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UK’s LEGOLAND Windsor Gets Brick Empire State Building in Miniland Area

It’s been some time since we last reported on the construction of a large outdoor structure built with LEGO bricks. These impressive projects have run the gamut from projects by private groups to honor The LEGO Group, to structures built by LEGO itself usually as a promotion for the company.

Now, LEGO is building a new brick structure. This one however will be serving as an official attraction for one of their theme parks, namely LEGOLAND Windsor Resort. And it’s also a scale brick replica of a real skyscraper building; that is New York City’s very own Empire State Building.

This LEGO Empire State Building will be one of the features to a new in-zone expansion of LEGOLAND Windsor Resort’s Miniland area. Said expansion is a mini-USA display of the usual iconic American landmarks. As seen in the photos, there’s a Golden Gate Bridge and possibly a Times Square building.

Said Empire State Building is made up of 71,040 LEGO bricks and stands at 4.4 meters tall. Small it may be in comparison to the LEGO tower built in Tel Aviv this early January, but it still took LEGOLAND’s model making team some 700 hours to put it all together.

Other famous US structures that would be included in Miniland’s US expansion are the Statue of Liberty, Chicago’s Cloud Gate, a portion of the Route 66 highway and even Area 51. In addition, some other world buildings are being planned for replication like the Taj Mahal and Beijing’s Forbidden City.

Aside from the building work done at their Miniland zone, LEGOLAND Windsor will soon open LEGO Reef this year, a digital water environment where guests can assemble CGI LEGO fish and have them swim in the virtual waters. For more info and ticket booking inquiries, visit their official website here.

LEGO World Expo in Copenhagen Features “Flying Brick” Tech and Control System.

The LEGO Group is among those companies actively pushing the boundaries of toy technology, and we’ve seen the results of their own breakthroughs such as the impressive LEGO Boost line that’s already set to receive a new wave of product sets compatible with it.

This time around, it looks like LEGO has something in the works that will redefine the way we play with the usual LEGO brick. Over the previous weekend the company had been holding the LEGO World Expo event in Copenhagen, and one of their highlights is a tech that enables builders to create brick controllers to operate flying “mini-drones” moving in unison.

This tech was cooked up by The LEGO Group’s own in-house research team in its ongoing directive to conceptualize new enhancements to the entire LEGO playing experience. A systematic routine setup is added to a shaped controller made out of LEGO bricks. To this are added brick-sized sensors for control. Watch the demo below.

The sensors send control signals to a series of quadcopter mini-drones in a cube-shaped frame. As seen in the video, when the operator moves the butterfly-shaped LEGO controller, the drones all rise and assume a butterfly formation, “flapping” its wings in sync with the controller’s movements.

Such precision movement in the remotely controlled drones was made possible by gyroscopes that help maintain their balance as they hover, ascend and descend in midair. Their formations are dictated by how the brick sensors were positioned on the controller, and on how said controller was positioned by the operator.

The “flying brick” electronic system was made by LEGO in collaboration with a research team from Queen’s University. There’s no timetable on when such tech might be integrated into a later LEGO technical product line like Power Functions or Boost, but it’s a good indicator of possible things to come.

“Building a Dream” Tells The Story of How The LEGO House in Billund Was Built.

LEGOLAND theme parks in several countries around the world are really great and all, but The LEGO Group is also giving plenty of attention to their one alternative attraction located just right at their doorstep. We’re referring of course to The Home of the Brick, or LEGO House for short.

That wonderful place over in Billund, Denmark has had a run of sweet events and promotions, catering to local and international tourists over the past several months. Now, their latest treat for visitors is actually something they can pick up and bring home with them: the story of LEGO House.

When dropping by at the Home of the Brick gift shop, guests can buy a copy of a black, white and yellow hardbound entitled “Building a Dream”. The book is a printed documentary of sorts narrating the development and actual construction of LEGO House, as told in several executive interviews.

