25-100 per person at Legoland, depending on how much you want to reduce your wait times. We found that the rides weren’t iconic enough to justify paying extra for faster access. My advice is to get to Legoland early, hit the few rides you really want to do most then, and then be flexible beyond that point. The play areas and Lego scenes to explore are really the highlight of the park.

As for Photo Pass, we were initially really excited to see it priced at just $25 per day. We thought we might be able to justify the cost if we could get a few great family shots together. The problem? There were almost no photographers in the parks to make the product worthwhile. The offering seemed to only really give you access to a few ride photos. But since we rode so few rides with the cameras (thanks in part to lines and also to a 4 year old who wasn’t having the coasters), it simply wasn’t worth the money.

10. Take Advantage of Deals Offered in the Legolando App

Dining at Bricks & meeting characters at a discount!

While the Legoland app isn’t necessarily up to date with wait times, download it and use it. Why? In addition to having a helpful map, it fairly regularly showed deals. On both days we were in the parks, an offer for kids to eat at 50% off at Bricks (the character dining restaurants in the Legoland Hotel) appeared for us in the mid-afternoon. Since we were already planning to dine there our final evening, the unexpected discount was a nice surprise.

Have you been to Legoland California? Share your other money-saving tips in the comments.

Headed to Legoland on the East Coast? Check out this guide to hotels near Legoland Florida to help plan your trip.

Looking for other theme parks in the greater San Diego area? This guide to Sesame Place San Diego has all the details on the region’s newest theme park.

Staying in the San Diego area for a longer trip? Check out all the best things to do in San Diego .

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Wednesday 1st of August 2018

This is awesome, thanks! Is there a better "off-season" time that might add to cost savings? Thanks so much for all the great tips!

Julie Bigboy

Friday 16th of February 2018

Love these tips for LEGOLAND!! I hadn't even realized that there was no sit-down dining...I'm totally going to order a kid's meal for myself next time!

13 Ways to Visit LEGOLAND on a Budget

Posted on Last updated: February 26, 2024

Home » Destinations » California » LEGOLAND » 13 Ways to Visit LEGOLAND on a Budget

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Are you planning a LEGOLAND vacation but want to save money? You won’t want to miss these ways to visit LEGOLAND on a budget!

This guide to legoland on a budget was written by family travel expert marcie cheung and contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, i may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog..

My kids LOVE going to LEGOLAND California Resort. It’s a short flight from Seattle and we can usually find some pretty good deals on hotels and theme park packages.

I know that a lot of families get sticker-shocked when they start to price out a LEGOLAND vacation. But, I’m here to tell you that you can totally save money at LEGOLAND if you know what you’re doing.

Keep scrolling for my budget-friendly tips for planning your LEGOLAND vacation.

13 LEGOLAND California Budget Travel Tips

Plan your visit during off-peak seasons.

If it’s at all possible, try to visit during non-holiday periods or on weekdays. Not only is this when prices for tickets and hotel rooms are the cheapest, but there are also fewer crowds so you’ll be able to do more stuff with minimal waits.

Of course, you’ll want to check the LEGOLAND calendar before you book anything because sometimes the park is closed on random days.

Purchase Tickets in Advance

One of the best ways to save on your family adventure is by purchasing tickets online before your visit. Websites, like Get Away Today , offer fantastic hotel and ticket packages that can significantly reduce the cost of your trip.

These packages often combine the excitement of LEGOLAND with the comfort of staying in a family-friendly hotel, making your vacation both memorable and affordable.

Additionally, keeping an eye out for early bird specials or online-exclusive deals can lead to even more savings. For instance, Black Friday is a golden opportunity to snag tickets or packages at a fraction of the cost.

By planning ahead and taking advantage of these deals, you can enjoy all the fun Legoland has to offer without straining your wallet.

Bring Your Own Food and Snacks

Legoland lets you bring water, small snacks, and food needed for medical, religious, or special dietary reasons. This outside food policy is super helpful for saving money because buying food at the park can add up quickly.

When packing, think about including sandwiches, fruits, veggies, and maybe some crackers or cheese. These are not only healthy picnic lunch ideas but also kid-approved options that can keep everyone happy throughout the day.

Plus, having your own snacks means you can eat whenever you’re hungry without waiting in long lines or searching for something that everyone likes.

Remember to pack foods that are easy to carry and won’t melt or spoil during your adventure.

Look for Promotional Offers, Like Kids Go Free

One cool trick is to check out cereal boxes or other products for “Kids Go Free” promotions. Brands often partner with Legoland to offer these special deals, which can significantly cut down your expenses.

When you find a “Kids Go Free” offer, there will be a special promotional link you need to visit to get the discount. Make sure to follow the instructions provided carefully.

To take advantage of the offer, you must purchase your tickets directly through the promotion link specified. Look for the option that says “Kids Go Free Ticket – Includes One Child and One Adult Ticket (Discount applied. One Per Transaction).”

This means you’ll get one free child’s ticket with every adult ticket you buy, which is a fantastic way to save money while planning a fun outing to Legoland.

Stay at Budget-Friendly Accommodations

If it’s in your budget, I think the LEGOLAND Hotels are worth it. They have a daily treasure hunt with LEGO sets for prizes (everyone wins), a playground, dance parties, and lots of free entertainment for kids.

While it’s totally fun to stay at one of the LEGOLAND hotels (especially when you can score a deal), there are also several budget-friendly places to stay near LEGOLAND that are great options.

The trick is to balance the trade-off between how close you want to be to Legoland and how much you’re willing to pay. Staying a bit farther might mean a better deal on your room, but it also might mean a little extra travel time to get to the park.

However, if you’re looking to make the most of your Legoland adventure without spending too much, these budget-friendly accommodations can be a great choice. Plus, saving on your stay means you’ll have more to spend on fun inside the park!

Invest in an Annual Pass

I know it might sound weird to suggest paying MORE, but if you’re going to visit LEGOLAND for more than 2 days, it can save you money. Yes, it pays for itself in just 2 visits .

Plus, you can get discounts on hotel stays as well as things in the park. And you’ll get exclusive invitations to free events.

Utilize Free Activities and Shows Inside the Park

At LEGOLAND, your day can be filled with fun without spending extra on activities. Free shows and activities are everywhere, making it easy to plan a day that’s packed with entertainment at no additional cost.

For instance, dive into LEGO DREAMZzz to join Mateo and Izzie on a quest to save the dream world, or giggle along with the silly slapstick of “Once Upon a Brick” at the Castle Stage.

Don’t miss Benny’s Dance Party, where you can show off your best moves with the astronaut crew, or learn ninja moves at the School of Spinjitzu.

Plus, there are amazing 4D movies like “LEGO City 4D: Officer in Pursuit!” and “LEGO NINJAGO: Master of the 4th Dimension” that bring you right into the action with water, wind, and bubble effects.

With all these free activities, you can easily fill your day with non-stop fun and adventure without dipping into your wallet for extra entertainment costs.

Set a Souvenir Budget

When visiting Legoland on a budget, setting aside money for souvenirs is smart. A super fun and free activity we love is trading LEGO minifigures with staff members around the park.

Just remember to bring minifigures from home that are complete with all their parts to trade for new ones. This can be a cool way to get new toys without spending extra money.

It’s also important to talk with your kids about how much you plan to spend on souvenirs before you go. This helps manage their expectations and turns souvenir shopping into a fun challenge rather than a spending spree.

One tip is to take photos of LEGO sets they’re interested in. This way, you can compare prices and maybe find a better deal online or once you’re back home.

Collect Pop Badges

One of the best free things to do at LEGOLAND (according to my boys) is to collect Pop Badges. These are plastic badges that feature LEGO characters and there are a ton of options.

To collect them, you just walk up to staff members and ask if they have any. These could be security people, restaurant workers, at the rides, etc.

They also have a few “rare” Pop Badges that are highly coveted. Mr. Gold is pretty hard to find and right now they also have Space Baby.

Get There Early

While this doesn’t technically save you money, it does help you maximize your time at LEGOLAND. Anyone can enter the park early (alongside the early entry people) but you won’t be able to get into the ride areas.

However, you can still do character photos, grab coffee or snacks, stop by guest services, look for Pop Badges, etc. And it will get you close to the rides when the park opens to the general public.

