LEGOLAND Florida Review: Tips for Visiting LEGOLAND Theme Park with Kids — A Mom Explores | Family Travel Tips, Destination Guides with Kids, Family Vacation Ideas, and more!

LEGOLAND Florida is one of the most kid-friendly and underrated Florida theme parks. Everything is awesome at LEGOLAND from the themed hotel stays to the rides and attractions for kids of all ages.

We celebrated my son’s 7th birthday at LEGOLAND Florida this year since he is absolutely obsessed with building LEGO.

We had visited this Central Florida park once before when the kids were really young, but we didn’t stay for long since I was on a media visit reviewing a roller coaster.

This time, we were focused on enjoying everything the park had to offer and came away with so many tips and recommendations for families. I brought along my sister and her 6-year-old son so the boys could experience the park together, and it was the best decision ever!

I’ll be covering where to stay when you’re visiting LEGOLAND Florida, what there is to do in the parks, what age levels will enjoy it, and a few tips and hacks for making your visit a little more enjoyable.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Where is LEGOLAND?

LEGOLAND Florida Resort is located in Winter Haven, which is about a 45-minute drive from both Orlando and Tampa. You’ll have your choice of airports to fly into.

We actually flew a budget airline into St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE), rented a car, and drove just over an hour to arrive at the resort.

Who is LEGOLAND Florida for?

People of all ages can enjoy LEGOLAND, but the target age group is kids ages 2-12. That’s according to the LEGOLAND website at least.

When I first visited the park, my kids were ages 10 months, 2, and 4. It was pretty tough to have 3 kids that young at the park. DUPLO Valley is an area specifically made for toddlers, but beyond that I think kids will need to be a bit older to appreciate the rides.

Taking my son for his 7th birthday seemed to be the sweet spot. He was able to ride most of the rides, though he was not yet interested in the bigger roller coasters. He was fascinated by the LEGO builds around the park, and was able to handle the walking and waiting that comes with a day in the theme park.

Kids older than that will enjoy some of the more thrilling coasters, but certainly, beyond age 12 I think the park will lose some of its appeal. (We did see some teenagers wandering around the park in groups, though, so I could be wrong!)

Where to Stay when Visiting LEGOLAND Florida Theme Park

There are 3 LEGOLAND Resort hotels to choose from, and I highly recommend staying there with your kids.

You’re certainly paying more for convenience, but if it’s within your budget it is SO worth it!

LEGOLAND Pirate Island Hotel

This is where we stayed during our visit, and it’s connected to the original LEGOLAND Florida Hotel. Though the hotel is a bit more expensive, I think it’s a great deal because the hotel offers free hot breakfast, you are steps away from the theme park, and there are so many fun amenities for kids.

You’ll find LEGO bricks in your room to play with, a separate kids’ area with bunk beds, a TV, and play area, plus small LEGO sets for each day of your stay that the kids get to keep. You can take a free LEGO workshop where you get to keep your build, and there is so much free entertainment scheduled at the hotel.

You can read my full review on the LEGOLAND Pirate Island Hotel here

LEGOLAND Hotel

This is very similar to the Pirate Island Hotel, and all the amenities are the same. The main difference is in the theming, and that the Pirate Island Hotel is newer. They share a building but have separate pools and separate restaurants (although you’re able to use the amenities of both hotels during your visit).

LEGOLAND Beach Retreat

The third option for staying on property is the Beach Retreat Bungalows. You’re staying a little bit further away from the park, but each room is in its own separate building with a nice porch area outside. The room is a similar setup with bunk beds and a pull-out trundle mattress, but there are no LEGO bricks to play with inside the room.

You have to drive or take the shuttle to get over to LEGOLAND, but you can make use of the free breakfast at the main hotel.

This is probably the best option for families with young children who don’t want to deal with babies or toddlers getting ahold of LEGO bricks.

