Over The Top Mommy

Legoland California Resort

Brick-or-Treat Party Nights at LEGOLAND® California Resort

I was invited to attend LEGOLAND® Brick or Treat Nights in exchange for coverage. All opinions are my own.

Brick-or-Treat Party Nights have returned to LEGOLAND® California Resort. It’s one of our favorite annual Halloween events to attend and you can attend this year, Saturdays through October 27! This event is a separately ticketed party offering exciting entertainment, sweet treats and not-so-spooky thrills and it’s an event where guests of all ages are welcome to dress up in costumes.  Brick-or-Treat is a very family-friendly and a must-do for us each year. This year, Brick-or-Treat Party Nights is presented by Disguise Costumes and will be offered from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the following Saturdays:

  • September 29
  • October 6
  • October 13
  • October 20
  • October 27

The Park is transformed into a monster mash bash for the ultimate family fun Halloween party and features the following:

  • Treat stations with more than 1 million pieces of candy
  • Costume contests and interaction with the “Boo Crew”
  • a new pop-badge challenge
  • Ghost Cruise adventure
  • LEGO Character Meet and Greets
  • Heartlake City Fall Festival with Pumpkin Patch Build and craft time with the LEGO Friends
  • The AstroBash Dance Party
  • “The Curse of the Hallowmeenie” theater show
  • The “Spirits of Halloween” animated light show
  • Bluegrass Band Jamboree
  • a special LEGO Friends meet and greet in Heartlake City, where kids can decorate their own craft

In addition to all of these special Brick-or-Treat Party nights offerings, guests also have access to many of the regular attractions during the party.Admission for Brick-or-Treat Nights can be purchased for as low as $54, if purchased online and in advance. LEGOLAND California and SEA LIFE® aquarium are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on select dates throughout October and LEGOLAND® Water Park is open weekends 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. through October 27. With special event admission to Brick-or-Treat Party Nights on September 29, October 6, 13, 20 and 27, guests can extend their day until 9 p.m. at both LEGOLAND California and SEA LIFE aquarium to enjoy all of the Halloween festivities-plus- add on a second day Resort Hopper ticket to extend the fun all weekend long. For exclusive savings and more information, please visit http://www.BRICKORTREAT.com or call 760.918.5346.

A very special THANK YOU to LEGOLAND California Resort for hosting us for a fun night out! 

 

Guide to the LEGOLAND® Castle Hotel at LEGOLAND® California Resort

Our family was invited to stay at the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel in order to share about our experience. All opinions are 100% my own. 

The LEGOLAND®Castle Hotel recently opened at LEGOLAND® California Resort and we were lucky enough to get to stay there for a night! It’s North America’s only hotel and is located right at the entrance to LEGOLAND California.legoland-castle-hotel-exterior-1This hotel completely immerses guests into a castle experience from the moment they walk in.  A royal LEGO statue marks the entrance and is just one of more than 2,100 LEGO models created out of more than three million bricks. As guests enter the Grand Hall, they are greeted by a towering LEGO wizard conjuring up spells to protect the Castle from the bad knights and dragons.legoland-castle-hotel-signlegoland-castle-hotel-wizardWe had the opportunity to stay at the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel right when it opened and I want to share all about it with you!us-at-legoland-castle-hotel-grand-openingThe rooms
The hotel features 250 premium LEGO Castle themed rooms, with 20 suites. Whether you’re a knight or a princess, you’ll love staying in any of the 3 different themed rooms they offer. You can book a Royal Princess, Knights and Dragons, or a Magic Wizards room. Each one is beyond adorable with its details.

‘Not only does every room tell a story, every wall, floor, LEGO® model is designed to make guests feel like they’re in an actual castle.” – General Manager Frank Idris

You’re going to be enamored by the decor and features in your room. In the Royal Princess rooms, the princess is joining forces with her jester friend to sneak into the grand tournament and compete with the knights. In the Knights and Dragons rooms, the knights are on a mission to defend the king’s castle and protect his treasure. In the Magic Wizard rooms, the wizards are concocting potions and fireworks for the grand tournament.

