Ever since my son built his first LEGO® figure, he’s been hooked on creating cities and fantasy characters with those brightly colored bricks. So when we had the chance to visit LEGOLAND NY in Goshen, New York’s Hudson Valley, my kids were elated to head to 150 acres of pure block-building awesomeness at the LEGOLAND New York Resort. Once we got to Goshen, we found it was the stuff of their LEGO dreams, and even more—vivid colors, amazing builds, and high-energy rides awaited us for a memorable family getaway. And after a day filled with fun, we stayed overnight in the kingdom-themed room at the resort hotel in the park. For our little LEGO-obsessed builders, this was their nirvana (and we didn’t need to hop on a flight to CA or FL, sites of other LEGOLAND locations). Read on to learn more about our LEGO getaway and what to know if you plan to go. And for thrills and fun closer to home, check out our guide to amusement parks in NJ. (Photo Credit: LEGOLAND NY Resort)
Planning a Bricktastic Day at LEGOLAND NY
Entering LEGOLAND NY with catchy tunes playing throughout made my kids even more excited to start our day. There are seven lands to visit in the park, and each has unique rides and things to do. On Brick Street, we rode the Brick Party Carousel with a DUPLO chicken, motorcycle, and tiger build. At Bricktopia, my kids loved DJ’s Dizzy Disco Spin and the LEGO Factory Adventure Ride, which gave us an inside look at the action and nitty-gritty of brick creation. LEGO NINJAGO World is where we hopped on Jay’s Gravity Force Trainer, a ride that trains you to travel like a Ninja during high speeds and G Forces. The LEGO Castle was our favorite spot with Merlin’s Flying Machines, the Tower Climb Tournament (a real workout going up but with gorgeous views at the top), and The Dragon Roller Coaster, which our kids said was the best ride. In LEGO City, we felt like we were walking through a city and tested our skills at the Driving School with drivable cars (my kids were thrilled to earn their LEGO driver’s license) and the Fire Academy. We sprayed the “fire” with water in this competitive firetruck race. LEGO Pirates was another favorite since we could squirt passing ships from the sidelines. Lastly, we made a pit stop at MiniLand, where we could check out the brick versions of 10 cities, including Las Vegas, New York City, and Washington, DC. The attention to detail was beyond—mini horses raced, and a subway moved through NYC. The land is filled with about 22,231,368 bricks and is an excellent spot for a ride break.
You can create your own LEGO brick build and then place it on the globe for all to see. Photo Credit: NJ MOM
Get creative with classes, builds, and trades at LEGOLAND
When we were walking around, we discovered parts of the park that challenged us to build and use our imaginations. Rebuild the World is a giant globe surrounded by bricks, where we created a build and attached it to the globe. At Build & Test, they gave us wheels to create our own cars, which we could race with others. My kids also built skyscrapers and tested them on the shake pad to see if they held up (they did). We also booked a class at the LEGOLAND NY Creative Workshop, where the kids trained to become Master Builders as they followed directions to make a build. These classes made for a creative day that wasn’t just about the rides—they honed their skills and learned new ways to create at home. Another fun option? Buy or bring mini-figures for trades. You can find a location with several trade choices in one area or find a LEGOLAND employee and trade with them (they show the figure on their nametag). My son discovered some great new mini figures while we were there, and the mini figures with the “I Love NY” shirts are truly unique, so of course, we had to trade for one of those.
Watch exciting shows and entertainment
Entertainment is a huge part of the park, and we were all happy to watch it in between rides. We jammed to the energetic Earth Beat with Ninja-inspired music and drumming at NINJAGO World, sang along to popular LEGO movie favorites like Everything Is Awesome at the Bop at the Top show at Brick Street Plaza, and enjoyed Elemental Masters at the LEGOLAND NY Theater. We also stopped at the LEGO City Cinema to see the 4D show Officer in Pursuit. We wore 4D glasses, and let’s say there were lots of surprises (hello, water) that made us feel like we were a part of the movie.
Several playgrounds throughout the park are the perfect places to let your little one loose between rides. Photo Credit: NJ MOM
Shrink to a LEGO figure at the playground at LEGOLAND NY
One big perk of the park was the playgrounds, which are great take-a-break spots for kids to run around and for us to sit and relax after waiting in lines. The two playgrounds have cool themes—in LEGO City, there is a boat and Coast Guard climbing area, and in LEGO Pirates, there is a ship to explore and dry off after all those pirate water rides. Both playgrounds are fenced-in and have several levels that encourage kids to slide, explore, and climb with rubber padding in case of falls. My kids loved feeling like they were characters in a LEGO world. And this summer, there’s a cool, brand-new LEGO City Water Playground. This reservations-only cooling oasis features awesome waterslides, a cascading splash with 318 gallons of refreshing water, and plenty of areas for everyone to splash and play.
