Here is what we now know about the opening of Walt Disney World.

LEGOLAND Florida First Theme Park To Reopen

LEGOLAND Florida is set to open next week, June 1, 2020. The theme park hours are 10am-5pm and water park hours are noon-4pm for the time being. Of course, LEGOLAND is retraining its Model Citizens (employees) in updated cleaning and safety procedures. One big change to note is LEGOLAND has gone cashless, you must use a credit or debit card for all financial transactions.

• Download the official LEGOLAND Florida app for up-to-date information
• Operating at a reduced capacity but no reservations required.
• Added hand washing stations
• Updated socially distant parking spaces
• Temperature checks, no party with a member whose temperature checks at 100.4° F will not be admitted.
• Masks for those ages 3 and up. No masks for those who have trouble breathing or those who cannot remove the mask without assistance. The water park has its own mask guidelines. Check the website before heading to the park to know what is expected.
• Social distance in queues and stores, follow all signs and markers.
• Some attractions are on timeout and will not be open during this first phase.
• The LEGOLAND hotels are open for guests beginning June 1, 2020.

Universal Orlando Resort

Universal Orlando Resort will be opening all 3 of its parks on June 5, 2020. When you visit their website you are greeted with this disclaimer.

Exposure to COVID-19 is an inherent risk in any public location where people are present; we cannot guarantee you will not be exposed during your visit.

Universal Orlando Website

Hours for this first phase of reopening: Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure 9am-6pm, Volcano Bay 10am-5pm, City Walk 8am-10pm. The parks will be open with limited capacity, but no reservations are required. The park will restrict entry when capacity is reached.

• Face coverings required ages 3+. Separate rules for Volcano Bay Water Park.
• Temperature check required in parking structure. Those 100.4° and above must return to their vehicle and it will be suggested they see a doctor.
• Wash your hands often
• Social distance-leave at least 6 feet between traveling parties.
• Observe floor markings when present
• Avoid contact with sick people
• Use provided hand sanitizer when required before boarding select ride vehicles
• Follow team member instructions at all times
• You can go contact free with the official Universal Orlando Resorts app
• Staggered Parking in the parking garage
• Virtual Line technology available on the app for select attractions
• Cashless payments are available through Google Wallet and Apple Pay.

Does the Fact that Central Florida Theme Parks Prepare to Reopen Effect Your Travel Plans?

So, does the fact that these Central Florida theme parks prepare to reopen effect your travel plans? Would you visit either of these theme parks with these restrictions in place if you’re looking for things to do in Florida with kids? If I were a passholder I would, otherwise I would not. I have said from the beginning, my goal is to be at Disney World the day they open…if I’m available. I’m a passholder though, not someone coming in for their once in a lifetime Central Florida theme park vacation.

I have counseled all of my out of state guests to wait til late fall or even 2021 to make their big trip. I don’t want them to miss out on all our amazing theme parks have to offer, and that isn’t possible with closed attractions and social distancing. Make sure you follow my travel Facebook page for any updates.

Will you be planning your Central Florida theme park vacation for later this year, 2021, or sometime later? If you are ready to book for 2020 or 2021, I’m here to help you start planning now. If your thinking that vacation will be in the more distant future, sign up to receive my very occasional travel email.

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The white label casino is a platform that offers the best online casinos and has the incredible features and prizes to their members.

Guests can mark their calendars for all seasonal events and openings including:

LEGOLAND Water Park: Season Opening on March 9

Come enjoy a full spring and summer floating along Build-A-Raft River, splashing in DUPLO^® Splash Safari and the Joker Soaker water playground, taking a dip in the LEGO Wave Pool or speeding down the Splash Out and Twin Chasers slides. LEGOLAND Water Park will be open on select dates March 9 through October: www.legoland.com/en/florida/planning-your-visit/park-hours/

THE LEGOMOVIE WORLD: Opening March 27

Guests go from the theater to the theme park with the launch of THE LEGO MOVIE WORLD. Created in partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, this impressive expansion features three new rides and numerous attractions; all inspired by the characters and themes of the worldwide blockbuster THE LEGO MOVIE and the exciting new big-screen animated adventure sequel THE LEGO MOVIE 2: The Second Part.

