Hotel for Legoland?

[2gr8DisneyKids]

Gulp... I can not really imagine going to FL and not doing Disney, BUT DS would be soooo excited to go to Legoland for his birthday in late October if we can find a good deal on airfare.

That said, since Legoland is 30 miles from WDW and we have only ever stayed on property, what are the best hotel choices?

I saw that TripAdvisor #1 hotel for Winter Haven is a Hampton Inn. I was hoping for something a bit more fun, like Gaylord Palms, etc.

Any ideas that are a bit closer than 30 miles???

 

[DOOM1001]

I would first make sure they'll make their target opening date.Are you just planning on Legoland or will you be doing other attractions closer to Disney.I would rather book a nicer hotel like the Gaylord Palms in the Orlando area and just do the drive to Legoland which would be around 30-40 minutes.I've driven US 27 tons of times and don't remember seeing any other special hotels close to the Winter Haven area.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Wow! They're opening a LegoLand in FL???!!!

We had started planning a trip to CA for last summer but each of the 4 of us really wanted to see different things: LegoLand, Sequoia NP, Yosemite NP, and DL. That meant a lot of driving or flying around CA and a lot of time and $$$.

Now that they'll have a LL in FL, we can go there with a reasonably cheap 2 hr. flight!

Ds10 will be soooo happy!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I would first make sure they'll make their target opening date.Are you just planning on Legoland or will you be doing other attractions closer to Disney.I would rather book a nicer hotel like the Gaylord Palms in the Orlando area and just do the drive to Legoland which would be around 30-40 minutes.I've driven US 27 tons of times and don't remember seeing any other special hotels close to the Winter Haven area.

Gaylord Palms is beautiful!! I would also see when they start the ICE! show there. That was really neat and worth seeing.

 

[2gr8DisneyKids]

In reality we will not end up there until December (afraid they will not open in time like OP mentioned) and to go all the way there for one day would be very silly unless I found the world's cheapest airfare.

So, if I run the Disney Half next January we might go for longer and split the time between Disney and off Disney and the 30 mile drive seems worth the nicer hotel.

We have thought about the CA now for several years and it will be nice to have the "closer" option!

 

[happymommy]

Wow! They're opening a LegoLand in FL???!!!

We had started planning a trip to CA for last summer but each of the 4 of us really wanted to see different things: LegoLand, Sequoia NP, Yosemite NP, and DL. That meant a lot of driving or flying around CA and a lot of time and $$$.

Now that they'll have a LL in FL, we can go there with a reasonably cheap 2 hr. flight!

Ds10 will be soooo happy!

Yes, I did read that it's going to be bigger than the one in California. Heck, I'd enjoy seeing it someday too!

 

[MinnieForMe]

Will Legoland really be only 30 minutes away? It's on the old Cypress Gardens site, right? It seemed further, more like an hour, but it's been years since we've been!

I can't wait to take the kids!

 

[2gr8DisneyKids]

Will Legoland really be only 30 minutes away? It's on the old Cypress Gardens site, right? It seemed further, more like an hour, but it's been years since we've been!

I can't wait to take the kids!

Google maps said it was 30 miles from Gaylord Palms to Legoland (yes, old Cypress Gardens) and that it would take about 45 minutes to drive it, partly why I was looking to stay closer.

My kids are not car kids... we are mass transit folks in Montreal and use Disney transportation when we visit. I was actually hoping for a hotel where we could walk to Legoland!

 

[HLAuburn]

I know this is an old topic, but I as also looking for recommendations for a hotel near Legoland. We are just staying one night and just doing Legoland, so it seems a bit out of the way to stay in Orlando.

It looks like there are a few nice hotels In Winter Haven and we're also considering Lake Wales just a few miles down the road. Anyone have any experience with the hotels close by?

Thanks!

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

I am interested in getting more info on this topic as well. My kids would love to go to Legoland and I could see us easily spending two days in this park, especially since they are opening a water park area in the late spring/early summer. Also, Legoland has shorter hours of operation (usually 10am-5pm) so going over two days would definitely allow us to fully enjoy the park at a pace that's right for our family. However, I cannot see us doing doing the 45 minute drive from the Orlando area to Winter Haven more than once during our vacation, so a split stay between the Winter Haven and Orlando area might work out better us. There just doesn't seem to be a lot of information out there about Winter Haven area hotels, especially ones that can accommodate my family's size.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

http://www.omnihotels.com/findahotel/orlandochampionsgate.aspx

This might not be so close as you'd like to Legoland but it looks so nice. I'd love to stay there. The pools look so awesome!

