Lego Kidsfest

[Nicsmom]

The Lego kidsfest will be in Boston this weekend. My DS6 loves Legos. So, I'm thinking of taking him. Has anyone gone to this? If so, what's your opinion? Thanks

 

[pixarmom]

We have one coming up in our area soon, too! It looks great for our three boys, but I would love to hear more from anyone who has already done this.

 

[CTMomof2]

My advice.... run far, far away. If you are crazy enough to go, make sure you arrive 3 hours before it opens or you will not get in and have a very disappointed child/children on your hands.

Lego KidsFest stopped in Hartford, CT not so long ago. My DS loves Legos and my DH offered to take him. He invited his best friend, a fellow Lego lover, along for the fun. The event started around 10:00 and by the time they left home they were due to arrive there about 10:15-10:30. First indication that something was wrong was the traffic on the highway leading to the Convention Center. He called me after 20 min of being stuck, then 40 min, then an hour and a half in the line of traffic going nowhere fast. Turns out the rather large parking garage could not handle the amount of traffic trying to get in and had nowhere to put anyone, so the overflow was stuck on I84 and I91 at the exit ramps. Nearly 2 hours after being within what should be 5 minutes of the convention center, my DH was able to park and then join another line of people that extended from the ticket office, outside to the parking garage. (this is not a short distance). At approx. 1pm, still in the ticket line, an announcement was made that the event was being closed to all further ticket sales. They would not be allowing anyone else in. This also included people that bought their tickets in advanced. It was an absolute nightmare.

The people that did get in were telling everyone standing in the line waiting that it wasn't worth their time. It was filled to capacity in there and you couldn't see or do anything.

I hate to write such a negative post but I'm being honest. It was an awful experience for my DH and my poor DS and his best friend were really upset. My DH actually took them to a local toy store in West Hartford instead and bought them each a small Lego set because he felt so bad..

 

[Nicsmom]

CTmomof2, thanks for the honesty. I would hate that. If I go, I would buy the tickets online. Hopefully, avoiding one nightmare. I would hate it If it's too crowded to enjoy.

 

[ilovejack02]

I see there is one in Atlanta, we have family that live there. Maybe an excuse to go see them and go to kids fest.

I would expect lines to be long and crazy. : ) Took DS to see Thomas the Tank engine a few times and traffic was always insane. After first time, we learned to leave very very early.

 

[clori]

I thought about going since it is local (I live about 5 miles from Boston and can just hop on the subway). I looked up the online tickets since it is a few dollars cheaper but since I know tonsand tons of local kids planning on going I said no way. Tickets are for Saturday or Sunday from 9-2 or 2-8. The website says attendance can be 30,000 people.

 

[hentob]

I hate to write such a negative post but I'm being honest. It was an awful experience for my DH and my poor DS and his best friend were really upset. My DH actually took them to a local toy store in West Hartford instead and bought them each a small Lego set because he felt so bad..

I found your review to be very helpful. Thank you!

 

[mykidslovesdisney]

I'd second the run don't go. We had friends that also attended the Hartford one. They did get in but said it was wall to wall people. She also told of people being turned away. I had planned on going w/ my dc but changed my mind - too crowded for me!

I see it is coming back soon but don't plan on going.

 

[BlackDiamonds]

For those of you going to Lego Kidsfest Sunday, please come by and say hi!

We are a kid rock band, age 8-12 and we love Lego!

Hope to see you there

You can find a music video on youtube, Black Diamonds Almost Famous and we also have a facebook fan page: BlackDiamondsBand

AJ, Henry, Nick and Wolfgang

 

[Kristin7701]

We went to Legofest today at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston. I'll start by saying that my 5 year old son loved it. Other than that, it was really terrible. We had the 9am to 2pm slot. We arrived at 10am and had to wait for 45 minutes in a long snaking line. Then we learn that we have to check our 10 month old's stroller. Excellent. People were just packed in there and it was pretty overwhelming for our son at first. He wanted to race a Lego car so we waited in another long line for that. After paying $54 for our family of 4 (including $5 for our baby), it was insulting that they were charging an extra $2 for the race. Moreover, one woman in front of us just paid for 4 races, so her son got to race 4 times in a row. There was just really poor control over everything. They had a "passport" program where you visit various vendors to get your passport stamped for a prize at the end. Yup, you guessed -- a sticker. The crowd definitely started thinning around lunch time and it was much more enjoyable toward the end of the time slot. One cool area was where the kids could get a small green Lego base and then build anything they wanted to, to be added to a huge map of the U.S. (they said basketball court-sized; it probably wasn't that big but it was big).

I hate to sound like Debbie Downer but for what you pay, the value is not there. Your child will probably love it and be oblivous to it all. So just know what you are getting yourself into! And leave the baby at home.

 

[Nicsmom]

Well, against popular opinion, we went any way. It wasn't too bad. We bought our tix on line before we went. We arrived at 8:45, waited in a small line. Was a little annoyed that we didn't actually get into the exhibit until about 9:30. When we got inside, we went to the left, a lot of people went right. I would say it was not crowded for the first hour. We did the map, which was fun. Took lots of fun pics of the models. My son wanted to do the train ride. So, we went to the other side which was packed. I, too, did not enjoy paying $3 for the train and the race cars. For the cost of admission you really don't get much. My son had a great time. I think if I did it again, I would leave my DD16 at home and buy the extra ticket for the Lego Club Meeting at least they got cool T shirts. We got nothing, not even the sticker for completing the passport. Oh and the food was very expensive: $9 hamburgers. It was fun talking to the kids that made models for the contest. They were adorable. If you decide to go today, go to the left, don't expect too much, bring a snack and eat afterwards and bring your wallet for the Lego store and extras. Oh yeah and we bought this very cool, hard to find, Christmas Village. Have fun!!