Source persons interviewed for “Building a Dream” include Kjeld Kirk Christiansen, grandson of founder Ole Kirk and third-generation owner of The LEGO group who’s the visionary behind the concept of the Home of the Brick; former CEO Jørgen Vig Knudstorp and LEGO House chief architect Bjarke Ingels also contribute viewpoints.

The Home of the Brick took about seven years to be fully realized, with it only opening last year on September. That occasion was covered by international press and graced by the presence of the Danish Royal Family, a visible indicator of how integrated LEGO is with its Denmark homeland.

“Building a Dream” is printed in English for the consideration of LEGO’s international fans. Its first print edition is only 2,000 copies, so supply is initially limited. The price is 249 DKK and only available in the LEGO House gift shop in Billund. Come pick one up while you’re there.

January 28 “60 Years of LEGO” Party at Billund’s LEGO House

For those LEGO fans with the ways and means to have been there in Billund last December to take part in the Holiday events held at LEGO House, they’ve got something new to look forward to at The Home of the Brick next month. It’s going to be a milestone.

On the last Sunday of January, the 28^th, The LEGO Group will celebrate the 60^th year to the day when the original LEGO brick patent by Ole Kirk Christiansen was approved. That date was the foundation of a legend in the toy-making industry that led to the rise of the LEGO we know and love.

Therefore there will be a big party to celebrate the occasion at Billund’s LEGO House where all LEGO fans are invited to join the festivities. Even better, LEGO’s in such a generous mood that visitors booking tickets to the Home of the Brick on the official website will receive a 60 Danish Krone price discount.

Check out their official schedule for the 60^th Anniversary Party at LEGO House on January 28:

10:00: LEGO House opens.
10:00: Build your own LEGO anniversary model using 60 LEGO 2×4 bricks.
13:45: Preparation for the countdown.
13:58 – 16:00: Congratulations – the LEGO brick turns 60 – enjoy the live music and get some delicious cake.
14:10: Inauguration of the exhibition of LEGO models from each decade, built by skilled AFOLs (adult fans of LEGO). Psst: Notice the clocks…
16:00: LEGO House Experience Zones stays open until 16:00, with all our Play Agents on hand to give you and your family a memorable experience.

If all those special LEGO sets coming out for the 60^th year milestone aren’t enough to whet your appetite for the company’s anniversary spirit, then a trip to Billund near the end of January might be the pinnacle of the experience. LEGO House will be waiting for you.

AFOLs Only: LEGO-Themed Pop-up Bars to Open in Australian Cities Late 2018.

Here’s a piece of LEGO news that skews rather towards grown-up, mature readers, from a certain point of view. If anybody ever told you that LEGO bricks and, of all things, booze might go quite well together, would you agree? That will be put to the test over in Australia.

The announcement just came recently, printed in Broadsheet Melbourne, regarding a series of pop-up bars where alcohol and LEGO are going to be “served” together as it were. Just for that, it’s obvious that the enterprise has no ties with the child-friendly LEGO Group, but adult builders might be delighted.

Legobar is a line of pop-up bars that will be opening for business in some of Australia’s major cities. According to the announcement, the establishment will be decorated with LEGO sculptures and models, as well as building elements that would be made generally available for the patrons to construct with.

An initial estimate of the number of LEGO bricks and other elements at each Legobar was given in a rather generous one million, and they will be available without charge to customers coming in to order a beer and anything else on the menu. Music would be provided by DJs.

Demi Montgomer, creative director of Legobar, gives a simple reason for the aesthetics of the place. “Everyone loves LEGO,” she says. “It’s nostalgic and this bar is designed to bring out the kid in all of us.” It makes for a quirky visual dichotomy: adults drinking alcohol and playing LEGO.

For Aussies (and perhaps tourists planning to travel down under this year), they can expect the Legobar pop-ups to open sometime in the autumn, in the following cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane. Again, The LEGO Group has no connection with the pop-up bars. Good kids need not know about them.

