‘GAME CHANGER’

Legoland Discovery previews at mall

A little brick is about to have a big impact on family entertainment in the Philadelphia area.

Legoland Discovery Center Philadelphia, an indoor Lego playground, will officially open its doors to the public on Thursday, April 6, at 11 a.m. after a celebratory event at Plymouth Meeting Mall. The indoor Lego playground, which held a preview open house Friday, features 10 Lego play zones, an interactive Lego-themed ride, a 4-D theater, and Miniland, where iconic Philly landmarks were recreated with 1.5 million Lego bricks.

Miniland houses landmarks such as City Hall, Boathouse Row, Independence Hall, Eakins Oval, the Phillies and Eagles stadiums, Pat’s and Geno’s, and the Art Museum (complete with Rocky climbing the steps). It captures the details of the city down to mini figures munching on soft pretzels.

A research team arrived in advance to scout the location to get a feel for the city and its landmarks. Lego master builders at workshops around the world then constructed the buildings in about a six-month time span. Liberty Place, one of the biggest buildings in Miniland, consists of 17,000 bricks and took nine builders 930 hours to complete.

“Our creative team is absolutely amazing. They have been here for the past six weeks installing,” said Blaine McCurry, marketing manager for Legoland Discovery Center Philadelphia.

The attraction at Plymouth Meeting Mall is Merlin Entertainments’ first Legoland Discovery Center in Pennsylvania, the fourth Discovery Center on the East Coast, ninth in the United States and 17th in the world.

“I think it’s a pretty big game changer for family entertainment offerings in the area,” McCurry said. “The other offerings are wonderful, and there are a lot of great attractions, LEGOLAND » PAGE 4

GENE WALSH — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA A night time view of Philadelphia landmarks at Legoland Discovery Center Philadelphia’s Miniland in the Plymouth Meeting Mall Friday.

GENE WALSH — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Alex and Gavin Reagan, of Collegeville, look over a scale model of Lincoln Financial Field at Legoland Discovery Center Philadelphia in the Plymouth Meeting Mall Friday.