Legoland Florida Tips and Tricks

Everything is Awesome at Legoland! Don’t miss these Legoland Florida Tips and Tricks to make the most of your visit! 

We had the opportunity to visit Legoland Florida at the end of the summer. I was in Orlando for a conference and we went a day earlier because the boys were dying to go to Legoland. They had the time of their lives at this amusement park catered to Lego fans.

If your kids are dreaming of a trip to Legoland I thought I’d put together a few Legoland Florida Tips and Tricks so you can make the most of your visit to the park. I think it’s definitely worth adding an extra day to your Florida itinerary to check it out.

:: Planning Your Trip

Legoland is for Lego lovers. And while die hard fans of any age will enjoy the park, it’s best enjoyed by kids under the age of 10. When our family went the boys were 3.5 and 5 and they loved every minute. We went during the off season which was awesome because the lines were either very short or non-existent. However, Legoland Florida is not open everyday in the off season. If you are following on our footsteps, be sure to check the schedule before you make arrangements.

:: Getting Here

Winter Haven, Florida is about 35 miles from the Orlando Airport. If you are staying in Winter Haven, see if your hotel offers an airport shuttle. Otherwise you might need to rent a car or take a taxi. If you aren’t staying Winter Haven and are just going to Legoland for the day, you can take advantage of their daily, roundtrip shuttle to/from Orlando.

:: Staying Here

We stayed at the Legoland Florida Hotel. This is 130 kid steps away from the main gate so you literally couldn’t be closer. Another perk is that hotel guests are admitted to the park 30 minutes before the general public. We absolutely loved our stay here. If you are considering it, don’t miss my Insider’s Guide to the Legoland Florida Hotel.

:: Plan Ahead for the Weather

I probably don’t have to tell you that Florida is hot and sunny, year round. You need to pack hats and sunscreen. There are a few shady spots to take a break and many of the line queues are shaded but the other areas of the park are full sun. There are also lots of pop up showers in Florida. In the summertime you might see a short rain shower every afternoon. Pack a poncho and save inside activities for when it rains. Some indoor ideas include: Lego Mindstorms, 4D movies, Tot Spot, Hero Factory Build, the Warner Brothers Video Game Center and souvenir shops.

:: How to Save Money

So this is a big one. People ask me all the time how to save money on a Legoland trip which is one of the main reasons I am sharing this Legoland Florida Tips and Tricks post. Theme parks can be expensive but there’s no reason you can’t save money! Here are a few options

• Check the LegoClub Magazine for coupons. They often have a coupon for a free child ticket when you purchase an adult ticket. This is a great way to get your kid tickets for free.

• Buy Tickets online. If you can’t find coupons in your LegoClub magazine or you don’t have an even number of kids/adults attending, buy your tickets online. If you buy more than 2 days in advance you can save $20 off the gate price.

• Prepay Parking. You can buy a parking pass online and save $2 off the in-park rate.

• Pack Water & Snacks. Legoland is pretty family friendly. You can bring a soft side cooler with water bottles in it. Refill them at the water fountains and you save money right there. We also had a few single serve snacks in ours to tide us over between lunchtime and park closing. While you aren’t allowed to bring in lunch, you could pack one and zip out to your car to eat it.

• Consider a Hotel Package. The Legoland Florida hotel often runs specials. When you factor in free breakfast and the other perks associated with staying on-property, you might get the best bang for you buck with a hotel package.

• Shop the Bargain Store. If you can’t escape a trip to Legoland without a trip to a souvenir shop, try the Extreme Brick Bargain Shop for deep discounts on discontinued merch or the Minifigure Market for the smallest souvenirs.

• Skip the Waterpark. More on the waterpark below, however tickets to the Waterpark will add an additional $20 to your visit per person. The waterpark is all the way in the back and somewhat hidden so you could easily bypass it without the kids even seeing.

:: Waiting in Line

There are a couple strategies regarding waiting in line. First, if you have it in the budget and you are going during peak travel time, you should consider front of the line passes. These are wristbands that you purchase for an additional fee, that give you unlimited front of the line privileges at Legoland Florida attractions.

Another option is to go in the off season. We went the Thursday before Labor Day weekend and there was no one there. It was awesome. We didn’t have to wait more that 5 minutes for anything. Finally, if you do find yourself waiting in line, your kids don’t have to wait with you. Legoland has play areas in the queue. They are fenced off and the entrance gate is towards the beginning of the queue and the exit gate is at the end of the queue.

:: Lots of Things for Little Kids

Legoland is designed just for kids. As I said above it’s best for kids under 10. However, your kids will need to be 42″ to ride most of the roller coasters. If you are visiting with smaller kids there are tons of other options besides roller coasters. Legoland Florida has an entire Duplo Village with rides for littles. My son was 3.5 and enjoyed every minute here!

There are also play areas near each of the roller coasters so there’s something nearby for them to do while big brother or big sister is getting their adrenaline rush on. You can also check out Legoland’s official What to Do When You’re Two guide.

:: Don’t Skip Miniland! 

Miniland might not be a ride but it’s definitely something you don’t want to miss. Spend some time wandering through and exploring. The level of detail and the intricate designs are simply amazing. In addition to a Star Wars section, my favorite were are the US cities. We saw the Golden Gate bridge, downtown New York City with the Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty. The Washington DC display was really cool too. My kids couldn’t believe how detailed everything was, down to little mini figures walking the streets of Miniland!

:: Explore the Waterpark

Legoland Florida has a waterpark in the back of the park. Check the hours because it has different hours from the main theme park. It also requires an additional ticket. We were able to enjoy the waterpark the day we went and it was great! Florida is hot and steamy in August so we visited the waterpark during the hottest part of the afternoon.

There is a big play area and lazy river as well as a couple rides for taller kids. I thought it was a great way to end our day. We spent 2-3 hours here. Then we walked around Miniland when we were nice and cool on our way out of the park!

:: Last Minute Tips

We’re almost through all the Legoland Florida Tips and Trips but here a few last minute ideas to consider when planning your trip.

• Bring Mini figures to trade. Have your kids round up a couple of their least favorite mini figures or grab a couple before you leave. When in the park, ask an employee if they’d like to trade figures. Many of them have mini figures on their name tags ready to trade. The new figure is yours to keep and a fun little souvenir from the trip!

• Pick the right driving school. There are two different driving schools a short distance apart. If you child is too young for the main Ford Driving School, keep walking a little farther down the road and you’ll find the Ford Junior Driving School.

• Granny’s Apple Fries. People rave about Granny’s Apple Fries. Consider them the Dole Whip of Legoland. We tried them and I thought they were okay but not worth the hype. Just throwing that out there. If you are dying to try, maybe get a single order to share until you rate them for yourself.

So there you have it! These Legoland Florida Tips and Tricks should be everything you need to plan an awesome trip but feel free to ask a question in the comments. I’m happy to help any way I can. If you’re headed to Orlando, a trip to Legoland Florida is a must for any Lego fan. My boys had a blast and we really hope to go again!

—> Don’t miss: Insider’s Guide to the Legoland Florida Hotel  <—

Disclosure: Legoland hosted our family for a day in the park. However, the opinions and statements in this Legoland Florida Tips and Tricks post are all mine.