Every room at the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel includes:

  • A children’s sleeping area with bunk beds, a trundle bed, their own television, LEGO building station and shooting stars illuminating on the ceiling.
  • An adult sleeping area with an ornate head board with LED lights which could resemble a stained glass window, a canopy sparking with twinkling lights or shelves filled with potions and a magical bubbling illuminated cauldron.
  • A bathroom with quality toiletries, a blow dryer and plenty of space to get ready.
  • An in-room treasure hunt with prizes for the children
  • Complimentary WiFi

Here’s a short video giving a tour of the room we stayed in:

The lobby
As you enter the LEGOLAND®Castle Hotel, you’re not only greeted by a giant wizard, but your kids will most likely run straight to the LEGO building area and become immediately occupied with some serious LEGO building. Other unique, features in the hotel lobby include a fun little slide for guests of all ages and a knock knock door created to entertain guests.There’s also a hands-on LEGO building area. The Royal Courtyard
One of the kids’ favorite parts about the hotel was the Royal Courtyard area. Located in between the buildings, down the center of the hotel, this area boasts a giant play area with a huge play structure for “big” kids, as well as a smaller DUPLO play area for smaller children. There’s also a giant movie screen for nighttime outdoor movies and tons of seating around the entire area for adults to relax and watch their children play. The Royal Courtyard also has a stage area for live plays and shows. It’s truly unique for a hotel to have such an amazing area for kids to just be kids and I found that our kids never wanted to leave.The swimming pool area
The pool area features fountains and other interactive water features and a gradual incline pool and hot tub. With such great weather year-round, guests can always enjoy a swim in the heated pool or a soak in the hot tub, during the day or at night. (hours vary) There’s plenty of seating around the pool, cabanas are available for use, and towel service is available. Kids will love to play with the giant, floating LEGO bricks that are inside the pool. The pool bar and grill offers smoothies, sandwiches and salads prepared fresh to order.Dragon’s Den Restaurant & Bar
This amazing sit-down royal restaurant features an extensive, delicious menu featuring locally-sourced food. The restaurant has an open kitchen for guests to watch chefs preparing their food, Adjacent to the sit-down portion of the restaurant is also a bar area, as well as a patio. LEGO models and entertainers make this a unique dining experience, offering something for guests of all ages.legoland-castle-hotel-dragons-den-entrancelegoland-castle-hotel-lego-artGuests staying at the hotel are also treated to a free breakfast buffet each morning at Dragon’s Den restaurant. Feast on a variety of breakfast items from the buffet, as well as made-to-order items, all included in the price of your stay. It’s a great way to start your day before heading to the park.Early entry to LEGOLAND California
For guests who have park tickets or a season pass, you can gain early entry to LEGOLAND California by staying at the hotel. It’s a great way to get on a couple of attractions before the park is fully open to the public.legoland-castle-hotel-horse-statueHave you stayed at the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel yet? If not, you’re going to love it when you do. For more information, including access to booking your own stay, please go here.

Submarines for the New LEGO® City: Deep Sea Adventure Ride at LEGOLAND® California Resort Have Arrived

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. 

There’s a new ride coming soon to LEGOLAND® California Resort: The LEGO® City: Deep Sea Adventure submarine ride! As construction continues on the interactive ride, the attraction is expected to open July 2018 and we couldn’t be more excited for it!lego-submarine-ride-1 As it prepares to take its maiden voyage this summer, the submarines officially arrived at LEGOLAND® California Resort! Eight 22,000 pound submarines were unloaded and installed in the 300,000 gallon tank. Up to 12 guests will board one of eight submarines that are designed after the LEGO City Deep Sea Adventure line of toys


LEGO® CITY: Deep Sea Adventure submarine ride is Merlin Entertainments’ single largest investment for a ride in any LEGOLAND® Park. For the first time in the United States, LEGOLAND California Resort brings guests onboard a real submarine where they’ll go underwater to discover a truly amazing world filled with more than 2,000 real sea animals, including several species of stingrays and a variety of sharks. Through the use of touchscreens at each porthole inside the sub, guests can help the LEGO minifigure dive team identify gems, pearls, LEGO® gold coins and more throughout the four minute journey. lego-submarine-ride-2The submarine ride will be included in the price of admission this summer at LEGOLAND California Resort. For more information and to sign up for the latest updates, please visit LEGOLAND.com/deepsea2018.lego-submarine-3

Submarine photo and video are property of LEGOLAND California Resort and used with permission. 

