The boy turned 10 on July 6th. The Chef and I wanted to do something special for him that he would remember for always so we decided to road trip to Legoland in Toronto. He was dying to go to Legoland and when I was surfing the web (gnarly doode) I saw that Toronto had their very own LL. I google mapped the drive and found the trip to be a little over 4 hours. His birthday was decided. We would be headed to Canada. We got up early on our first day in Canada and mapped the car to Legoland. Imagine our surprise when the directions had us turning into a mall. Did I not read something right? Was Legoland not in Toronto? Turns out I did NOT in fact read something right. Legoland Discovery Center is in Toronto and Legoland Discovery Center SUCKS.We walked into the mall all looking confused. How could there possible be rides and legos and all of the amazing things Legoland offers, inside a strip mall? The answer came to us very quickly after we bought our tickets and waited in line to start the 'tour.'
We realized that we had been hosed. Legoland Discovery Zone was a glorified Chuck E. Cheese. There were two baby rides (as the boy called them), three lego short films (one was silent? ummm wtf?), and a car building race area. Other than that there was a play area that kids had to wear socks in and if they didn't have them they could buy them for $5 (guess who bought socks? raises hand) and a few lego models as seen above. Twenty minutes in and the boy came up to the Chef and I "Is this it? I mean it's cool and all but it's kinda lame" he said obviously trying not to hurt our feelings. The Chef and I totally agreed and remembered that as we pulled in to the mall for Legoland we saw signs for Wonderland, Toronto's amusement park. The kids went back to playing in the janky beta mall legoland and the Chef & I furiously googled admission prices for Wonderland. Wonderland would save the birthday!Legoland Discovery Zone was a total disappointment. The only people who should go to Legoland Discovery Zone are kids who are 4 and under.
Any kid older than that is going to see that it's a total sham. Rating: 🔪 out of 🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪Home > Destinations > Orlando Family Vacations > LEGOLAND, Florida Planning and Tips LEGOLAND, Florida Planning & Tips OverviewAttractions Hotels Rentals Restaurants MapReviews 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.