Legoland California is in Carlsbad, California, lower than an hour from San Diego International Airport (SAN). Whether you might be planning to spend your trip in Carlsbad or close by San Diego, Legoland California is a must-do for households visiting Southern California.

I not too long ago visited with my husband and three sons (ages 4, 6 and 10), and we left with a number of completely happy recollections — in addition to a few new Lego units from the large reward store. Here are 10 methods to maximize your time at Legoland California and have probably the most “bricktastic” trip ever.

Buy your tickets earlier than you go

Whether you buy one-day or multi-day Legoland California tickets, you’ll pay considerably much less by buying them on-line forward of time relatively than at the entrance gate on the day of your go to.

For instance, a one-day ticket to Legoland California begins at $89 (plus taxes and charges) on-line and $119 (plus taxes and charges) at the gate. You may also save on multi-park tickets that additionally embody admission to the Legoland Waterpark and Sea Life Aquarium.

Related: The important information to Legoland Florida

You really want multiple day to expertise all of Legoland California, and multi-day tickets aren’t that rather more costly than a one-day ticket. If you wished to go to Legoland one day and the water park the next day, you’d pay solely $154 (plus taxes and charges) versus $119 (plus taxes and charges) for a one-day multi-park ticket. That’s a second day of brick-building enjoyable for less than $35 greater than a one-day ticket.

You may also buy ticket add-ons like VIP excursions, water park cabanas, pay as you go parking, Reserve ‘N’ Ride skip-the-line entry, photograph downloads and extra earlier than your go to. You should purchase most of those throughout your go to, however you will get monetary savings by getting them forward of time. For instance, it can save you greater than 30% on the one-day limitless digital photograph obtain bundle while you purchase it on-line earlier than your go to.

The rides are designed for younger children and households

At many theme parks, it seems like my youngest youngster is not tall sufficient for lots of the rides. Sometimes, even when he’s tall sufficient, the rides look too scary, and he does not need to get on. (OK, that will have been our fault for convincing him to get on the Matterhorn at Disneyland earlier this 12 months.)

All of the rides at Legoland California are designed with children ages 2 to 12 in thoughts, and none are too intimidating for younger children. There had been rides my entire family beloved, some that appealed extra to my 10-year-old and a few that had been good for my 3-year-old.

Of the park’s greater than 50 rides and sights, 24 don’t have any minimal top or age requirement. The tallest top requirement for any journey is 42 inches on the Lego Technic Coaster (which my 4-year-old rode and beloved). This is far decrease than what you’d see at different main theme parks. Legoland’s rides actually are designed for friends of all heights and ages to get pleasure from.

Some rides, just like the Lego Ninjago Ride and the Legoland Express Train, require friends below a sure top to journey with a “responsible rider” of a sure age and top, like a dad or mum, sibling or different family member.

There’s a lot extra to do than simply rides

While my children beloved the rides at Legoland, there may be a lot extra to do than hop from journey to journey all day.

Kids have a lot of power — particularly after a serving of scrumptious apple fries with whipped cream, a signature deal with at Legoland parks — and so they want locations to burn that power off. Luckily, Legoland is designed for these energetic children and households.

There are a number of Lego-themed play areas across the park, together with a sand pit for digging up dinosaur bones, a Duplo play city for preschoolers and a Ninjago-themed “training camp” play space with slides and obstacles.

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In addition to the play areas, there are spots all through the park the place you possibly can construct your individual Lego creations. You can construct your individual Lego boat at the Coast Guard Build-A-Boat space or take a look at your individual Lego moon rover at the Lego Moon Base. You do not get to preserve your creations (don’t fret, there are many reward retailers for that), however I appreciated the numerous alternatives for my children to use their imaginations and get artistic throughout our go to.

Of course, you possibly can meet your favourite Lego characters throughout your go to, too.

Legoland California is accessible and autism-friendly

If you might be visiting Legoland California with somebody with particular wants, know that the park is well-equipped and accommodating for all friends. As a Certified Autism Center, every attraction at Legoland California has a sensory information that offers you detailed info on stimuli it’s possible you’ll expertise. All sights are wheelchair accessible, although some require you to switch out of your wheelchair into the journey car.

Related: Travel for all: 7 autism-friendly trip locations

If you want any lodging throughout your go to, converse with visitor providers at the doorway to the park. They can help you with renting electrical comfort automobiles, wheelchairs and strollers. They may also enable you to receive an Assisted Access Pass that permits friends with bodily and cognitive disabilities to reserve journey instances all through the day to restrict the time spent ready in line.

