Home > Destinations > San Diego Family Vacations > LEGOLAND, California Planning and Tips LEGOLAND, California Planning & Tips OverviewAttractions Hotels Rentals Restaurants MapReviews You can do LEGOLAND California in a day, but you won't be able to hit every single ride, attraction and show, especially if you also plan to take in Sea Life Aquarium and/or the Water Park. If your kids are between the ages of 4 and 10, two days is ideal. The younger and older may experience most of what's on offer for them in one day and would probably be better off spending any additional days at San Diego's other myriad attractions. Though the resort's food offerings are, like at all theme parks, overpriced, they are pretty decent quality-wise. Outside food and drinks are not allowed (except for water bottles, food for special dietary needs and baby food, the latter of which can be heated up in the microwave at Fun Town's Baby Care Center). Even if you're not planning to visit the Water Park, bring extra clothes for the kids and plan your own attire accordingly.
Water is a major feature in this park, and you're unlikely to stay dry. Walking shoes are a must. If the day is even remotely sunny, bring sunscreen and a hat. Both can be bought inside the park, but not on the cheap. Lockers can be rented in The Beginning, Pirate Shores, and the Water Park. LEGOLAND is pricey, no doubt about it. When trip-planning, do a determined search for deals. Restaurants, such as Denny's locations in Southern California, sometimes give coupons for free child admission with a paying adult. You may find discounts on California Tourism's Visit California Web site, and the Entertainment Book usually includes coupons. If you ride Amtrak to San Diego County, buy a package deal that includes discounted park admission. LEGOLAND, as with all major southern California attractions, sees its largest crowds during spring-break season in March and April, the summer months between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends, and the Christmas and New Years' holiday season. Weekends are busier than weekdays.
The park closes periodically throughout the year on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, except during summer. Check the Web site when trip-planning to confirm operating info for your preferred visit dates. Temperatures in coastal Carlsbad tend to be consistently comfortable. Expect summer days to be in the 70s and winter days to be in the 60s. You might get some rain in the late fall, winter or early spring. LEGOLAND California sits just east of the I-5 freeway in Carlsbad. Most out-of-state visitors fly into San Diego International Airport (SAN), about a 40-minute drive from Carlsbad, in good traffic. There is also a closer, little-known airport: Three miles from LEGOLAND, McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD/CRQ) offers United Express commuter flights to/from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), 90 miles away. Assuming you'll be using SAN: If your hotel doesn't provide free airport transport, a number of private shuttles provide door-to-door service; see a list on SAN's Web site. A terrific way to get to the area is via rail;
the Amtrak Surfliner makes a stop at nearby Oceanside, and from there, LEGOLAND is reached via two buses. Alternatively, a cab from the station to the park takes about 13 minutes. If you won't be staying within walking distance to LEGOLAND or are planning to take in other San Diego area sites during your trip, you'll probably want to have your own car or rent one. That said, some Carlsbad resorts offer free shuttle service to a limited area, so, if you're going to stay local, you might find that going car-less will work out fine. North County Transportation District (NCTD) runs buses throughout the area. An Amtrak train (closest stop: Oceanside) and the NCTD Coaster train, which stops at two stations in Carlsbad, can get you to various points in San Diego. For more information, please visit LEGOLAND California's website. Read our LEGOLAND, California Reviews Read more about LEGOLAND, California Family Vacations 18 Top-Rated Family Hotels in LEGOLAND, California Hilton Garden Inn Carlsbad BeachLEGOLAND California HotelHyatt house San Diego/Carlsbad LEGOLAND, California Family Hotels
We'll be making our way to Disney and Legoland in December. For Disney we'll arrive at SNA airport. I want to avoid having to travel back to SNA from Legoland. What is the closest airport to Legoland/Carlsbad? One destination mentioned in this post There is a small commuter airport in Carlsbad, near LEGOLAND, McClellan-Palomar Airport. They have a few flights a day to LAX (no other destination currently). For a major airport, your two main options are going back to John Wayne (aka SNA) or head south to the San Diego Lindbergh Field (SAN), they are about the same distance (and time) away from LEGOLAND. Long Beach (LGB) is a bit father away, but if you are a JetBlue fan, something to look into. If looking at Public Transit or an Shuttle Van, I would head to Lindbergh Field, since it is in the same county as LEGOLAND. Ridiculously short time in LA - What do do Turning up late to a campground @ Burney Falls SP Flying into LA and driving to palm springs
Driving Sand Diego to Palm Springs on Saturday Hotel Suggestion: Baseball game then 7am flight 6 days in LA - travel video What do you think of my one week itinerary? Pre-purchased lounge access, and which terminal Looking for a hotel for 3 nights in early October Movie Star Homes Tour vacation rental in Santa Barbara HipHop/Dancehall night clubs in L.A See All California Conversations Best places to visit in California California weather in December .... ??? Hotels along I-5 between San Fran and LA Southwest airlines - wanna get away fare Luxury Hotels on Northern Pacific Ca Coast or Or coast convertible rental for a coastal drive Driving from San Francisco to Vancouver Car Rental Las Vegas to Los Angeles - Help Orlando Family Vacations > LEGOLAND, Florida Planning and Tips LEGOLAND, Florida Planning & Tips The best seasons to visit are fall and spring when it's pleasantly warm, but not rainy (and not too crowded).
