Last week, LEGOLAND Billund and the rest of the community joined hands (and bricks) in attempting to dethrone Tel Aviv, Israel from the title of having the tallest LEGO tower ever built. As part of the theme park’s 50th anniversary celebration from June 26 to 30, park visitors and LEGO’s top notch Master Builders embarked on an attempt to win back their title which they once held in 2003.
Park visitors and guests had the opportunity on working on the various sections of the tower, giving them a truly memorable hands-on experience of participating in this world-record breaking event. The tower was even designed to feature the pretty cool details like the name of the park and the Danish flag.
Though the Guinness World Records still has to certify this feat, the structure’s final measure consisting of more than a half million bricks, stood proud at 36.26 meters beating Tel Aviv’s record by less than a meter. Once certified, LEGOLAND Billund will once more reclaim the title of having the world’s tallest tower ever built using LEGO bricks. Watch this video clip from first ever LEGOLAND theme park that shows some of the highlights of this mammoth endeavor.
How long will this recognition rest with LEGOLAND Billund? We shall see in the years to come. Congratulations and happy 50th anniversary to LEGOLAND Billund!
LEGO has just released the online, official copy of its LEGO Store August 2018 Calendar and it features the much awaited LEGO Wizarding World Harry Potter sets, a new ‘environmental friendly’ promotional, and an exclusive ‘top-secret’ LEGO VIP set. Check out the calendar below, and you may also download its PDF version right here.
August 1 to 14: Free LEGO Plants from Plants (40320) accessories with purchases over $35.
This 29-piece LEGO plant and fauna pieces is entirely made from plant-based, sustainable materials, and is LEGO first attempt towards creating LEGO pieces that are completely recyclable.
August 1 to 12: Free LEGO Unikitty Castle Room (5005239) with LEGO Unikitty purchases over $25.
The Unikitty Castle Room (5005239) is LEGO’s second polybag offering under the LEGO Unikitty theme. It features a cross-section of Unikitty’s castle room made consisting of a miniature couch, aquarium, cardboard cutout, and a unique Unikitty figure.
August 1 to 31: LEGO VIPs earn double points on two LEGO Wizarding World Harry Potter sets.
August 7 to 8: The VIP Monthly Mini Model Build is a Snail (40283)
To avail this free monthly mini build for the month of August, LEGO VIP members need to register at shop.LEGO.com/Minibuild-registration beginning July 15.
August 6 to September 30: Escape the Forbidden Forest
Stop by your local LEGO Store during these dates to build a magical car with special powers and race through the Forbidden Forest. Beware of spiders and get to Hogwarts as fast as you can!
August 15 to 31: VIPs get Early Access to a NEW exclusive LEGO set.
There’s no news yet on what this new exclusive will be, but there’s a lot of speculation going on that this set is possibly the LEGO Creator Aston Martin DB5 set that LEGO has been teasing heavily via social media.
August 22: Sign up to build and take home a cool Toucan model.
Come to the LEGO Store and build a cool Toucan model which is featured in the new LEGO Animal Atlas book from DK! You can take home your Toucan model for free and can purchase the book in LEGO Stores to continue the animal building fun. Registration is on a first come, first served basis and quantities are limited. Sign up in store or by phone starting August 1.
August 13 to October 7: Build your very own customized go-kart and display it in store for all to see.
Come by the LEGO Store during these dates to build and customize a go-kart. Once you’re done, display it in-store to inspire other builders, and receive your very own sticker sheet for participating.
Some LEGO MOCs are just so grand, so elaborate, and so epic in scale that they literally take years in order to be completed. A LEGO Convention happening next weekend in Madison will soon play host to one of the most ambitious building MOCs yet, a famous Wisconsin sports venue.
Tim Kaebisch attended college at the Milwaukee School of Engineering. While there, he spent his free time conceptualizing and beginning work on a LEGO build of nearby Miller Park, home stadium of the Milwaukee Brewers MLB baseball team. The venue is famous for its roof, the only convertible fan-retractable roof in North America, using mechanisms to open or close its roof for a choice of indoor or outdoor baseball games.
While the scale of Kaebisch’s Miller Park stadium is understandably pared down, the structure was able to replicate the real thing’s fan-shaped roof system that folds and unfolds as accurately as can be, exposing a baseball diamond with bleacher seats and enough room for a LEGO minifigure crowd of spectators.
This was a labor of love to capture the shape, color and inner workings of Miller Park. Kaebisch used about 30,000 LEGO bricks for his project, and worked on it for nine years. It was finally completed just in time for him to join many other LEGO builders from all over the world, coming to exhibit their expertise at the BrickUniverse LEGO Convention next weekend.