My Top Tips for VIsiting LEGOLAND Florida:

1. Watch the LEGO MOVIES before you come to the park. It’s definitely not necessary, but I think it will enhance your understanding of the plotlines of some of the rides and shows, especially in the LEGO MOVIE area of the park (obviously). If you’re staying on-property at LEGOLAND, they have a whole channel on the TVs dedicated to the LEGO MOVIES! We watched them together while the boys played with their new LEGO sets. Honestly, I was trying to get stuff done, but ended up giving up and just watching the movies because they’re hilarious.

2. Buy some Minifigures before you visit the parks. Or bring some old ones from home. One of my son’s favorite things to do in the park was to trade his Minifigures for new ones. Kids can trade complete (head, torso, legs) Minifigures with Model Citizens or at designated trading posts.

3. Bring some healthy snacks for inside the park. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from, but the food is definitely theme park food. If you want to refuel with some fruits, vegetables, and healthier snacks, stop by Publix across the street from LEGOLAND and pick some up.

4. Wear clothes and shoes you don’t mind getting wet, or bring a change of clothes. There are several rides where you can and will get wet, so just be prepared so you’re not miserable walking around in soaking wet tennis shoes or denim shorts. I found my Xero sandals to be perfect!

5. Bring a portable charger and download the LEGOLAND app! You’ll be using the app to check the map, wait times, show times, and more. You’ll likely be taking pictures and videos, or playing games while you’re waiting in line. All of this can drain your battery quickly. I love this portable charger for theme park days!

LEGOLAND Rides for All Ages

What rides does LEGOLAND Florida have? Tons, actually! And there are some for the whole family, and every age and stage.

Toddlers and Younger Kids will Love:

DUPLO Train - ride through DUPLO Valley on this toddler-friendly train ride.
DUPLO Tractor - ride around the farm in DUPLO Valley and help find the missing farm animals!
The Grand Carousel - a fun double-decker carousel with no height requirement! This was one I did with all 3 kids in tow on our first visit. Note: I did have to take the baby out of the carrier.
Coast Guard Academy - kids can steer their own boat around the predetermined course. There is a height requirement of 34 inches. We went on this ride, but I would say it was a little slow for our 7-year-old. This ride is found in LEGO City.
Ford Driving School or Ford Jr. Driving School - Ford Jr. Driving School is for kids ages 3-5, while Ford Driving School is for kids 6-13, and kids can even earn their own driver’s license for learning the rules of the road. These rides are found in LEGO City.
NFPA Rescue Academy - this is a really hands-on ride where you need to drive a fire or police truck to put out a fire. There was no wait for this ride, and it was cute, but a little boring for older kids. I think a 3-5-year-old might love this, though! Also found in LEGO City.
Merlin’s Challenge - this small wooden train moves in a circle, but there’s also some up-and-down action. Adults - take your motion sickness medication before you get on this ride with your little one! Found in LEGO Kingdom.
Lost Kingdom Adventure - This is a fun indoor ride where you get to shoot your laser guns at mummies and skeletons. There is only a 30-inch height requirement, but just be aware that if you have sensitive little ones, they might be a little scared! This ride is located in Land of Adventure.
Safari Trek - a fun little ride around a safari where the animals are made entirely of LEGOs! With a minimum height of 34 inches, this ride is found in Land of Adventure. I had to laugh on this one because our boys were big enough to ride on their own, so my sister and I each rode our own individual cars around the safari. It was perfect for some relaxation and scrolling on my phone.