Skip the Photo Pass

While it can be tempting to buy the LEGOLAND Photo Pass, I suggest just taking free photos with your phone. It will save you a lot of money and you’ll still get cute photos.

Bring Your Own Stroller

If you think your kids will need a stroller, one of the best money-saving tips is to just bring your own instead of renting a stroller at the park.

Skip the Express Passes on Lighter Days

When planning a budget-friendly trip to LEGOLAND, it’s a good idea to check the crowd calendar before you go.

On days when the park isn’t as crowded, you might not need to buy express passes. These passes let you skip lines, but they cost extra.

If you visit on a lighter day, you can save money by not buying them and still enjoy all the rides without waiting too long. This tip can help you keep your budget in check while still making the most of your LEGOLAND adventure.

LEGOLAND Budget Breaks FAQs

Where can i find free kids tickets for legoland.

You can find free kids’ tickets for LEGOLAND in special promotional offers, such as those found in kids’ meal deals at fast-food restaurants or through certain LEGO product purchases.

Does the LEGOLAND water park cost extra?

Yes, the LEGOLAND Water Park costs extra on top of the general admission ticket to LEGOLAND.

What are some other affordable San Diego attractions?

Other affordable San Diego attractions include the San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, and the USS Midway Museum.

Is the San Diego CityPass worth it?

The San Diego CityPass is worth it if you plan to visit multiple attractions covered by the pass, as it can save you money compared to buying individual tickets.

Is Sea Life Aquarium worth it?

The Sea Life Aquarium is worth it for families who enjoy marine life, offering interactive and educational exhibits about the ocean and its inhabitants.

How does the cost of LEGOLAND compare with other theme parks?

LEGOLAND’s cost is generally comparable to other theme parks, but it often offers more deals and promotions that can make it more affordable for families.

Are there LEGOLAND discounts in LEGO Magazine?

Yes, there are LEGOLAND discounts and special offers available in LEGO Magazine for subscribers.

Is there a free shuttle to LEGOLAND?

There is no free shuttle service directly provided by LEGOLAND, but some nearby hotels offer shuttle services to the park.

Are there any LEGO Star Wars attractions at LEGOLAND?

Yes, LEGOLAND California features LEGO Star Wars attractions, including a Star Wars Miniland area with scenes from the movies made out of LEGO bricks.

Budget-Friendly LEGOLAND Tips Wrap-Up

Visiting LEGOLAND on a budget is totally possible with a little planning and some smart tips.

Remember to look for deals and discounts before you go, like online ticket sales, promotional offers, and even special LEGO Magazine discounts.

Don’t forget to bring your own snacks and maybe even some LEGO minifigures to trade in the park!

By skipping express passes on less busy days and setting a souvenir budget, you can make the most of your visit without spending too much.

Use these strategies to have a blast at LEGOLAND while keeping your wallet happy. Happy building and exploring at LEGOLAND!

Looking for more LEGOLAND California Travel Resources? Check out My Ultimate LEGOLAND Packing List for Families , Is the LEGOLAND Hotel in California Worth it? , LEGOLAND for Toddlers: Guide to Rides, Activities + Hotels , and 10 Tips for LEGOLAND California: Know Before You Go !

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2-Day LEGOLAND Itinerary

Legoland itinerary day 1, legoland itinerary day 2, booking your legoland vacation.

• Coastersaurus (36" height requirement)
• DUPLO Little Dino Trail
• Explorer River Quest
• Driving School (ages 6-12)
• Jr. Driving School (ages 3-5)
• Fun Town Police and Fire Academy
• Skipper School (34" height requirement)
• Sky Patrol (34" height requirement)
• DUPLO Playtown
• Kid Power Tower (40" height requirement)
• LEGOLAND Express

• Burger Stop (located in Fun Town)
• The Market (located at The Beginning with grab-n-go sandwiches and salads)
• Pizza Mania (located in the Imagination Zone with family combo meals)

• The LEGO Movie 4D Adventure
• LEGO City 4D Officer in Pursuit
• LEGO NINJAGO - Master of the 4th Dimension
• See the LEGO Movie 2 Experience
• Meet characters from The LEGO Movies
• Bionicle Blaster
• LEGO Technic Coaster
• Aquazone Wave Racer
• LEGO Hero Factory
• WB Family Games Space

• Beetle Bounce (must be between 36" - 55" to ride)
• Cargo Ace (riders must be able to stand on their own)
• Dune Raiders (36" height requirement)
• Lost Kingdom Adventures
• Pharaoh's Revenge (kids under five must be accompanied by an adult)
• Block of Fame
• Coast Cruise
• LEGO Star Wars
• New Orleans
• San Francisco
• Southern California
• Washington D.C.

• LEGO NINJAGO The Ride
• Kai's Spinners, Jay's Lightning Drill and Cole's Rock Climb
• LEGO NINJAGO Characters

• The Dragon (40" height requirement)
• Royal Joust (36" height requirement and ages 4-12 years old)
• Knight's Tournament (40" minimum and 6'4" maximum height requirement)
• LEGO CITY: Deep Sea Adventure
• Granny Apple Fries (this treat deserves a mention - grab some and you'll be glad you did)

• Captain Cranky's Challenge (34" height requirement)
• Pirate Reef (36" height requirement)
• Splash Battle (36" height requirement)
• Swabbies Deck (water play area for kids that requires swim diapers for children age three and under)

• Ninja Kitchen (located in LEGO NINJAGO World)
• Knights' Smokehouse BBQ (located in Castle Hill)
• Pizza & Pasta Buffet (located in Imagination Zone)
• Re-ride any favorite attractions or visit any favorite play areas from your first day
• Visit the LEGO Water Park
• Visit the SEA LIFE Aquarium

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Tips For Family Trips

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11 Tips for Visiting LEGOLAND California Resort

San Diego / February 25, 2016 by Allison / 94 Comments This article may contain sponsored content or affiliate links.

If you're planning a trip to LEGOLAND, you're in for a treat! We visited LEGOLAND California twice in the same year because our LEGO loving son loved it so much. We've picked up a few LEGOLAND tips to help you make the most of your day.

Wondering what you need to know to make your trip to LEGOLAND awesome? Here you go.

You don't have to be a LEGO fanatic

My 6-year-old son was passionate about LEGOS and my 8-year-old daughter was not on our first trip to LEGOLAND California. Both children had a great day. The rides were perfect for their ages, and even visitors with a casual interest in the iconic bricks can be delighted and fascinated by LEGO sculptures throughout the park.

Related: Tips for Visiting LEGOLAND Water Park

LEGOLAND's target audience is 2-12 years old

Teens and adults will find no serious thrill rides at LEGOLAND. Most of the rides are built for guests of all ages, and some require adults to ride with young children. Some rides have minimum height requirements of 34-42 inches. However, even the roller coasters are tame by most theme park standards. My kids loved them.

Related: Tips for SEA LIFE Aquarium at LEGOLAND

Don't pay full price

There is no good reason to pay full price at the gate for your tickets at LEGOLAND California! There are several easy ways to save money on tickets for your family. Several of them will also save you money on local hotels and other favorite Southern California attractions like Disneyland, SeaWorld and the San Diego Zoos.

One way is to buy LEGOLAND discount tickets from Get Away Today Vacations. This travel agency has been helping families book Southern California vacation packages for 30 years. They have a low price guarantee for LEGOLAND and San Diego vacation packages.

Use coupon code SDFAMILY to save an extra $25 on a hotel and ticket package at getawaytoday.com . Click the button below to learn more.

LEGOLAND California also has a water park, aquarium and hotel

One day was enough to get our fill of LEGOLAND, but we didn't have time to ride every ride or set foot inside either LEGOLAND Water Park or SEA LIFE Aquarium . The 1-Day pass we purchased included a visit to the aquarium, and allowed us to come back to only the aquarium the next day.

The LEGOLAND Hotel is located next to the park's front gate, and is like no other hotel you've ever seen. Imagine disco balls in the elevators, bunk beds in the rooms, and colorful LEGO play everywhere!

Related: Review of Homewood Suites Hotel in Carlsbad

Arrive early

During the busy seasons, the entire park opens at 10:00 AM, but the turnstiles open at 9:00 AM, and some of the rides open at 9:30 AM. We arrived at the ticket window before 9:00, bought our tickets, and walked into the park without waiting in line. Guests who arrived a couple of hours later were not so lucky.

