This guest post was written for Experience Kissimmee, the original can be found here.
Today we spent the entire day at LEGOLAND Florida. To say my family was excited to visit this theme park is an understatement, my son has been playing with lego Duplos since he was a year old (and Legos are very near and dear to my heart). The park has been open for a little over a month, so we could not wait to experience it first-hand. My 3 1/2 year old son was so excited, last night was like Christmas eve. The first thing out of his mouth this morning was “we are going to LEGOLAND”. He quickly ate his breakfast and dressed himself without being asked! The drive from downtown Orlando took about an hour, but it seemed so much longer because the park is truly off the beaten path.
One small detail I forgot was today was Veteran’s Day, the park was crowded. We thought we’d be there when the park opened, but instead it took 45 minutes just to drive through the entrance and park our car. Once we were inside, the fun began immediately! We first jumped in line for the double decker carousel and opted for a horse on the top deck. Afterwards, we headed towards the Duplo area and played in the various play areas then rode the rides especially designed for toddlers. My son was in heaven, he would have been happy playing in this area the entire time, but we knew there was so much more to see and do.
We made our rounds and his absolute favorite part was the Ford Jr. Driving School in LEGO City. I was a little nervous about him driving a car all by himself, but he was fine. Plus, this driving school was designated for 3 – 5 year olds so there was a lot of wall bumping. There was a separate driving school for older kids as well, so they could have some fun and not have to worry about little ones. My husband and son rode the Technicycle in the LEGO TECHNIC section. My son was tall enough to ride with a parent; however, he was still wobbly inside the seatbelt and was terrified. He clung to his daddy for dear life and said “I do not want to ride that again”. The LEGO TECHNIC section had some really wild looking rides for older kids, but the lines were so long that we decided to visit a calmer section. So we walked to Miniland USA to see various cities constructed completely out of lego blocks! We were amazed at the hours that must have gone into building the city scenes!
We had worked up an appetite and went on a mission to find hot food. To be perfectly honest, we were disappointed with the few eateries at the park. When we finally found a line that didn’t seem long (maybe a total of 15 people in front of us), it took 45 minutes to make it to the front of the line to place an order. While I stood in line, my husband and son continued having fun in the park. I spoke with others (including annual pass holders) in the food line and we all agreed, LEGOLAND has a lot to offer; however, they must adapt a process when it comes to handling traffic entering the park and food lines.
Once we finally enjoyed our lunch, we strolled through the Cypress Gardens section which was practically empty! It was absolutely beautiful and peaceful. All in all, we had a nice day at LEGOLAND. My son loved it and said he wants to return tomorrow. I personally feel there are kinks that must be worked out. Also, I highly recommend parents take a look at the height and age requirements prior to your visit because your children may not be able to ride some of the attractions, even with a parent. In addition, make sure to check the LEGOLAND calendar before planning your visit since the park is not open 7 days per week.
LEGOLAND Florida is located at One LEGOLAND Way, Winter Haven, Florida 33884.