Largest LEGO Model of Millennium Falcon On Display at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre in Melbourne.

Those who’ve seen Star Wars: The Last Jedi ever since its premiere in December last year would have to agree on one thing: that since the early days of the saga, the Millennium Falcon, will and always be the most iconic spaceship in the entire Star Wars franchise.

LEGO too agrees with that sentiment, and one need look no further than their LEGO Star Wars Ultimate Collector Series Millennium Falcon set (75192) as well as its smaller brick versions, to know that this fandom for one of the most legendary star ships runs deep in the company.

But some LEGO builders apparently don’t think UCS the 75192, in all its intricate details, was a big enough model of the Millennium Falcon done in LEGO. In Melbourne’s Chadstone Shopping Center, which is home to a LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, Master Builder Dave Holder oversaw the building of a 5-meter Falcon.

Holder noted to Australia’s The New Daily how he was assisted by children visitors to the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre in putting together his large-scale Millennium Falcon model made up of 250,000 LEGO bricks. “If we were to do it by ourselves, {we’d take} probably at least a month,” he said.

LEGOLAND Discovery Centers are smaller versions of the famed LEGOLAND theme parks that would fit enough in indoor spaces of shopping centers and malls. The one in Melbourne is part of 19 such attractions located worldwide, with more under construction in additional countries. They are also run by Merlin Entertainments.

The giant Millennium Falcon model designed by Dave Holder for LEGOLAND Discovery Center Melbourne shall remain on display all through January and up until the end of February. Of course, the official LEGO Star Wars UCS set is still available (barring occasional stock issues), just as The Last Jedi is still running in cinemas.

LEGOLAND Florida Announces Schedule of Ninjago Days Events, Plus Premiere of 4D Ninjago Film.

Last week we talked about the upcoming LEGO Ninjago Days special event happening over at LEGOLAND California starting this coming Friday, January 12. It will even premiere a brand new 4D movie, LEGO Ninjago: Master of the 4^th Dimension, while the Ninjago Days festivities will last all through the weekend.

Said update also noted that LEGO Ninjago Days is happening at all LEGOLAND theme parks, and now the latest news has LEGOLAND Florida putting up its calendar schedule for when they’ll be holding Ninjago Days. As it turns out, they’re having it for three weekends from this month to February.

As made plain by the name, LEGO Ninjago Days is a multi-day extravaganza wherein LEGOLAND parks will unleash the ninja within, with a plethora of Ninjago-themed activities, meet-and-greets with the characters from the product line and animated series, and themed edible treats in all dining places for the duration.

Here then is LEGOLAND Florida’s Ninjago Days schedule, with two weekends in January and one in February:

Jan. 20-21: Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Jan. 27-28: Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Feb. 3-4: Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

More information on LEGOLAND Florida’s Ninjago Days event can be found at their official website here.

Exclusive 4D Film “LEGO Ninjago: Master of the 4th Dimension” Premiering Next Week in LEGOLAND California

If The LEGO Ninjago Movie from the year before hasn’t quite sated your appetite for more adventures of Lloyd Garmadon and friends, then you might want to consider planning a trip to LEGOLAND California. If 4D films are something you dig, then they’ve got a new LEGO Ninjago one coming.

According to a press release from LEGOLAND California, they’ll soon be premiering the 4D movie LEGO Ninjago: Master of the 4th Dimension. It’ll be on Friday, January 12, during the resort’s LEGO Ninjago Days weekend extravaganza. It’s the first major movie LEGO release for 2018, exclusive only to LEGOLAND resorts.

The basic plot of the 4D film involves Master Wu instructing the LEGO Ninjago team about the “Scroll of the 4th Dimension.” A mishap during their lesson puts Lloyd, Jay, Kai, Zane, Nya and Cole on a race against time to protect the universe from being destroyed by forces beyond comprehension.

