Legoland Florida
Encyclopedia
Legoland Florida is a theme park in Winter Haven
, Florida
. It opened on Saturday, October 15, 2011. Merlin Entertainments Group operates the park which encompasses 145 acre (0.5867947 km²) of the former Cypress Gardens
amusement park, making Legoland Florida the world's largest Legoland
park.
and park officials. It has been estimated that approximately 1000 new jobs were created by Legoland Florida.
parks. The Jungle Coaster ride from Legoland Windsor
was transferred and relocated to the park and was renamed Test Track. Additionally, the historic gardens which Cypress Gardens was known for are maintained as part of the park. The Splash Island Waterpark was kept and will be a separately ticketed admission. In addition, 4 attractions originally from Cypress Gardens were renovated, renamed and incorporated into the park including The Triple Hurricane wooden rollercoaster, the Okeechobee Rampage family coaster and Swamp Thing a Vekoma family inverted coaster. The Starliner coaster, formerly of the Miracle Strip Amusement Park in Panama City, FL was dismantled for sale. The Island in the Sky ride was also kept and updated for 2011. The park is divided into 11 sections:
Winter Haven, Florida
Winter Haven is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,487 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2007 estimates, the city had a population of 32,577, making it the second most populated city in Polk County...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. It opened on Saturday, October 15, 2011. Merlin Entertainments Group operates the park which encompasses 145 acre (0.5867947 km²) of the former Cypress Gardens
Cypress Gardens
Cypress Gardens was an American theme park near Winter Haven, Florida, that operated from 1936 to 2009.-History:Billed as Florida's first commercial tourist theme park, Cypress Gardens opened on January 2, 1936 as a botanical garden planted by Dick Pope Sr. and his wife Julie...
amusement park, making Legoland Florida the world's largest Legoland
Legoland
Legoland is a chain of Lego-themed theme parks. They are not fully owned by Lego Group itself; rather they are owned and operated by the British theme park company Merlin Entertainment.The chain currently consists of:* Legoland Billund...
park.
Announcement
A press release was published by Merlin Entertainments on January 15, 2010, stating the company's intention to build a Legoland theme park on the former site of Cypress Gardens. Six days later, a news conference was held with Florida Governor Charlie CristCharlie Crist
Charles Joseph "Charlie" Crist, Jr. is an American politician who was the 44th Governor of Florida. Prior to his election as governor, Crist previously served as Florida State Senator, Education Commissioner, and Attorney General...
and park officials. It has been estimated that approximately 1000 new jobs were created by Legoland Florida.
Park Layout & Attractions
More than 50 rides, shows and attractions are featured in the park based on those at other LegolandLegoland
Legoland is a chain of Lego-themed theme parks. They are not fully owned by Lego Group itself; rather they are owned and operated by the British theme park company Merlin Entertainment.The chain currently consists of:* Legoland Billund...
parks. The Jungle Coaster ride from Legoland Windsor
Legoland Windsor
Legoland Windsor is a child-oriented theme park in Windsor, Berkshire in England, themed around the Lego toy system. The park opened in 1996 on the former Windsor Safari Park as the second Legoland after Legoland Billund in Denmark. The park is located within close distance of Windsor Castle and...
was transferred and relocated to the park and was renamed Test Track. Additionally, the historic gardens which Cypress Gardens was known for are maintained as part of the park. The Splash Island Waterpark was kept and will be a separately ticketed admission. In addition, 4 attractions originally from Cypress Gardens were renovated, renamed and incorporated into the park including The Triple Hurricane wooden rollercoaster, the Okeechobee Rampage family coaster and Swamp Thing a Vekoma family inverted coaster. The Starliner coaster, formerly of the Miracle Strip Amusement Park in Panama City, FL was dismantled for sale. The Island in the Sky ride was also kept and updated for 2011. The park is divided into 11 sections:
The Beginning
- Island in the Sky– A 150-foot rotating platform ride that provides a 360° view of the park.
LEGO Kingdoms
- The Dragon-A steel family coaster, which features an indoor dark rideDark rideA dark ride or ghost train is an indoor amusement ride where riders in guided vehicles travel through specially lit scenes that typically contain animation, sound, music, and special effects....
portion. Originally called Okeechobee Rampage. - The Royal JOUST-A simulated 'joust' attraction where childen ride LEGO-themed horses through medieval scenes.
