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Coordinates: 33°7′36″N 117°18′40″W / 33.12667°N 117.31111°W / 33.12667; -117.31111
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→Miniland USA: changed the links to a comparson listt of the model to the actual, and cleaned it up a little bit. Cheers! it1224 ~~~~
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combined park history and better description of chronology and ownership, added references
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'''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.<ref>{{cite news | last = Kinsman | first = Michael | title = Control of Legoland parks sold | newspaper = The San Diego Union Tribune | date = July 14, 2005 | url = http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050714/news_1b14lego.html}}</ref> Merlin also owns and operates the Sea Life aquarium opened in 2008 at Legoland California, the first in North America.<ref>{{cite press release | title = NORTH AMERICA’S FIRST SEA LIFE AQUARIUM OPENS ITS DOORS! | publisher = LEGOLAND California | date = August 11, 2008 | url = http://www.legoland.com/business/press/sealifelegolandcalifornia.htm | accessdate = October 11, 2009}}</ref>Merlin employes more than 13,000 and caters to an estimated 41 million guests worldwide each year.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.aecom.com/deployedfiles/Internet/Capabilities/Economics/_documents/2011%20Theme%20Index.pdf| title=AECOM Global Attractions Attendance Report 2010| author= | work=Kris Harris| date=2012-03-29 |accessdate=2012-03-29 }}{{dead link|date=September 2011}}</ref> [[Legoland Florida]] opened in 2011.
'''Legoland California''' is a [[theme park]] located in [[Carlsbad, California]], focused on [[LEGO]] bricks. It opened on March 20, 1999. It is the third [[Legoland]] park to open, and the first Legoland outside of Europe. The park is split into nine major sections which are: The Beginning, Dino Island, Duplo, Village Green, Fun Town, Castle Hill, Miniland USA, Pirate Shores, Imagination Zone, and Land of Adventure. The water park was built during 2009 and opened in 2010.


==Park History==
The park opened on March 20, 1999. The Legoland parks were put up for sale in 2004, then a controlling interest sold in 2005.<ref>{{cite news | last = Kinsman | first = Michael | title = Control of Legoland parks sold | newspaper = The San Diego Union Tribune | date = July 14, 2005 | url = http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050714/news_1b14lego.html}}</ref> The new controlling company is [[Merlin Entertainments]], a brand of the [[Blackstone Group]] of [[New York]], an investment and advisory firm. The company is the operator of the [[Sea Life Centres]]. On Aug. 11, 2008, the Sea Life aquarium opened on the grounds of Legoland California, the first in North America.<ref>{{cite press release | title = NORTH AMERICA’S FIRST SEA LIFE AQUARIUM OPENS ITS DOORS! | publisher = LEGOLAND California | date = August 11, 2008 | url = http://www.legoland.com/business/press/sealifelegolandcalifornia.htm | accessdate = October 11, 2009}}</ref>


==Areas==
==Areas==

Revision as of 17:53, 11 September 2012

Legoland California
LocationCarlsbad, California, United States
Coordinates33°7′36″N 117°18′40″W / 33.12667°N 117.31111°W / 33.12667; -117.31111
OpenedMarch 20, 1999
OwnerMerlin Entertainments
Operating seasonYear-round
Area128 acres
Attractions
Total21
Roller coasters3
Water rides7
WebsiteLegoland, California

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.[1] Merlin also owns and operates the Sea Life aquarium opened in 2008 at Legoland California, the first in North America.[2]Merlin employes more than 13,000 and caters to an estimated 41 million guests worldwide each year.[3] Legoland Florida opened in 2011.


Areas

Dino Island

In Dino Island, a mini steel roller coaster called the "Coastersaurus" curves and dips around giant models of Lego dinosaurs. Visitors can dig for imitation dinosaur bones in the "Dig Those Dinos" attraction.

Duplo

Duplo includes the "Water Works" attraction, which has dozens of interactive water activities and is directly beside "Musical Fountain" where visitors hop up and down to make music play and water blow. A water ride called "Fairy Tale Brook" lets visitors ride a boat down a river lined with Lego models based on fairy tales. Playtown is a play area complete with Lego buildings, slides, and activities. There is a playground, pizza parlor, and a ride called "Safari Trek" which allows the rider to see many life sized Lego models of animals. There are two attractions on the top of a hill. First is the "Kid Power Towers", in which a pair of people pull themselves to the top of a rotating tower to enjoy the slow ride down. Guests can go up and down as many or as few times as per their whim before the ride ends. When visitors board another attraction- the "Sky Cruiser"- two people pedal in tandem around a track to see a large portion of the park. If riders cease pedaling, the vehicle slows down to a crawl.