The rain appears in force May through August along with the heat, making the region hot and steamy. Hurricanes also arrive summer into fall. The summer months see rain every afternoon appearing for about thirty minutes and then stopping. Florida winters are unpredictable, ranging from mild to very cold. If you're planning a visit during winter, check the national forecast on a daily basis before you travel. Good to know: light rainy days drive the crowds indoors, so guess what that means for your family at LEGOLAND Florida? Enjoy having the park to yourself. Guests headed for LEGOLAND Florida will likely fly into the behemoth airport better known as Orlando International. With a whopping 197-direct destinations, it's relatively easy to get into Orlando and get home easily. Added bonus: many of the Orlando hotels offer shuttles -- huge, comfy buses -- that deliver you straight to the resort. Orlando International is about an hour from LEGOLAND Florida. A much smaller airport that might work depending on your home-airport is the Orlando Sanford International Airport offering 43-direct destinations and located about an hour and a half from LEGOLAND Florida.
The Tampa International Airport offers 60-direct destinations and is about an hour from LEGOLAND Florida. If you're up for an adventure, consider taking Amtrak to LEGOLAND Florida. Can you sleep on the train? Yes, yes and yes! And three course meals are included. Simply reserve a roomette -- which is a private space that sleeps two -- and enjoy an old-fashioned pleasure. My family and I boarded in Virginia, ate wonderful meals in the dining car, slept to the cozy rocking motion of the train and debarked in Winter Haven. (In hindsight, I wish we'd disembarked in Orlando; the Winter Haven stop was quite isolated and made it complicated getting to our rental car.) Overall I give Amtrak 5 stars -- my husband, kids and I had a blast. Rental cars are a must in Orlando. Transportation for America recently rated Orlando the number-one worst city for walking; few sidewalks and nighttime drinking appear to be the two biggest culprits. But to save big, consider taking a hotel shuttle from Orlando International to your resort and using the hotel's shuttle system to get to activities near your resort.
You might consider renting a car just for the day you visit LEGOLAND Florida to save on the daily rental car fee and the hotel's parking costs. Many resorts have rental car offices in their lobbies, making it a breeze to rent a car. Good to know: LEGOLAND Florida offers a shuttle from the Orlando Premium Outlets (8200 Vineland Avenue Orlando, FL 32821). Make reservations on the LEGOLAND Florida website. The shuttle leaves the outlets at 9 a.m. and returns when the park closes. It's a little pricey, but it might work for your situation. By using the shuttle, you'll save on renting a car and paying LEGOLAND Florida parking. The beautiful Florida sunshine requires several items for a successful day: sunblock, hats, bug spray and no-itch cream (bugs are big business in this state). Small misting bottles to cool down cranky kids waiting in line might lighten a bad mood. Dress lightly -- the park has minimal shade in some areas and even on mild days the park is blazing. And, lastly, do your feet a huge favor and wear great walking shoes.
Even if you've been to many amusement parks, it's easy to forget the time-tested method for getting the most out of your day. The night before your visit, STUDY the LEGOLAND Florida map. Arrive at the 10 a.m. opening and trek immediately to the far end of the park to the fun Flying School ride (unless you have a toddler then head for the DUPLO Village). You've avoided the crowds since you'll meander the rest of the day from the back of the park to the front. Also, when you first arrive, get the times for the Pirates' Cove water ski shows and the 4D Wells Fargo Fun Town theater movies and incorporate them into your day. LEGOLAND Florida is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. -- and on weekends and really busy afternoons the park stays open until 6 p.m. In the summer and on certain holidays, the park stays open until 8 or even 9 p.m. Check the LEGOLAND Florida website for specific information on their hours. When you pack, include t-shirts, shorts, bathing suits, and, if you're visiting in the summer, ponchos and a pocket umbrella.
(Purchase your ponchos at home for better prices.) Again, winter can swing wildly from wonderful warmth to freezing cold (on some strange years) so pack accordingly. Make your child's birthday one to remember by having a birthday party at LEGOLAND Florida. With a group of ten or more, you can choose the Birthday Express and receive a discounted ticket price, a birthday cake and more. Or you might go all out and choose the Ultimate Birthday Party and receive an even deeper discounted ticket price, a private party room, a cake and more. A worthwhile plan if you're traveling with ten or more people. Lastly, if you have an Apple or Android smartphone, be sure to download the official LEGOLAND Florida app to make the most of your visit. The app allows you to quickly check show times, map the closest ride or restaurant, and find your car at the end of the day! For more information, please visit LEGOLAND Florida's website. Read our LEGOLAND, Florida Reviews Read more about LEGOLAND, Florida Family Vacations