Legoland Florida announces new hotel

[AgentC]

Legoland Florida announced this morning that they have broken ground on a new hotel. I have not seen the official press release yet but the reports are that it will be 4 stories and have approximately 152 rooms. It is scheduled to open in 2015.

As someone who has fond memories of visiting Cypress Gardens as a child, I am really glad that Legoland opened at the old Cypress Gardens location and has become a success. My kids love it there but since it is a little off the beaten path and has shorter hours than many parks we don't get there as much as I would like. I think a hotel really enhances the property.

[BrerGnat]

They opened a Lego themed hotel earlier this year at the CA Legoland. Looks really neat. Maybe this hotel will bring more people to Legoland since it's a ways from Orlando.

[NJGIRL]

I wish they would have opened the park when my son was younger. He was a huge lego fan. I just put away his legos last year. We have five huge Rubbermaid tubs.

I bet the hotel will help bring more people in....once it's done they should consider expanding their hours.

[DizneyFreak2002]

A hotel built out of Legos... Wouldn't want to stay there during a hurricane.. LOL...

Looks like there is going to be another player in Central Florida... But LegoLand has a loooooong way to go... But this is a good start...

[AgentC]

They opened a Lego themed hotel earlier this year at the CA Legoland. Looks really neat. Maybe this hotel will bring more people to Legoland since it's a ways from Orlando.

I wish they would have opened the park when my son was younger. He was a huge lego fan. I just put away his legos last year. We have five huge Rubbermaid tubs.

I bet the hotel will help bring more people in....once it's done they should consider expanding their hours.

I think it might bring more people in especially locals. For us it is a really awkward place to go to. It takes me longer to get there than WDW because there is no direct way to go, so if we are looking for something to do and it is already mid morning, we are going to either go to Tampa (Busch or the Aquarium or something) or go to Orlando because everything there is open later. I would be much more likely to buy a pass if I could easily make a weekend of it.

A hotel built out of Legos... Wouldn't want to stay there during a hurricane.. LOL...

Looks like there is going to be another player in Central Florida... But LegoLand has a loooooong way to go... But this is a good start...

Some of those Legos are pretty strong. At least they are when you build them wrong and try to get them apart.

I agree with you that it is nice to have another option in Central FL but I think the location and the demographic will keep it more of a specialty / niche player. I can't see many kids over 12 wanting to go unless they are major Lego fans, but it definitely fills a need for younger kids.

[DizneyFreak2002]

Some of those Legos are pretty strong. At least they are when you build them wrong and try to get them apart.

I agree with you that it is nice to have another option in Central FL but I think the location and the demographic will keep it more of a specialty / niche player. I can't see many kids over 12 wanting to go unless they are major Lego fans, but it definitely fills a need for younger kids.

I agree... I think the location may be its biggest hurdle... The hotel may help it a bit... But I mostly see Legoland as a diversion, not a destination...

[Disney4us2]

Where is the hotel going to be? I just drove past Legoland a couple of days ago and didn't see any constuction around the park. I live about 5 miles from there and haven't been to see it yet. My DD is going to be 14, so she kind of aged out of that park.

[AgentC]

Here is the official announcement. It says it will be next to the front of the park.

LEGOLAND® Florida Announces LEGOLAND® Hotel Opening in 2015

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (Nov. 21, 2013) – Today, LEGOLAND® Florida General Manager Adrian Jones officially announced the park’s much anticipated LEGOLAND Hotel will open in 2015. The announcement was made alongside community leaders with a ceremonial groundbreaking moment at the site where the hotel will be built, directly to the left of LEGOLAND Florida’s entrance, just steps from Lake Eloise.

“The opening of a LEGOLAND Hotel will transition LEGOLAND Florida from a single-day visit theme park to a multi-day resort destination,” said Jones. “This will serve as a catalyst for future economic development in Polk County.”

Welcoming guests with a multicolored exterior and entrance, the four-story LEGOLAND Hotel will immerse families with young children in the world of LEGO®, as an extension of the vibrant and interactive theme park experience. Created to bring children’s imaginations to life, the LEGO-themed hotel will feature 152 brightly colored and highly themed rooms and suites, LEGO décor; interactive play areas; a pool and a restaurant.

LEGOLAND Florida Hotel will add 250 construction-related jobs during the construction, and another 250 jobs to its employee base to staff the new hotel upon completion.

This will be the fifth LEGOLAND Hotel in the world joining LEGOLAND California, LEGOLAND Windsor and LEGOLAND Billund hotels. LEGOLAND Malaysia Hotel will soon open its doors.

At LEGOLAND Florida, families enjoy more than 50 rides, shows, attractions, a water park and the all-new LEGO World of Chima presented by Cartoon Network. At the World of Chima, the whole family can board an interactive splash battle ride, The Quest for CHI, and kid’s can splash and play in Cragger’s Swamp and race handheld rip-chord powered vehicles at the SpeedorzTM Arena.