Here is a link to LEGOLAND California's Opening Days and Hours calendar. Find out what time the park opens on the day you will be there.

We had 30 minutes to browse the gift shop, which is the biggest and best in the park. Then we rode the Coastersaurus and Safari Trek while wait times were relatively low.

If you are not near the front of a line at 9:55 AM, walk directly to the back of the park and hit the headliners in Pirate Shores, where several water rides are located, or Castle Hill, or scurry to another of your top priority rides. You will not see shorter lines for the rest of the day.

Related: Review of West Inn in Carlsbad

Use Package Pickup

Who wants to carry a bag full of souvenirs around the park all day? Nobody, that's who. Use LEGOLAND's Package Pickup service. The souvenirs you buy early in the day will be transported to the park exit for you to pick up before you leave.

Don't focus on the headline rides

After the first hour, long waits for major attractions were the only thing about LEGOLAND California Resort that disappointed me. The lines didn't look so long, but they moved surprisingly slowly. I think that Disneyland could have moved twice as many people through the lines in the same amount of time.

LEGOLAND California Resort provides play areas full of LEGOS near the lines of their most popular rides so children can play while parents wait in line. They also provide pagers for some rides, so you don't have to stand in line. Thank you, LEGOLAND.

You can also purchase Reserve ‘N' Ride. This is a 3-tier service that reduces your time in line by 25-95%. Use a device to make reservations and receive notifications when it's your turn to ride. Learn more at https://www.legoland.com/california/legoland-california/buy-tickets/qsmart-reserve-n-ride/

By lunchtime, I decided that I didn't care how many rides we rode and I started enjoying the things that make LEGOLAND different from other theme parks.

Related: Tips for Visiting San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Consider these attractions instead:

An area of the park we particularly enjoyed was Fun Town . There are no major rides in Fun Town, so it was less crowded, but completely charming.

At the Fun Town Police and Fire Academy , families can compete against each other by moving their hand-powered fire trucks down a lane, shooting a target with water guns and powering back to the finish line. This was perhaps my favorite “ride” in the park.

The LEGO Factory Tour and the Adventurer's Club in Fun Town were interesting and creative walk through experiences. At the nearby LEGO Club, LEGO lovers can build with LEGOs and purchase bricks by the pound.

My children also enjoyed GameSpace . My son loves playing LEGO video games at home, and in the Game Space he was able to try out games that we don't own. We didn't spend much time here, but it was a fun diversion while my husband held our place in the at the 4D movie theater line next door.

The 4D Movie  was my son's favorite part of LEGOLAND California Resort. If you've seen 4D movies at other parks, this will probably be similar. However, it was the only high-priority attraction on my son's list and he was not disappointed.

There are also several playgrounds in the park. I wish we'd taken more time to enjoy these.

One of the nicest parts of my day was relaxing at a patio table at the Garden Restaurant. This is a counter-service restaurant that offers fresh, healthy fare and great views of Miniland.

Related: Tips for Brick-or-Treat at LEGOLAND

Speaking of which…

Don't miss Miniland

When we finally walked into Miniland in the mid-afternoon, my LEGOLAND experience changed from “It's okay” to “Wow, this is cool!”

Imagine the landmarks of Washington D.C., New York City, Las Vegas, San Francisco and New Orleans made of LEGOS. Nearby, you'll find LEGO busts of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Queen Elizabeth II, William Shakespeare and other famous faces. Around the corner, every major planet from the Star Wars movies is depicted in LEGOS.

As parents, we had to divide and conquer in Miniland. My son would not be torn away from examining the Star Wars worlds, while my daughter was fascinated by the cities.

Related: Best San Diego Beaches for Families

Try the Apple Fries

Apple fries are a LEGOLAND speciality. Imagine french-fry sliced apples, deep fried and tossed in cinnamon sugar. Vanilla whipped cream is provided for dipping. Find this sweet treat at Granny's Apple Fries in Castle Hill. One order was not enough for our family of four, but two was plenty.

Tip: Granny's Apple Fries is located next to a castle-themed playground. This is your chance to take a snack break and let the kids play!

Related: Kids Get In Free in San Diego in October

Bring a minifigure to trade

This one is just for kids. Many LEGOLAND employees wear LEGO minifigures on their badges, and they will trade if you give them one of your minifigures. If you can't assemble a minifigure from the LEGO pieces between your couch cushions at home, there is a shop where you can build custom minifigures just inside the entrance to LEGOLAND California.

At most theme parks, riding as many rides as possible is usually my top priority. The rides at LEGOLAND are fun, but I enjoyed our day a lot more when I allowed myself to experience the whole park, instead of just one aspect of it.

We had hoped that this visit to LEGOLAND would be timed perfectly for the ages of our children, and it was. We had a fun day, and hope that these LEGOLAND tips will help you make the most of your visit to LEGOLAND!

Planning a trip to LEGOLAND?

We recommend booking your LEGOLAND trip with  Get Away Today . Find a cheaper vacation package? They'll beat the price by $10. Learn more about our partnership with Get Away Today here .

ANYTIME: Save $25 on any San Diego vacation package of 2 nights or more that includes 2 tickets (San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, etc) when you use the coupon code SDFamily .

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Reader Interactions

Colleen Lanin

April 25, 2013 at 10:52 pm

Wait…what?! I don’t think I’ve ever seen the Lego polar bear in the Adventurer’s Club before! And I’ve been to Legoland A LOT. A LOT. A LOT. I am excited to see something new!

April 26, 2013 at 8:17 am

Thanks so much, Allison. We are going to Legoland this summer so this article was perfect for us.

wanderingeducators

April 26, 2013 at 8:36 am

that darth maul photo is AWESOME and enough to make me want to fly cross-country!

April 26, 2013 at 10:43 am

We took our two girls who are ambivalent about Lego to Legoland a couple of years ago and had a fun day – we thought that MiniLand was the absolute best part – those miniature buildings are so cool!

Mary {The World Is A Book}

April 28, 2013 at 11:15 pm

Great tips and so glad your family had a fantastic trip. Living near Legoland, I admit we’ve taken some of these attractions for granted. It’s wonderful to see them from someone else’s perspective. We haven’t seen Chima 4D Movie X-Perience yet. We can never get enough of Miniland, it’s most of the family members’ favorite.

August 21, 2021 at 12:13 pm

Whats the best plan travelin from airport to the resort? Is uber recommendx or rent a car

August 25, 2021 at 12:35 pm

It depends on which airport you are flying into (San Diego vs Carlsbad) and what else you have planned. LEGOLAND is a 30+ minute drive from the San Diego airport. If you have a lot of activities planned in the San Diego or Carlsbad area, you probably want to rent a car. If LEGOLAND and the beach are the main things and your Carlsbad hotel has a shuttle that covers both, then Uber might be a better option.

June 25, 2013 at 12:34 pm

Thanks for the tips we’ll be going in a few days and it’s nice to know the “lay of the land” first 🙂

July 23, 2013 at 12:59 pm

I’m going next week and can’t wait to try out the apple fries. These are just the kind of tips that I appreciate. Thanks!

May 3, 2014 at 8:30 am

I go to lego land today thanks for your help

January 13, 2014 at 7:19 pm

Thank you for the tips! We are starting to plan our legoland vacation & your helpful hints are going to steer us in the right direction! We will be there June 2014 with our 5 & 9 year old boys who cannot get enough playtime in the day with their Legos.

Allison Laypath

January 14, 2014 at 3:18 pm

Thanks Amy! I hope your family has a wonderful trip!

March 22, 2014 at 9:09 am

Thank you for these tips. How gracious of you to share this worthwhile info for others.

March 22, 2014 at 9:16 am

Thank you, Nancy. You’re so kind.

April 11, 2014 at 2:14 pm

Thanks Allison, your tips are excellent. I’m going to LA with my 8 yr old son and he’ll turn 9 there. He is super LEGO fan and we live in Mexico so it’s not easy that we’ll return soon, now I’m wondering if it is worth to save one day and go to Legoland. Is one day enough? Can we see the Water park too? Is it too far away to go and return from Anaheim on the same day? I have hotel reservations in Anaheim, Disneyland, but I know Legoland will be the best for his 9th birthday.

