Legoland Florida

[thelakelander]

I took my kids to Legoland Florida this weekend.  Here are a few images of the theme park.

[tufsu1]

now that's some REAL urbanism there!

[copperfiend]

Its only open 10-5? Seems like they'd be open later.

Is that the Castillo de San Marco in the last picture?

[thelakelander]

Yes, that's the Castillo de San Marco and a few other St. Augustine buildings made from legos.  Here's a story about their hours:

Legoland Florida will follow the same general format as Legoland California, which opened in 1999 and has been successful, said Kim Isemann, director of sales and marketing at the Winter Haven park.

"Once we all got here from our team, we started having conversations with the team in California and tried to see where it would work for us to apply the same model," Isemann said. "We realize in California and Florida the tourism markets are very different, but we're just going to start the season of 2011 with this type of abbreviated offering schedule and see what type of response we get."

Legoland's 2011 schedule includes built-in exceptions. Legoland will be open Tuesday and Wednesday for its first two full weeks, during the week of Thanksgiving and for the final two weeks of December. That means eight closed days in 2011.

The attraction will stay open until 6 p.m. on the Thanksgiving weekend and until 7 p.m. the last six days of the year.

Isemann said Legoland Florida, like the California park, will expand its operating schedule during spring vacation periods and in the summer.

Mark A. Bonn, a professor in the Dedman School of Hospitality Florida State University, said he understands the financial strategy behind Legoland Florida's limited schedule. He cited the fast-food chain Chick-fil-A, which thrives even though franchises are closed Sundays and don't stay open as late as competitors.

"You don't necessarily have to have long hours to be successful," Bonn said. "It's more about maximizing the time you are open, operating it properly, managing your labor costs and keeping an eye on expenses."

full article: http://www.theledger.com/article/20110629/NEWS/110629329

[I-10east]

Thanks for the nice pics Lake. I went there when it was Cypress Gardens. There's really only one new coaster that Cypress Gardens didn't have, Lego Technic Test Track; The rest are all coasters that CG had; Coastersaurus FKA Triple Hurricane, Flight School FKA Swamp Thing, and Dragon FKA Okeechobee Rampage.  There were some CG coasters that Legoland chose not to keep like Starliner, Galaxy Spin, and Fiesta Express.

[fsujax]

nice looking garden. $75 for admission? i am reading that wrong??? seems a little high.

[thelakelander]

Thanks for the nice pics Lake. I went there when it was Cypress Gardens. There's really only one new coaster that Cypress Gardens didn't have, Lego Technic Test Track; The rest are all coasters that CG had; Coastersaurus FKA Triple Hurricane, Flight School FKA Swamp Thing, and Dragon FKA Okeechobee Rampage.  There were some CG coasters that Legoland chose not to keep like Starliner, Galaxy Spin, and Fiesta Express.

Lego Technic Test Track (The best one in my opinion....although I'm outside of their target market) was moved from Legoland Windsor (just outside of London).  It was in the way of a resort planned for the park, so they just shifted the ride from Europe to Florida.  They also kept and repackaged Island-In-The-Sky and most of the old Cypress Gardens buildings.  Unless you're familiar with the old Cypress Gardens layout, its difficult to tell the new from the old.

[thelakelander]

nice looking garden. $75 for admission? i am reading that wrong??? seems a little high.

That's the price.  You're better off buying an annual pass if you stay in Florida.  I was able to cash in on a $99 buy one, get one free annual pass deal through AAA a few months ago.

[tufsu1]

Disney and Universal are each $85 now....and I think Busch Gardens & Sea World are around $80.

[Bridges]

Disney and Universal are each $85 now....

Don't forget your express pass.  I mean, if you want to ride the rides and all.