PlanJam!From your screen to the scene

Even if you don’t have sons with more Legos than Toys R Us like I do, you and your family will enjoy yourselves at Legoland. From the exciting Dragon roller coaster to the extremely mellow Fairy Tale Brook, Legoland is a fun outing for toddlers to tweens, and even for adults.

I started taking my oldest son to Legoland monthly around his 2nd birthday and was pleasantly surprised at how much there is for a little kid to do there. When my kids were toddlers, their favorite rides were the helicopters, the airplanes, the Safari Jeeps, and the Duplo Town train. As they got a little braver and taller, their new favorites were the Jr. Driving Course and the Royal Joust. Around age 5, they started riding the Dragon Coaster, Wave Racers, Bionicle Blaster (think Disneyland’s tea cup ride, only made out of Lego Bionicle pieces) and the Knight’s Tournament.

Most adults will marvel at the intricate Lego models in Miniland. There are reproductions of many major cities, such as New York City, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco. The details of the buildings are absolutely amazing, from the Victorians in S.F. to the marching band in front of the Capitol that actually plays music. Take the Coast Cruise (no height requirement) to see the models of Mt. Rushmore, the Sydney Operahouse, and the Taj Mahal. No trip to Legoland is complete without strolling through Miniland and admiring the miniature architecture.

If it’s warm outside, bring your child’s swimsuit and a towel and let them get soaked in the new Pirate Shores area. Water trickles, sprinkles, and dumps out of many different gadgets that the kids can control. There are also water slides and rides in this area, so prepare to get very wet!

When you’re exhausted, but the kids still have energy, head over to either Duplo Town or the Hideaways, depending on your child’s age. At both of these places, you can sit back and relax while your little munchkin runs off the rest of his crazies. Beware: there is no gate at Duplo Town, so keep an eye on your child in case he wants to wander off. When it’s very hot out and you want to sit in the air conditioning, take the kids to the Build and Test area, where they can check out wheels and build their own cars to race against other kids. Next door is a Duplo room where toddlers can play with every type of Duplo ever made.

One of the best things about Legoland (especially compared to Disneyland) is that you can go on an “off” day and not sit in lines for hours. The last few times we’ve gone have been days when it was either a school day or the weather was a bit iffy. It was totally worth it because most of the lines were 10 minutes or less. However, if you go on a school holiday or when the weather is gorgeous, prepare to wait in line. The waits still won’t be as long as at Disneyland, though.

Another bonus at Legoland is that the food is better than most other amusement parks. It has gotten a bit more expensive over the last few years, but your pass gets you a 20% discount. My favorite restaurant is the Garden Restaurant, which serves healthy fare like turkey or tuna sandwiches, salads, and soups. The Fun Town Market Restaurant is also pretty good—you can order Chicken Stir Fry or make your own salad at the large salad bar. Other dining options include a medieval-themed barbecue restaurant, a pizza restaurant, and several hamburger, hot dog, and ice cream stands.

From my six years of going to Legoland, I’ve figured out a few money-saving tricks. First of all, if you have preschool-aged kids, especially Lego-lovin’ boys, I highly recommend buying a Membership Plus annual pass. For about $10/month, you get free parking ($10/car) and admission, plus 20% off dining and 10% off purchases. I always packed lots of snacks and drinks, which you’re allowed to bring into the park, as well as our Legoland cups, which can be refilled for only .99 instead of buying a soft drink for $3. Once inside the park, if you bring a bucket and shovel, you’ll save yourself $5 at the Dino Dig, where kids dig in the sand to uncover dinosaur fossils.

Opening in March is a whole new area of Legoland, Land of Adventure, which is set in 1920s Egypt and will feature the park’s first dark ride, Lost Kingdom Adventure. You can bet that my family will be there!