April 11, 2014 at 2:42 pm

Thank you, Maika. LEGOLAND is about an hour from Anaheim by car, so it is reasonable to spend one day of your trip at LEGOLAND. One day was just enough for us to enjoy LEGOLAND on its own, without visiting the water park. I think that you could do both in one day, but it might be challenging to do everything you want to do in both.

Is it worthwhile to sacrifice a Disneyland day for LEGOLAND? Some say yes and others say no. I know some kids who like LEGOLAND more than Disneyland. Other families – usually those who really love the Disney experience – think that LEGOLAND isn’t worth it. I think that both are great parks, and I’ll be happy to answer any questions as best I can to help you decide if it’s a good decision for your family.

April 11, 2014 at 2:55 pm

GRACIAS!!!! Thank you for your quick and kind response Allison. We’re definitely going to LEGOLAND, It’s not that far. And it won’t be a sacrifice either. We’ll have almost a week in Anaheim so we’ll spend his birthday in LEGOLAND!!! He’ll be thrilled. I was when I saw your photos… I’m going to look for the tickets online right now and for any options they might have to avoid the lines. Like that VIP bracelet you can get at Magic Kingdom. I hope I find something similar. Thanks a lot!!

Felices vacaciones to you too!!!

April 12, 2014 at 3:51 pm

I’m sure you will have a great trip! Happy planning, and felices vacaciones!

April 17, 2014 at 10:51 am

Thank you so much. Such useful info. We are going tomorrow – Good Friday. We are staying at Omni La Costa resort which is 6 miles away. I love that resort because it has an AMAZING resort pool for kids. A shallow pool with mini slide for little kids and a deeper pool with a big slide for older kids. Also an adult pool, GREAT kids club, free kids buffet in restaurant, etc. etc

April 17, 2014 at 12:39 pm

Have fun at LEGOLAND tomorrow, and thanks for the recommendation!

May 7, 2014 at 7:04 am

Great post!! I’m planning to take my 5 year old son!! He’s been looking fwd to this about six months now!! We’re planning for end of May! Thanks for the tips much appreciated.

May 13, 2014 at 1:48 pm

Thanks for the info! Did you happen to have any advice for parking? I know you said the shuttle, but we wont be staying in those hotels nearby. Anything you may have to add would be fab!

May 13, 2014 at 2:32 pm

LEGOLAND has a large lot, so finding a parking space should be no problem. LEGOLAND parking is $15 per day.

melissa medina

May 23, 2014 at 5:22 pm

Thank you soo much for your tips on how to save we are going tomorrow for my sons 11th bday

May 23, 2014 at 5:35 pm

I hope it’s a very happy birthday! Enjoy your day!

May 27, 2014 at 8:19 am

Hi Allison, my family is planning a trip to Legoland next week after our Disneyland trip. I found a buy 1 adult 1 day ticket get a free child ticket. Do you think I can upgrade the tickets to a 2 day ticket for $20 each even though the kid ticket is free?

May 27, 2014 at 9:28 am

I would contact LEGOLAND directly with this question. When we used a similar coupon from LEGO Club Magazine, we were told at the gate that we could return a second day to visit ONLY the Aquarium, which was included in our ticket. I’m not sure if they will allow you to combine the upgrade and coupon for two days in LEGOLAND, but it never hurts to ask.

January 16, 2015 at 12:30 am

How did this turn out? I am wondering with our family of 6 if we need more than 1 day.

June 4, 2014 at 12:25 pm

Thank you so much for the tips! We went to legoland for the first time last month and stayed at the west inn and suites like you recommended. First best hotel service ever! The 2 king size bed was perfect to accommodate our 5 girls. Breakfast was awesome! The milk n cookies at night were a real treat and the 5 minute shuttle ride to the park was convenient. Legoland does not have that mAny rides and the lines are ridiculous for a 2 minute ride but I’m glad I read your tips before going. I sat and enjoyed the scenery and Lego sculptures as you recommended and it really made my day. I appreciated what the park had to offer more than my rampage of trying to hit up every rides in a day like I was use to doing at amusement parks. Never will I do that again lol. Thank you thank you!!! It was relaxing and my kids had a great time!

June 4, 2014 at 6:03 pm

Your comment just made my day. I’m so glad you had a great LEGOLAND experience!

June 15, 2014 at 4:04 pm

Appreciate if you could recommend a nice hotel that is not pricey near Legoland.

June 15, 2014 at 7:35 pm

I have also stayed in the Hilton Garden Inn in Carlsbad and liked it. It is across the street from the beach and has a free shuttle to LEGOLAND. To find other hotels in your price range near LEGOLAND, try searching the cities of Carlsbad or Oceanside. There are many hotels to choose from in the area.

If your family is large enough to need more than one hotel room, you might want to consider a vacation rental. Renting a home or condo with a kitchen can be a great way to keep costs down. Here are some of Katie’s tips for renting a vacation home: http://tipsforfamilytrips.com/travel-tips/5-reasons-for-renting-a-vacation-home/

Rebecca Anne Hernandez

June 18, 2014 at 9:09 am

Our family went there for the first time last year. Looking forward to going again this weekend and trying new things we may have missed last time. Particularly the APPLE FRIES! Thanks for all the great info. :0)

June 25, 2014 at 2:53 pm

Hi Allison, you are awesome in your advice, it helped me a lot. Whats your suggestion of buying the Premium Play Pass. I am planning to visit LEGOLAND + SEA LIFE + Water Park. Can we make it in 2 Days on July 4th and 5th Longweekend covering all three parks. Please advise.

June 25, 2014 at 3:35 pm

Hello. I have not used the Premium Play Pass, so I cannot share my experience with it. My friend, Amy Whitley has reviewed it on her blog, Pit Stops for Kids. Here is the link to her post: http://pitstopsforkids.com/2010/09/travel-tip-legolands-premium-play-pass/

One full day was plenty for us in LEGOLAND and we spent about 2 hours at SEA LIFE. That leaves you most of your second day for the water park, which I haven’t yet visited. With the Premium Play Pass front-of-line privileges, I am guessing that 2 days would be enough time to visit all three attractions, even on a busy holiday weekend. Have fun!

June 25, 2014 at 4:06 pm

Thank you soooo much 🙂

June 28, 2014 at 5:54 pm

I found it extremely strange that you didn’t mention specific prices, which would obviously be the #1 consideration for many people/families…is that because you are getting compensation from Legoland or other hotels etc that ask you not to quote prices ?

June 28, 2014 at 7:43 pm

LEGOLAND has a complex pricing system, with multiple-day and multiple-attraction options for each age group. It just seemed simpler to include a link where readers could find updated pricing anytime. We do occasionally receive free or discounted admission to places we review, but when we do, we will always disclose it clearly in the post. We paid our own way to LEGOLAND, using LEGO Club Magazine coupons.

Tabitha Dumas

July 6, 2014 at 2:29 am

Great tips, very insightful, we can’t wait to go this week! I wondered how to navigate the place and now I feel like I have the inside scoop! Thanks for sharing!

July 7, 2014 at 9:13 am

Thanks, and have a great time!

July 8, 2014 at 6:31 am

When I purchase a ticket to LEGOLAND does that include the water rides or are those separate?

July 8, 2014 at 8:12 am

A few water rides and a water playground are included in the basic LEGOLAND ticket. They are located in Pirate Shores and range from slight splashers to soakers. These are separate from the water park, which will cost extra.

July 16, 2014 at 9:25 pm

Hi– thanks so much for this info. My big question is can you do Legoland in ONE day?? My son is beyond enthusiastic to go to Legoland. We live in NYC and we are actually traveling to LA for my husband’s work so accommodations and car are covered. BUT, the key question is one day… If we stay one day, we can drive back to LA and not pay the outrageously expensive Carslbad hotel prices for one night…. My son is 6 1/2. He just wants Chima waterpark and Legoland… He doesn’t even know about Sea World and other parks.. what do you think?

July 16, 2014 at 9:30 pm

Oh, I mean aquarium etc.. Sea World I think is in San Diego… I’m in NY…. kinda clueless on all the parks out there except for Legoland itself

July 18, 2014 at 10:16 pm

One full day in LEGOLAND was just right for us, without the aquarium or water park. We returned to the aquarium the second day. We have not been to the water park. The entrance to the water park is inside LEGOLAND, so it would be easy enough to go back and forth between the two, but you would probably not be able to see all of both in one day.