Red, Brick & Boom: July 4-6

Celebrate America’s Independence over three days as the skies above Lake Eloise fill with one of the biggest fireworks shows of the year! Before the sun goes down, help create a giant U.S. flag out of thousands of LEGO bricks.

NEW – THE LEGO MOVIE DAYS: July 13-14, 20-21 & 27-28 and August 3-4

Fans of Emmet, Wyldstyle, Unikitty and Benny, rejoice! After watching the sequel to the blockbuster THE LEGO MOVIE, LEGOLAND will offer the complete theater to the theme park experience through event activities, special character meet-and-greet experiences, a THE LEGO MOVIE mosaic build, scavenger hunt and themed food.

Fire Safety Weekend: August 10-11

Presented by the National Fire Protection Association, this entertaining and informative event teaches kids about fire safety with a variety of fun activities in the theme park, including information from NFPA’s annual Fire Prevention Week theme.

Brick or Treat: October 5-6, 12-13, 19-20 & 26-27

Our popular Halloween event returns full of spooky, kooky LEGO fun for kids. The friendly-not-frightening event features trick-or-treating inside the theme park, giant LEGO models and photo ops, LEGO build activities, meet-and-greets with LEGO Halloween characters and a Halloween-themed firework spectacular in Pirates’ Cove.

*Brick Dash 5K: October 12

The community-focused wellness event welcomes runners and walkers of all ages. Registration is required and will be available online at a later date.

Holidays at LEGOLAND: November 29-30, December 1, 7-8, 14-15 & 20-31

Celebrate the holidays the LEGOLAND way! This jolly time of year features a combination of seasonal shows, special treats, twinkling lights and more during Christmas Bricktacular and Kids’ New Year’s Party!

It is definitely going to be a Year of Awesome at LEGOLAND Florida! Which event is on your must-do list for this year?

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Connected to the existing LEGOLAND^® Hotel and next to beautiful Lake Eloise, Pirate Island will be the third on-site accommodation at LEGOLAND Florida Resort. Located a mere 130 kid steps away from the main entrance to the theme park, the Hotel will feature 150 fun-filled rooms, an expansive pool and pool deck, hundreds of LEGO models and numerous character experiences.

“We’re really excited to offer a brand new family-friendly experience and continue our park’s expansion with a third on-site hotel accommodation,” saidLEGOLAND Florida Resort General Manager Rex Jackson. “LEGOLAND Florida Resort is committed to putting a smile on every child who walks through the door and Pirate Island Hotel will certainly help us achieve that goal.”

The new five-story hotel will also house a pirate-themed restaurant, an entertainment area for kid-friendly nightly programming, LEGO play pits and a lobby bar for adult buccaneers. Also, with every hotel reservation, guests will enjoy a free family-style breakfast for ye’ entire crew.

Known as the theme park built for kids, LEGOLAND Florida’s Pirate Island Hotel will provide even more incentive to stay and play on multiple-day visits with an array of LEGO character interactions, a heated pool and a pirate ship in front of the hotel for photo opportunities.

Inside the rooms, kids can fully experience the LEGO pirate life as they explore their separate side of the room complete with their own TV, daily in-room LEGO treasure chests, LEGO pirate décor, treasure map headboards and boat-shaped bunkbeds in the suites among many more surprises.

“Pirate Island Hotel will offer a completely unique guest experience for swashbucklers of all ages,” said LEGOLAND Florida Resort Hotels Director Kevin Carr. “Pirates have a long history tied to the state of Florida and we look forward to providing memorable experiences to our future guests with an entertaining, memorable and fun hotel. Whether it’s interacting with life-size LEGO characters in the lobby, uncovering LEGO bounty at the end of an in-room treasure hunt or soaking up the sun in our heated pool, Pirate Island Hotel will be the perfect place for families to make long-lasting memories.”

While planning for a new property, LEGOLAND Florida Resort relied on its fans to help develop an exciting theme. With an overabundance of options to choose from, LEGOLAND fans spoke loud and clear that LEGO Pirate was the preferred choice.