- Merlin's Challenge-A mini himalaya flat ride.
- The Forestmen's Hideout-A multi-level tree and rope climb.
Duplo Village
- Big Rig Rally–A 'semi truck' ride.
- Junior Fire Academy–A 'firetruck' ride.
- Granny’s Jalopies–A 'vintage car' ride.
- DUPLO Farm –A children's play area.
Fun Town
- Factory Tour-A firsthand look at how LEGO bricks are made from factory to finish.
- Grand Carousel– A two level carousel.
- Wells Fargo Fun Town 4D Theater-A 4D theater with 700 seats.
- Granny's Apple Fries-A Restaurant selling warm Granny Smith apple fries, dusted with cinnamon and sugar and served with a vanilla cream dipping sauce.
- LEGO Studio Store- store selling LEGO licensed products, such as Clutch Powers, SpongeBob™, Harry Potter™ and Star Wars™.
Imagination Zone
- LEGO Heroes-An immersive interactive play area based on LEGO’s Hero Factory line.
- Built & Test– An exhibit where guest can build a LEGO car and test it on the digitally timed track.
- Kid Power Towers-A set of towers where guests can hoist themselves up to the top then enjoy a “free-fall” to the bottom.
- LEGO MINDSTORMS-An exhibit where guests can build and program computerized LEGO MINDSTORMS™ robots.
- Lego Clubhouse Seven of the world's most exciting Lego models on display
Land of Adventure
- Beetle Bounce-A 'bouncing frog' flat ride.
- Coastersaurus-A wooden rollercoaster. Originally called Triple Hurricane.
- Lost Kingdom Adventure-An interactive dark ride.
- Pharaoh's Revenge-An interactive play area.
- Safari Trek-A jeep ride featuring life-sized LEGO animal models.
Lego City
- The Big Test-An interactive show using acrobatics, music and play to teach fire safety.
- FORD Driving School-A “real-life” driving experience for children ages 6 through 13, where children receive their official LEGOLAND driver’s license.
- FORD Jr. Driving School–a pint-size version driving school course for children ages 3 through 5.
- Flight School-A VekomaVekomaVekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment...
Suspended Family Coaster, formerly called Swamp Thing. - Boating School–A boat ride where guests can captain their own mini-vessels.
- Rescue Academy-An interactive game where families compete with one another in fire and police vehicles to be the first to put out a simulated “blaze”.
Miniland USA
-An area of the park which features miniature LEGO replicas of American Cities:- Florida- includes sections replicating the Florida Keys, the Everglades, Miami, Tampa, Central Florida, Daytona, The Kennedy Space Center, St. Augustine and the Panhandle.
- Las Vegas- features the world-famous Las Vegas Strip including the Luxor, New York, New York Hotel and Casino, Excalibur, Mirage, Treasure Island, Tropicana, MGM Grand, Venetian, Stratosphere tower and Paris Las Vegas.
- New York City- Features Rockefeller Plaza, Times Square, The Statue of Liberty, Grand Central Station, The Empire State Building, the Guggenheim Museum and the Bronx Zoo.
- Washington, D.C. re-created areas like: of the White House, the U.S. Capitol building, The Smithsonian Museum, WWII Memorial, Washington and Jefferson monuments and parts of Georgetown.
- Pirates- A pirate themed area featuring miniature LEGO pirate ships.
Pirates' Cove
- The Battle For Brickbeard's Bounty Water Ski Show- A live water action stunt show on Eloise Lake.
Lego Technic
- AQUAZONE Wave Racers- A dual water carousel ride.
- LEGO TECHNIC Test Track- A wild mouse rollercoaster. Originally was located at LEGOLAND WindsorLegoland WindsorLegoland Windsor is a child-oriented theme park in Windsor, Berkshire in England, themed around the Lego toy system. The park opened in 1996 on the former Windsor Safari Park as the second Legoland after Legoland Billund in Denmark. The park is located within close distance of Windsor Castle and...
as the Jungle Coaster. - Technicycle- A pedal-powered spinning machine that shoot riders into the air.
Cypress Gardens
- Cypress Gardens Botonical Gardens- The original gardens from the former Cypress Gardens park. The gardens are owned by Polk county.