July 27, 2014 at 5:42 pm

Wondering if Legoland checks bags? I read your tips about bringing food into the zoo. I was hoping I could at least stick a PB and J and some snacks in my bag for our three year old. Thanks for the tips. Great website!

July 27, 2014 at 8:32 pm

Thanks! Officially, backpacks are welcome, but outside food and drink are not. That said, I’ll bet that you won’t have any trouble getting drinks and food for your preschooler into the park. You can see my kids’ water bottles in several of the photos in this post, so obviously the park is not too persnickety about the rule.

Vishal Choudhary

August 31, 2014 at 1:20 am

We went today, and I did not see anyone checking any backpacks/bags. We have a 7 yr and 1 yr to take care of, so packed plenty, and were just fine.

September 2, 2014 at 10:01 am

Good to hear. Thanks so much for sharing your experience!

August 8, 2014 at 1:59 pm

Great post! thanks for the tips

August 26, 2014 at 11:08 am

Thank you so much Allison. We got a nice deal on Legoland website – Buy 1 day, get 4 days free, with resort-hopper (its on their website, but calling them reduced the ticket prices by further $10). We are going to spend 4 days over the Labor Day weekend there. Your tips will definitely help us in planning our experience. And I especially loved the advice “Don’t try to do all the rides, enjoy the experience”. Though I am sure we should be able to cover all (and then some) in 4 days.

August 26, 2014 at 11:12 am

Yes, four days should be plenty of time to enjoy all the resort has to offer, and for a great price. Have a wonderful trip, and thank you for your comment!

August 27, 2014 at 2:11 pm

Wonderful tips and great pictures! Is San Diego airport the closest one in the area? Any tips on getting to the hotel from the airport? We are flying southwest. Also, do you have any comments or opinions on Legoland hotel? Thanks so much!!

August 27, 2014 at 3:39 pm

Thank you! The McClellan-Palomar airport is in Carlsbad, so that one is the closest to LEGOLAND. We drive to Southern California, so I don’t have personal experience with taxis or shuttles, but I’ve been told that a taxi from San Diego to Carlsbad can exceed $100. I know that both the hotels we have tried in Carlsbad had free shuttles to/from the McClellan-Palomar Airport and LEGOLAND, so others probably do too.

We have not stayed at the LEGOLAND hotel, but I know travelers who have. It seems really fun and child-friendly, though it might be a little over the top for some. If brightly colored theme rooms and disco elevators sounds fun to you, then it will probably be a great choice. It sits next to the entrance to LEGOLAND, so the location couldn’t be better. Here is a review from my friend Colleen, the Travel Mama: http://travelmamas.com/legoland-hotel-review-kids/

October 18, 2014 at 7:17 pm

I haven’t read all the responses so I’m not sure this was already mentioned. Legoland has SEVERAL options for gluten free dining. The food is really good (excellent, no. Just OK, no. Bad, no). It has been nice to repeatedly visit a theme park and not have to worry about food.

October 19, 2014 at 4:01 pm

That is a new tip here. Thanks for sharing! This will be helpful for families with celiac and other dietary needs.

November 11, 2014 at 10:49 pm

Thanks for this! We are locals but going for the first time (all 6 of us) in Mid December. Signed up the 2 youngest kids for the magazine to get their tickets free!! Thanks for that!!

December 23, 2014 at 10:43 am

Thanks for the advice. We have the buy and adult ticket, get a kids ticket free coupons, but can’t figure out where to enter then codes online? Are these coupons you have to use at the ticket booth onsite?

December 26, 2014 at 1:06 pm

Sorry for the delay! We used our coupon at the ticket booth. I have not tried to redeem online. We arrived early and did not have to wait in line to purchase.

January 31, 2015 at 10:27 am

How is it for babies? I have a 4 year old and a 15 month old. Are there things for the 15 month old to do?

February 1, 2015 at 1:16 pm

My kids were older, but I believe that LEGOLAND has more for toddlers than most theme parks. There are a couple of DUPLO-themed play areas, which are intended for younger children. There are bigger playgrounds and splash pads too, but they could be crowded with older children. There are a few rides including a fairy-tale themed boat ride and the boat ride through MiniLand that have no height requirement. There are some fun walk-through experiences like the Adventurer’s Club where you could let a young child explore on his/her own. The 4-D movies are open to all. MiniLand and the LEGO sculptures around the park are sturdy and are fun to see and touch, no matter how old you are.

For more information, check out the park’s interactive map ( http://california.legoland.com/en/explore/ ) and click on the arrow next to “Rides, Shows and More!” You can view all the attractions by height requirement. Happy planning!

March 5, 2015 at 11:31 pm

Allison – thanks for the tips. We have the child gets in free when you purchase an adult ticket coupon. I don’t see where I can enter the code online. Am I overlooking it or do I have to purchase tickets at the gate? Thank you!

March 6, 2015 at 8:43 am

We purchased our tickets at the gate. On our latest LEGO Club Magazine coupon, it reads, “Offer cannot be applied to pre-purchased discounted tickets…” so the gate may be the only option for this deal. Have fun!

March 19, 2015 at 7:19 am

Knight’s tournament is a ride that is definitely hair raising for adults. It’s amazing. they have multiple levels and you can ramp it up for adults.

March 19, 2015 at 12:56 pm

Thanks for the tip! I remember this ride, but we didn’t try it ourselves.

Katja - globetotting

July 6, 2015 at 3:32 pm

I’ve always wondered quite what Legoland had to offer and now I know! It sounds like it’s a lot of fun and I know that my two master builders would have a blast. Thanks for all the tips, including bringing a minifigure to trade 🙂

Jody Robbins

July 7, 2015 at 6:21 pm

I’ve always wanted to take my daughter here. I was worried that at 10, she’d be too old, but based on your comments, its seems she’d have a ball. Thanks for the great tips.

Jolanta aka Casual Traveler

July 7, 2015 at 7:43 pm

Those are some great tips! I don’t know if we’ll ever visit the Legoland, but if we do, I’ll make sure to remember the tip about using coupons from the magazines. Thanks for compiling such a great list!

August 21, 2015 at 2:19 pm

I love reading your posts

August 22, 2015 at 12:32 am

Thanks for the advice

October 1, 2015 at 7:15 am

So in order to use the Lego mag coupons you have to buy at the door right? Do u have to get there right when it opens? Do they only let a certain number of people in per day?

October 1, 2015 at 8:52 am

Unless there is a code or other online instructions, coupons need to be used at the gate. That’s what we did a couple of years ago. You do not need to be there right when the park opens, but you’ll spend less time in line if you do. I don’t think that they limit the number of coupon guests per day, unless it says so on the coupon. I’d be surprised if it did.

October 15, 2015 at 10:08 am

We will be visiting California next month. How is Legoland for a 12 year old? He just turned 12, but he still loves Legos. Thank so much in advance!

October 16, 2015 at 12:53 pm

I think that LEGO lovers of any age will love LEGOLAND, as long as they know what to expect. Have a great time!

monica lewis

October 24, 2015 at 2:26 pm

Granny’s Apple Fries a bust………I looked so forward to this but it is NOT a treat. Limp apple fritters just like limp french fries are nothing enjoyable. Maybe if they would not sit around so long?

October 24, 2015 at 9:14 pm

I’m sorry they weren’t very good when you were there! I’m surprised that they had time to sit. The line for apple fries was long during our visit, so ours were pretty fresh.

Lissa Santillan

December 29, 2015 at 12:54 am

Hello. My name is Lissa, I am looking to meet someone that would like to go to Legoland.

January 13, 2016 at 10:51 am

Thank you for the tips! I’m starting to plan our first visit in the fall and I will keep all of this in mind. Already signed up for the magazine to get the coupons!