In addition to the showing of Master of the 4th Dimension, other events during LEGO Ninjago Days at LEGOLAND California include a scavenger hunt in Miniland USA, as well as a chance to play the official LEGO Ninjago Movie videogame. The 4D movie itself will show at LEGO Showplace Theater.

Tel Aviv, Israel Builds World’s Tallest LEGO Tower in Memory of Departed LEGO Fan.

We’ve covered some really monumental constructions done by The LEGO Group or groups of avid collectors serving as public attractions in places where they have been erected. One example was the commemorative wind turbine LEGO statue built by the company itself, on display in the UK since November last year.

Now, another LEGO construction project has been revealed to be finished at the start of 2018. It’s in the shape of a cross-shaped tower of bricks going up in the city of Tel Aviv in Israel. And it’s in the running with Guinness for being the world’s tallest LEGO tower.

The project is a joint effort by residents of Tel Aviv, using more than half a million LEGO bricks to build the structure, 36 meters high. Towards the end of the work, a construction crane from the rooftop of a multi-story building behind the LEGO tower was being used to add the last few bricks.

Now standing proudly in Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square, the LEGO tower was celebrated by thousands of local residents who took part in its construction. The monument is also a memorial, in honor of Israeli LEGO fan Omer Sayag, who died of cancer back in 2014. It’s fitting then that the brick-built edifice will be named Omer Tower in his memory.

Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai lauded the people of his city who participated in the LEGO building endeavor, saying that it was successful in “bringing together all parts of {their} community.” All that remains now is for officials from the Guinness Book of World Records to make its inspection and ratify the LEGO tower as the tallest in brick structure in the world.

New 2018 LEGOLAND Pirate Photo Frame (40389) Revealed + A Better Look at the LEGOLAND Micro Castle (40306).

It looks like we have another brick-built picture frame to display that Throwback Thursday photo. Thanks to mc_survival_man, this first image of the LEGOLAND Pirate Frame (40389) has surfaced, and it looks like this piece of memento is exclusively available only at LEGOLAND Florida. Coming in at 171 pieces, the set retails for $14.99 and has a pirate themed, buildable figure included.

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New LEGOLAND photo frame!

A post shared by Matt (@mc_survival_man) on Dec 28, 2017 at 12:25pm PST

The LEGO Photo Frame has been regularly released and re-released throughout the years as a LEGOLAND exclusive since 2002. I love the inclusion of the buildable pirate, but I feel that adding a pirate minifigure, plus some thoughtful redesigning by including certain sea creatures and other elements will be way better, similar to the LEGOLAND Picture Frame – Florida Edition (40081) released in 2013. Another good example of a properly designed frame is the Classic Picture Frame (850702) also released in 2013.

Another nice image that was shared by mc_survival_man via Instagram is the LEGOLAND Micro Castle (40306), which we reported a week ago. The previous photo that we posted is seriously blurry, and thankfully this box art shot gives us a better look at how the Castle-themed set is designed, as it is patterned after the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel in the UK.

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Some of the new items

A post shared by Matt (@mc_survival_man) on Dec 28, 2017 at 2:02pm PST

Similarly, this set also comes as a LEGOLAND Store exclusive, consisting of 220 pieces, and retails for $19.99. The build itself may not be that impressive to some, but being a fan of small replicas built in LEGO, I wouldn’t mind picking up this micro-scaled rendition of the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel if given the opportunity. The only point for improvement that I have about this build is the fact that everything rests on the inclusion of that dragon head to give this set its identity. I mean, remove it and you probably have no idea what it is. Perhaps LEGO could have thrown in a printed tile, or just even a sticker, that specifically labels it as the LEGOLAND Castle, in a similar vein as that of LEGO Architecture sets.

So if you’re anywhere near LEGOLAND Florida and wish to add these sets to your LEGO collection, then you may want to opt to visit the LEGO Store in the area. Thanks again to mc_survival_man for sharing these images.