19 LEGOLAND Secrets You Need to Know About

March 10, 2020 | Rachael Brandon

1. Where to stay.  Why settle for just LEGOLAND, when you can add in the world-renowned San Diego Zoo and Safari Park? Carmel Valley and Del Mar are perfectly situated midway between these three parks! The Hilton Garden Inn Del Mar and Homewood Suites Del Mar are  just off the I-5, with easy access to LEGOLAND, the SD Zoo and Safari Park.

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. 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.

The The Carlsbad By The Sea Resort is another great option that offers both standard rooms. Framed by the backdrop of Carlsbad’s iconic Windmill, Carlsbad by the Sea Hotel is the perfect location to explore all that Carlsbad and North County San Diego has to offer. Relax and unwind. Each of our 146 spacious guest rooms provide a private balcony or patio and offer views of our tranquil garden courtyard or outdoor heated pool and jacuzzi. Wake up under palm trees, breathe the crisp ocean air and enjoy a complimentary breakfast before taking off to see the sights!

2. 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, heigh guide for rides, directions and even a car finder to help you keep track of where you've parked.

3. Shop without a care (or a carry). The stores at LEGOLAND have one of the largest selection 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.

4. 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. 

5. When to go. If you can plan your hiatus to LEGOLAND while the kids are still in school—DO IT! 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. 

6. 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 $14, doubles are $17 and they even have infant strollers ($14).

7. Get your tickets in advance! Besides saving extra cash, pre-purchasing your tickets will also expedite your entry into the park. On their website, LEGOLAND offers an array of deals for customizing your theme park experience. You can choose between visiting the amusement park only or combine 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 out their current 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.

8. Go for free! There are plenty of ways to score free tickets. Currently, kids get a free 1 or 2 day park hopper ticket with any paid adult ticket for the same duration. You can also score free entry for kids by using the Honest Co. promo code 189900 when purchasing your tickets online!

9. Bring the minifigs. Psst ... have you heard about the 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.

10. 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 (and just $15 versus $25), 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.

11. 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 Knight's Tournament ride is the most thrilling in the park and gives riders the experience of what it feels like to be tossed and turned by a factory robot arm. Kids ages 9 and older might also like to have a hand at building a programmable robot in the LEGO Mindstorms lab. Just be sure to sign them up early as spots are limited and do go quickly. Then, after all, that constructing is done head next door to the Xbox WB Games Space.

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 you're wee ones fall below the line, there's still plenty of fun to be had - no rides necessary. Download LEGOLAND 's What to Do When You're Two information brochure and be sure to bring it with you to the park.

12. 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.

13. 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 websiteor visit the kiosk just inside the gates. When you purchase the pass, you'll get to choose between reducing wait times by 25%, 50% or 90% for $25, $55 and $100 per person respectively. When you pick up your pass you'll receive a nifty device that allows you to make a reservation for one ride at a time, from anywhere in the park. When it's your time ride the device beeps to let you know, and you're on your way.

14. 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. Also, if you must ride the Sky Cruiser, one of Legoland's most popular attractions, be sure to do it when you first arrive. This elevated, pedal-powered coaster offers awesome panoramic views of Fun Town but is not worth waiting hours for. At mid-day, when the park is at its busiest, you'll want to head into Fun Town and visit some of the areas 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.

15. Take it or leave it. 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 $3 (Psst ... this is the cheapest in the park), and for a quick dry try one of the family dryers afterward for $5.

16. 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 to find LEGOLAND's dining choices are decent by theme park standards with options including pizza, burgers, 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!

17. 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 the $20 ticket upgrade ($5 for toddlers ages 1-2). 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 newish 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 their routine 10-minute pool break for lifeguard rotations. If you do plan to visit the water park, be sure to check their scheduleahead 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.

18. Don't skip Sea Life Aquarium. If you've never been before, the Sea Life Aquarium is definitely worth a visit. 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.

19. 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
One LEGOLAND Dr.
Carlsbad, Ca 92008
760-918-5346
Online: california.legoland.com

—Rachael Brandon & Karly Wood

Original article can be found here.