I’ve had the opportunity to travel around the world and see some extraordinary sites, but nothing gets as big a reaction as LEGOLAND! I’ve had everyone from age 5 to 65 tell me how lucky I was to see LEGOLAND and I’m happy to take you inside that adventure!
So Close to Home!
Families in Ottawa frequently have the opportunity to travel to Toronto and the surrounding area and the number of attractions make it an ideal location for a long weekend break. Under the right circumstances, LEGOLAND can be an attraction that all family members of all different ages can enjoy. LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Toronto Vaughan Mills is surrounded by every amenity you could need and is just a 4 hour drive from Ottawa.
Lego Around the World
There are LEGOLAND parks and centres around the world, the most famous of which is in Denmark. While some of these parks cover acres of ground, the Toronto LEGOLAND is a much smaller affair and is an indoor facility. While this might be a disappointment to those expecting a full service theme park with outside attractions, I think the more modest size in Toronto is more realistic for families who can enjoy their fun without bugs or sunburns.
Rides, Earthquakes, Movies, and More!
LEGOLAND is much like you’d expect it to be – fun, colorful, cheerful, and upbeat. The staff brought us through to show us a fun faux-demonstration of how Legos are made and we had the chance to go on a LEGOLAND ride – the mechanical cart took us through the dark tunnels so we could use our laser guns to shoot the Lego Skeletons and save the princess. Considering what a wimp I am in all aspects of life, this is one ride I could definitely handle! We also got to enjoy a large play area, including a section where we got to build our own structures and test them out on the earthquake simulator! Tons of fun, but also a neat attraction for any children who are interested in science, nature, and design. There was a second ride – also mild enough for a chicken like me to handle – and a 4D movie experience that was charming and cute (and the kids went crazy for it!)
Masterful Design
My favourite part of the entire experience was seeing the city of Toronto reproduced in Legos. It was an incredible display, complete with water, lights, and moving parts. In a reproduction of a Maple Leaf’s hockey game, you could see Lego celebrities sitting in the stands! While the incredible detail contained in a display like this might be lost on the smaller children, there’s no doubt that every adult will love it.
Master Class
The visit was capped off with a Lego Master Builders’ class. This was something I was really looking forward to and it did not disappoint. Our patient instructor walked us through the building of a sea plane and even the small children in the room were able to follow along with the more advanced configurations.
Budget Accordingly
I was fortunate to see Toronto’s Vaughan Mills LEGOLAND Discovery Centre as part of a press trip with Central Counties Tourism. I had a wonderful time, it was tons of fun, and it was such a treat to indulge some childhood whims and feel like a kid again.
Families should take note of the steep admission cost. Children between 2-13 years old cost $18, while 13 plus and adults cost $22. A family of 4 could easily spend close to $100 with taxes for a visit to LEGOLAND. This would be reasonable if your children (and you!) loved Lego, but if some of your kids aren’t that interested, you might be better off splitting for the day to peruse more suitable activities. Parents should also be aware that there are endless opportunities to spend more money once inside; from the photos taken while you are on the rides, the in-house café, the kits being used in the Masters Builder’s class, and the very tempting gift shop.
If you have no children but love the idea of playing with Legos all day, you should make note that for the safety of the children, adults are not allowed to visit on their own. Lego Land has started a monthly “adult night” where the kids stay home and Lego obsessed grownups can come and play!
I’d you’d like to learn more about visiting LEGOLAND, I highly encourage you to visit http://www.stayingnative.com/blog/lego-fun-kids-all-ages/. Staying Native is an amazing travel blog run by Toronto residents Chris and Bev and I had the pleasure of sharing my visit to LEGOLAND with them and their two children.
legoland is lots of fun we really enjoy visiting there
Oh my god I want to go to Legoland now!
I’m starting to think that the adults are even crazier about Lego than the kids! It’s amazing how Lego is one of the few toys that has remained the same for decades. Sure, they’ve added new colors and some new specialty pieces, but kids today could play with my 30 year old kit with no problem.
We went to Legoland California this year and LOVED it!
Legoland is on our list of top places to go! My son loves lego!
I’ve heard awesome things about LEGOLAND California!
We visited the Legoland Discovery Centre for the first time last month, It was a surprise to the children. They loved every area.
LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Toronto will be open Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (last admission at 7 p.m.), and Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (last admission at 5 p.m.). Admission price is $22 for adults age 13 and older, $18 for children ages 3-12 and children 2 and under are free.
Thank you coming to link up to Travel Tuesday.
Love this post – my boys would love to go to Legoland.
I was lucky enough to visit Legoland in Billund, Denmark whilst living there. It was fantastic. It’s the most famous and popular amusement park in Denmark , with lots of fun, speed and action for families and children of all ages. I had a great time there.
What a wonderful place to visit
Wow,I would love to take my grandkids there
I wont be going but my granddaughter will be visiting there in 2016
We love LEGOLAND Discovery Centre in Toronto, often visit it for some Lego adventures and movies!