 

[karenos]

Thanks for the reviews. I was thinking of taking my DS 7 for his birthday since it is coming to NYC in November. I might rethink this plan.

karenos

 

[lego]

I have to agree with the other reviews posted. We went today in Boston (to the tune of $100 for our family!) and it was ridiculous (we did get in, so I can comment about what it's like after you get your very overpriced tickets!). I expected it to be crowded, of course, but I also expected that for the ticket price there would be more to do and/or that it would be better organized. We did everything right--got there early, got tickets for the early Sunday morning time slot....

Every activity had HUGE lines (you even had to wait in a long line to get your "passport" stamped at each of the stations--insane since the "surprise" at the end was your choice of a sticker or a silly band--that's right ONE!! That was a surprise alright--I wasn't expecting a lego set or anything but a sticker?? After waiting in lines for 8 stamps with three excited kids?). Most activities had an extra fee (and hour long lines) and the food available included $7 hot dogs.

My oldest (7) is a HUGE Lego nut and he was so disappointed. Other than some (admittedly very cool) life-sized lego creations (he loved the Star Wars things), there really wasn't much opportunity for him to do much. Yes, there were activities there but the lines were so long that even the most die-hard lego fan couldn't outlast them. If they are going to charge that much for tickets, they should either restrict the number of people going in so you can actually enjoy yourself, or decrease the number of "sales" booths (a HUGE chunk of the floor was taken up with a Honda display--full of minivans, of course!) and increase the number of lego activities. Even the store had an hour long line to get in!!! That's right--you could wait a full hour (or more) for the privilege of giving MORE money to Lego! The conference center was filled to capacity with cranky parents and melting down kids...not a pleasant sight.

Needless to say, we didn't spend a very long time at the event and salvaged our morning by wandering nearby Newbury Street. You know a kid's event is bad if your 4 year old would rather go shopping than stay there! I think a conversation I had in the bathroom on our way out sums it up--one woman commented that it was ironic that the only place with no line was the ladies' room. Another laughed and agreed, saying, "AND it was the most pleasant part of our trip!" That's for sure! Sorry for my rant, I'm not usually a complainer but after spending so much money and having such a buildup....this was a real disappointment for our family!

 

[atmail35]

I took my 5 YO DD and went with SIL and DN. I thought it was a disaster. We had the Sat. afternoon session and got there around 3:20 and it was mobbed. The passport thing was a joke. I tried to get DD's prize at 5:00 and was told they were all gone. They offered her a tattoo (which we already grabbed at the Rainforest Cafe Table). She was very disappointed. I mean if I knew it was so lame I wouldn't have bothered.

My advice...check at the prize table to see what they are offering and if they have stock. One worker told me they actually were giving out a minifigure.

DD's favorite things were seeing the Buzz and Woody life size structure, the bounce houses and the train ride.

The train ride was a joke...$3 and they went around this tiny area 2-3 times. Seriously, you pay $34 for an adult/kid and they want $3 for a kid to ride the train?

The lines for the Mural and buiding areas were long....too long that DD said she'd skip it.

I really think people should send them an e-mail to complain. They need to structure this thing better so people don't feel like it's a waste of money. I plan on writing a complaint letter with some suggestions. I wish I had saved my $100 (between tickets, rides, parking and dinner) and bought a Lego set!

Oh and the line for the "store" was huge....I'm not entirely sure why people were waiting in that line when there are 3 Lego stores in MA. That definitely was crazy!

I guess in the end DD thought it was OK. She did exclaim, "Oh my gosh!" when we stepped foot inside.

My favorite was a sign by the area when you walked in, "Quiet please, meeting in process". Yeah right, some company had a conference/meeting downstairs and there were tons of excited/screaming kids in the lobby!

 

[jzesty]

WE went to the Lego Kidsfest today in Boston and what a scam! My 3 kids are huge lego nuts and very excited to be going. Within the first 10 minutes of trying to move throughout the exhibit, they wanted to leave! There was no structure to the event. Any "staff" member we asked a question to we received the same answer "I don't know." After waiting in endless lines to get the passports stamped the big prize was either a single silly band or tatoo - neither had a lego theme to them. I was told to put a name, phone number and email address on the back of the passport for the door prizes but was only allowed to enter 1 per family. We're a family of 5 paid for 5 but could only enter the door prize drawing once.

We were not the only unhappy family there, many we grumbling about what a scam the whole event was. My family will never attend another Legofest event. To all who are thinking of attending - take the money you would spend on tickets and buy your child a new lego set. My kids were so disappointed that we ended up going to Walmart and buying each a small lego set.

 

[MelAnderson]

Oh, I was going to buy tickets for DS8 and my sister to attend the one in Chicago over Halloween weekend. But, after the comments, I think that I will skip it now. It sounds like the attendance needs to be even more limited. Thanks for all of the honest postings!

 

[mooglegirl]

Long lines, too much non-Lego related, clueless employees. I have sent an email to the President and National Sales Manager of the event

Michael J. Guinan
President & National Sales Manager
860.953.0444, ext. 145

and copied

Michelle DiLuzio
Event Coordinator
860.953.0444, ext. 144

Their emails are available on the Lego Kids Fest website (the Disboard won't let me post them).

I don't expect to hear back from them (after all, they already have my money), but I think they need to hear just how disappointing the event was.

 

[atmail35]

I drafted my letter last night and plan on e-mailing it today. The event is run by a 3rd party so I may send a copy to the Lego Group. I think Lego should know how poor the event is. I spend a lot of money on Lego products and honestly, this event kind of turned me off to Lego a bit. I think it sort of tarnishes the reputation of The Lego Group, KWIM?

It was like, "how little can we provide and take $$ from kids and parents who love lego".