Legoland California is a theme park and miniature park located in Carlsbad, California, based around the Lego toy brand. On March 20, 1999, it became the third Legoland park to open, and the first Legoland outside of Europe. The park is owned by Merlin Entertainments, the largest theme park firm in Europe, and second largest in the world after Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Merlin acquired the properties in 2004, and a controlling interest in 2005. Merlin also owns and operates the Sea Life aquarium opened in 2008 at Legoland California, the first in North America. Merlin employs more than 13,000 and caters to an estimated 41 million guests worldwide each year. A second park in the United States, Legoland Florida opened in 2011.
The section of the park near the entrance is called "The Beginning", which includes the Turnstiles, The Market, The Minifigure Market (formerly Market Place), Big Shop, Kodax Pictures, Guest Services and Membership Processing. The park offers a free package pickup service for retail purchases made throughout the park, which is located at The Minifigure Market.
Dino Island is a dinosaur-themed section, containing the mini steel roller coaster, about 2 minutes long, "Coastersaurus". The ride was installed by Ride Entertainment Group, who handles all of Gerstlauer's operations in the Western Hemisphere.
The Duplo section is based on the LEGO-affiliated namesake brand targeting to children aged 1½ to 5 years old. The area includes a number of Duplo themed and water oriented attractions, including a playground called Playtown.
Fun Town is a role-playing amusement area guests simulate adult skills or professional identities.
Fun Town is also the location of Legoland Water Park, opened on May 28, 2010.
Miniland USA is a 1:20 scale model miniature park featuring prominent architecture and symbols from seven areas in the United States. Elements in the model are visible throughout the Legoland park. It was constructed over the course of three years using more than 20 million LEGO bricks.
Areas depicted at Miniland:
Also featured at Miniland:
Miniland includes the Model Shop, the main design and building office for Legoland's US parks. A large viewing window allows guests to watch master model builders working on new models.
Castle Hill is a medieval castle-themed area.
The area includes a miniature golf course. The space had previously housed a "rock band" or "singing rock garden". The rock's original recording can still be heard on holes 12-18 on the course.
In the Imagination Zone, visitors can ride a Wild Mouse-style roller coaster called the "Technic Coaster-Test Track"(formally Project X), choose from three different "4-D" movies called "Bob the Builder", "Spellbreaker", and "Clutch Powers" (a racing movie). Kids can also race Lego cars that they build themselves in Build 'n Test, play the "Maniac Challenge" in which guests play LEGO PC games, and program robots in "Mindstorms". Guests can also ride on "Bionicle Blaster", which is a version of the teacup ride, or the "Aquazone Wave Racers", a duel water carousel.
Pirate Shores is a well received splash park and has six water oriented rides and attractions.
The most recent section of the theme park (opened in May 2008), which is designed to replicate the 1920s in Egypt. "Pharaoh's Revenge" involves guests firing foam balls at targets and at each other. On "Beetle Bounce" guests bounce nearly Шаблон:Convert to nearly touch the enormous beetles above. "Cargo Ace", lets guests board one of eight planes to fly six feet into the air. "Lost Kingdom Adventure" is Legoland California's most recent attraction. Guests board and ride a roadster to recover stolen treasure by blasting targets with laser guns along their journey. Another recently opened attraction is "Dune Raiders", which is a slide.
This is a water park area in Legoland California. Construction began in September 2009. It opened on May 28, 2010. It is located next to the buildings in Fun Town. It is the first Legoland to feature a waterpark. It is not possible to buy a separate admission ticket solely for the water park. Legoland Water Park opened in Florida 2 years later. A Legends of Chima expansion is expected to open in 2014.