Trying to bang out one good family weekend before the weather gets cold? Try the Legoland New York Resort! Legoland has locations in Denmark, Japan, Germany, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, England, and three in the US; Florida, New York, and California. I recently visited and found that it’s a great experience if your family are fans of Lego or associated brands like Ninjago.
Legoland fills the perfect market gap. It’s much cheaper than a trip to Disneyland and better suited to younger children than more adrenaline-packed theme parks like Six Flags. Located in Goshen, New York, it’s a great day trip for anyone in the New York or New Jersey areas and a fun weekend away for families on the East Coast. Thinking about checking it out?
Here are 5 things to know before you visit the Legoland New York Theme Park:
1. Check if the Activities Suit Your Family
While Legoland is a great theme park, it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. The park is best suited for children under 11. Although there are a few more upbeat rollercoasters, most of the rides are a little tame to cater for a younger audience. This is great if you want a more relaxed vacation or you’re just a big fan of Lego. This also means that Legoland probably isn’t for you if you’re looking for extreme rides and a big adrenaline kick.
Other than rides, the park includes a very wide variety of activities including a water playground, a cinema, and the ever-popular driving school where kids can safely practice driving in kid-sized cars. You can even take a Creative workshop class with a Lego Master Builder.
2. Ticket Prices
At this point, you’re probably wondering how much the experience will cost. Ticket prices vary depending on season, but here are a few current rates. A one-day theme park ticket starts at $59 and you can pay an extra $20 for a “Reserve ‘N Ride” – which means you get to skip waiting in line for one ride of your choice. Family vacation packages start at $87 and include a stay at the Legoland Hotel and a free hot breakfast. Of course, the ticket price goes up once you add more people or activities to your package.
If you can, swing for the VIP Day Experience as you get to do more rides, save time, and have less hassle when dealing with toddlers. Without the VIP package, you will probably need 2 days to explore the park if you’re traveling with children under 5.
If you’re a local to the area and love your experience at the park, consider getting an annual pass. It lasts 16 months and has four tiers ranging from $150 to $300. While it definitely isn’t cheap, it’s cost-effective in the long run if you visit Legoland often. All in all, Legoland New York Resort has pretty reasonable prices for the experiences offered.
3. Book Accommodation as Early as Possible
This probably applies to every theme park holiday since you need to find accommodation if you’re coming from out of state. The theme park has its own on-site Legoland Hotel which boasts 250 rooms. Unsurprisingly, these rooms are usually booked solid months in advance and you’ll have to book pretty early to get in. Your next best option is nearby hotels like Hampton Inn Middletown, Courtyard by Marriott Middletown Goshen, to name a few. Hotels aside, you can look up available AirBnBs.
My family and I stayed at the hotel in Kingdom Theme Room from a Friday to a Sunday which was a great experience. The rooms are spacious and have a separate area for the kids with bunk beds. It wasn’t crowded and we enjoyed the food. On Friday, we did the pool, on Saturday we hit the park, and on Sunday we explored the hotel and checked out.
4. Wear Sunscreen!
This is the perfect opportunity to break out your big floppy hats. Legoland New York Resort is an outdoor theme park with limited shade. This means a lot of time in the sun, especially this time of year. Stock up on sunscreen and visors for those long outdoor activities. And to my fellow highly melanated people, this applies to you too! Dark skin won’t protect you from sun damage.
5. Get There Early
Like any theme park, lines for rides get pretty long and people are at the gate even before opening time. Want to save an hour or two? Get there early.
Time to Plan Your Vacation!
Have you been to Legoland? Let us know your experience in the comments.