May 11, 2016 at 1:20 am

I’d love to go to Legoland, and after reading this I’m looking forward to tasting some Apple Fries:P

yvonne e gonzales

May 22, 2016 at 1:36 pm

hi i just had one question it there alot of rides and things that one adult and three kids can do at lego land

May 22, 2016 at 10:06 pm

Absolutely! Many of the rides are built for riders of all ages.

same day agra tour by train

July 4, 2016 at 5:30 am

this resort is looking awesome. statue of this resort are looking awesome and these are looking awesome.

concepcion gonzalez de Muñoz

August 13, 2016 at 11:07 am

Que alimentos se puede meter al parque

August 15, 2016 at 8:26 pm

Using Google Translate, I hope this will answer your question. You can bring your own food and drinks into the park in a day pack. You can purchase many types of food inside the park,such as sandwiches, pizza, pasta, hamburgers, Asian, etc.

El uso de Google Translate , espero que esto será responder a su pregunta . Usted puede llevar su propia comida y bebidas en el parque en una mochila . Usted puede comprar muchos tipos de alimentos dentro del parque , como sándwiches , pizza, pasta , hamburguesas, Asia , etc.

laure@bambaexperience

November 8, 2016 at 3:08 pm

Thank you so much for all these great tips! Your pictures are great ! It seems a great and original experience for kids.

Doris Friddle

July 6, 2017 at 3:09 pm

Hello Allison,

Thank you so much for the tips! Of all the advice blogs I have read, in regard to family trips, yours was the most helpful and most accurate. Everything you said was correct and all of your advice helped me and my family enjoy (and survive) our first trip to Legoland. We also looked at your other posts regarding Legoland, and decided to cancel our normal hotel reservation and booked our stay at Homewood Suites instead. So glad we did, as we enjoyed the extra space, a separate area for the couch and best of all a full fridge and working kitchen. This made a big difference in our comfort and ease. We might stay at Legoland Hotel next time, just because we were horrible at getting up early and were indeed stuck in a huge wait to get into the parking lot and for some rides. In all honesty, the kid in me would love to stay in a lego themed room. 😉

Look forward to reading more and will continue to check your blogs,

July 6, 2017 at 3:27 pm

Thank you so much Doris! Your comment made my day. 🙂

December 13, 2017 at 10:21 pm

You had such an amazing trip with your family, I’m so envy. I will visit LEGOLAND together with my friends because we love to explore new places. Thanks to your article we already have a guide.

[…] Unlike the San Diego Zoo, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park is not actually located in San Diego. The Safari Park can be found about 30 miles to the northeast, just outside Escondido. Our family visited the Safari Park as part of a Carlsbad-based vacation, which also included LEGOLAND California Resort. […]

[…] more of my tips for visiting LEGOLAND California Resort, check out my 10 Tips for Visiting LEGOLAND California Resort at […]

[…] California offered a complimentary shuttle to anywhere within 5 miles. That saved us two days of LEGOLAND parking fees and helped us avoid parking hassles in a touristy part of […]

[…] drove to the San Diego Zoo, LEGOLAND California Resort and the San Diego International Airport during our stay at the Catamaran Resort. The zoo, the […]

[…] you’re looking for another Legoland California review — Tips for Family Trips shares 10 tips for visiting, and The Mommy Files shares her top 10 things to do while […]

[…] to build with the toy blocks, or simply marvel in some of the creations. Tips for Family Trips said Miniland USA is one of the most surprisingly delightful attractions at the park. It includes miniaturized […]

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Monster party all day & night.

Enjoy a ‘Boo- tacular ’ Halloween hotel stay* and exclusive entry into the Monster Party Brick-or-Treat Park event. ​

Book now for a vacation filled with endless fun and unforgettable memories, PLUS save up to 20% on hotel rooms when booking your Monster Party Sleepover NOW. ​

*All activities are included in your stay.

Monster Party Sleepover Dates in October :

• Check in dates: October 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 25, 26 ​

Package Highlights

LEGO® Themed Hotel Room

Park Tickets

Brick-or-Treat

Free Breakfast Daily

Kick-Off Monster Party in the Park!​

Join us for Brick-or-Treat as Monsters take over LEGOLAND® and host the Halloween party of the year featuring: ​

• Live Entertainment & Shows
• Limited-Time Attractions
• Character Meet & Greets
• And of course, Trick-or-Treating!

Monster Breakfast: Rise and Shine with a Roar!​ ​

Start your day with a Monster Breakfast that’s sure to make your taste buds do a happy dance! Enjoy fang- tastic food*, dine with your favorite friendly Monster, and snap a few pictures during this Halloween themed breakfast that will leave you howling for more! ​

*Breakfast is included in your Hotel stay. ​

Monster Dance Party: Boogie with the Best!

Get your groove on at our Monster Dance Party! Show off your monster moves and  shake your bones with us to remixes of your favorite Halloween hits.

Additional Monster Activities

Enjoy more themed activities during your stay to make your Halloween unforgettable: ​

• Halloween LEGO Builds ​
• Themed Décor ​
• Monster Games ​
• Halloween Crafts ​
• Scavenger Hunt ​

A Stay at the LEGOLAND Hotel Includes

• Free hot breakfast daily ​
• Separate kids' sleeping area in EVERY room ​
• Interactive treasure hunt with LEGO gift for the kids ​
• Self-parking (or upgrade to valet parking for only $50 a night) ​
• LEGO® NINJAGO®, Pirate, Kingdom, or LEGO Friends
• Kid-friendly amenities in every room including a LEGO building area, second in- room TV, and bathroom with handheld shower head ​
• Indoor play areas, arcade, and fitness center ​
• Creative workshop room to build with LEGO ​
• Full -service Skyline Bar

Stay at a Nearby Partner Hotel

By selecting one of our LEGOLAND Vacations Partner Hotels, your package benefits include:    

• LEGOLAND New York Park Tickets with guaranteed admission 
• Entry into Brick-or-Treat
• Breakfast included at select partner hotels
• Special welcome gift for the kids 

Plus, for a limited-time, stays at partner hotels include 2-Day Park tickets for the price of 1-Day Park tickets.

Trip Protection

Trip protection can provide you with peace of mind in case unexpected events, such as illness, injury, or   unforeseen circumstances force you to cancel or delay your trip to LEGOLAND New York Resort.   It's  always a  good idea to consider purchasing trip protection to safeguard your investment and ensure a worry-free   vacation.*

Our Trip Protection Plan is available to add on during the checkout process of your booking.

Package Terms and Conditions

LEGOLAND New York Resort Hotel Resort Fee is charged at time of booking. If Partner Hotel requires a Resort Fee, it will be noted on the Hotel Description page and will be collected upon check-in. Free breakfast is valid only LEGOLAND New York Resort Hotel and select Partner Hotels for guests on reservation, and not applicable day of arrival. Offer subject to availability. Advanced reservations are required. Offer cannot be combined with any other offers, promotions, discounts or group rates. Additional restrictions may apply and are subject to change without notice. The ticket offer included in your package for the specific dates you have chosen will be displayed to you at the time of booking. Visit our Opening Hours Calendar for days and hours of operation.

For multi-day tickets, all visits must be used within 3 days of your first visit.

Free Breakfast is available at the LEGOLAND Hotel and select partner hotels. Breakfast is valid only for guests listed on the reservation and is not available on day of check-in.

Trip Protection Terms and Conditions

*If you opted to purchase Trip Protection Plan, you may change or cancel your reservation up to 4:00 PM Eastern Time 5 days prior to your scheduled arrival date. Any changes to your reservation are subject to availability and new prices may apply. If cancellation occurs by 4:00 PM Eastern Time 5 days prior to your scheduled arrival date, then full payment is refunded in the original form of payment, minus the non-refundable Trip Protection Plan fee. If cancellation occurs after 4:00 PM Eastern Time 5 days prior to your scheduled arrival date or in the event of a no-show, then all monies are forfeited.

No cancellations, changes or refunds are allowed within 5 days of arrival.​

Please note that the LEGOLAND Vacations Trip Protection Plan is not a typical travel insurance. If you are looking to insure your upcoming vacation, please contact an independent travel insurance provider.​

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7 things to know before visiting Legoland New York Resort

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

As a parent of a 6-year-old daughter, I was very excited for the opening of Legoland New York Resort.

Deep down, I'm a theme park geek. But we can't easily fly off to Walt Disney World for the day. And yes, Six Flags Great Adventure is a daytrip from our Manhattan home, but it isn't exactly geared toward young kids. On the other hand, Legoland says it focuses on kids ages 2 to 12.

Back in April, I got to visit on a hard-hat press tour . But at the time, we didn't get an opportunity to ride any of the attractions and none of the food vendors were yet operating.