LEGO enthusiasts in Madison, Wisconsin and nearby areas can go and catch the BrickUniverse LEGO Convention at the Monona Terrace Convention Center. The event runs from June 30 to July, so go ahead and see the Miller Park among various other LEGO creations over there.
In the UK’s LEGOLAND theme park at Windsor, the excitement has finally died down following the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in the nearby namesake castle. LEGOLAND Windsor’s brick tribute will be remaining on display for some time yet, but there are other occasions to prepare for.
Case in point, June 17 is the third Sunday of the month, aka Father’s Day. And LEGOLAND Windsor has a special treat for dads visiting the park on that special day. What could be more awesome and heartwarming, perhaps, than to have family heads enter LEGOLAND that day for free?
You read it right. LEGOLAND Windsor Senior PR Manager Lauren Moss announced that they will be giving away free, precious tickets to 250 lucky dads. All they have to do is go to the park on June 17 between 8:45-10:00AM and gather at the Father’s Day Trivia Turnstile, installed by LEGOLAND for the day.
Once there, these coolest, brick-building dads will have to correctly answer trivia questions posed by LEGOLAND staff to win one of the 250 tickets, saving their cash only for their family members. “We know dads are used to being asked questions by their little ones,” noted Moss on the mechanics. “So we know they’ll be great at tackling our trivia question about our world famous Miniland and its new attractions.”
Trivia Questions at the Father’s Day Trivia Turnstile usually involve facts and statistics about the park, such as queries about the mini buildings on the Miniland themed area, where the recent Royal Birth and Royal Wedding displays still stand. Local Dads will need to get to know LEGOLAND better to get a chance for free entry on Father’s Day. One thing’s for sure, it’ll be fun for one and all.
Let’s say you’re a big company with arms in film/TV media and the amusement industry. You score a popular movie or TV series based on your brand or franchise; wouldn’t you get the idea of adding an attraction based on that media to your theme park?
Disney’s doing it with a new Star Wars hotel in Disney World, but they’re not the only ones in the game. LEGO too has a certain hit movie from 2014 that they’re adding to one of their LEGOLAND parks. And what a coincidence; it’s LEGOLAND Florida that’ll be getting the first LEGO Movie World.
As the name pretty much spells out, this is a new themed area patterned after the setting of The LEGO Movie, and LEGOLAND Florida is the test-bed for the idea before other LEGOLANDS around the world get one too. LEGO Movie World will reconstruct Bricksburg, hometown of the movie’s main character Emmet, and the place to go for meet-and-greets with him and his fellow cast.
Of course, to facilitate the development of LEGO Movie World, certain existing attractions of LEGOLAND Florida will be closed – like the “Legends of Chima: The Quest for Chi” ride on May 29 – for renovation to fit with the new theme.
LEGOLAND Florida expects that their new LEGO Movie World area will be open to park guests by next year; specifically, it’ll be around some time in the spring, after the premiere of The LEGO Movie Sequel on February 8, 2019.
After the successful, grand opening of LEGOLAND California Resort’s LEGOLAND Castle Hotel, it looks like the brick-inspired, family-centered theme park has now set its sights in adding a new, underwater twist. Starting this July, families and visitors at LEGOLAND California Resort will be treated to a unique, underwater adventure that includes an Interactive Treasure Hunt together with 2,000 real sea animals aboard 8 submarines that were inspired by actual LEGO City sets. Entitled as the LEGO City: Deep Sea Adventure Submarine Ride, the submarine itself features a touchscreen where passengers get to find gems and lost sunken treasure within a humongous 300,000 gallon tank.
Here’s the official press release, followed by a short video of the subs’ arrival at LEGOLAND California Resort.
GET READY TO DIVE! SUBMARINES FOR THE NEW LEGO® CITY: DEEP SEA ADVENTURE SUBMARINE RIDE AT LEGOLAND® CALIFORNIA RESORT HAVE ARRIVED!
Beginning in July, Families Will Experience an Interactive Treasure Hunt and See More Than 2,000 Real Sea Animals
CARLSBAD, Calif. (May 08, 2018) – LEGO® City: Deep Sea Adventure submarine ride is getting ready to take its maiden voyage this summer and the submarines have officially arrived at LEGOLAND® California Resort! Eight 22,000 pound submarines were unloaded and installed in the 300,000 gallon tank as construction continues on the interactive ride featuring real sharks, rays and fish. The family theme park’s newest ride is planned to open in July.