“Due to the success of our existing accommodations, we realized a third hotel was needed to keep up with our high consumer demand. Veteran guests and excited newcomers alike shared their opinions and LEGO Pirate was the overwhelming favorite,” said Carr.

Pirate Island will be a key addition to LEGOLAND Florida Resort’s continued park expansion, which also includes THE LEGO^® MOVIE WORLD opening in spring 2019 and a new miniature golf course for hotel guests opening in summer 2019.

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Ninjago World is a relatively small area of the park just past Coasterasaurus. There were a lot of invited media and guests and we didn’t fit comfortably into the area. Luckily, Jordan was able to hop up on a short wall and take pictures during the opening ceremony because from where I was standing all I could see was the woman in front of me holding her phone over her head to try and get pictures. I felt really bad for the young kids standing to my left who were whining because they couldn’t see either. I also apologize for the photo quality but we were facing into the Florida sun.

There was a small stage with a narrator telling a story about Ninjago and how to Become the Ninja. Then to demonstrate the 5 ninja moves you need to do on the ride they brought out a local martial arts student and a celebrity to demonstrate the move. The celebrities present were from “Fuller House”: Jodie Sweetin, Soni Bringas, Michael Campion, Ashley Lioa, and Elias Harger, and from “Designated Survivor” and “Fuller House”, Mckenna Grace. The brief ceremony ended with a lot of confetti!

We then got in line to ride the ride. The queue area has interactive Lego play areas scattered throughout. There is also a video that teaches the 5 moves necessary for the ride. The moves are The Cobra, The Shuriken Shuffle, The Fireball Flinger, Chops of Fury, and The Lightning Strike. We enjoyed the ride, it is quite the arm workout. Jordan scored the 5th highest score of the day so far, of course, it was still early. Below is a video from Legoland about the ride.

If you have children ages 4-10, Legoland Florida is a great place to spend a day. One day admission for guests 3+ is $73 if purchased in advance online, $93 at the gate. There are also multi-day and annual passes available. Visit Legoland for more information,

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Junior Master Model Builder is a fun and interactive LEGO® building competition that takes place quarterly. Guests are invited to participate and build a model that follows the designated LEGO theme for each competition. Quarterly winners receive special prizes and will be invited to participate in the Ultimate Build Off at the end of the year.

• January 26 and 27, 2013: LEGO City Theme
• May 4 and 5, 2013: Yoda Chronicles Theme
• July 4 and 5, 2013: Independence Day Theme
• November 9 and 10, 2013: LEGO Chima Theme

LEGO® Friends Weekend is a daytime party for girls that includes a LEGO Friends building event, entertainment, games, activities, a chance to meet your favorite character and much more. This second annual event celebrates girls and their personal individuality, just like the LEGO Friends product line for girls.February 9 and 10, 2013

LEGOLAND Water Park, a park within a park, re-opens with a splash and just in time for spring break and summer-time fun. Guests of all ages can spend a full day of play in the water park with the Build-A-Raft River, where guests can build their own LEGO inner tubes and float down a 1,000-foot lazy river, the DUPLO® Splash Safari, the Joker Soaker water playground, a 583,000-gallon wave pool and five slippery-fast water slides. Opens March 9 and runs through the end of October. Daily operational hours vary and can be found at www.legoland.com.

Winter Haven Hospital Foundation’s Citrus Classic 5K Run and Fun Walk* allows runners and walkers to “play their part” during this community-wide health event designed for participants of all ages. Participants receive exclusive discounts for post-event park admission. Visit www.legoland.com for event registration fees and processes. April 6, 2013

LEGO® Star Wars Days is a thrilling event where guests will feel the power of the force. Celebrating all-things Star WarsTM, guests will enjoy reliving the Star WarsTM saga in the park’s newest expansion of Miniland USA where the six live-action Star WarsTM movies, as well as a scene from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars are created of more than 1.5 million LEGO bricks. Guests will enjoy a Yoda Scavenger Hunt and a special LEGO Yoda build activity. May 4 and 5, 2013