 

[HLAuburn]

I am interested in getting more info on this topic as well. My kids would love to go to Legoland and I could see us easily spending two days in this park, especially since they are opening a water park area in the late spring/early summer. Also, Legoland has shorter hours of operation (usually 10am-5pm) so going over two days would definitely allow us to fully enjoy the park at a pace that's right for our family. However, I cannot see us doing doing the 45 minute drive from the Orlando area to Winter Haven more than once during our vacation, so a split stay between the Winter Haven and Orlando area might work out better us. There just doesn't seem to be a lot of information out there about Winter Haven area hotels, especially ones that can accommodate my family's size.

I agree that you could get 2 days out of Legoland, especially if the waterpark is open by the time you go. We went in October shortly after it opened and although we left around 4pm, there is a lot we didn't get to see and do. We don't own one Lego but we all loved Legoland! It was perfect for my 2 year old and my 7 year old and my husband and I liked the "nostalgic" Old Florida feel it had.

During the trip, we spent 2 days at SeaWorld, so we stayed at the Doubletree that is walking distance to SW. The drive from there to Legoland was 45 minutes from there. It's a little deceiving because you only drive about 15 minutes until see Legoland "exit here" signs and you turn off the interstate, but the drive down Hwy 27 has a bunch of small towns and a lot of traffic lights...felt like it took forever.

From what I have gathered, it looks like the place to stay might be Lake Wales. It's only a few miles from Legoland and seems to have a lot of the newer hotels (Holiday Inn Express, Hampton Inn). We think we might spend a day checking out the u-pick citrus groves and also Bok Tower, so Lake Wales is also convenient for that. As for Winter Haven, the Best Western looks like a great location within walking distance to the park (save $12 on parking!) but the reviews are mediocre at best and some are downright scary! I'm not sure I'm willing to take the risk! I imagine a bunch of new hotels will pop up around Legoland soon, but since we're going in January, I think we'll have to pick from what's out there now.

http://www.omnihotels.com/findahotel/orlandochampionsgate.aspx

This might not be so close as you'd like to Legoland but it looks so nice. I'd love to stay there. The pools look so awesome!

That does look nice! I remember passing it on the way down last time and it looked very impressive from what I could see. Maybe a little TOO impressive for a one night's stay...at least this trip.

 

[DOOM1001]

I went to Legoland in October,it took me 35 minutes from the Legoland parking lot to the Disney exits on I-4,given that Legoland has closing times of 5-6pm I don't see the need to stay there overnight,If you're doing the park two days then it makes sense to stay in the area.We left Legoland at 5:15pm and were inside Epcot in time to see part of the 6:30pm Boyz II Men concert.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

We are considering doing a Sea World/Legoland only trip this spring or summer so we may stay at a Marriott Residence Inn or the Nickelodeon Suites in Orlando for the Sea World portion of the trip and then stay at a hotel in Lake Wales (I think there is a Hampton Inn that has suites) for the Legoland portion of the trip. We were originally going to rent a condo or vacation house for our Sea World/Legoland trip but we may just wait until our next WDW trip to do that because I can't see us driving 45 minutes to/from Legoland more than once during our trip. I agree that Winter Haven doesn't really seem like an area that has been developed for tourism in terms of the variety of lodging available in the area; but like the pp said that may very well change with Legoland being there now. I've also heard that there are plans to build a Legoland hotel by 2013 (there is also one being built for the Legoland in CA).

 

[Pig Pen]

I live in Winter Haven and just visited Legoland for the first time today. It was very charming. It was perfect for my 9 yo nephew who declared it "the best day of my life so far." The 12 yo was a little bored but he enjoyed the roller coasters (they have 4).

You are correct that the Winter Haven hotel selection is pretty sketchy. I wouldn't recommend anything here. The Hampton and Holiday Inn are right on US 27 north of Lake Wales and are a very easy commute to Legoland. In fact it is probably more convenient to go this way if you are coming from WDW/Orlando.

 

[HLAuburn]

I live in Winter Haven and just visited Legoland for the first time today. It was very charming. It was perfect for my 9 yo nephew who declared it "the best day of my life so far." The 12 yo was a little bored but he enjoyed the roller coasters (they have 4).

You are correct that the Winter Haven hotel selection is pretty sketchy. I wouldn't recommend anything here. The Hampton and Holiday Inn are right on US 27 north of Lake Wales and are a very easy commute to Legoland. In fact it is probably more convenient to go this way if you are coming from WDW/Orlando.

Thanks for the hotel advice. We are leaning towards the Holiday Inn Express in Lake Wales.

Glad you had a nice trip to Legoland! How were the crowds? We plan on going on a Monday in January and I was hoping it might be kinda quiet.

 

[10nismama]

I live in Winter Haven and just visited Legoland for the first time today. It was very charming. It was perfect for my 9 yo nephew who declared it "the best day of my life so far." The 12 yo was a little bored but he enjoyed the roller coasters (they have 4).

I was wondering if my 12 year old would be bored, but I guess he can keep riding the coasters over and over