Maximum age for LegoLand?

[ruadisneyfan2]

We'll be visiting CA next summer and ds9 wants to visit Legoland based on a recommendation from a friend of his. He will be 10 when we visit and older ds will 13.5.
Is this too old? Seems like many rides are geared for the younger crowd.
Is it worth spending a day there?

I feel bad to tell him no but we're also trying to cram in 2 days of DL, a visit to Mariposa Grove and a few days in Yosemite in only 9 nts.
It's a lot of driving and don't want to waste time if it's all kiddie rides.

Any feedback is appreciated.

TIA!!!

 

[lcasa]

It is really for little ones- 10 would be the max for the rides - esp if your kids are into thrill rides. Unless: they're lego nuts. My son just turned 13 and he enjoys legoland still - but mostly because he likes the rooms where you build or learn to use mindstorms. But we live 1.5 hrs away and got free annual passes with a $100 lego purchase last summer - if I were from out of town I'd give DL another day! We've been to Legoland 2x with the APs - planning 1 more vist before they expire. We go to DL at least once a month.

Or if they really like coasters, Knotts is pretty good and close to DL. Not my cup of tea really, but the 13 year old loves the coasters (scarier than Disney's by far)

 

[brergnat]

It really does depend how "into" legos they are, in general. We just visited Legoland with my sons who are preschool age (3 and 5). The rides are sort of geared towards the 5-9 set.

BUT, there was NO shortage of kids in the "tween-early teen" group running around the park, apparently having a GREAT time.

One area that seemed to attract the most of them was Miniland USA. It's an area made up of recreations of cities/areas in the USA ENTIRELY out of legos. It's a sight to behold. Many of these preteens/teens were fascinated with the detail and were explaining to their friends how the underground magnetics allow the vehicles to move along the roads, etc. This, and the few rollercoasters/thrill rides and the Mindstorms/Bionicle building areas seem to be a huge hit with this age group.

There is also a huge water themed area called Pirate Shores. It's fun for those ages as well. There is a mini golf course (extra fee) as well there.

IF your kids are SERIOUS Lego fanatics, it's a NOT TO BE MISSED theme park, in my opinion. If I had been able to go there as a kid, I would have FLIPPED out, and even as an adult, I appreciate how cool it is. My kids are not quite there yet...a lot of the rides have a 42 or 48" requirement, and they are not that tall yet.

 

[PHXscuba]

We took my DS12 last fall. He is still very into Legos and had been hinting to go back for a long time (he went previously at age 6). He had a great time.

It's not Six Flags or even Disneyland for the "thrill ride" category. It would be like going to Sea World for the rides -- that's not why you go. You go because they do amazing things with Legos and have based some rides around them that are fun to do.

I think if your younger son really wants to go, you should explain the park concept to your older son. If he is or was into Legos, I bet he'd love to see what experts can do with them. Just don't sell it as a "ride" park.

PHXscuba