Operator unveils Legoland details
The operator of a planned Legoland an hour west of Danbury unveiled planned exhibits and activities, ahead of an anticipated spring 2020 opening of the theme park that will include a 250-room hotel with room themes pegged to varying Lego sets.
Located in Goshen, N.Y., in Orange County and totaling 150 acres, the $350 million Legoland New York Resort will be the largest Legoland built yet, with others located outside Orlando and San Diego, as well as six other countries. The park will run seasonally from spring to fall, employing
1,300 people in season with a year-round base workforce of 500.
Lego has its U.S. headquarters in Enfield, with the brand anticipating the
2019 release of a new Lego movie even as it absorbs a hit from the bankruptcy closures of Toys R Us stores nationally.
Legoland New York will initially include more than 50 rides, shows and attractions including eight themed “lands” built of Lego bricks, along with a model of the park made of more than 135,000 bricks to help steer visitors. Exhibits include a ride in which one is made to feel like a Lego minifigure traveling through the manufacturing process; a “Miniland” featuring a panorama of cities; and a “Bricktopia” allowing kids to work with model builders.
Information is online at www.legoland.com/new-york , with job applications already being accepted on the website ranging from education to character costume designers and park maintenance.
Legoland is run by Merlin Entertainments, which in addition to Legoland runs smaller Legoland Discovery Centers in Boston, Philadelphia and elsewhere; as well as Sea Life parks and Madame Tussaud’s wax museums in New York City and other locales.
“On New York, we are pleased with the progress on the project,” said Anne Francoise Nesmes, chief financial officer of Merlin Entertainments, speaking two weeks ago on a conference call. We’ve cleared the site, we are leveling the site — we (are) on track for a 2020 opening.”