After years of planning and building, LEGOland finally opened its doors to the public on Oct. 15 in Winter Haven, Florida.  This LEGOland is one of two locations in the United States, and people are thrilled to welcome LEGOland to Florida.

Apart from tons of rides and attractions, the park is filled with wondrous creations compiled entirely out of LEGO blocks (50 million to be exact).  Recreations of iconic landmarks in Miniland, USA such as the Las Vegas Strip, Washington D.C. (including miniature LEGO statues of the first family standing outside of the White House),  Times Square, and the Statue of Liberty.  A whole section is dedicated to encompassing Florida from Mallory Square in Key West, up the east coast to Kennedy Space Center and over to the Antebellum mansions in the Panhandle.

This park is over 150 acres of imagination and wonder come to life, and there is something for everyone within the ten different interactive zones, offering everything from pirate water skiing shows, LEGO factory tours, a safari of LEGO animals, LEGO rollercoasters and water rides, to a 360 degree view of the entire park in the observation tower.  You can test your creation skills and build a LEGO car to race the competition with on the LEGO Test Track.  Or you can build and program your very own LEGO robot in the Imagination Zone.

There are a few drawbacks to this new and exciting park: the price of the tickets and the limited hours of operation.  Tickets run at $75 plus tax for adults and children over the age of 13.  For children twelve and under and for seniors it is $65 for a one day pass.  Though the prices are pretty steep, it is about average of what tickets for amusement parks usually run.  A major complaint of park attendees is that the park is not open for long enough.  The park is only open from 10am – 5pm and is also closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  People want more hours to enjoy LEGOland.

The park plans to extend the hours and days open during summer season and holiday weeks to accommodate more guests.  They also plan on adding a water-park and a major resort. “LEGOland Florida is the brilliant blend of two of the world’s most powerful family brands –LEGO and the Florida vacation,” said Chris Thompson, CEO of VISIT FLORIDA, Florida’s tourism corporation. “Together they create the next generation of family entertainment and cement this region’s status as the Vacation Capital of the World.”

An employee doing a touch up on Washington D.C., in Miniland, USA