Fun Town

Fun Town features two "driving schools" where children can learn to drive electric Lego cars on a closed course. There are two courses; one is a simple circuit - 3 to 5 year olds can enjoy there. The other one can allow from 6 to 13 year old children, features working traffic lights. Visitors can also take a tour of a Lego factory to learn how Lego bricks are made. At the "Fire Academy", families battle other families in a race down a street to douse a small "fire" and drive back in the fire truck- all using hand pumps. Guests who board "Flight Squadron" are raised into the air by Lego airplanes and those who visit "Sky Patrol" will experience the same feeling as "Flight Squadron" with the exception of being in a Lego helicopter, as they are moved up and down to see the extensive view of Legoland. Fun Town also has a "Skipper School" where parents and kids can pilot Lego boats. It is also the location of Legoland Water Park which opened on May 28, 2010.

The Jingle Jammers

On November 21, 2011, Legoland California debuted The Jingle Jammers, a live glee-like dancing and singing quartet consisting of one soprano, one alto, one tenor, and one bass. They were sometimes referred to as the "official glee club of Fun Town." The characters included: The "Popular girl," portrayed by the soprano; The "Overachiever," portrayed by the alto; The "Jock," portrayed by the tenor; and The "Nerd," portrayed by the bass.

Original Cast
  • Julie Burlington (Soprano)
  • Judy Mora (Soprano)
  • Sarah Errington-Henderson (Soprano)*
  • Cashae Overton (Alto)
  • Leslie Tammone (Alto)*
  • Rae Henderson (Alto)
  • Dirk Stenger (Tenor)
  • Felander Stevenson (Tenor)*
  • Michael Lopez (Tenor)
  • Conor Tibbs (Bass)
  • Dante Macatantan (Bass)*

" * " indicates Opening Cast

Cast members rotated designated roles
Songs

The seasonal show ended on January 2, 2012. There are plans to continue the show every holiday season, but it has not been confirmed.

Castle Hill

Castle Hill is a medieval castle-themed area. Its main attraction is the "Dragon", a roller coaster that slowly tours a castle, until a lego wizard casts a spell to open the doors to the outside, at which point the coaster speeds up and the ride functions as a regular coaster. Another ride is the "Knights' Tournament", in which guests ride around on a very large robotic arm, selecting levels from one to five - one and two do not invert, and five rarely has guests right side-up. The "Hideaways" is designed for younger children, and is a large multi-level wooden play structure with slides, rope ladders, and bridges. Small horses at the "Royal Joust" take guests ages 4–12 through a mock medieval joust. Recently added was a miniature golf course that replaced the popular "rock band" or "singing rock garden". The rock's original recording can still be heard on holes 12-18 on the course. Llamas are featured on the hill.

Miniland USA

Miniland USA is a scale model miniature park featuring prominent architecture and symbols across America and around the world. Miniland was built over three years with more than 40 million LEGO bricks in 1:20 scale. Major elements are visible from various areas in the park. From the Coast Cruise ride, one can see some mini models otherwise hidden from view, such as the Taj Mahal and Eiffel Tower.

Cities included at Miniland:

  • Legoland Miniland New York City features Central Park, Midtown, Rockefeller Center, Empire State Building , Times Square, Downtown and the Statue of Liberty.
  • Legoland Miniland Washington DC features the length of the National Mall from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial and includes Smithsonian Museums, Georgetown and the White House.

Other areas of the United States replicated in Miniland:

Miniland includes the Model Shop, the main design and build office for LEGOland's US parks, employing two Master Model Builders. A large viewing window allows guests to watch the builders working on new models for the this and other Lego parks.

Imagination Zone

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", the first ever duel water carousel. In that you get use a steering wheel to control a rudder that makes you either come in closer to the center or fly out through the waves, all the while being squirted with water by the bystanders.

Pirate Shores

Pirate Shores has 6 rides and attractions. "Splash Battle" is a ride where guests enter their very own pirate ships to do battle with other guests on the ride and on land also while trying to avoid on-ride blasts of water. "Soak 'N Sail" is an interactive two-story water playground. Children and adults play with water pouring down all around them, for example, there are two buckets filled with 500 gallons of water that pour water on unsuspecting people. "Treasure Falls"; the mini-log flume, is a great training ride for little riders that aren't quite ready for the bigger log rides at other parks. "Swabbie's Deck" is the little kids water area, for little kids from infant all the way up to 7 or 8 to get their feet wet, before attempting Soak and Sail. "Captain Cranky's Challenge" is the newest ride for Pirate Shores that opened on May 24, 2007.

Expanded seating and locker facilities for Pirate Shores were added on Summer 2007.

In 2012, Legoland California will open Pirate Reef for the 2012 season.

Land of Adventure

This is the newest 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 15 feet (4.6 m) 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.

Legoland Water Park

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

See also

References

  1. ^ Kinsman, Michael (July 14, 2005). "Control of Legoland parks sold". The San Diego Union Tribune.
  2. ^ "NORTH AMERICA'S FIRST SEA LIFE AQUARIUM OPENS ITS DOORS!" (Press release). LEGOLAND California. August 11, 2008. Retrieved October 11, 2009.
  3. ^ "AECOM Global Attractions Attendance Report 2010" (PDF). Kris Harris. 2012-03-29. Retrieved 2012-03-29.[dead link‍]
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