The Miami Mami

Legoland Florida is super fun for small kids and toddlers. Like their slogan “Built for Kids”, there’s stuff to do for the little ones at every corner and plenty of rides. Normally, we are more of a Disney family but we definitely wanted to check Legoland Florida out with our 3-year old before he grows out of it. Here is my recap.

Where to Stay

A day at a theme park can be extremely exhausting. And the last thing you want to do after a day full of riding roller coasters is drive a long distance. Luckily, Legoland has three resorts that you can stay at. The original Legoland Hotel and its newer extension, the Pirate Hotel, are located right at the entrance of the theme park. If you stay at one of these properties, you’ll have 24/7 access to kid-friendly activities such as scavenger hunts and pajama parties. Moreover, you get to choose a themed room. The lego-filled lobby is so high energy that you feel like you are in a nightclub for kids.

For that reason, we decided to stay at the much calmer Beach Retreat across the street. It is also a Legoland hotel but you get to stay in your own Lego-style cottage with a cute front porch. You can eat at Sandy’s Castle, swim in the pool full of huge legos, and have s’mores by the fire at night. There’s a shuttle that takes you over to the park or you can take your own car.

Good news for the parents: all rooms have separate sleeping areas for the kids and include lego toys. As a Miami mom, I totally appreciate that the coffee maker had Bustelo cafe. Cool extra perk: there were also organic juices and hot chocolate for the coffee maker so the little ones don’t feel left out.

Staying at a Legoland hotel for a minimum of 2 nights includes 2-day tickets to the park and you can add extra ones for only $25 a day.

The Parks

The main Legoland park is very big with lots of different sections, rides roller coasters, shows, and activities. If your kids have Lego figures, they can trade them at the park’s coffee shop. Tucked in the back of Legoland, you will find the waterpark. Since you have to go all the way through Legoland, it is not possible to buy a ticket for the waterpark only. Right next to Legoland is the newly opened Peppa Pig park which is even better suited for very small kids. My son is obsessed with the TV show and had a blast. The park itself is very small with about 4-5 rides; however, it has a huge splash pad and other fun opportunities to play. There’s not a lot of shade so I recommend wearing a hat and bringing water. FYI you are allowed to bring a cooler to the park. The park is very inclusive and sensory-friendly. Also, if you have a special needs child, you can obtain a HERO pass at Guest Services allowing you to skip the line similar to the Fast Track pass.

What to Eat

The Legoland hotels all have breakfast included. The breakfast is buffet-style; however, they bring you a platter to the table with the option to order more. Legoland has several options to eat: pizza, pasta, sandwiches, funnel cakes, and a lot more. A total must-try is Granny’s Apple Fries. So delicious! They come with whipped cream and you can ad soft serve for $2. The Peppa Pig park, on the other hand, has very limited options with huge lines. As mentioned above, you can bring a cooler with your own food and drinks which I definitely would.

There are several restaurants at the hotels where you can have dinner. Via OpenTable, you can reserve your table at Shipwrecks and Skyline Lounge. Shipwrecks is located in the Pirate Hotel and offers a family-style all-you-can-eat dinner that includes a salad, a BBQ platter or a vegan one, and a dessert. Skyline Lounge is located in the main hotel where all the action in the lobby is making it a very loud experience. Keep in mind, there are kids running around, climbing on a pirate ship, playing with legos, and fighting each other with souvenir swords. There is a second restaurant in the same lobby called Bricks which serves a dinner buffet. The Beach Retreat has its own restaurant, Sandy’s Castle, with an a la carte menu featuring burgers, churrasco, quesadillas, and more. Most people’s favorite is Shipwreck’s but I thought it was too much food, too much meat, and too few options. I was happy with the casual Sandy’s Castle at the Beach Retreat. All restaurants feature Lego play areas where the kids can have fun while the parents get to relax.

Legoland Florida is definitely a fun action-filled place for little kids and those who love Legos. There are not as many crazy roller coasters and adult beverage options as at Disney, so I’d recommend you make your way to Winter Haven while the kiddos are still young.

If you have any questions, you can follow me on Instagram @themiamimami_ or ask in the comment box.