Red, Brick & Boom allows guests to celebrate the 4th of July with a bang at this second annual Independence Day event. With special viewing glasses that turn ordinary fireworks into millions of exploding bricks, this July 4th celebration is sure to dazzle and delight with three nights of family fun and fireworks. July 4, 5 and 6, 2013

Brick-or-Treat offers safe and family-friendly Halloween festivities every Saturday and Sunday in October. This spooky, kooky event features a Haunted Scavenger Hunt in Miniland USA, trick-or-treating along the brick-or-treat trail, LEGO build activities, the largest LEGO Jack-O-Lantern in the world, Halloween entertainment and an all-kids costume contest with brick-tastic prizes! Weekends in October 2013

Christmas Bricktacular brings in the holiday season with a 30-foot tall LEGO Christmas tree made of 270,000 LEGO bricks, festive decorations, LEGO build activity stations, a LEGO Santa Scavenger Hunt and holiday entertainment. LEGO Santa and LEGO Toy Soldier make daily appearances in the park providing a perfect family photo opportunity. Weekends in December 2013

Countdown to Kids’ New Year’s Eve Party features nightly fireworks over Lake Eloise. Watch the spectacular fireworks explode into millions of tiny LEGO bricks with special viewing glasses. December 26-30, 2013

Kids’ New Year’s Eve is the perfect way to bring in the new year with the family where the giant LEGO brick drops at a very kid-friendly midnight KST (Kid Standard Time) – otherwise known as 6 p.m. EST. Other event elements include a spectacular fireworks show and a DJ dance party in Miniland USA. December 31, 2013

All events (*except Citrus Classic 5K) are included with regular park admission. The best way to experience LEGOLAND Florida is with the new LEGOLAND Florida Resident Pass starting at just $10 per month after a down payment (only $159 for adults, only $129 for children/seniors). Pass members receive unlimited admission for 12 months to LEGOLAND Florida and the LEGOLAND Water Park, as well as all other Merlin US attractions (LEGOLAND California & Water Park, LEGOLAND Discovery Centers, Sea Life Centers and Madam Tussauds), free parking and 10% off food and merchandise with no black-out dates. The Monthly Payment Plan includes a down payment of $57.24 with a monthly payment of $9.26 for an adult and a $46.44 down payment with a monthly payment of only $7.51 (pre-tax) for a child/senior. For the most current information on special events, daily operating hours and to purchase tickets, visit www.LEGOLAND.com.

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During Brick-or-Treat, presented by Wells Fargo, Miniland USA will transform into a fun, haunted scavenger hunt for the whole family with the invasion of LEGO® Monster Fighters and their enemies. With extended hours on Saturdays, Miniland USA gets a bit more spooky when the sun goes down and the fog rolls in on these LEGO® cities.

This thrilling family event also features trick-or-treating along the brick-or-treat trail, a kids’ four category costume contest with brick-tastic prizes and a build your own Halloween themed LEGO® pumpkin model activity station. Only found at LEGOLAND Florida, families can also check out the world’s largest LEGO Jack-O-Lantern made of 26,500 LEGO bricks and capture a great photo memory.

Activities Include:

• LEGO® Pumpkin Build: Build your own LEGO Pumpkin at the model activity station in the Wells Fargo Fun Town 4D Theatre Plaza
• LEGO® Monster Fighters Haunted Scavenger Hunt: Help the LEGO Monster Fighters capture monsters haunting the cities of Miniland USA in this haunted scavenger hunt. The whole family can enjoy searching for these creatures found in the over 30 million LEGO bricks that make up Miniland USA. With extended hours on Saturdays, Miniland USA gets a bit more spooky when the sun goes down and the fog rolls in on these LEGO cities.
•  Brick-or-Treat Trail: Trick-or-Treat along the Brick-or-Treat trail near the Pirates South Stadium for goodies, tasty treats and other fun surprises
•  Dance Party: Join us for our spooky Dance Party in the Haunted Miniland USA with a live DJ and dance games (Saturday only)
•  Kids Costume Contest: Show off your BOO-tiful costumes in the Kids Costume Contest in the Wells Fargo Fun Town 4D Theatre Plaza to win brick-tastic prizes like LEGO product and tickets to LEGOLAND Florida. Children may enter one of 4 specialized categories: Heroes & Villains, LEGO Monster Fighters, LEGO Themed, and most Creative.

