TEAM LINDSAY: LEGOLAND DOUBLE DAYS

When we visited Legoland 2.5 years ago, the kids were at the perfect age for all the toddler-sized attractions, but this year we were able to focus on the preschool (and older) attractions, plus the new rides/areas that have been added (like Legends of Chima!) We spent two days at Legoland this time because our tickets were a "buy one day get the second free" deal (so all we had to pay was an extra hotel night...), but even with the addition of the waterpark (not open when we were there that November), we didn't need two full days. If you plan to go and want a full day or two half-days at the waterpark, then yes, go for two days, but we were so tired from Disney and it was still SO HOT that we were all just ready to be done!

That graphic is to scale. I swear.

Hampton Inn provided free shuttles to and from the park, and even had a Lego man at the front door to greet you. (We didn't use the shuttle either day because we were running late and/or leaving very early, but Jean grabbed a ride back to the hotel while we were at the waterpark the first day.)

We noticed 3 things at Legoland this time around that were not apparent during our last visit:

1. The teenage employees at Legoland don't hold a candle to the highly-trained (and generally at least slightly older) staff at Disney (they are not "at work", but told that they are "on stage" - and it shows - they make every single person feel special and welcome, which I'm sure is no easy task in this day and age of "privelaged" kids and parents who want their children to have the best/first of everything.)

2. Legoland has a lot more rules than Disney. They wouldn't let us wear our visors or sunglasses on the rides, nor could we take my little backpack with us. This was very annoying because the sun was BRIGHT and most rides we went on did not move quickly enough to cause concern about losing them. Jay finally just told the teenagers that he had to wear his visor because of his contacts (keeping water splashes out of his eyes), so I just followed suit and left mine on too in defience. Such rebels. Since Gramma was with us, we left my backpack with her (because there was no way I was leaving my camera and credit cards - no more Magic Bands! - and the kids' piggy bank money just sitting in the cubby for anyone to steal while we were riding, especially since there were large signs over them stating that Legoland was not responsible for any "lost or stolen items") On our second day (when Gramma stayed back at the hotel), we left the backpack in the car and pockets the bare minimum of what we needed (as soon as the kids did their shopping upon entering the park).

3. There is almost NOBODY at Legoland, compared to Disney, anyway. Not only did we have elbow room, but we barely had to wait 5-10 minutes for any ride (even the coasters - we did them all except for Flight School, which the kids weren't tall enough for). The picture below at the entrance gate accurately depicts the crowd size behind the kids. It was SO NICE.

Planning her attack on the park (since mama did not make itineraries for either day at Legoland - don't be shocked - there are no FastPasses or restaurant reservations here, so there is no need to plan out your day ahead of time).

One of at least 3 splash pads that we saw. We learned quickly that we should have just worn our swimsuits and Keens for the day!

Heading into the Legends of Chima themed area

That area pictured above was a Speedor racing game. James loved it. Cora couldn't quite get hers to work... You can see both kids are soaked from the boat ride and playing in the second splash pad.

We avoided this spinning monstrosity last time because the kids were too short, but not this time. After I snapped a couple photos I closed my eyes and pretended my body and stomach were not attached to each other...

Legoland does win over Disney in this category though: play areas at every single ride for kids to enjoy while their parents hold their place in line. Makes for very happy kids and a lot less whining!

Both kids agreed to ride Coastersaurus this year (last time James was too scared to even take his picture with the dino out front). And because of them, Jay rode his first ever wooden roller coaster. I couldn't have been more proud of them!

This ride (Lost Kingdom Adventure) was similar to the Toy Story Midway Mania and Buzz Lightyear rides at Disney, but themed with Lego's adventure character (who is similar to Indiana Jones, but NOT Indiana Jones) - we used lazer guns to shoot targets in the dark, air conditioned building. Once again, Jay kicked our butts. Cora somehow didn't hit a single target (that her score below on the right...)

Also over in the Egypt section was the Beetle Bounce, which the kids rode 4 times on our first day and twice on our second day. Mama only rode once...

I'm pretty sure we could have skipped the safari ride this time (you don't drive or steer your jeep, it just follows it's track in a quick, little loop, and the line was long and slow).

James was too old for the 3-5 year old driving school, so he had to go to big kid school, where they actually had a driver's ed safety video to watch before being allowed out on the roads!

Cora got to attend the little school though. And was able to ride 3 times in the span that it took James to await his turn and watch the instruction video next door.

As Gramma retreated to the hotel AC to get her feet up, we headed into the waterpark for the last couple hours of the day (and she didn't want to swim anyway).

Since we got back to the hotel before dinner, we were able to walk next door to Panera for a quick meal, then enjoy some Lego building back in our room (and get to bed at a very reasonable time, thank goodness!)

Day Two started with shopping (so we could take the kids' purchases out to the car and not have to carry around money all day, or deal with the massive shopping crowds we witnessed the day before as we left the park). The kids were obviously exhausted by the seventh day of their vacation... They plopped themselves in front of the two movie screens while daddy looked at all the cool toys ;-)

(Don't worry, James did not get 10X as much as Cora. They just have bags from two different stores. They eached picked out one large and one small building set with their piggy bank money, we got them each a Lego ornament ball to display whatever they want to build for it each Christmas, and Gramma got them a couple more Mixels sets since they were such a big hit at the hotel the previous night.)

They also did the Build-A-Minifigure project ($10 for 3 custom made figures). James built a surfer dude (with a mining helmet?), an evil guy (looked like a cross between Wild Style and Darth Vader...), and a zombie guy (holding a pie?). Cora designed three "ninja girls" (and the clown hat cracked me up!)

We got around to riding both carousels today, then it was back to Chima to cool off.

Getting braver by the day...

Bucket drop at the waterpark!

After just an hour at the waterpark (incoming thunderstorms closed most of the waterslides), we headed out through Miniland and the Star Wars zones. We wanted to get on the road early to beat Orlando traffic anyway. Not that that worked out for us. At all. (The 3.5 hour trip turned into 3 hours of stop-and-go, and stop-and-stop, just to get to the other side of the city, then 2 more hours home at normal speed, with some heavy thunderstorms thrown in for added fun!)