Rides that were PERFECT for our 6 and 7-year-olds:

The LEGO MOVIE Masters of Flight - This was my son’s FAVORITE ride in the entire park, and I think it was my favorite as well! Ride Emmett from the LEGO Movie’s Triple Decker Couch through scenes from the LEGO MOVIE in a suspended ride with a virtual screen so you feel like you’re flying! (Think Soarin’ from Disney World’s Epcot). So much fun, and a must-do when you’re visiting the park. This is found in the LEGO MOVIE World. (Again, be aware if you get motion sickness that you may want to be prepared!)
Battle of Brickburg - We saw the signs telling us that we would get wet, but I thought maybe a few splashes here and there. NO. I was so wrong. You will get SOAKED on this ride, so be prepared! You get to help defend Bricksburg by spraying the DUPLO Alien invaders, but what we didn’t realize is that boats can spray each other, AND spectators can spray your boat from the overlook (and you can spray back at them)! This ride is such a blast, and we ended up laughing so hard the entire time. Just don’t wear tennis shoes on this ride, and bring a poncho if you don’t want to get soaked. Perfect for a hot day. Technically any age that can sit up can ride on this, but a baby or toddler might not love getting blasted with water. This ride is also found in LEGO MOVIE World.
LEGO Ninjago the Ride - in this ride you use hand motions to try to defeat villains. It’s fun to compete against the other riders for the highest score, and a great break from the heat. This ride is found in the LEGO NINJAGO World.
Technicycle - you control this ride with your pedals! Pedal faster to get higher, or slower to glide low to the ground. Found in LEGO Technic. This was probably our longest wait since only a few people can ride at a time, but my 7-year-old enjoyed it.
AQUAZONE Wave Racers - Stand in an AQUAZONE Pod and steer to avoid water blasts. Prepare to get wet on this ride, too! Found in LEGO Technic, and is perfect for cooling off on a hot summer day in Florida.
Beetle Bounce - This ride launches you 15 feet in the air, then drops you incrementally back down to earth. A fun ride in Adventure Land.

Thrilling Rides for Older Kids:

The Great LEGO Race - This was the one roller coaster we took the boys on. It originally was a VR roller coaster (which I got to ride on my media visit). It was so amazing with the VR headset, and you felt like you were in a different world! I took my son on this ride first thing in the morning and was disappointed to find no more VR headsets. It’s still a fun roller coaster, and not too scary for kids. I will say our 6- and 7-year-olds didn’t love it, but some kids enjoy thrill rides a bit more than ours do. Probably 8 and up is a good age for this ride. I personally still loved it, though I miss the VR aspect. This is located in LEGO Technic.
The Dragon - This is an indoor-outdoor roller coaster in LEGO Kingdoms with a minimum height of 40 inches.
Coastersaurus - This is a kid-friendly wooden roller coaster through the jungle. There is a minimum height of 42 inches, and the ride is found in Land of Adventure.
Flying School - the capstone of LEGO City, Flying School is a roller coaster that suspends you over LEGOLAND with your legs dangling. There is a minimum height of 44 inches.

LEGOLAND Attractions

Aside from the rides, there are so many things to do at LEGOLAND. You could easily fill your day with playgrounds, play areas, shopping, shows, checking out LEGO builds, and more!

Playgrounds and Play Areas

If you’re visiting with younger children and you're looking for a play area where they can get creative or burn off some energy, you have quite a few options:

Benny’s Play Ship - a playground in the LEGO MOVIE World
DUPLO Splash & Play - a splash pad in DUPLO Valley
DUPLO Tot Spot - a play area for kids under the age of 2
Florida Prepaid Schoolhouse - an indoor play area in DUPLO Valley (this is also where the Baby Care Center is located)
Imagination Zone - an indoor area where you can build and play with LEGO
Technic Tot Spot - a small play area for toddlers in the LEGO Technic area
The Forestmen’s Hideout - a playground in the LEGO Kingdome area
Tot Spot - an indoor air-conditioned play area in LEGO City

Cypress Gardens

In my opinion, Cypress Gardens is one of the most underrated areas of the park. These quiet botanical gardens with walking paths, plants, flowers, and the coolest Banyan tree are the perfect place to unwind.

On our first visit to the park, we ate our lunch in the area and had a quiet picnic. It was so relaxing, and I loved the feeling of being surrounded by nature in the middle of a theme park.