This thrilling Halloween celebration is made possible by our generous sponsors: Hurricane Grill & Wings®, LEGO ClubTM, LEGO® Monster Fighters, Old Navy®, PEPSICO®, Sam’s Club®, Sour Jacks, TECO® Energy, Webb’s Candy Shop, Wells Fargo® and Wendy’s®.

Brick-or-Treat as well as more than 50 rides, shows and attractions can be experienced at LEGOLAND Florida and is included with normal park admission – No upcharge for evening events. For the most current information on LEGOLAND Florida special events, operating schedule and to purchase tickets, visit www.LEGOLAND.com.

Since this is a brand new event for central Florida, I have yet to experience it. I hope to get over there so I can give you a full report on LEGOLAND’s  Brick-or-Treat.

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photo courtesy of Chip Litherland

Families can have a blast for less cash this summer at LEGOLAND® Florida. With over 50 rides, shows and attractions and the all-new LEGOLAND® Water Park, Central Florida’s newest theme park offers two great ways to save so families can take part in the ultimate LEGOLAND® Florida experience. Special offers on both Premium Passes and single day Water Park combo tickets add up to a summer of fun. Guests will also enjoy extended summer hours where families can stay and play until 8pm daily Jun. 23 through Sept. 2. From roller coasters to the Build-a-Raft Lazy River, LEGOLAND Florida is the perfect combination of thrill and chill for families with children ages 2 to 12.

New Florida Resident Premium Pass Offer: This 6-week promotional offer allows Florida Residents to get an unlimited, 12 month Premium Pass to LEGOLAND Florida and the all-new LEGOLAND Water Park for just $159 plus tax. The Premium Pass has no black-out dates and includes admission to a year filled with special events at LEGOLAND Florida including the Red, Brick and Boom 4th of July Celebration, the Brick-or-Treat Halloween events, Christmas Bricktacular, a Kid’s New Year’s Eve Celebration and more. Free parking, discounts on food and merchandise and a complimentary subscription to LEGO® Club Magazine are also included. Guests can purchase the Premium Pass at the front gate or online at www.LEGOLAND.com through Jul. 31.

$10 Off Single Day Combo Ticket: A new online discount offers $10 off combo tickets for single day admission into LEGOLAND Florida and the all-new LEGOLAND Water Park. Families can now enjoy both parks for only $77 for adults and $67 for children ages 3-12 and seniors. This promotional offer is only available when purchased online now through Oct. 28 at www.LEGOLAND.com.

Existing Plus and Premium Pass members will also be receiving their own special offer from LEGOLAND Florida. Visit www.LEGOLAND.com for more information.

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When you enter the water park on your right is the Surf Shop where you can buy a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen or anything else you may have forgotten to pack for your day at the park. Just past the Surf Shop is the Beach-n-Brick Grill, the only eatery in the water park which boasts that, “no menu item is priced higher than $10 (not including tax)”. On your left are the bathroom/changing facilities and lockers. When we were there they were using a very inefficient system for the lockers, which I truly hope was just because it was a media event and for that day the lockers were free. Lockers are available in 3 sizes small ($5) large ($7) and family ($12).

DUPLO Splash Safari

Once you pass the buildings there is a small beach with cabanas and beach chairs to your right, daily cabana rental prices range from $79-$199 based on season and include a mini-fridge stocked with 10 bottles of water, upgraded lounge chairs and two souvenir towels. Next is the cutest part of the park, DUPLO Safari Splash. This little play area is created just for your toddlers and includes a slide and some interactive DUPLO animals with water spouts.

