Families visiting Legoland California Resort this spring will have a brand-new universe to explore. Opening March 6, Lego Galaxy is a $90 million, space-themed land designed to spark curiosity, creativity and plenty of “wow” moments for kids and grown-ups alike.
Building an entirely new galaxy, however, took years of imagination and meticulous planning. Flora Liu, senior project manager with theme park attraction creator Merlin Magic Making, oversaw the design, Lego integrations and additions of a few Easter eggs to the park’s newest land, which will features Legoland’s first new roller coaster in 20 years.
And after more than three years of design, development and construction, Liu could use a vacation herself, once Lego Galaxy is open to the public. “In case you couldn’t tell, I’m exhausted,” she said during a recent media preview of Lego Galaxy. “It’s exciting. This is the largest investment we’ve [made] in 20 years.”
At the heart of Lego Galaxy — which features themed rides including G-Force Test Facility and Duplo Launch and Land, a Junior Astronaut Training Zone, exclusive shops and multiple space-themed food options — is the Galacticoaster, Legoland’s first indoor rollercoaster. Housed in a 30,000-square-foot building, the coaster, which reaches speeds of 40 miles per hour, integrates decades of Lego space-themed toys, dating back to 1978.
Riders team up to digitally create their own customizable spacecraft (with 625 possible combinations), and once on the ride itself, see themselves flying in their creation through augmented reality technology.
“It’s inspired by the very first Lego space sets from the 1970s and celebrates the imagination that has captivated generations,” said Kurt Stocks, president of Legoland California Resort. “We can’t wait for March, when new and longtime fans get to experience the nostalgia of the past, the creativity of today and the adventures yet to come.”
Rosie Brailsford, Merlin Magic Making’s creative director for Legoland Parks, said the entire Lego Galaxy area is intended to immerse visitors in a different universe, compared to the rest of the park, with lots of inside nods that only the most dedicated of LEGO fans will understand.
“We want this all to be a passion point for space,” she said.