The LEGOLAND® Castle Hotel is Officially Open at LEGOLAND® California Resort!

I received hotel accommodations in exchange for coverage. All opinions are my own. 

Hear ye! Hear Ye! The brand-new LEGOLAND® Castle Hotel at LEGOLAND® California Resort is officially open!  legoland-castle-hotel-grand-opening-1After a royal ceremony complete with knights on horses, a little girl squire and boy knight plus a hawk that flew the key to the Castle to Merlin the wizard and trumpeters to announce the grand opening of in front of hundreds of media and special guests, the hotel was declared “officially open”! Here’s a short video of the Grand Opening Ceremony that also shows a little bit of the hotel too.

 

“We’re excited to open a second hotel having learned from the first how powerful the brand is and children love how their experience in our theme park transforms into an overnight magical memory. Not only will this 250-room hotel bring more people to the beautiful city of Carlsbad which benefits local business, but we’re adding more than 200 jobs further boosting the economy in the region. Considering that, plus the amazing locally-sourced food, great entertainment and whimsical features found throughout the new hotel, this is already a great win for us!” – Peter Ronchetti, LEGOLAND California Resort General Manager

legoland-castle-hotel-statueA royal LEGO statue marks the entrance and is just one of more than 2,100 LEGO models created out of more than three million bricks. As guests enter the Grand Hall, they are greeted by a towering LEGO wizard conjuring up spells to protect the Castle from the bad knights and dragons.legoland-castle-hotel-royal-princess-room-1In the Royal Princess rooms, the princess is joining forces with her jester friend to sneak into the grand tournament and compete with the knights. In the Knights and Dragons rooms, the knights are on a mission to defend the king’s castle and protect his treasure. In the Magic Wizard rooms, the wizards are concocting potions and fireworks for the grand tournament. Every room has a children’s sleeping area which includes:

  • bunk beds
  • a trundle bed
  • their own television
  • a LEGO building station
  • shooting stars illuminating on the ceiling.

Every adult sleeping area has an ornate head board with LED lights which could resemble a stained glass window, a canopy sparking with twinkling lights or shelves filled with potions and a magical bubbling illuminated cauldron.legoland-castle-hotel-dragons-den-restaurant-lego-wallIn Dragon’s Den, a full-service sit down restaurant, guests can watch chefs preparing their food, enjoy LEGO models and entertainers within a unique dining experience. Breakfast is included with each guest’s stay and includes made-to-order items along with a buffet.legoland-castle-hotel-dragons-den-breakfast-buffet-1legoland-castle-hotel-dragons-den-buffet-2The Royal Courtyard immerses children in a fairy tale of their own creation with multiple play areas for different age groups, a giant movie screen, resort-style pool with interactive water features and hot tub and a tented stage for live plays and shows.Iegoland-castle-hotel-royal-courtyard-playground-1legoland-castle-hotel-pool-1Interactive elements throughout LEGOLAND Castle Hotel include a knock-knock door, a royal throne that makes silly noises, LEGO caricatures to build upon, a self-playing piano and a slide from the first floor to the lobby.legoland-castle-hotel-sword-in-the-stone

For more information about LEGOLAND® Castle Hotel at LEGOLAND® California Resort or assistance with planning your trip there, please visit http://www.LEGOLAND.com or call (760) 918-LEGO (5346).

Video and some images are property of LEGOLAND California Resort and used with permission. 

 

SEA LIFE® Aquarium at LEGOLAND® California Resort Opens Two New Exhibits

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own
.