Build-a-Raft River

To your left is the entrance to the attraction I was most excited about checking out, Build-a-Raft River. Unfortunately, the image I had in my mind since I heard the announcement last October, was way cooler than what this ride actually was. This attraction is a short (1000 foot) lazy river ride in regular old inner tubes with LEGO building platforms attached to the tubes. (You don’t really build a raft as the name implies). We waited in the relatively short line about 15 minutes. As we approached the loading area I read a sign that said you had to sit in the tube with your bottom in the middle and your legs hanging over the side. I have a bad back and this is a very uncomfortable position for me. I understand the whole “you must stay in your tube” rule but this seemed a bit much to me, but I complied. The tube even has an arrow on it telling you which part of the circle was the front so I sat in the tube as instructed and the handles were jabbing into the back of my legs. I was not comfortable at all. As I approached the lifeguard who launched you from the entry into the river I said, “This isn’t comfortable with the handles jabbing my thighs.” and his answer was, “Well, you are a bit large.” I whipped my head around so I could read his name tag but he succeeded in shoving me down the river before I could read his name. I am not a petite woman, I am a size 20, but I was no where near the largest person on the river! As I floated down the river I watched people of all ages building with their LEGO bricks only to hear 3 different lifeguards yell at them because you aren’t allowed to build anything taller than your head-remember, you must be seated in the uncomfortable butt in the middle of the raft with your legs hanging over the side position so for most kids that means you can’t build anything taller than 2-3 blocks tall, what fun is that? Next came the dismount. I am dreading this because of the position I am sitting in and I was hoping Aaron would be there to help me. Unfortunately about 8 kids had cut in line between us in the entry area and he was so far behind me I had to get out of the tube on my own, before I floated past the only exit and had to make another lap. In the end I just leaned backwards and flipped the tube to get out and got hit in the head by the LEGO building platform on one of the sides of the tube. My only souvenir of the day is the lump on my head!

Splash Out

In between the DUPLO area and the river is a bridge that takes you to the other four attractions. The LEGO wave pool has gentle waves and is fun for the whole family. The two thrill rides Splash Out and Twin Towers had very long, slow moving lines and we opted not to try them. I saved the best for last and that is The Joker Soaker. This water playground is truly the most fun in the park. It is full of ladders, levers, pumps and slides and your kids will want to spend a lot of time exploring all that it has to offer.

Joker Soaker

LEGOLAND and its water park are geared for 2-10 year old kids but what they need to remember is that young children don’t explore their parks alone. Parents and grandparents come in all shapes and sizes and if you want us to spend our hard earned money in your parks, you need to fit us all. LEGOLAND water park is the smallest water park in the central Florida area and the most expensive. You cannot buy just a ticket to the water park. It is a $12 add on to the $75 LEGOLAND ticket. So, that makes your water park ticket $87 while the other central Florida water parks range from $40-$60 for a one day ticket. Will you do the theme park and water park in one day? You can, but remember, you’ll be schlepping your water park stuff through the theme park and vice versa. Lockers are only available at The Beginning in LEGOLAND and in the water park which is located at the back of the theme park so even if you choose to pay for a locker it isn’t very convenient.

LEGO Imagination Station

Should you add the LEGOLAND Water Park to your vacation plans this summer? That is a question only you can answer. IF your kids fit the demographic age and IF you have a rental car because the park is located about an hour from Orlando and Tampa and IF your kids are LEGO junkies then MAYBE it is worth the trip. If you really just want to see some awesome, huge LEGO creations and check out a great LEGO store, then I say, save your money and visit Downtown Disney. The LEGO sea serpent and other sculptures are amazing, the store is a lot of fun and admission is free!

Disclosure: We were invited to the media preview as guests of LEGOLAND all opinions are 100% my own.

Postscript, since I didn’t get the name of the “model citizen” who said I was a “bit large” I didn’t complain in park. I did reach out to them on Twitter and this is the response I received.  Really? What are your thoughts?

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Leadership at the park reached out to nationally-recognized psychologist and award-winning author Dr. Susan Bartell to create tools for both guests and employees to help parents manage these challenging situations.

“Our junior roller coasters offer just the right blend of speed and thrill that make LEGOLAND Florida the perfect spot for kids to ride their very first roller coaster,” says Adrian Jones, LEGOLAND Florida general manager. “But because we know the ‘pink knuckle’ nature of these attractions doesn’t mitigate a first timer’s fears, we wanted to provide resources to parents as well as our model citizens to ensure that every first plunge is a positive experience for the entire family.”

