Reasons to Consider Staying at a Legoland Florida Resort Hotel

When visiting a major theme park have you wished you were staying at a hotel that was just a hop skip away, making it easy to take a quick break from the excitement of the day? Afterall, the less time to travel, the less guilty you feel about missing precious time at the parks? Well, at Legoland this wish can come true! Now you are probably thinking, “this must come with a heavy price tag”, and you are not wrong for thinking this. We have a strong argument for splurging when visiting Legoland, if your budget allows.

Since moving to Florida, we have visited Legoland several times. Each time we found it hard NOT to stay at one of the onsite hotels. As a family, we like to maximize our time at the theme parks and find it difficult to justify going back to our hotel mid-day, even if a short drive away. However, we have no qualms with this at the Legoland hotel because of how close it is. Also, the added amenities and value that you get makes it hard to do it any other way!

(Note: this post is just for Legoland Florida as we do not have firsthand experience with the many other Legoland theme parks).

On-Site Location

There are three hotel options onsite at Legoland Florida:

The LEGOLAND Hotel – the original hotel of the Legoland Florida resorts, opening in 2015 and located directly off of the entrance to the park (if you are staying on the backside of the LEGOLAND Hotel you can actually see areas of the LEGOLAND Theme Park from your room!). All rooms are themed to various Lego sets, such as Lego Ninjago, Lego Friends, The Lego Movie, Adventure, Kingdom, Pirate, and Lego Duplo.
Pirate Island Hotel – a Pirate themed hotel and the newest of the Legoland Florida resorts, opening in 2020. The Pirate Island Hotel is connected to the LEGOLAND Hotel and shares the main entrance and lobby. We did not realize this during one of our trips and got very confused when we were wandering around the Pirate Island Hotel looking for the front desk!
The Beach Retreat – furthest hotel from the entrance to the park, located about a half mile away. A stay at The Beach Retreat does includes a free shuttle to and from Legoland Theme Park, Water Park, and Peppa Pig Theme Park. Be sure to plan ahead and review the times of the shuttle as it is subject to change. This resort, as the name states it, is beach themed! What makes the Beach Retreat unique is each room is a stand-alone bungalow with a view of nearby Lake Dexter.

Guests-Only Entrance

One could argue the biggest perk of staying at a Legoland Florida resort is the guests-only entrance to Legoland Theme Park. From the main doors of the LEGOLAND Hotel, you will find a short pathway that leads to this guest-only entrance. This access point is designed to allow hotel guests to skip the main security line (Note: this is only a security check point. You will still need to scan your tickets at the main entrance to the park).

Technically we have never been asked to confirm we were staying at the hotel, however based on its location, it would be additional walking for anyone coming from the main parking lot. I suppose if you wanted to get those extra steps in, then by all means! We usually find ourselves waiting just minutes to go through this entry point. However, during our last stay, the line was the longest we had ever seen it. Perhaps this was due to timing given we arrived shortly before rope drop. The line does tend to move fairly quickly, so don’t expect to wait terribly long.

Kid-Friendly Rooms

The second biggest perk are the rooms – by far some of the best themed rooms I have seen in all my “theme park” travels (especially if you have Lego fanatics in your group!). Not only is each room methodically decorated to transform you into a Lego set, but they are also laid out with both parents and kids in mind.

All standard rooms can accommodate up to 5 guests – one king bed and a bunk bed with a trundle. Suites are available for larger family sizes.
Separate kids area – The most awesome part of the room (as my boys would say) is the separate “kids area” that includes their sleeping arrangements, as well as a TV that shows non-stop Lego shows, and a small Lego build play area.
Kid-friendly bathroom – a minor complaint I have with most “theme park” hotels we have stayed at is that lack of accommodations for the little ones, specifically when it comes to the bathroom. At the Legoland Florida resorts, each bathroom is equipped with a stool, a kid-sized toilet seat, and even kid-approved bath soap! A definite win in my book.
Treasure hunt – on check-in day, there will be a scavenger hunt waiting for your kids inside your hotel room. It will lead them to a treasure chest filled with a fun surprise. In the past our boys found a “treasure” each day in the chest, however on our last visit to Legoland this year it was only filled on our arrival day. I am not certain if our boys just got lucky on previous trips, or if there was a recent change. Either way, it is a fun way to start off your Legoland adventure!

