Legoland Florida Promises a Different Theme Park Experience

Cheap holidays in Florida are usually centred around the family, thanks to the Sunshine State’s warm weather and reputation as the theme park capital of the world. Generations of kids have experienced the thrills of Walt Disney World and the spills of SeaWorld – and since it opened in June, the Universal Studios Resort’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter has seen many a muggle pass through its gates to enjoy the uncannily accurate recreations of Hogwarts, Diagon Alley et al.

From the middle of next month, there will be a new rival to these three giants of theme park fun – and one with quite a pedigree of its own.

Legoland Florida opens on 15 October, and a grand opening will undoubtedly be in store for anyone lucky enough to be in attendance. The site itself is in the perfect location for families taking cheap holidays in Orlando or Tampa, being just 45 minutes away from both cities at Winter Haven. At 150 acres, Legoland Florida is the largest of its kind in the world, even larger than the group’s only other US park, Legoland California in San Diego County. It will boast a mind-boggling 50 rides, entertainment sites and interactive shows, plus restaurants, shops, gardens and other attractions yet to be announced. Overall, this theme park will be perfect for younger children, and those people who are not so interested in the stomach-churning “white-knuckle” experiences on offer at more visceral resorts.

In a recent interview with the Miami Herald, Legoland California general manager Peter Ronchetti explained the ethos behind the company’s theme parks, insisting that “the whole proposition is about bringing the Lego toy to life and creating an interactive world.”

He went on to say that Legoland sought to attract kids between the ages of two and 12, because at that age they were constantly using their active imaginations and seeking creativity rather than thrills – making Legoland Florida perfect for parents looking for more sedate options on their Florida holidays.