It’s summertime! Which means it’s time for some family vacations and staycations. Last summer we stayed at the LEGOLAND hotel in California and it was the most unique hotel I’ve ever experienced! Combined with the awesomeness of LEGOLAND itself, this is one summer vacation you’ll never forget! Here are some AWESOME things you should expect during your LEGOLAND hotel adventure!
Legos! – Well there’s the obvious…not only does LEGOLAND have lots of Lego building opportunities, so does the hotel! There’s a pool of Legos when you first walk in the door and lots of Lego displays all throughout the hotel. There’s even more Lego opportunities in the playhouse that’s also in the lobby! And stick around because there will be fun performances and even a Lego building contest. And parents, all of this is conveniently located within a few feet of the hotel bar – which also offers a happy hour. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Dancing! – Next, you’ll find that the LEGOLAND hotel really appreciates dancing! They offer nightly dancing events just for kiddos (or kids at heart). It will feel just like a nightclub with a real DJ, strobe lights, and family friendly dancing music! Your kids can let loose on the dance floor while you sit back with a nice beverage, or of course you could show off your moves, too. 😉 Then hop in the elevator up to your room for another fun disco-dancing experience!
Themed Rooms! – After all that dancing, you’ll want to check out your room. After all, this is basically the biggest perk of reserving a room here. When booking your stay, you can choose from a Pirate, Kingdom, Adventure, Ninjago, or Lego Friends themed room. We chose the Pirate themed room and it did not disappoint! It included a separate area for the kids with a bunk-bed, TV, and lots of space to play. And there’s also a queen-sized bed for adults with another TV! No detail was missed!
Even the fitness center is Lego themed!
Early Entry and Special Parking! – When you check- in you are given a nifty little wristband which grants you entry into the park an hour early.
You also have access to a special parking lot which is super close to the park entrance and, or course the hotel. Gaining entry to the park early allows you to beat some of the crowds and get going on the fun! Here are a few things you can experience while you are at the park…
Duplo Playtown is a great spot for tiny tots and there are lots of rides for younger kids all throughout the park. Make sure to stop by Miniland to check out the awesome city displays including replicas of the World’s Tallest buildings. The replica of Manhattan’s One World Trade Center is absolutely amazing so make some time in your trip for a little visit! 😉
You’ll probably get hungry during the day, so there are lots of healthy restaurants throughout the park as well as specials for kids. I highly recommend picking up a souvenir cup and refilling it during your stay – it will save money in the long run. You also gotta try the apple fries! Apples, cinnamon, and whipped cream make for a delicious treat!
Once you’ve fueled up you can sit and relax during a 4D movie, LEGO friends show, or pose with a LEGO character!
After the shows you could hang out and ride some more rides, or you could head back to your hotel room. Which brings me to my next point…
The Pool! – The LEGOLAND hotel has an awesome pool so you’ll want to make some time to relax and enjoy it a bit. They also provide life vests for the kids and towels for all. Lifeguards are on duty and they do a good job of keeping everyone safe. On some evenings, they play a movie that you can enjoy while hanging in the shallow end or lying in a chair. We went in August and the pool was FREEZING in the evening! The kids didn’t seem to mind, but I didn’t last very long! We also had a nice view of the pool from our hotel room!
You’ll most likely be wiped out from the day and you’ll probably hit up your pirate bed pretty early. But you’ll want to wake up early to get started on the next day’s adventures!
Breakfast! – One of my fave things about this hotel is the breakfast! Hotel guests can enjoy a free breakfast buffet and it doesn’t disappoint! A hostess will ask your name to make sure you are a legit guest and then seat you at a table. You are free to indulge on all of the breakfast goodies while a server ensures you have all the utensils and drinks that you need. Again, the breakfast is free but you’ll want to leave a tip for your server/busser.
The Aquarium! – So technically, this isn’t associated with the hotel but I thought it was something I should mention. Last time we visited LEGOLAND we hit up the water park, but because we spent time at the pool we decided to check out the aquarium. It’s not very big, but it was kind of nice that it wasn’t super overwhelming and it was the perfect size for my littles. And they had Legos all throughout the aquarium!
There’s also some extra fun for the kiddos! They can pick up a Log Book and pencil and document their discoveries at different stations throughout the aquarium.
After you spend some time under the sea, you can head back to the park to enjoy some more fun or back to your hotel for dancing and swimming.
And don’t forget to bring your minifigures along for the vacation! You can trade them at various spots all throughout the park. You can even build your own!
And we can’t forget about the…
SWAG!! 🙂
The hotel toiletries are Coconut-Lime Verbena scented and they smell delicious! The room is also full of snacks, drinks, hot chocolate, and coffee. Score! And the hotel will give you a badge to celebrate your special occasion. You can also collect Pop Badges for completing different challenges. These are different than the occasion badges and you can learn more about those here.
There’s also secret swag hidden in your hotel room. At check-in you are given a scavenger hunt sheet and your room contains a safe that requires a special code. Complete your scavenger hunt to find the code and unlock your safe! I won’t ruin the surprise for some of you…but if you are curious as to what’s inside the box, shoot me an email and I’ll send you a pic. 😉 Plus you may get a coupon for a free picture book from Shutterfly! I took advantage and received my free book! So it’s legit you just pay a few dollars for shipping!
Pricing: Since it was the summer, we paid around $250 for a one-night stay. The rates are little bit lower during the off-months. They also offer a military discount, but we found that booking online was cheaper. Keep in mind, this is not a normal hotel stay so the pricing isn’t all that crazy. The hotel itself is a unique experience and you will spend a lot of your time enjoying the amenities. The price also included an internet and parking fee. Be sure to check the website for vacation package deals and learn how to save if you bundle with admission tickets.
So bring the fam, sunscreen, and plenty of water and come enjoy the place where EVERYTHING IS AWESOME!
I’m off to review the next adventure! 🙂
~SM
Have you stayed at the LEGOLAND hotel? What did you think?!
The Swag Mama 