So the other day, my daughter and I took a little drive to Legoland.

It was a great trip, with perfect rides for her age. My only disappointment was the lack of COVID-19 mask compliance. In the two indoor rides and inside the gift shop, we saw less than 40% of the guests wearing masks.

Here's what we found at the rest of the park.

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It's really close to New York City

The 150-acre park sits in Goshen, New York. It took us an hour, with no traffic, to get there from Manhattan's Upper West Side. For those looking for another landmark, the park is about 10 minutes past Woodbury Common Premium Outlets.

For those living in northern New Jersey, or suburban towns in New York's Rockland or Westchester counties, it is even closer.

While some families will choose to make Legoland into an overnight adventure -- the hotel was sold out all of August, according to a park spokeswoman -- it is an easy daytrip that will have you home in time for dinner.

Buy tickets in advance

Same-day tickets cost $89.99 for adults and $79.99 for kids ages 3 through 12.

Purchasing those tickets just one day in advance drops the cost by $10 per person.

Weekdays are also cheaper than weekends – $5 less for kids and $12 for adults, from my spot-checks online.

The same holds for parking. If you purchase it online in advance, it is $20 plus $1.63 in tax. Purchasing it at the park will cost $27.03.

The park really opens 15 minutes early

For our visit, the posted opening time was 10 a.m.

But as a theme park fan, I knew to get there earlier. Getting into the parking lot and finding a spot was no hassle. The security checkpoint was open long before 10 a.m., letting us into a big plaza with bathrooms, a ticket booth and some Lego figurines.

Then at 9:45 a.m., Legoland New York opened its gates with its traditional opening dance. (We couldn't see it since a few hundred people were ahead of us in the lines.) And tickets were scanned, letting folks into the park.

The actual rides don't start until 10 a.m., but for those looking to maximize their day – or to at least get in one popular ride without a wait – early arrival is key.

Driving School was a hit

The thought of my daughter getting behind the wheel terrifies me.

Luckily, I have a few years until that happens.

But at Legoland, there are small cars and a network of roads that kids ages 6 to 13 can drive on . If they pass (hint: everybody does), they get their "driver's license."

I was amazed at what a good job my daughter did. See the video below for yourself.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Scott Mayerowitz (@globetrotscott)

Upon exiting the course, each kid is handed a paper driver's license. And here's where the upsell comes in.

I quickly ushered her out of the area. But others were directed to a kiosk where you could get a much more official-looking plastic license with your photo on it. Call me a bad dad, but I wasn't about to spend $25 extra to get her a fake license. (Additional ones are $10 more.)

There is no shade

This was something I noticed during the April hard-hat tour and hoped would have been fixed.

It wasn't.

The park sits atop a big hill with no nearby trees. A few have been planted that will grow in. But really, just a few.

There are some umbrellas over benches in spots. And most of the rides have covered areas for their lines to snake back and forth. But that's it.

Luckily, there are lots of ways to get sprayed with water (no bathing suits needed) in the Lego Pirates section of the park.

We were in the sun a lot on a recent 86-degree day and it caused my daughter to get exhausted earlier than I anticipated. By 1 p.m., we decided to leave the park. It was just way too warm.

Scary, but not really scary

Here is where Legoland really shines.

The park has found just the right level of fright. It's scary without freaking out little kids.

For instance, the park's big roller coaster, Dragon, is perfectly sized for a child's first coaster experience. There's no big drop or overly scary turn. For younger riders, there's Dragon's Apprentice. It's a much smaller coaster to help get kids ready for the bigger Dragon. Unfortunately, it wasn't open during our visit.

At Lego Ninjago: The Ride , there are two things that help keep kids from tears.

First, everybody uses their hands to trigger sensors and fight the bad guys. It's really cool and empowers kids to be part of the action.

Second, the ghosts, ninjas and snakes coming at you from the screens are very cartoony. That takes the edge off the fright and makes it easier to remind little ones that it's just a ride and it's all fake.

The food was good, for a theme park

OK, so the dining won't win any Michelin stars. But you are at a theme park.

For me, the big issue at theme parks and ski resorts is the number of options.

We ate at Brickbeard's Food Market – in, you guessed it, the Pirates area – and found lots of options.

There was the expected double cheeseburger for $16 plus tax and a grilled chicken sandwich for $15. But then we found Chinese specialties like orange chicken for $12 and sesame deep-fried tofu also for $12. A large salad was $16 and a smoked turkey club panini was $12.50.

For kids, there was a burger or chicken tenders combo that came with fries and a juice box or water for $9.99. That was a pretty good deal for a theme park.

(I paid with my Chase Sapphire Reserve card and the meals coded as dining, earning me 3 points per dollar. Theme park food doesn't always show up as a restaurant, so I was glad to see that here.)

There are lots of other food outlets in the park, most with similar menus. The one standout for me was Brickolini's Pizza and Pasta buffet. It offers all-you-can-eat pizza, pasta, desserts and sodas. The $24.99 adult price is a bit steep and $12.99 for kids isn't bad. But a family of four can pay $49.99 -- a steal if you like carbs, soda and dessert.

Pro tip: Bring a refillable water bottle to save money -- and our planet. There are plenty of water fountains throughout the park, all with a bottle-filling station.

Bottom line

This is a great park for young kids.

There are ample, clean family restrooms.

The rides are great for young kids. There are lots of interactive elements, including musical instruments that kids can activate with sensors and levers throughout Miniland that kids can pull to start Lego figures dancing or singing.

As an adult, I loved Miniland -- it was fun to see the Lego interpretation of Las Vegas, New York, Philadelphia and lots of other American landmarks.

There were also carnival-like games that quickly run up the cost of a visit.

Luckily, throughout the park, credit cards were accepted.

Signs at registers reminded guests: "Of course we take plastic!"

It is Legoland, after all.

The Best Snacks at LEGOLAND Florida

L EGOLAND Florida is a world of imagination and adventure, especially for younger children,  but even the most enthusiastic explorers need to refuel during their park day. Fortunately, the park offers a surprising variety of delicious snacks to satisfy every craving. From sweet treats to savory bites, here’s a guide to the best snacks to enjoy during your LEGOLAND adventure.  

Sweet Tooth Satisfaction

If you’re like I am, it’s the sweet snacks that I make a beeline for. Here are the best ones at LEGOLAND:

Granny’s Apple Fries

This LEGOLAND classic, and undoubtedly the most popular park snack, is a must-try. Cooked apple slices are coated in cinnamon and sugar and then served with a sweet vanilla cream dipping sauce. It’s a cool twist on a traditional snack.  

Funnel Cakes

A theme park staple, LEGOLAND’s funnel cake is crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and customizable with a variety of toppings including fruit, and soft serve ice cream. Visit the Funnel Cake Factory to grab one.  

Ice Cream 

Cooing down with a big swirl of ice cream is never wrong for this gal. What makes this ice cream extra fun is the ability to get a “flavor burst” to ramp up the tastiness. Kingdom Cones is where to go for frozen creamy delights. 

Savory Bites

If you’re not a fan of the sweet treat, or just need a break, here are some mouth-watering snacks served at LEGOLAND:

Smoked Turkey Legs

A hearty and satisfying snack, each one is perfect for sharing because it’s so massive, although I have seen park guests consume one by themselves. These juicy turkey legs are slow-cooked to perfection and are a popular snack in the park. Look for them at Dragon’s Den. 

If you’re craving a more substantial snack, grab a slice of pizza to hold you over until your next bigger meal. Pepper & Roni’s Pizza is where to go for personal-sized pies.

Healthy Options

While LEGOLAND is primarily known for its fun and playful atmosphere, there are also some healthier snack options available.  

Fresh Fruit

Many snack carts offer fresh fruit cups, a refreshing and nutritious choice.

Water and Sports Drinks

Why on this list? Because you can’t drink enough water or even a sports drink when you’re dealing with humid, Central Florida temperatures most times of the year. 

Where To Get Dole Whip At WDW

Something to consider before you go.

It’s always fun to try out theme park food and snacks, but please don’t feel obligated. With LEGOLAND Florida, because it caters to kiddos, you can bring in your snacks, drinks, and even meals if you’d like. If you don’t want to lug them around all day in the park or water park, consider renting a locker during your visit. The cost is less than $20 and can be opened as many times as you’d like. 