LEGO MiniLand is a fascinating miniature look at the world. Photo Credit: NJ MOM
Fuel up and then shop till you drop
After a day at the park, my kids were delighted to bring home their own sets from the largest “BIG SHOP” in North America. You can shop in all different categories, like Minecraft, Friends, and a dedicated LEGOLAND NY Park section, to find unique sets (if there’s a rare one you’ve never seen before, it’s probably here). It was so big we spent a good amount of time here before making a souvenir purchase of a set they both wanted to work on. After all that shopping, we needed to refuel and explore the restaurant choices. There are a lot of fast food options in each area for pizza, burgers, hot dogs, and BBQ, as well as a few dine-in ones with mobile ordering. We ordered tacos from Everything Taco, and the kids feasted on chicken fingers and ended with ice cream at Brickbeard’s Food Market.
We stayed in the Kingdom-themed room, and not only was there a regal area for the adults, but the kids also had their own unique space. Photo Credit: NJ MOM
A room perfect for a king or queen
Our fun didn’t end when we left the park. We grabbed our overnight bags from the car in the parking lot and went directly to the LEGOLAND New York Resort Hotel (a 5-10 minute walk from the park). At the hotel, we could meet LEGO characters, sign up for building classes, visit the retail gift shop, see a wall of over 5,000 mini figures, and swim in the outdoor pool. While you check in (online check-in is available, too), littles can peek into the castle and pirate ship, or if the mood strikes, you can get creative with the brick stations all around the lobby. Once we received our room keys, we headed toward our room, riding up in the Disco Elevator with upbeat music and lights adding to the excitement. When we walked into our Kingdom-themed room (there are also other LEGO-themed rooms like Pirate, LEGO Friends, and NINJAGO), we couldn’t believe the attention to detail everywhere— it felt like you were in a real castle. As we settled in, we discovered a ladybug, snail, and even a spider within our quarters (ha—all made from LEGOS). Thanks to bunks and a trundle bed, the separate kids’ area had plenty of space and an entertainment unit so my kids could chill before bed.
We found directions for a scavenger hunt in the room, and when the kids solved the puzzle, they put the code into the safe that revealed LEGO surprises inside to keep. It was a perfect ending to our LEGO-themed day. The next morning, we feasted like kings and queens at the Breakfast Buffet at Bricks. It’s included with the room, but you need a reservation (there are reminders if you forget it). My kids were fans of the waffles, and it didn’t hurt that there was whipped cream on top. As we left with the LEGO skyline in the background, we knew our kids weren’t the only ones who had a great time—it was a fantastic mini-vacay for the whole family to enjoy.
Yes, this Statue of Liberty is entirely made out of LEGO bricks. Photo Credit: NJ MOM
What to know before you go to LEGOLAND NY
All guests are required to make a reservation before going to the park, and the resort is cashless. I highly recommend downloading the LEGOLAND app and buying tickets ahead (the price fluctuates according to the date, but expect to pay about $89 per ticket). You can build your own vacation package or splurge on the Ultimate VIP Experience with an official LEGO VIP guide and various perks, including lunch, priority access to rides and attractions, reserved seating at shows, and keepsakes. If you want to cut down on wait times (or have kids who can’t wait in line), sign up for Reserve’ N’ Ride, which you can purchase through the app. There are other options to buy, too, like a souvenir cup with unlimited refills all day, prepaid parking for a quick exit, and stroller rentals. If your little builder wants to create, sign up for free LEGO classes at the Creative Workshop in the park or at the hotel. Got a kid with special needs? The resort has partnered with The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) to become a Certified Autism Center across the Theme Park and on-site hotel. IBCCES has worked with the resort to conduct a staff-wide autism sensitivity and awareness training, plus develop detailed Sensory Guides. There is also a Quiet Room and additional resources.
LEGOLAND NY Park closes for the season on December 31 and reopens again at the beginning of April. But you can still check into the hotel, which is open all year (a great escape in the doldrums of winter) and includes themed rooms with interactive LEGO features, nightly children’s entertainment, a fitness center, character meet-ups, brick-building, and resort-style heated pool during the summer. But perhaps one of the best perks of staying at the hotel is the early access to the park on busy summer weekends, where you can enter an hour before opening times. Can’t make it in the summer? Look for special holiday events like Brick-or-Treat in October and Holiday Bricktacular from late November through December.
For more information, visit the LEGOLAND New York Resort website, Instagram, and Facebook.
LEGOLAND New York Resort
1 Legoland Blvd.
Goshen, NY 10924
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