Southern California is well-known for having a lot of great family-friendly attractions. The question is, should Legoland California be on your must-see list?
Age-Dependent
Honestly, I think whether or not you make the trip to Legoland depends on the age and maturity level of your child.
If your children are young (ages 10 or under) – go now! I promise you they will have the time of their lives. If you wait until they are any older, however, you will most likely shell out a bunch of money for nothing.
Our kids, ages three and five at the time, had an absolute blast. However, we saw far too many tweens wandering around with a dazed look on their face, from what we can only assume was boredom. I would hate to see you waste your money on something that your older kids just aren’t going to appreciate.
Our 5-year-old, at 45″ tall, was allowed on every ride. Our 3-year-old, at 40″ tall, was allowed on the majority. So as you can tell, the rides are mainly geared towards small children and tend to be slower moving. This translates to a lack of adrenaline rush for both adults and older kids.
A Family Favourite
With that being said, a favourite ride of ours was in the section of Legoland called Pirate Shores. Near the entrance to the ride called ‘Pirate Reef’ there is a sign that reads “You will get wet”.
We have been on plenty of rides in the past with the same warning and only got slightly wet. So how bad could it be?
Let’s just say the signs warning was an UNDER-exaggeration. We exited the ride completely drenched, but full of giggles.
The Structures
The Lego structures within Legoland California are definitely a sight to see.
The majority of us have difficulty constructing Lego creations while using step-by-step instructions. I can only imagine the complexity of the build, not to mention the patience it takes, to create the structures strewn around Legoland. Truly amazing!
My favourite was an attraction called ‘Miniland USA‘. It is hard to believe, but each realistic cityscape is built entirely out of Lego.
General Tips
The main part of Legoland can most definitely be experienced in one day. We found the crowds really manageable, and the ride line-ups were no more than 15 – 20 minutes (with many rides having no line-up at all).
There are two other parts to Legoland that you can enter for an extra price. The Sea Life Aquarium can easily be tacked onto your first day of Legoland. However, you will want another full-day to experience the Waterpark. Although trust me when I say, you will not need any more time than that to get the full experience of the entire park.
The SEA LIFE Aquarium
The exhibits at the SEA LIFE Aquarium at Legoland California are comparable to other smaller aquarium exhibits. There are approximately 200 species of sea creatures, that total over 5000 individual aquatic animals.
The Ray Lagoon, as well as the Underwater Ocean Tunnel, were highlights for us.
The most unique thing about the SEA LIFE Aquarium is that LEGO sculptures are part of the scenery. The kids were thrilled to view real sea creatures swimming amongst LEGO models.
The aquarium can easily be seen in its entirety within a few hours (or half-day at the absolute longest). While there, make sure to take in one of the scheduled feedings or a dive show.
Legoland Water Park
LEGOLAND Water Park features two main areas. The first has more than 20 LEGO models which splash or spray water on guests, Build-A-Raft River, and two sandy beaches. While the second area has a wave pool, water slides and more than 50 interactive water features that will delight guests, including the popular Build-a-Boat.
The Water Park is definitely a great way to spend a hot day in the California sun!
The Take-Away
Legoland California is an awesome place for kids, as they are bound to have a wonderful time. However, if you are contemplating taking your family, I highly recommend going while your children are still young enough to enjoy it in its entirety.
Have you been to Legoland California? How old were your kids when you went?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
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