South Bend Tribune

World’s biggest TOYBOX

Legoland Florida’s Ferrari attraction approaches starting line

- C. A. Bridges

Starting March 8, you can build your own Ferrari. Legoland Florida is opening a new attraction, the LEGO Ferrari Build & Race Experience. Kids (and grownups) will be able to check out a life-size Ferrari 296 GTS made out of LEGO bricks and then design and test their own smaller ones before digitally racing them. The attraction also announced a new Sea Life aquarium coming next to its Winter Haven park, planned for the fall.

Want to come play? Here’s what you need to know.

What is Legoland Florida?

Like the popular colorful LEGO bricks themselves, the 150-acre Legoland theme park in Winter Haven, Florida, is always changing and building.

Florida has the second-largest Legoland in the world after the one in the U.K. There are more than 55 rides, shows and attraction­s including the Battle of Bricksburg, the Safari Trek, the Lost Kingdom Adventure, LEGO Ninjago World, the Pirate River Quest and many more, plus onsite hotels. Get your personaliz­ed driver’s license in the Ford

Driving School or build creatures in the interactiv­e LEGO DREAMZzz experience. Did you like “The LEGO Movie”? You can wander around Bricksburg and see Emmet’s apartment.

There are stunning LEGO creations from the park’s master builders and plenty of places for you and your family to try your own hands at building something new.

Legoland Florida has two other parks, the Legoland Water Park and the Peppa Pig Theme Park. The company behind Legoland, Merlin Entertainm­ent, also runs dozens of Sea Life

aquariums around the world, including Sea Life Orlando, among other attraction­s.

Legoland parks are autism-friendly, with sensory guides for each attraction and low-sensory areas where guests can rest and reset.

When does Legoland open?

The Legoland Florida resort is open 365 days a year, from at least 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. most days.

The park is usually open till 6 p.m. on the weekends, but Legoland also stays open till 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. on select days of the week throughout the year. Check the calendar to be sure.

The Peppa Pig Theme Park is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends, but on some dates the closing time may be later.

The Legoland Water Park is currently closed for the season.

How much are Legoland tickets?

One-day tickets to Legoland, the water park or the Peppa Pig park start at $74 per person, plus taxes and fees, if bought in advance, and $119 at the gate. You can pay extra and visit multiple parks the same day.

Two-day tickets start at $94 in advance, $149 at the gate. Three-day tickets start at $139 in advance, $194 at the gate.

Legoland also offers VIP packages for personal tour guides, valet parking, behind-the-scenes tours of the LEGO Master Model Builders’ Workshop, exclusive souvenirs, reserved seating at the ski show and more. VIP packages start at $400 per person.

Does Legoland have annual passes?

Legoland offers several tiers of annual passes. All of them include free parking and exclusive collectibl­es.

Elite pass, $349 or $23.25/month:

Unlimited access to Legoland, Legoland Water Park, Peppa Pig Theme Park and Sea Life Florida (no blockouts); discounts at Legoland shops and restaurant­s; discount tickets for family and friends, and admission to more than 30 other Merlin Entertainm­ent attraction­s.

Gold pass, $249 or $16.50/month:

Admission to Legoland and Legoland Water Park (blockout dates apply), admission to Sea Life Orlando, admission to Peppa Pig Theme Park for an additional $40, discounts, admission to more local attraction­s.

Silver pass, $199 or $12.99/month:

Admission to Legoland (blockout dates apply), discounts.

Bronze pass, $149:

Admission to Legoland plus select annual events (blockout dates apply); ticket discounts for family and friends.

Does Legoland let you come back if it rains?

Yes! Unlike other big theme parks, when rain or bad weather forces Legoland to close some of the rides and attraction­s, Legoland will allow you to use your ticket to come back for another visit within a year.

What is the LEGO Ferrari Build & Race Experience?

Opening March 8, the LEGO Ferrari Build & Race Experience allows visitors to build their own Ferrari race car with LEGO bricks, fine-tune it on one of three “extreme race tracks,” and digitally customize it before putting it up against other racers in a “virtual race zone.”

Younger drivers can build cars with slightly larger blocks in the LEGO Duplex build zone.

And there will be a life-size Ferrari made from LEGOs to inspire builders.

What is Sea Life Orlando?

Sea Life is the largest family of aquariums in the world. They feature immersive marine experience­s with a 360-degree tunnel that lets you stroll through a richly populated world under the sea. Sharks, manta rays, jellyfish and brightly colored fish swim around and above you with smaller habitats around the attraction.

The new Sea Life Florida Resort, currently being constructe­d next to the Legoland Florida resort in Winter Haven, is due to open this fall, according to a release from Merlin Entertainm­ent.

 ?? PIERRE DUCHARME/LAKELAND LEDGER FILE :: PHOTO ILLUSTRATI­ON BY DANI CHERCHIO/USA TODAY NETWORK, AND GETTY IMAGES ?? Legoland Florida boasts more than 55 rides, shows and attraction­s including the Battle of Bricksburg, the Safari Trek, the Lost Kingdom Adventure, LEGO Ninjago World, the Pirate River Quest and many more, plus onsite hotels.
PIERRE DUCHARME/LAKELAND LEDGER FILE :: PHOTO ILLUSTRATI­ON BY DANI CHERCHIO/USA TODAY NETWORK, AND GETTY IMAGES Legoland Florida boasts more than 55 rides, shows and attraction­s including the Battle of Bricksburg, the Safari Trek, the Lost Kingdom Adventure, LEGO Ninjago World, the Pirate River Quest and many more, plus onsite hotels.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States