According to Bartell, there are a host of mistakes parents commonly make when it comes to handling their child’s fear of roller coasters.

“Dismissing a child’s fear, comparing them to a sibling or friend, bribing them with gifts and money, or labeling a child with a negative name based on their reluctance won’t make them any braver,” says Bartell. “In fact those strategies often cause greater anxiety, and resentment and make them more reluctant, not to mention ruin what should be a great day for the family.”

Brochures featuring the tips will be available online and at the front gate and include things families can do before they leave home and during the day, as well as ways to manage a melt-down and ways to celebrate at the end of the day.

LEGOLAND Florida Technic Coaster photo courtesy of LEGOLAND

A few of the tips:
Before Your Trip

• Learn Online – Young children (especially those who are anxious), don’t like surprises. So, visit the LEGOLAND Florida website with your child and look at the different attractions, discussing how much fun each one will be.
• Tell a Story – Talk to your child about fun roller-coaster experiences that you and other people had when they were kids. Be as animated, silly and positive as possible.

What to do When You Get to the Park

•  Focus on Fun – As you arrive, review the park map and point out all the fun attractions, not just the roller coasters.
•  Take it Slow – Invite your child to pick which attractions she most wants to experience. If she is reluctant to try the roller coasters, begin with at least a couple of her choices.

As the Day Continues…

• Watch and Learn – When some people in your party are eager to try a roller coaster, don’t split up. Rather, watch the roller coaster ride with your reluctant child, all the time commenting excitedly about how much fun it looks and how happy and excited kids are as they come off the ride. Point out that kids coming off the ride do not look scared and are not crying.
• Nervous is Normal – Explain that while riding a roller coaster, it is normal to feel a little nervous, scream, close your eyes, and squeeze someone’s hand – in fact, it is part of the fun. Explain that feeling a bit nervous doesn’t mean you are too scared to go on the roller coaster.

At the End of the Day…

• No Regrets – If your child expresses regret that he didn’t try the roller coaster, don’t make him feel bad. Now that the day is over, it’s easy for him to ‘be brave.’ Instead, remind him there is always a next time, and that he should focus on the rides he enjoyed and the fun that was had by all.

The goal of a day at LEGOLAND Florida or any theme park is family fun so using these tips and not forcing your kids to ride rides that scare them will help everyone have fun and make memories that you will share forever.

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Key areas of LEGOLAND Water Park attraction include:

• LEGO Wave Pool – Families can catch a gentle wave or simply cool off in this perfectly sized wave pool where the waves are just big enough for all ages to enjoy
• Build-A-Raft River – Families can imagine, design and build a unique LEGO vessel and set afloat on a maiden voyage around the 1000-foot-long lazy river, set amongst playful LEGO Friends, flowering vegetation and palm trees
• Twin Chasers – Friends ride tubes 375 feet down an intertwining pair of enclosed water slides before plunging into a refreshing pool below
• Splash Out – The thrill seekers of the family can ascend to the tallest point of the water park attraction and choose from one of three unique slides, then speed down a 60-foot drop and “splash out” into the water below
•  Joker Soaker – A fun, interactive playground with various lengths, heights and types of slides that offer something different for every member of the family. Guests can wade in the surrounding pool and be surprised with a torrential spill from a 300-gallon bucket
• DUPLO Splash Safari – Toddlers will rule at this water play area with shorter slides and interactive, larger-than-life DUPLO creatures

Admission to the water park attraction is included with an all-new LEGOLAND Premium Pass, which offers 12 months admission to LEGOLAND Florida and seasonal access to the LEGOLAND Water Park for just $179 for adults and $149 for child/senior. Single-day LEGOLAND Florida guests may upgrade to a water park attraction ticket for an additional $12 per person (children under 3 are $3). The Premium Pass is now available for purchase at www.LEGOLAND.com or AAA Auto Group branches.

We have visited every water park in central Florida and we cannot wait to visit the LEGOLAND Water Park when it opens May 26, 2012.

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