LEGOLAND...5 HOURS??

[MrsTurnerLovesDisney]

Hi All,

My family is going on a big trip down to Disney week after thanksgiving 2017 and my brother & sis in law want to take my nephew to LEGOLAND. Me and DH are considering going with our DD. We will arrive in Orlando on Saturday after Thanksgiving (we are driving) and had planned on getting to Disney around 11ish but are now considering going straight to LEGOLAND.

We figure we will stay til about 5pm so we have time to explore our hotel at Disney and have a chance to get to bed early since we will have an early day on Sunday.

So is 5 hours at LEGOLAND with 2 toddlers doable? I know we can't do everything nor do we want to just want to cover the basics. Post thanksgiving is it nuts with locals?

The online map is a bit hard to understand what rides or what so what are you must dos there.

 

[Mom2SamandJames]

We were at LegoLand the day before Thanksgiving in 2015, and the crowds were very small. You should be able to do all that your toddlers want in the time frame you have allotted.

 

[TwoMisfits]

With toddlers, you'll probably skip all the "schools" (driving, flying, boating) and roller coasters, so that helps. With a toddler, you will probably want to make sure you do the Duplo Valley and its rides/play areas, the fountain play and ball shooting areas (each "land" has a toddler play area, usually - pick and choose your favorites as you walk by), the Miniland (enjoyable for all to see), the old Cypress Gardens (again something enjoyable for all), the Creation Zone (air conditioning - yeah!), and the 4D movie and/or the waterski show (again enjoyable for all). You'd want to grab some apple fries (best snack in the park) and enjoy.

If it were me, I'd intersperse toddler-specific play and zones with some of the "good for all" attractions, so the adults don't feel like ripping their hair out by hour 3 - adults need a little entertainment, too...

 

[MrsTurnerLovesDisney]

thank you both for the input! I guess I'm use to the over planning and plotting of Disney that going in somewhat blind has me concerned but it looks like a neat little park and I think we will enjoy it.

 

[glassslippergirl]

One of my favorite parts of Legoland is that you don't have to plan as heavily as you do for WDW. You may be selling Legoland short with just 5 hours. If you're driving, can you just leave an hour or two earlier to give yourself some extra time? There's a lot of play areas that it's hard to pry toddlers away from. Definitely eat in the car on the way to the park to save time (also because there's not much worth eating in the park). I know you mentioned leaving early, but in the holiday season they have a special Holiday Bricktacular event with extended hours and fireworks on the weekends. If it's happening that weekend, it's worth checking out (fireworks are pretty early that time of year, and Legoland always gives you glasses so fireworks look like exploding Lego bricks-- super cool).

 

[MrsTurnerLovesDisney]

@glassslippergirl that does sound neat about the fireworks but I don't think a 2 & 3 year old will have the stamina for all of that but we will see
and we are driving but coming that morning from near Pensacola so we will be leaving super early as is. I just wanted to make sure that in that amount of time we could at least do several attractions and not feel like we paid all that money to go and only did 3 things.

And good tip about eating in the car we will most likely do that because when we arrive I will be starved and ready to eat or hurt someone!

 

[TwoMisfits]

@glassslippergirl that does sound neat about the fireworks but I don't think a 2 & 3 year old will have the stamina for all of that but we will see
and we are driving but coming that morning from near Pensacola so we will be leaving super early as is. I just wanted to make sure that in that amount of time we could at least do several attractions and not feel like we paid all that money to go and only did 3 things.

And good tip about eating in the car we will most likely do that because when we arrive I will be starved and ready to eat or hurt someone!

Make sure you buy the cheap tickets (either the $35 PTA ones if you're certain you'll go or the buy one-get one ones)...will make it feel like not "all that money"...

 

[MrsTurnerLovesDisney]

@TwoMisfits where do you get those? All I saw online were $70 tickets!

 

[TwoMisfits]

There's a thread on this board - I think it's call "$30 Legoland tickets - are these for real" from last year (the tickets are $35 now for all of 2016). For those tickets, you have to buy them 2-3 days in advance and you have to go the day you state you're going (no refund), so you'll want to be certain you're going before you buy them. If you aren't certain, there are Lego Magazine BOGO coupons everywhere (and I'm pretty sure an online link, too)...paying that little for tickets will make you really appreciate the park (and give you money for the apple fries - 1-2 apple fries for 4 people will be plenty

Here's the link to the thread...http://www.disboards.com/threads/30-legoland-tickets-is-this-for-real.3419462/

 

[tots05]

Make sure you buy the cheap tickets (either the $35 PTA ones if you're certain you'll go or the buy one-get one ones)...will make it feel like not "all that money"...

I have a 10 and 5, is legoland is good park to go for those age groups? We also got some buy one get one free coupons at the lego store a month ago and it says we can use those in Florida. Can this be good for use at the ticket booth at the park?

Any tips and advise would be appreciated. Never been to Legoland but the youngest is very much asking us to bring them this year. We are going there 2nd week of July this year if that matters.

