Legoland Hotel Opens Months Earlier than Expected

The Legoland hotel was originally slated to open this summer but the opening date was moved up after construction progressed faster than had been expected.

The adventure began years ago when guest feedback showed it took more than one day to explore all the Resort has to offer. “Our guest feedback is extremely important to us,” said General Manager of LEGOLAND California Resort Peter Ronchetti. Construction began in October, 2011

There are more than 3,500 LEGO models throughout the Hotel using more than three million LEGO bricks. Five thousand minifigures line the wall behind the reception desk as a LEGO model of a bicycle riding surfer highlights the individual figures with his magnified wheels.

The entrance to the hotel is guarded by a smoke-breathing dragon built out of around 400,000 Lego bricks.

Guest rooms are decorated in Lego pirate, adventure and kingdom themes, and children will have their own sleeping areas, with bunk and trundle beds.

Hotel guests will be allowed early entrance into the park, according to Legoland. Legoland has also "hired" six children to serve as concierges on weekends, to provide guests with a kid perspective on how to navigate the resort. The concierges will perform their duties in exchange for free weekend stays for their families.

Interactive features include a Castle Play area, a talking and water spraying dragon on the patio, a LEGO play pit in the reception area and a treasure hunt inside the rooms where younger guests search for clues to open a locked safe filled with LEGO treasure. Nightly entertainment takes place on the castle stage as a pirate, princess, knight or adventurer interact with young guests to get them ready for bedtime.  

The outdoor pool area features a gradual incline 5-foot-deep swimming pool and a plethora of lounge chairs. Swim Up movies are shown at poolside Friday and Saturday nights during peak season.

Park General Manager Peter Ronchetti said in January that Legoland California hired 250 employees to staff the hotel, bringing the park's work force to around 1,600.

Legoland California, owned by Merlin Entertainment of London, opened in 1999 and is the only park of its kind in the United States. Merlin runs two Legoland theme parks in Europe. Its new hotel is the second Legoland hotel in the world. The other one is in Billund, Denmark. Ronchetti told 10News that the park planned a "major new land expansion," but didn't provide details.

Bookings for rooms in the new hotel were accepted in advance of Friday's opening. Opening weekend rates were $309 per night for two adults and two children, or $278 per night with a AAA discount.

–City News Service contributed to this report