Legoland Chicago -- questions

[Hunnybee]

Hi!

Is the Legoland Discovery Center in Schaumburg worth the price of admission? We're going to Chicago next weekend with some friends -- including four kids ranging from 12 to 5. I checked out their website and it looks very cool -- but very expensive! Do you get your money's worth?

I did find a discount -- but 1 adult, get a child admission free -- through "trusted tours" online. Has anyone ever bought tickets through them? It says that the tickets are not guaranteed "during periods of high attendance". Does that mean I might buy my $40 worth of tickets and find out that there are too many people there and we can't get in? I see if I buy tickets through Legoland's website I can get about $5 off each ticket.

Help! We have 3 boys that would love this (and 1 girl that probably would too) -- but it's a lot of money. Any thoughts from people that have been there?

Thanks!

 

[preschoolmom]

We just went last weekend. We paid the online price of $5.00 off each ticket. It is very expensive for what it is. It has a cool model room that you walk through (it is the city skyline). Then you go into the jungle room. That was pretty neat. Then you exit into a "popular character" room, where you can take a few pictures with some characters (R2D2, Darth Vader, Hagrid)...

There is a short 3D movie that was okay (about 20 minutes long - maybe 15). A "factory" room that was pretty sad. An area to make and roll your own cars (it got crowded FAST - and wheels and axels were tough to get).

There is one ride, it is pretty good. It is reasonable in length, and has pretty cute detailing. That was the best part.

At the end, you exit into a store (though not as big as the Lego Store in downtown Disney).

We thought it was a one time experience. We wouldn't pay to go back. The kids (and my husband and I) enjoyed it. From start to finish - we were out of there in 2 hours. I think it was intended to be something "for the kids" during a day at the mall...

My suggestion would be to get there at open - so you can get through without too much of a crowd.

Hope this helps!

 

[JessR]

Is chicago just like the California legoland?

 

[preschoolmom]

If you mean Legoland the theme park, then No. I haven't been to the one in California - but the one in Chicago is just a glorified store. Well, maybe a bit more than a store - perhaps a "Children's Museum and a Store" - but it is pretty small. Like I said, we did absolutely everything (except eat in the cafeteria) and we were out of there in two hours.

 

[mng1310]

Legoland was nothing but a disappointment for me, and I live 20 minutes away. Take a look at the TripAdvisor reviews:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser..._Centre_Chicago-Schaumburg_Illinois.html#TOPC

Not one person thought it was really worth the money, and this place is fairly new. My review is from 8/22/08 and includes pictures.

 

[Hunnybee]

Thanks so much for all the info.! It definitely sounds like we may want to find other entertainment. I could spend a lot of money at IKEA for the price we'd pay to go to Legoland!!!!!

 

[AwaitingMagic]

We went in November. It was expensive (and I had the pay adult/child free coupon from a local paper) but my boys LOVED it. We went for my oldest son's birthday - but even my daughter liked it a lot. We were only there about 2 hours as well - that was plenty of time though. They still talk about it a lot and would love to go back - so I guess it was worth the money. I could have spent close to the $70 we paid to get in on lunch and a movie with snacks - so I think it was ok. Course, the store at the end could have been expensive - we let him pick his birthday gift there and my younger son got something small.

 

[nuke]

It is very overpriced for what it is. We went once and won't be back.
This is nothing like Legoland in CA. Nothing!

 

[Minnie824]

DD had a birthday party to go to and I stayed. I would not pay to go to it. She went on the one 'ride' about 5 times since there wasn't that much else to do. And she said it wasn't fast enough. I guess she is too used to disney. haha. We went to the 4D movie which was ok, but they didn't talk...just made noises in the movie. The played around and stuff, but to me, not much to do, not worth the money.