The Lego Movie World
Legoland Florida Resort
Winter Haven, Florida
Coming full circle, “The Lego Movie” inspired a new themed land at Legoland Florida Resort that, ironically, includes a new flying theater … showing a movie. The park calls the process an “immersive journey from the theater to the theme park.”
“The Lego Movie World is a game changer for Legoland Florida Resort,” says Keith Carr, project director of Merlin Magic Making. “The immersion and theming that we’ve incorporated into the area is unlike anything we’ve ever done.”
A recreated downtown Bricksburg features two new rides, a rethemed splash battle ride, and an original food and beverage concept. Created in partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Lego, the expansion is the largest to date at Legoland Florida.
The park’s new marquee ride, “The Lego Movie Masters of Flight” is a flying theater from Brogent Technologies, noted for utilizing a new 180-degree turn feature. Riders leave behind a preshow room designed as a nightclub and sit down in vehicles with their backs to the movie screen. When the ride starts, the row of seats rotates 180 degrees to then face the movie screen. Dubbed “Emmet’s Triple Decker Couch,” the vehicles are then surrounded by a full-dome virtual screen, giving the sensation of flying through a world created completely from Lego bricks.
“Our goal is to put a smile on every child who walks in,” says Rex Jackson, general manager of Legoland Florida Resort.
Bricksburg is also home to a children’s drop tower ride—with an attitude. Named “Unikitty’s Disco Drop,” the ride from Zierer is based on the Unikitty character and her many moods. The up-and-down sensation is in sync with Unikitty’s wide range of emotions. At the top of the tower sits an oversized television monitor, displaying an animated Unikitty’s facial reactions. When she shows her discontentment to nonriders, those onboard plunge. In addition, the entire tower rotates throughout the ride cycle, adding to the frenzied experience.
At “Battle of Bricksburg,” riders climb in boats where they use water cannons to stop an alien invasion. The Mack Rides-built splash battle attraction allows riders to spray water at targets or at nonriders along the shoreline. Additional water cannons allow nonriders to spray those in the boats.
Hungry for more? Playing on the American dining phrase of “taco Tuesday,” Bricksburg is home to a quick-service restaurant named Taco Everyday, where custom-made tacos are served.
“The Lego Movie World is a key piece to our expansion and growth as we further cement ourselves as a multiday destination,” says Jackson. Currently, the park is at work on a second hotel located adjacent to Legoland Florida’s front gate set to open next spring.