The LEGOLAND Story

This activity is a bit hidden and not as well-known as some of the other attractions. Inside The LEGOLAND Coffee Co, a new cafe in The Beginning area of the park, you’ll find a walk-through “museum” area in the back of the cafe.

It walks you through the history of LEGO and how LEGOLAND Florida came to be. It’s pretty fascinating, and it was a nice break from the heat and crowds to peruse the exhibits and see the transformation of LEGO over the year.

Character Meet

There are several opportunities to meet characters around the park. You can meet Emmet from the LEGO MOVIE at Emmet's Super Suite, or we were able to catch a LEGO police guy right outside the 4D theater.

MINILAND USA

MINILAND USA is one of the most impressive areas of the park. We love to save this spot for when our energy is lagging and we just want to do something quiet and in the shade.

This land features replicas of some of the biggest cities in the United States such as Washington DC, Las Vegas, and NYC, and vignettes of many of Florida’s cities. As a former Florida resident, I love trying to guess what each of the cities is before checking the sign.

It’s not just that the cities are so detailed, but you can also find stories built in by the LEGO builders.

Shows

I certainly didn’t think about going to shows when we got to the park but was delighted to discover that there are several options! We went to the 4D Theater to see THE LEGO MOVIE 4D: A New Adventure, but check the pamphlet you can grab at the park entrance for show times. The website also lists the current show schedule.

LEGO Minifigure Trading

As I mentioned in my top tips section, trading Minifigures was my 7-year-old’s favorite thing about visiting LEGOLAND. He took his sweet time choosing from the dozens of figures at the designated Minifigure trading walls.

Your child can bring a Minifigure from home, but it must be fully intact (head, torso, and legs all included), or they can purchase one before going to the parks. You can even find them at the gift shop in the hotel lobby!

If they see a Minifigure they like attached to the nametag of a Model Citizen (park employee), they can simply ask to trade for it! Of course, the Model Citizen will say yes.

We asked one of the MCs at the checkout area of one of the gift shops if we could see the tray of Minifigures she had, and while my son was perusing them, she let us know that right across the way there was an entire wall of Minifigures to choose from at the LEGOLAND Coffee Co.

We went straight there and spent probably a half hour picking out Minifigures to trade! You can even ask to just trade for specific parts, like a hat, or short legs.

This is such a fun program, and I love that true LEGO fans have something other than rides and shows to do in the park.

LEGOLAND Water Park

LEGOLAND Florida Water Park is a great way to cool off on those hot summer days in Florida. You do need separate tickets, but I saw signs with discounted rates for adding on a day at LEGOLAND Waterpark while we were inside LEGOLAND Florida.

There are water rides, a lazy river, slides, a wave pool, and more.

Dining Around the Park

Eateries around LEGOLAND Resort are pretty much what you would expect out of a theme park, but we enjoyed them nonetheless.

A few spots for heartier meals are Burger Kitchen and Pepper and Roni’s Pizza Stop.

We LOVED our desserts from Granny’s Apple Fries (which is the must-try item in LEGOLAND), and Firehouse Ice Cream all the way in the back of the park in LEGO City.

Can LEGOLAND Florida be Done in One Day?

It is totally possible to do LEGOLAND Florida in one day! We found almost nonexistent or very short lines for most of the rides, and the park isn’t so overwhelming that you would need to do extensive planning to fit it all in.

LEGOLAND Florida is such a fun theme park to visit with kids between the ages of 2 and 12!

You can tell this park is made specifically with kids in mind, and compared to other theme park experiences, I felt almost relaxed! We could just spend quality time together checking out LEGO builds, riding a few rides, trading Minifigures, and eating desserts.

There was no rush or stress to the day, and we were also really happy that our hotel was just steps away from the park exit so we could rest our tired feet or even take an evening swim if we wanted to!

This experience is surprisingly one of my most treasured memories with my 7-year-old, and I’m so glad we went.