Breakfast Included

A hearty breakfast is a must when looking ahead at a full day of Lego fun. At most theme park hotels, this is usually an added cost to your overall stay. But at Legoland Florida resorts, this most important meal of the day is included! Breakfast is served family-style and is “all you can eat”. There are a variety of items such as eggs, potatoes, sausage, pancakes, and even biscuits and gravy! If a lighter meal is preferred, be sure to ask about their 0ff-menu items. Dietary restrictions can also be accommodated.

Breakfast is usually served from 7:00 am to 11:00 am at the main restaurant of each hotel:

Bricks Family Restaurant – located at the LEGOLAND Hotel
Shipwreck Restaurant – located at the Pirate Island Hotel
Sandy Castle Restaurant – located at the Beach Retreat

*Be sure to confirm which restaurants will be available for breakfast during your stay. We did have an experience when staying at Pirate Island Hotel where only Bricks Family or Shipwreck Restaurant were open. This was likely due to it being a slower time of the year.

Play Areas

Your kids will never get bored when staying at any of the three Legoland Florida resort hotels. There are a variety of spaces for your kids to run, play, and of course BUILD! Be sure to wear protective footwear when in the communal areas. As anyone with a Lego fan at home knows, the pain of stepping on a brick is unimaginable!

These spaces are also strategically placed to allow kids to get their wiggles out when waiting in line for, or during, a meal. Most parents of little ones can agree, keeping kids “entertained” when at a restaurant can be a very difficult task. I appreciate the Legoland team taking this into full consideration when designing their layout!

The Beach Resort also has an outdoor playground located in the center area of each cove, allowing parents to enjoy a little R&R on their private patio while the kids burn off their remaining energy.

Pools

After a fun-filled day at Legoland, unwind and relax by taking a dip in the hotel’s outdoor pool. Or start your day with a quick warm-up swim before all the action. Each hotel at the Legoland Florida resort has their own designated pool, and come with many exciting amenities:

Zero-entry pools
Heated to 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit year-round
Water slide for those daredevils 42 inches and taller (only at the LEGOLAND Hotel)
Floating bricks to of course BUILD with!
Lifeguards on duty

*Guests at both the LEGOLAND Hotel and Pirate Island Hotel are able to access both pools. Be sure to check which pool is open to use during your stay as both pools may not be open in the slower seasons.

Other Activities

If you are looking to take a break from the theme park action, there are a plethora of things to do back at the hotel. From organized activities to a stroll along the lakeside boardwalk, you will find something that suits the needs of everyone in your group!

Daily Activities – join other Lego-loving guests for some fun entertainment, such as bingo, board games, and a pajama dance party! Be sure to check times and locations beforehand on the hotel entertainment guide.
Master Builder Workshops – learn to build Lego’s from a Master Builder in the Creative Workshop! Each session offers a different build (such as an airplane, car, animal, etc.) where you will follow a step-by-step building process. Your budding builders will also be able to keep the model they made! Classes are approximately 30 minutes long and are included with your hotel stay. Reservations are required and can be booked two weeks prior to your arrival date.

Wild Side Mini Golf – Brush up on your putt-putt skills at the 9-hole miniature golf course, located at the LEGOLAND Hotel. Each hole is adorned with a wild critter built out of, you guessed it, Lego Bricks! Cost is $8/person per round (kids under 2 years old are free).

S’mores – enjoy a toasty s’more while getting toasty around the lakeside fire pit, weather permitting. S’more kits can be purchased for $25, which includes toasting sticks and fixings for 9 s’mores.
Pontoon Boat Ride – take a relaxing guided tour around Lake Eloise and Lake Summit where you will learn about the history of Legoland Florida and the beautiful wildlife that lives around it. Reservations are required and costs $17.50/person + tax (kids under 3 years old are free).
Boardwalk – stroll along Lake Eloise and enjoy the surrounding nature. You’d never guess you were next door to a major theme park!

There is no shortage of entertainment during a stay at one of the Legoland Florida Resorts. Combine this with proximity to the theme parks, it will always be a must in our books! If you are considering a visit, be sure to check out Legoland Florida’s vacation packages. We often find great promotions that make the price tag worth it.

Have you recently stayed at a Legoland Florida Resort? Or are you considering a future trip? I would love to hear your comments below! Happy traveling!