Guests of SEA LIFE® Aquarium at LEGOLAND® California Resort can now take a splash in the ocean without ever getting wet and become a shark explorer! SEA LIFE® Aquarium has 2 new exhibits: Sea at Night and Shark Mission! Open just in time for spring break, both exhibits allow guests to learn about marine life in a fun and interactive way.sea-life-aquarium-new-exhibit-1Sea at Night invites guests to jump, leap and “splash” into simulated bioluminescent waves that react to their footsteps. The reaction created by the guests’ movements demonstrates the effect of a glowing tide similar to ones often seen along the Pacific coastline.

Shark Mission allows kids to come face to fin with six different species of sharks and rays on three giant touch screens. Young explorers can learn about anatomy, conservation and other cool facts through interactive activities and games. Guests can also hold a shark’s tooth, learn about shark skin and eggs, plus step into a shark cage.

SeaLife Aquarium exhibits.(Photo by Sandy Huffaker/Legoland)

sea-life-aquarium-3Sea at Night and Shark Mission are open now for guests to explore at SEA LIFE aquarium. For more information, visit LEGOLAND.com/California.

Images and video are property of  LEGOLAND® California Resort and used with permission. 

{Giveaway} 7 Reasons to Love LEGOLAND California Resort + Enter to Win 4 Park Hopper Tickets

Southern California is the hub of so many family friendly things to do. One of them is LEGOLAND California Resort and luckily for us, it’s only about a 45 minute drive from our home. Since that’s practically a hop, skip & a jump away, we find ourselves there quite often.legoland-keychainOver the years, we’ve really come to love LEGOLAND more and more! There are just so many fun things to see and do there and even with a pre-tween daughter, I still get asked by her, to go to LEGOLAND. lego-bff-sleepover-friendsHere are just 7 of the reasons we love LEGOLAND California Resort:

There are fun attractions for all ages! 
LEGOLAND has over 60 great shows and attractions. I love that there are some geared towards small children, some geared towards families, and even many for “big kids”, like my daughter and her friends, We are never stuck trying to find something to go on when we’re at the Park. Did I mention that my daughter and her friends enjoy all of the rides though? (including those intended for younger guests.) legoland-attractions-1legoland-technicMiniland USA is amazing! 
A visit to LEGOLAND needs to include a stroll through Miniland USA. The area is located in the heart of the park and features iconic structures and figures, made of LEGO bricks by Master Model Builders. Some of the sites to see there are the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Grand Central Station in New York City, and the strip in Las Vegas. There’s even a large LEGO Star Wars area in Miniland USA where guests can embark on a journey through the seven different LEGO Star Wars scenes.legoland-miniland-usa-1one-world-trade-center-legoland-4LEGO Character Meet and Greets are cool!
One of the fun ways to capture memories are by taking photos with some of the LEGO costume characters you run into in the Park. We’ve met Wyldstyle, Emmet, UniKitty, pirates and knights, friends in LEGO Ninjago World, and the LEGO friends.legoland-wyldstyleGranny’s Apple Fries Are a MUST! (among other LEGOLAND snacks) 
It’s no secret that I love finding good things to eat. You know this if you follow me on Instagram. I cannot visit LEGOLAND without getting myself an order of Granny’s Apple Fries. These sweet treats are Granny Smith apples, cut into “fries” shapes, deep fried to perfection, and coated in sugar and cinnamon. They’re served with whipped cream for dipping and are out of this world! legoland-apple-friesLEGO Friends Heartlake City is adorable!
One of my daughter’s favorite areas in the Park is LEGO Friends Heartlake City. Back in 2015, the LEGO Friends Heartlake City area opened inside the Park and it’s so much fun to visit because you feel like you’ve stepped right inside of one of the LEGO Friends episodes. The color palette and the decor in HEARTLAKE city adorable and there’s also a stage in the center of the area where LEGO Friends perform several times a day.legoland-lego-friends-benchBrick or Treat Nights are fun! 
LEGOLAND offers a special ticketed event every fall called Brick or Treat. The tickets (or portion to add on to your regular ticket) is very reasonable and allows you to get into the park fora fun and not so spooky night of Halloween fun. There are trick-or-treat stations set up around the park for guests of all ages, even the adults, to go “trick or treating”. Some of the stations even give out LEGO brick sets. There are also cute Halloween decorations throughout the Park, special dance parties, a costuem contest, and a few other surprises. It’s one of our favorite things to do each Halloween season. Oh, and everyone can dress up. Even the adutls. You can read my post about our experience at Brick or Treat herelegoland-brick-or-treat-pumpkinlegoland-brick-or-treat-costumesLEGOLAND Waterpark! 
Our family loves the fact that we can spend part of our day at the Resort, inside the LEGOLAND Waterpark. Since the weather is so nice in Southern California, the waterpark is usually open all the way through October, so we like to visit a couple of times each season.legoland-waterpark-1 There are all types of slides inside the waterpark, some more “thrilling” than otheres, just depending on how “brave” you are. legoland-waterpark-lazy-river Inside of the LEGOLAND waterpark there are also play and splash areas, a Lazy River, and plenty of seating, including Cabanas that you can rent ffor the day.  (for a fee.) Also, a new area called “Surfers Cove” was recently added to the waterpark. *Please note: You need to purchase a Park Hopper ticket to gain access to the LEGOLAND Waterpark area, as it’s inside of LEGOLAND.legoland-california-resort-giveaway