LEGO® CITY: Deep Sea Adventure submarine ride is Merlin Entertainments’ single largest investment for a ride in any LEGOLAND® Park. For the first time in the United States, LEGOLAND California Resort brings guests onboard a real submarine where they’ll go underwater to discover a truly amazing world filled with more than 2,000 real sea animals, including several species of stingrays and a variety of sharks. Through the use of touchscreens at each porthole inside the sub, guests can help the LEGO minifigure dive team identify gems, pearls, LEGO® gold coins and more throughout the four minute journey.
The submarine ride will be included in the price of admission this summer at LEGOLAND California Resort.
Near the end of April last month, we covered how the UK LEGOLAND theme park in Windsor celebrated the birth of Prince Louis, third child of Prince William and Kate, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, with a Royal Baby presentation scene on a LEGO Buckingham Palace in their Miniland area.
And it looks like LEGOLAND Windsor’s builder team hasn’t let up their meticulous work, for their next Miniland construction project shall celebrate another Royal event: the wedding of Prince Harry to American actress Meghan Markle. The two will be wed May 19 next week at Windsor Castle, near LEGOLAND Windsor.
The LEGO Windsor Castle erected for the display on Miniland, plus the brick figures that populate the setting, are made out of 39,960 bricks total. The builders took 592 hours (almost 25 days) to build the castle and assemble the wedding party: Prince Harry and Meghan in wedding attire, the Royal Family (Prince Louis stayed home though), and celebrity guests.
Keep a lookout for Elton John and the Spice Girls.
LEGOLAND Windsor aims to make their namesake Windsor Castle a permanent LEGO structure in Miniland. Guests can see the display, which opened Wednesday May 9, should they visit right now.
In case you missed out on the festivities of the grand opening of the very first Castle-themed LEGOLAND hotel in North America, then you might want to check out this video uploaded by LEGOLAND California. Needless to say, it’s a sight to behold: with royal trumpeters announcing the opening of the hotel’s gates, nobel knights mounted on valiant steeds, a little knight and squire formally cutting the ceremonial ribbon, and a majestic hawk handing over the key to the Castle to the legendary Merlin.
Here are some of the events’ highlights followed by LEGOLAND’s official press release. To place your bookings, visit their website right here.
HEAR YE, HEAR YE!
LEGOLAND® CASTLE HOTEL IS OFFICIALLY OPEN!
First LEGOLAND® Castle Hotel in the Nation and Second Hotel at
LEGOLAND® California Resort Opens its Doors!
CARLSBAD, Calif. (April 27, 2018) – Trumpeters announced the grand opening of the new LEGOLAND® Castle Hotel at LEGOLAND® California Resort today after a royal ceremony in front of hundreds of media and special guests. The ceremony included knights on horses, a little girl squire and boy knight plus a hawk that flew the key to the Castle to Merlin the wizard.
“Seeing guests walk into the Grand Hall for the first time is an awesome sight,” said General Manager Frank Idris. “I can’t believe just five years ago we opened the first LEGOLAND® Hotel in the nation proving how much LEGOLAND California Resort has become a multi-day destination for families with children ages 2-12. Our guests have asked for an even more immersive experience and that’s exactly what we’re giving them with LEGOLAND Castle Hotel. Not only does every room tell a story, every wall, floor, LEGO® model is designed to make guests feel like they’re in an actual castle.”
“We’re excited to open a second hotel having learned from the first how powerful the brand is and children love how their experience in our theme park transforms into an overnight magical memory,” said LEGOLAND California Resort General Manager Peter Ronchetti. “Not only will this 250-room hotel bring more people to the beautiful city of Carlsbad which benefits local business, but we’re adding more than 200 jobs further boosting the economy in the region. Considering that, plus the amazing locally-sourced food, great entertainment and whimsical features found throughout the new hotel, this is already a great win for us!”
A royal LEGO statue marks the entrance and is just one of more than 2,100 LEGO models created out of more than three million bricks. As guests enter the Grand Hall, they are greeted by a towering LEGO wizard conjuring up spells to protect the Castle from the bad knights and dragons.
In the Royal Princess rooms, the princess is joining forces with her jester friend to sneak into the grand tournament and compete with the knights. In the Knights and Dragons rooms, the knights are on a mission to defend the king’s castle and protect his treasure. In the Magic Wizard rooms, the wizards are concocting potions and fireworks for the grand tournament. Every room has a children’s sleeping area which includes bunk beds, a trundle bed, their own television, LEGO building station and shooting stars illuminating on the ceiling. Every adult sleeping area has an ornate head board with LED lights which could resemble a stained glass window, a canopy sparking with twinkling lights or shelves filled with potions and a magical bubbling illuminated cauldron.
In Dragon’s Den, a full-service sit down restaurant, guests can watch chefs preparing their food, enjoy LEGO models and entertainers within a unique dining experience. Breakfast is included with each guest’s stay and includes made-to-order items along with a buffet.