Leave your money at dwelling

Legoland California is a part of the rising pattern of cashless theme parks. The theme park, water park, aquarium and on-site resorts solely settle for bank cards and debit playing cards. If you do present up with money in your pockets, you possibly can convert it to a pre-paid Visa card at certainly one of three cash-to-card kiosks at the park.

Visit throughout certainly one of Legoland’s particular occasions for much more enjoyable

Legoland has themed seasonal occasions for main holidays like Independence Day, Halloween, Christmas and New Year’s Eve. The occasions characteristic themed characters, decor and leisure included within the common ticket value.

Our most up-to-date go to was in the course of the Summer Block Party, which is being held by way of Sept. 4, 2023. We danced alongside to the Legoland Summer Jam dance social gathering, and there was additionally a stunt present, a DJ, a dance social gathering with Benny from “The Lego Movie” and extra.

Check out Legoland’s seasonal occasions web page for dates and particulars. If attainable, I like to recommend visiting throughout certainly one of these occasions for much more Lego-themed enjoyable.

You want multiple day to do all of it

We spent a whole day at Legoland California from open to shut, and left with a full checklist of issues we nonetheless wished to do. We rode most of our favourite rides, however we did not have sufficient time to sneak over to the Sea Life Aquarium or the Legoland Water Park.

Next time we go to, I plan to add a second day so we’ve time to do all of it. The aquarium and the water park are straightforward to entry as soon as contained in the park. Lockers can be found close to the park’s major entrance and contained in the water park, so you possibly can deliver alongside your swim gear with out lugging it round all day

You can commerce minifigures with Legoland’s “Model Citizens”

One of my children’ favourite issues about Legoland is buying and selling Minifigures with Legoland staff (known as Model Citizens). You can deliver your individual Minifigures from dwelling or buy them at the park to commerce with Model Citizens.

You can ask any Model Citizen for a commerce (most have minifigures on their title badges), or you possibly can take a look at Minifigure buying and selling posts across the park for a greater choice. It’s a lot of enjoyable seeing which Minifigures you will discover, and it makes for a cheap (or free in the event you deliver your individual from dwelling) memento out of your journey.

You can skip the road with a Reserve ‘N’ Ride move

Reserve ‘N’ Ride is Legoland California’s manner to skip the road on its hottest sights. There are three variations with three completely different value factors. Essentially, the extra you pay, the much less time you spend ready in line. Here’s a breakdown of pricing and particulars for every model:

• Reserve ‘N’ Ride Ultimate: $100 per individual, reduces wait time by up to 90%
• Reserve ‘N’ Ride Deluxe: $55 per individual, reduces wait time by up to 50%
• Reserve ‘N’ Ride Express: $35 per individual, reduces wait time by up to 25%

After you buy Reserve ‘N’ Ride, you possibly can reserve journey instances all through the day utilizing the Legoland California cell app. The service can promote out, so it is best to buy Reserve ‘N’ Ride forward of time if you’d like to put it to use throughout your go to.

Stay at a close by resort for Legoland perks

Legoland California has two on-site resorts, the Legoland Hotel and the Legoland Castle Hotel. Both resorts have enjoyable Lego theming, nightly leisure, complimentary breakfast and outside swimming pools. Every visitor room has a separate sleeping space for teenagers and a children’ scavenger hunt with prizes.

Both resorts sit proper exterior of Legoland’s major gates, and resort friends get early entry to choose Legoland rides earlier than the park opens to the general public.

While not official Legoland resorts, there are a handful of resorts inside strolling distance (or a brief drive away) that supply their very own theme park perks. Options embody The Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa, Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa and the Hilton Grand Vacations Club MarBrisa Carlsbad.

Related: The greatest resorts in San Diego

Guests at every of those resorts can make the most of a non-public entrance to Legoland (close to the again of the park) that permits you to skip the longer traces at the entrance entrance. You can both stroll to the doorway out of your resort or drive and park within the offered lot.

Bottom line

My family beloved our time at Legoland California. Because our boys’ ages vary from 4 to 10, it may be troublesome to discover trip actions that they will all get enthusiastic about. Our oldest is into thrill rides, and our youngest is, nicely, not fairly there but.

Legoland California has rides and actions that our entire family can get pleasure from collectively, which is the important thing to a profitable family trip in my eyes. Well, that, and having fun with a heaping serving of heat, crispy apple fries.

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