giveaway-enter-to-winAre you ready for some exciting news? I have teamed up with a group of other bloggers to host an amazing giveaway! One winner will win 4 LEGOLAND California Resort Park Hopper tickets! It’s simple to enter, just leave a comment on this post AND go below and enter through the Rafflecopter. Good luck and thanks for reading!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 “Giveaway open to US Residents Only. No purchase necessary to enter. All readers have an equal chance to win, however, you must enter to win. A winner will be randomly selected via RaffleCopter and notified via email. I will attempt to contact the winner for 3 days. If the winner cannot be reached by email, a new winner will be selected the same way. There are several different ways to earn entries. One prize per household. The winner will receive, free of charge, the prize mentioned above. This prize is not available for exchanges and has no cash value. Prizes are not transferable or refundable and must be accepted as awarded. The winner is responsible for any and all other costs and expenses not listed above. Not liable for unclaimed prizes or fulfillment.”

LEGOLAND® California Resort Unveils New LEGO One World Trade Center in Miniland U.S.A.!

LEGOLAND® California Resort unveiled new LEGO models, featuring One World Trade Center, in the New York skyline section of its Miniland U.S.A. with a special ribbon cutting ceremony. Present at the unveiling were some of Carlsbad’s own “Hometown Heroes” from the Carlsbad Police and Fire Departments.  one-world-trade-center-legoland-3Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty also joined the festivities and danced up on stilts while a brass band played for guests and red, white, and blue confetti flew in the air at the finale of the ribbon cutting ceremony. Here’s a video recap of the event (courtesy of LEGOLAND):

The new One World Trade Center model at LEGOLAND® California Resort is now North America’s tallest LEGO® model. It stands tall and proud in the center of Miniland U.S.A. and was constructed using over 250,000 LEGO Bricks. The model stands 26 feet tall and weighs more than 1000 pounds.  It took 8 Master Model Builders over 1200 hours to complete the model! one-world-trade-center-legoland-5

one-world-trade-center-legoland-4For the first time ever, guests can use a special LEGO tower viewer, giving them a skyscraper view of Miniland U.S.A. The area also features LEGO model replicas of the 9/11 Memorial’s twin reflecting pools, the grove of memorial trees and the impressive World Trade Center Transportation Hub. one-world-trade-center-legoland-2The updated NYC area of Miniland U.S.A. is now open for guests to stop by and pay tribute to. With the upcoming July 4th Holiday, there’s never been a more perfect time to visit the Park. one-world-trade-center-legoland-6The new LEGO models and Independence Day event are included with the price of admission to LEGOLAND California Resort. LEGOLAND® California Resort will be having its annual the Resort’s Red White and Boom! 4th of the July celebration. The family fun event features activities such as water-balloon tosses, burlap sack races, patriotic stroller parade, building activities and a fireworks display at 8:30 p.m. For more information, log onto http://www.LEGOLAND.com or call (760) 918-LEGO (5346).