The Royal Courtyard immerses children in a fairy tale of their own creation with multiple play areas for different age groups, a giant movie screen, resort-style pool with interactive water features and hot tub and a tented stage for live plays and shows. Interactive elements throughout LEGOLAND Castle Hotel include a knock-knock door, a royal throne that makes silly noises, LEGO caricatures to build upon, a self-playing piano and a slide from the first floor to the lobby.
It’s finally happening. The LEGOLAND California Resort will officially open its LEGOLAND Castle Hotel to welcome visitors beginning tomorrow Friday, April 27. This latest addition to the LEGOLAND franchise is the first of its kind in the US that follows the classic LEGO Castle theme which will engage the whole family in a magical world of brick-built dragons, magicians, and other kingdom royalties.
The LEGOLAND Castle Hotel features three room themes which includes Royal Princess, Knights and Dragons, and Magic Wizard. Read the full press release below, and if you haven’t booked yet, you may want to visit the LEGOLAND California Resort website to reserve.
LEGOLAND®CASTLE HOTEL AT LEGOLAND®CALIFORNIA RESORT IS OPENING!
Nation’s First LEGO® Castle Themed Hotel Opens to the Public for First Time Following Official Ceremony
Calling all Knights, Princesses and Wizards! LEGOLAND® California Resort is officially unlocking the doors to its newest Hotel addition, LEGOLAND® Castle Hotel. On Friday, April 27, 2018, two young knights, a wizard and a cast of characters join together to open the family theme park’s new royal kingdom. The LEGOLAND Castle Hotel is the first hotel of its kind in North America and is designed to fully immerse kids and families into a world of LEGO® enchantment and bring children’s imaginations to life!
The three-story, 250-room hotel immerses guests into a creative LEGO® world and every room is fully themed to create a castle fantasy. Guests can choose from three different room themes: Royal Princess, Knights and Dragons and Magic Wizard. Upon entering the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel, guests will first step into a Grand Hall where they are met by a LEGO wizard before taking a magical levitating lift (elevator) that will take them to one of three different floors to continue their adventure. Other unique features include a slide in the Grand Hall, LEGO building stations in each children’s sleeping area, interactive play elements in the expansive courtyard, interactive water play features by the pool, premium entertainment from LEGOLAND characters, a LEGOLAND retail store and LEGO models themed specifically to each room type. Guests staying at LEGOLAND Hotel have exclusive early access to the LEGOLAND California theme park.
DETAILS:
Ceremony visuals include spectacular entrances by Knights, a wizard, a flying hawk and confetti cannons celebrating the grand opening.
Interviews with LEGOLAND California Resort General Manager, Peter Ronchetti and LEGOLAND Hotel General Manager, Frank Idris.
Guests checking in and entering Hotel for the first time
Three Premium Hotel room themes: Royal Princess, Knights and Dragons and Magic Wizard
Explore Hotel featuring more than 2,000 LEGO models made out of three million LEGO® bricks, Grand Hall lobby, Royal Courtyard, Dragons’ Den Family Restaurant, Knock-knock Joke Door, LEGO play pit, interactive play structures and themed entertainment
One of the themed areas for the LEGOLAND Windsor Resort theme park is Miniland, where a variety of LEGO reproductions of famous buildings around the world are on display. Part of Miniland’s UK exhibits is Buckingham Palace, and this model building just got spruced up in light of recent events.
On Monday, April 23, a new addition to the line of succession for the British throne was born, in the person of the third child of Prince William and Kate, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. LEGOLAND Windsor joins in the nationwide celebration of the royal birth with this brick-rendered gesture.
Visitors to the UK LEGOLAND’s Miniland area might notice that the LEGO Buckingham palace there now has its gates open, with Paparazzi aiming cameras at the driveway where brick-built figures of the Duke and Duchess stand, a LEGO baby in LEGO-Kate’s arms. They’re joined by Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
The LEGO version of the unnamed baby Prince is 5cm in length, made up of 1×2 plates and a blank minifigure head, with a minifigure baby acting as Princess Charlotte’ doll. To the family’s sides are a dog and a LEGO stroller, as well as the official birth announcement easel.
LEGOLAND Windsor model maker Kat James put together this royal birth display; and it’s looking to be a big hit with the human audience as it is with the brick-built crowd at the LEGO palace gates. No word was given as to how long the royal family will be displayed, so it’s best for those who wish to see it, to come running there soon.
Interestingly, LEGOLAND Windsor is pretty close to the real Buckingham Palace. Also, the Duke, Duchess and their children actually live in Kensington. The baby Prince also hasn’t gotten his name announced yet.
