City of Winter Haven and Winter Haven Chamber representatives visited Carlsbad and Legoland California April 8 and 9. The group met with Carlsbad Chamber and City officials on Thursday and enjoyed a five-hour Legoland visit on Friday. Since many local folks aren’t quite sure what to expect … here are a few observations:
Expect a park designed to entertain children two to twelve years old and involve their parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles in that experience.
Expect lush landscaping with photographic sight lines in the best traditions of Dick and Julie Pope.
Expect a gourmet dining experience – no exaggeration here. Traditional burgers and hot dogs are available but add to that such items as gourmet wood fired pizzas, Asian chicken stir fry, spicy shrimp linguini, Carne Asada steak nachos, Cajun salmon, spinach and pear salad and much, much more. You’ll also find child “right-sized” buffet lines.
Expect to become addicted to Granny’s Apple Fries (a Legoland original!) Warm Granny Smith apple fries are dusted with cinnamon and sugar and served with a vanilla cream dipping sauce. (Pictured left)
Expect bright primary colors and millions upon millions of Lego bricks used in sculptures and creations.
Expect a Miniland USA so complete and complex with examples such as the Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore, The U. S. Capitol, Washington Monument and New York skyline. Our Miniland will have its own unique mix of Lego brick creations, but these were part of just the Miniland USA area of the park, and it alone could take more than a day to explore and appreciate its intricate detail. (Below)
Expect rides that have parents and children participating together. Rides that move on their own – but move faster if you peddle. Rides that involve pulleys that the occupant pulls for elevations. Rides such as the Junior Driving School where kids can get their Legoland Driving License. Expect queue lines for rides that surround a Lego brick play area for kids to keep them occupied while Mom and Dad weave around them.
Expect a dedicated management team laser-focused on their target audience … those two- to twelve-year-old guests that will allow us to particpate with them. You’ll find friendly, engaged employees and a spotless park as well.
Expect a good corporate citizen that works closely with the community and gives back. Legoland is particularly supportive of education.
Expect to say (as we did) “Wow, how perfect that they chose Winter Haven for their Florida Park!”
The City of Winter Haven and the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce wish to thank The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, City of Carlsbad and Legoland California for their extraordinary hospitality. Special thanks to Peter Ronchetti, General Manager and Brian Shaw, Director of Finance for their personal tour of the Legoland California facility.
Very nice pictures and it looks like a lot to look forward to! Thank you for sharing and I just can’t wait for them to be up and running!
thank you so much for the info. it will be a beautiful park to take our grandchildren.
Can’t wait for it to open. Thanks again for coming to winter haven…..
Glad the group went to take a look!! Are we ready to host the hundreds and maybe thousands of visitors who come to Legoland? When I say we, I mean Winter Haven, its many businesses, food and lodging establishments and public services. You state that it is designed for kids two to twelve. What is there to offer older kids and adults? You say the food will be gourmet. We raised two kids and “gourmet” was not what they craved between two and twelve. Now that they are in their thirties gourmet is what they want. I’ll raise more questions in an email!
It’s encouraging news to see our scouting party come back with such high hopes and positive reports of what LegoLand is like, in the flesh. I have no doubt that with this level of enthusiasm from a pack of visitors who are way outside the age range of the target audience, there is every indication that we will all benefit and be entertained by the opening of LegoLand’s newest, and possibly best park.
I hope Overlook Drive will be completed, and the grass in the median on Cypress Gardens Blvd will be maintained by the opening of Legoland.
Thank you, Bob, Cindy, JP and group for doing such a great scouting job! I hope some smart business people here in Winter Haven adapt and/or open businesses friendly to families with small children. I very excited at the possibilities Legoland brings to our community….let our imaginations run wild!
We just missed you. We were at the California park the previous Saturday. We also visited the park in Windsor, UK last year.
On this trip I was playing a mental game of figuring out where certain areas/rides would most likely be place in the Florida facility.
I need to review and upload all my photos from CA, but for now here are some shots from the UK park:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hyku/sets/72157622206385599/
What impact will be felt by the homes on Helena Road, north of the park on the lake Summit side. 2 homes border the LEGO property on that side. Will there be some kind of sound barrier, wall considered for that side of the property?
Thanks
Joey
I just can not wait and see what it will bring to Winter Haven for job offers and fun things to do with the kids. I think it will be great and my son is ready for it too.
Will there be traffic control/redesigned entrance to eliminate the nightmare traffic Cypress Gardens used to create?
I am so excited about Legoland Florida coming to Winter Haven. I just purchased a property in Poinciana off Poinciana Parkway and Lake Marion Creek Drive… We are the best kept secret right now, 15 minutes away from the attraction! I can’t wait to see what transformations are in store for this area. Thank you Winter Haven for representing the community so well.
Living very close to the Sit and raising our Grandson we are very excited about the park opening. I would like to know some opinions as to what if any impact the park might have on our property values in this ecomomy. Anyone?