If you have a stroller, you can take in small, soft-sided insulated bags that can be tucked into the bottom. The park is not responsible for lost or stolen personal items, so don’t leave anything that’s important in a stroller while you’re on a ride. 

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Skip Florida: Legoland New York is just a few hours away

Orlando is commonly thought of as the epicenter of family fun, with amusement parks such as Disney World, Universal Studios and Legoland (in nearby Winter Haven). When I think of Orlando, however, I cringe. The heat, the crowds, the expense? No thank you.

Luckily, for Lego enthusiasts of all ages, there is an alternative. About four hours north of Baltimore is Goshen, New York, and it is home to a Legoland. This is the second year that I have made the late summer trip with my son, Maclin — who is 6 and a Lego fanatic — and we have learned a thing or two.

But we don’t gatekeep, so here are some pro tips.

The logistics

Take the long route. By mileage, I-95 is the shortest drive to Goshen. But unless you’re a glutton for punishment, taking I-83 up through Central Pennsylvania is a much more pleasant experience. No one likes sitting in stop-and-go traffic.

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Download the Legoland app. It is essential for learning about wait times, ride closures and is a central place to host all your various vouchers and tickets. Keep an eye on promotions, too: This summer, kids’ tickets were $29 with the purchase of an adult ticket, which ranges from $79 to $84 depending on the day. The park is completely cashless, but you can purchase parking passes and make reservations in the app.

Skip the Legoland Hotel. It’s expensive and the perks just aren’t enough to justify the cost.

Baltimore’s strange connection to one of Disneyland Paris’ biggest rides

Nature, quiet and wi-fi: discover glamping less than 3 hours from baltimore, need a rural getaway take a bike trip from baltimore to pennsylvania.

Don’t buy the preferred parking. It’s $50 — $15 more than regular parking — and doesn’t deliver on benefits. We arrived about 30 minutes early to the park and were able to get a spot almost right next to the gate.

Go early. While this Legoland never seems to get extraordinarily busy, it is a good idea to be there before the park opens. The hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., so arriving around 9:30 will get you through security and close to the gate for when Professor Brick entrusts a park attendee to “flip the switch” to open the park. Once the gates were open, my son and I were able to go in and get our pick of all the big rides without any waiting. If you’ve traveled with an impatient child, you know how important that is.

Make reservations for the water playground. At 7 a.m. the day of your visit, you can go online through the app and make a reservation for a 20-minute time slot for the water playground. Do it early because the sessions will book up quickly. It’s a short time frame, but worth it. There are multiple waterslides and a giant bucket that fills up and dumps a cascade of water onto guests periodically. It’s also a great way to cool down in the middle of the day. Just be aware that once you exit the water playground, kids must wear shorts, shirts and shoes on any other rides. I suggest bringing a towel and a change of clothes.

Bring water bottles and snacks. Food is predictably expensive at Legoland. Think $10 for two bottles of water, $18 for a grilled chicken sandwich or $21 for two hot dogs. Thankfully, the park allows you to bring in backpacks, reusable water bottles and small snacks. There are water bottle filling stations throughout the park and plenty of areas to sit, rest and enjoy a quick bite between rides.

What to buy (and not buy)

You know you want the ride photos. I’m not one to buy into all the gimmicks, but the daily photo pass is worth it. For $30, you can get digital copies of all the photos taken in the park, including ride photos and those taken by park staff.

The dreaded games. I know, carnival games are rigged and expensive, but hear me out. We discovered this visit that if you are the first person to play the game in the park, you are guaranteed a prize. The only problem is then you have to lug a 5-foot stuffed dog around the park. Good thing Legoland has free reentry; just get your hand stamped on the way out. Bella the husky spent the rest of the day in the trunk.

Skip Granny’s Apple Fries. The “signature treat invented at Legoland” is frankly not that great. We waited in line for 20 minutes for these apple fries so I expected them to taste divine, but they were bland and kind of soggy. Spend that $9.99 elsewhere.

Respite for the adults

Visiting Legoland is a one- to two-day activity, tops. You can easily get to everything in the park in that amount of time. But instead of going home, finish off your weekend in the nearby Sullivan Catskills and let the adults take a break.

There are many cabins, but I tried out the Highland Bungalow , a fully renovated 1950s cabin that has been featured in Dwell, GQ, Vogue and Field Mag (and is also owned by a dear friend). Located in Eldred, New York, it is well worth the $304 per night price tag. On the way there from Legoland, we passed through the little town of Port Jervis and went up U.S. Highway 6 that runs along the Delaware River. The views are stunning, and there are plenty of places to pull over for either a quick look or a picnic lunch.

When in the Catskills, there are plenty of places to hike, bike, raft and explore local towns. Plus, it’s a great way to unwind after a weekend immersed in kid activities.

Emma Patti Harris

[email protected]

Emma Patti Harris is the Managing Editor overseeing digital, audience, and visuals for The Baltimore Banner.

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Russell Aldaz, 12, poses for a photo at Dandy Burger in Española. For the second year in a row, Russell has entered his remarkable hairdo in the 2024 USA Mullet Championships' kids division.

• Margaret O'Hara/The New Mexican
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Russell Aldaz, a 12-year-old from Española, has entered his hairdo in the 2024 USA Mullet Championships' kids division.

Española youth hopes mullet will win him LEGOLAND trip

Margaret o'hara.

• Author email
• Aug 24, 2024
• Aug 24, 2024 Updated Aug 25, 2024

ESPAÑOLA — There’s no denying that Russell Aldaz has extraordinary hair.

Though it’s cropped closely around his face, the 12-year-old’s hair falls down his back in curly locks. It’s a mullet that would make even the most famous mullet-wearers — Patrick Swayze? Billy Ray Cyrus? Saved by the Bell -era Mario Lopez? — a little jealous.

For the second year in a row, Russell has entered his remarkable hairdo — known as the Russellcat Mullet, in honor of his longtime nickname — in the 2024 USA Mullet Championships’ kids division.

Russell has already made it through a few rounds of competition and into the top 25 in the 8- to 12-year-old age group. On Aug. 28, the competition will make what it calls “the Big Announcement,” officially declaring the best mullet in the United States.

Russell was practically born with a mullet, said his mother, Yoshabelle Aldaz.

The family, in accordance with tradition, didn’t cut Russell’s hair until he was a year old, and by that time, he’d grown quite a mass of dark curls. During his first haircut, Yoshabelle recalled telling the barber to leave the length at the back of Russell’s head and shape up the front.

“After that, you know, it was too cute to cut,” Yoshabelle said.

That’s how the Russellcat Mullet was born.

As he grew older, Russell, who has autism, struggled with the sensory experience of getting the back of his hair trimmed. So the mullet stayed, supported by copious conditioner and some styling gel.

Eventually, Russell’s hairstyle became so famous a family member mentioned the USA Mullet Championships, Yoshabelle recalled.

Though Russell was initially hesitant to enter the competition, the $5,000 cash prize piqued his interest — because it could make one of his dreams come true.

Beneath his mullet, Russell has a creative mind. He’s an artist with a particular talent for detailed drawings. And though he regularly constructs full Lego sets — his current favorites are associated with this summer’s release of Despicable Me 4 — he sometimes creates structures outside the blocks’ building instructions.

The best thing about building with Legos, Russell said, is “using [his] imagination.” One day, he hopes to become a master Lego builder.

The first step toward that goal might be a visit to Legoland in California — a trip the USA Mullet Championships’ prize could help finance.

So in 2023, Russell joined the competition, placing 37th in a group of more than 300 kids across the country.

This year, he and his family returned to the competition. They made flyers, rallied friends and commissioned T-shirts with a Zia symbol, a puzzle piece to represent autism and the words, “Española Proud.”

The community rallied around them.

“I can’t even explain how much support he’s gotten,” Yoshabelle said. “It’s heartfelt, overwhelming to know that so many people have come together for him.”

She added, “I think that’s one thing about a small community like Española — and New Mexico in itself. When something’s going on, everybody gathers behind a good cause.”

With voting now closed, Yoshabelle said the family is nervous and excited for next week’s announcement of the winner.

When asked how he would feel if won, Russell’s face broke into a wide grin.

“Really happy,” he said.

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