Our family was long overdue for a getaway.
We wanted out of L.A. for a weekend, a quick break from gridlock, routines and responsibilities. We wanted to do something fun and exciting with our toddler and infant, but most of all, we wanted something easy. Though an amusement park wasn’t exactly what we had in mind, it turns out Legoland California was just what the weekend family-travel doctor ordered.
PHOTOS COURTESY LACOYA KATOE
Legoland is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and it’s “Platinum Playtime” as the resort rolls out a year’s worth of perks along the Pacific. Since opening in 1999 with 12 rides and Miniland U.S.A., the resort has grown into a multi-day destination with more than 60 rides, shows and attractions and two showcase hotel properties.
During our recent weekend, my hubby and toddler were more than thrilled with the availability of sweet treats throughout the park, including birthday cupcakes and iced cookies, as well as microwaveable “cake cups” to enjoy in our room. To ring in the birthday cheer, Legoland was awash in music, with disco and soul music playing in the elevators, dance parties in the hotel lobbies and various renditions of the birthday song as background music on some of its rides. Let’s just say my infant daughter will be more than ready to bounce and giggle when her own birthday rolls around.
In addition to free birthday admission for kids under 12, the park has seen the debut of LEGO® Movie 2 Experience and launch of LEGO City 4D-Officer in Pursuit, a new film debuting in Showplace Theater with 4D real-world effects, the new Legoland Express Train and a recreated DUPLO Playtown, reimagined in a new park location complete with a slide, hide and ride throughout the interactive play area.
Our 3-year-old had a blast in Duplo Playtown. Meanwhile, my husband and I lapped up relaxing by the pool with Baby and devoured delicious adult-friendly food and drinks all weekend long. All of us loved the spacious, pirate-themed room that kept us entertained long after we retired for the evening.
The next day, we enjoyed the Sea Life Aquarium and the new Lego City Deep Sea Adventure submarine ride. Both were huge highlights for my toddler, who was delighted to watch a diversity of sea life up close, including a shark feeding. He was thrilled, too, by the Bioluminescent Tides and Starry Night exhibit.
For 20 years now, Legoland has been a reliable family getaway, a one-stop shop with a little something for everyone to enjoy; a getaway my son insists we must do again so he can “build and build and build with more Legos!”