I was invited to attend a media event in order to write this review. All opinions are 100% my own. Some images and clips are property of LEGOLAND® California Resort.

 

 

 

Collect the New LEGOLAND® California Pop Badges + Ticket Offer

More fun news from LEGOLAND® California Resort! Starting March 19, limited-edition collectible Pop Badges will be made available to guests visiting the parks. They’ll be offered on select days and events during the year.LEGOLAND-pop-badgesA Pop Badge is a badge that pops right on to a lanyard or shirt!  Each time they’re offered, they will be introduced with fun new designs! Collected all of the badges and proudly wear them on your clothes or on an official LEGOLAND® California Resort lanyard. The first collection will be released March 19-20, 2016, but be on the look out because there will be 15 collectible Pop Badges released in 2016! Here’s a sneak peek at the first badges in the collection. How cute are they? I’m dying to get the UniKitty one! legoland-pop-badgesHow do I collect my Pop Badge?
Pop Badges introduce a whole new adventure to the LEGOLAND experience! Upon arrival on any of the select Pop Badge Challenge days guests will receive a booklet with fun activities and challenges. Complete the booklet and you will be rewarded with your very own set of limited-edition Pop Badges! Don’t miss out as they will be issued on a first come first served basis. The first limited-edition Pop Badges are being released on March 19-20, 2016.
Wondering what limited-edition collections you have to look forward to? Be on the look out for the following themes:

  • LEGO® NINJAGO® World
  • LEGO Star Wars Days
  • Independence Day
  • Brick or Treat Party Nights
  • Winter Holidays

splash-into-spring-break.Also, with Spring Break upon us, Legoland is offering an online exclusive price for tickets! Right now, if you buy 1 day, you’ll get 4 days FREE! 

Includes 5 consecutive days of unlimited admission to:

  • LEGOLAND® California
  • SEA LIFE® Aquarium
  • LEGOLAND Water Park

Ticket prices:

  • Adult (ages 13+): $117
  • Child (ages 3-12): $111

*All visits must occur within 5 days of 1st visit. LEGOLAND California closed select Tuesdays/Wednesdays in September, and October. Ticket expires on October 30, 2016.

For more information, or to purchase yours, click here.
This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own. Images and logos are property of LEGOLAND®
.

Let’s Peek Inside the Newest LEGO® Friends Rooms at LEGOLAND® Hotel!

So exciting! Only a couple more days until the first guests will have the opportunity to stay in one of LEGOLAND® Hotel’s newest themed rooms! If you haven’t heard, beginning on March 10, guests can book a stay in one of their The LEGO® Friends themed rooms at LEGOLAND® Hotel at LEGOLAND® California Resort! Guests are invited to take an adventure with their families and discover Heartlake City in a new way. How fun is it going to be for guests of all ages to step inside a room that’s straight out of Heartlake City? lego-friends-room-1lego-friends-room-4Each of the 11 themed rooms, as well as one suite, that are available to stay in, are filled with 12 LEGO® models inspired by Heartlake City. Guests will be able to spend a night like Emma, Mia, Andrea, Stephanie and Olivia. Kids will recognize Goldie the Bird, Scarlett the Dog and Felix the Cat in LEGO form as they enjoy sleeping in bunk and trundle beds themed as the Friends Tree House. Plus, kids will have their own TV, games, LEGO bricks and a treasure chest hidden just beneath a LEGO themed tree! Parents will also sleep in style with their own themed version of Heartlake City Stables and families will enjoy getting ready for their day at the Park in Stephanie’s Beach House themed restrooms. lego-friends-room-2These rooms are the perfect setting for the “Ultimate BFF Sleepover”, don’t you think? lego-friends-room-5The new LEGO Friends fully themed rooms are now available to book and on March 10, 2016, guests can begin their LEGOLAND California Resort adventure by spending the night in the newly themed rooms all before heading into the Park to enjoy the day in the land of LEGO® Friends Heartlake City. lego-friends-room-3For Hotel room rates, ticket prices, operating schedule and additional information, visit http://www.LEGOLAND.com or call 760-918-LEGO (5346).

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own. Images are property of LEGOLAND.