A colorful map of Europe had commandeered our kitchen table. Armed with pens, scratch paper and a few glasses of red wine, my husband and I were working to come up with a realistic plan of attack. We had only been in Germany for a little less than a year, but we were already feeling the pressure to make the most of the rest of our projected time overseas with limited resources. In the end, exciting, high-profile cities like Barcelona and London, a relaxing, family-friendly Mediterranean cruise and even a trek to Disneyland Paris made the top of our wish list, but Legoland Deutschland was never a serious contender. That is, until we were invited to join another military family on a trip to celebrate their son’s 5th birthday. I had no idea how much fun we were going to have until I saw the expressions of sheer joy on our boys’ faces as we made our way to the park’s entrance. Sometimes, the most memorable adventures end up being the ones you never thought much about going on in the first place.
The most memorable adventures = the 1s you never thought about 1st. #milfam If you are considering planning a trip to Legoland Deutschland in the near future, these tips are for you. Although the brick-shaped fries and miniature European cityscapes built entirely out of Legos were pretty amazing, my favorite part about our experience at Legoland Deutschland was being able to enjoy it with good company. While we probably would have had a great time, anyway, if we had gone on our own, making memories with another family made the trip even more special. Like any relationship, we deepen bonds of friendship with the time we spend together. Our boys had a blast taking in the sights, exploring the attractions and going on rides with their buddies, and I especially enjoyed the little moments I spent getting to know my girlfriend, Lori, better. If the thought of waiting in line to spend €3 on a bottle of water makes you cringe, bring along a backpack filled with your family’s favorite snacks and beverages.
Although we were not sure whether or not they would allow us to bring them into the park, we packed fresh fruit, crackers and juice boxes, anyway. Thankfully, they ushered us through the gates without any issue, and we were able to put our euros away for tasty meals at the park’s sit-down restaurants. A Lego-themed camping barrel, that is! While we could have chosen to stay off-site in a budget hotel room with more amenities (like its own private bathroom), we wanted to see what the European “glamping” (glam + camping) craze is all about. These tiny, adorable, wine barrel-shaped houses look like they belong in The Shire; I half-expected a friendly hobbit to greet us at the door after our long journey to Legoland Feriendorf. At first, we were a little concerned about the quality of sleep — or lack thereof — we might be getting in the close quarters with two little ones, we ended up having one of the coziest, memorable nights of any of our family vacations so far.
The boys had so much fun, and my husband and I felt like kids ourselves, getting to snuggle up in the loft. When it comes to squeezing as much as I can out of our family’s tight budget, I am all about packaged deals. After doing my research and browsing the seasonal discounts only available online, we decided on a special that offered 2-day park passes, a 1 night’s stay in a camping barrel at Legoland Feriendorf, along with free parking and breakfast for what we would have paid if we had chosen to stay in a local hotel. Throughout the year, the MWR organizes discounted group trips to attractions like Legoland throughout Europe, providing round-trip transportation to service members and their families. Visit your installation’s website once a month to keep yourself up to date on the deals being offered in your community throughout the seasons. OCONUS #milfams: Use MWR for discounts on travel to save $$ abroad! If you end up enjoying your time at the park as much as we did, you have the opportunity to credit the amount you already spent on park entrance fees toward annual passes.
There are several options to choose from, and many include free entry to other Legoland attractions, aquariums and museums, along with perks like shop and restaurant discounts in the park. We have been back from our trip for just a few weeks, and our boys are already asking to go back. To be completely honest, we were surprised by Legoland Deutschland. While the food was a bit pricey (what you would expect at any amusement park), the staff was kind and helpful, the park was clean and accommodating to families with young children and the camping was plenty comfortable. This trip has definitely encouraged us to revisit our wish list and build in a little flexibility so we can make extra room for more unexpected adventures. Courtney is a military spouse, mom of 2 boys, graduate student, and part-time writer-editor for a travel & lifestyle magazine serving military families stationed in Europe. She has a heart for our troops and their families and hopes to share what little she has learned along the way to help others overcome the unique challenges of military life.
You can follow her adventures at her blog, Courtney At Home, or through her social media: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.Click to read our: Ticket Purchase Policies Some tickets may need to be pre-ordered. Please contact the Leisure Travel Office for more information. Ticket pricing and dates are subject to change without notice. These events are open to all DoD Cardholders, Military, Civilian, Contractors, Retirees, Family Members and Guests. Some offers may only be available to military service members. RoundTop, Liberty and Whitetail, PA Weekend/Holiday Extended Lift - $67Weekend/Holiday All Mountain* Package - $106 Mid-Week/Non-Holiday Extended Lift - $53 Mid-Week/Non-Holiday All Mountain* Package - $90 Any Night Lift (5-10 p.m.) - $42Any Night All Mountain Package - $83 First Class Learn to Ski or Snowboard** - $85.50 Two-hour Weekend/Holiday Tubing- $31Two-hour Mid-Week/Non-Holiday Tubing - $23 *All Mountain Packages includes a lift ticket valid on all lifts, optional class lesson and use of rentals.**First Class Learn to Ski includes Ski/Snowboard rentals, beginner's lesson, and a beginner's 8-hour lift pass.
To purchase visit MWR Leisure Travel Services at the AA Recreation Center, Bldg 3326. For questions call 410-278-4011/4907 or email: Leisure Travel Office. Discount Shawnee Mountain Ski Tickets Location: 401 Hollow Road, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301 Weekend/Holiday Lift: $48.75 Weekend/Holiday Youth (ages 18 & under): $43.25 Mid-Week/Non-Holiday Extended Lift: $39 Mid-Week Youth (ages 18 & under): $38 Ski/ Snowboard Package - $81 Includes lift ticket, rental & lesson (optional) Military Appreciation Weekend Friday-Sunday, March 17-19, 2017. Active Military and Family Members (spouse and children 18 & under) will receive Free Lift Tickets and Ski or Snowboard rentals. Retired and Reserve Military and Family Members (spouse and children 18 & under) will receive a 50% discount Lift Tickets. Valid Military and Family Member ID required. Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Final Farewell - Discount Tickets Location: Royal Farms Arena, BaltimoreCost: $23 per person WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!
Experience the Circus one last time! Prepare to blast off on an intergalactic adventure for space-age family fun! Launch into the future with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents Out Of This World™. Children of all ages can take the helm to join the Circus Space Fleet on a heroic quest of good versus evil that will let imaginations run wild with unexpected surprises and thrills at every turn. Your entire family will be amazed by this cosmic voyage as you discover the wonders of gravity-defying acrobats, orbital aerialists, majestic animals, fearless daredevils and humorous clowns. Fri, Apr 21 - 7:30 p.m. Sat, Apr 22 - 11:30 a.m.; 3:30 & 7:30 p.m. Sun, Apr 23 - 1 & 5 p.m. Fri, Apr 28 - 7:30 p.m. Sat, Apr 29 - 11:30 a.m.; Sun, Apr 30 - 1 & 5 p.m. Cesar Millan Live the "Dog Wisperer" - Discount Tickets Location: APG Federal Credit Union Arena at Harford Community College, MDTime: 4 p.m.Cost: $37.50Purchase Deadline: Wed, Mar 29, 2017