 

[TwoMisfits]

I have a 10 and 5, is legoland is good park to go for those age groups? We also got some buy one get one free coupons at the lego store a month ago and it says we can use those in Florida. Can this be good for use at the ticket booth at the park?

Any tips and advise would be appreciated. Never been to Legoland but the youngest is very much asking us to bring them this year. We are going there 2nd week of July this year if that matters.

Perfect age group to go - the BOGO coupon should be able to be used at the park. Since you'll be there in July, I'd do the "schools" 1st (driving - there are 2 types, 1 for each of your kids' ages, then boating, then flying although your 5 year old might be a touch small for that one). While back there, I'd sign up for the free afternoon mindstorm and lego classes for your kids (aka - an indoor activity when you'll want to be out of the heat) and then I'd wander the park one way or the other, hitting what your kids and you like. In July, it will get really hot by 2pm on the asphalt, so I'd do the classes, the game zone, and the 4d movie and pirate show (and the water ride where you will get soaked) during the late afternoon. Lunches aren't great (not bad, just not great), but the apple fries are awesome, so plan for some of those - 1-2 fries for 4 people is all you need.

 

[Gillyrose779]

We have gone the day before Thanksgiving 2014 and late May 2016. I was surprised how short the lines were both times! Less than 10 min. on everything but the driving school (which was lame anyways). We purchased the PTA tickets at $35 each and was there from 10am-5pm and did everything at least once- most rides multiple times.

Hubby was a bit bored as he is used to Disney but I think it's a great change up from Disney. You really can't beat the cheap tickets and no lines.

 

[MrsTurnerLovesDisney]

what are PTA tickets? Where do you get those at? All I've seen online are $70 tickets which would make it a bit harder to swing

 

[TwoMisfits]

what are PTA tickets? Where do you get those at? All I've seen online are $70 tickets which would make it a bit harder to swing

See the link to the thread I posted 5 messages up...

 

[MrsTurnerLovesDisney]

thanks somehow I completely missed that post last week!

 

[tots05]

Perfect age group to go - the BOGO coupon should be able to be used at the park. Since you'll be there in July, I'd do the "schools" 1st (driving - there are 2 types, 1 for each of your kids' ages, then boating, then flying although your 5 year old might be a touch small for that one). While back there, I'd sign up for the free afternoon mindstorm and lego classes for your kids (aka - an indoor activity when you'll want to be out of the heat) and then I'd wander the park one way or the other, hitting what your kids and you like. In July, it will get really hot by 2pm on the asphalt, so I'd do the classes, the game zone, and the 4d movie and pirate show (and the water ride where you will get soaked) during the late afternoon. Lunches aren't great (not bad, just not great), but the apple fries are awesome, so plan for some of those - 1-2 fries for 4 people is all you need.

thank you so much! Just wondering, can we bring outside food to Legoland like Disney World?

 

[SunTravels]

thank you so much! Just wondering, can we bring outside food to Legoland like Disney World?

I have heard here that you aren't supposed to bring food so we always leave a cooler in the car and take a break at lunch time to eat in the car. However, I have seen people with small coolers and bagged lunch all over the park, so I don't think that rule in enforced.

Hi All,

My family is going on a big trip down to Disney week after thanksgiving 2017 and my brother & sis in law want to take my nephew to LEGOLAND. Me and DH are considering going with our DD. We will arrive in Orlando on Saturday after Thanksgiving (we are driving) and had planned on getting to Disney around 11ish but are now considering going straight to LEGOLAND.

We figure we will stay til about 5pm so we have time to explore our hotel at Disney and have a chance to get to bed early since we will have an early day on Sunday.

So is 5 hours at LEGOLAND with 2 toddlers doable? I know we can't do everything nor do we want to just want to cover the basics. Post thanksgiving is it nuts with locals?

The online map is a bit hard to understand what rides or what so what are you must dos there.

We went the Sunday after Thanksgiving in 2015 and it was dead. I had a 3 and 4 year old at the time and both times we have visited 4.5 - 5 hours was more than enough. We didn't do everything in that time, but we did accomplish a lot and our kids were tired by the end. My kids love Legoland, there are many things targeted to that age group, and I think it's worth a trip. AAA also has decent ticket deals.

 

[MrsTurnerLovesDisney]

@SunTravels
thank you so much for your advice! We are actually looking forward to trying to go now. I think it will be a neat and different experience.

 

[want2bamommy]

I am so glad to see this thread. I was trying to figure out if we should go even though our schedule only allows about 5 hours, as well. My daughter's will be 6 and 3 at that time. I know they will enjoy our time there.

 

[MrsTurnerLovesDisney]

I am so glad to see this thread. I was trying to figure out if we should go even though our schedule only allows about 5 hours, as well. My daughter's will be 6 and 3 at that time. I know they will enjoy our time there.

glad it could help you out. we have ended up changing our plans and will be arriving the night before in Orlando but still plan on hitting LEGOLAND at opening and staying about 5 hours