Disclosure: I had the great pleasure of attending a press event in Goshen, NY for the exclusive reveal of the new LEGOLAND New York construction plans and park details. I had a blast! And now it's my duty to share it with you. No time to read it? Be sure to pin the image below for later!
BRICKING News!!! Opening Date Revealed!
*Please note: due to the Coronavirus outbreak, the opening date for LEGOLAND New York has been rescheduled to 2021. See this post for more info.
LEGOLAND New York just revealed their GRAND OPENING DATE will be held on
LEGOLAND® New York Resort will hold its bricktastic Grand Opening celebration on July 4, 2020, theme park officials announced today. “The Fourth of July means family,” said LEGOLAND New York Public Relations Manager Matt Besterman, “and at LEGOLAND theme parks, families can ride, climb, play, learn and build together. At the same time, kids can celebrate their own independence by riding their first roller coaster, the Dragon, or driving their first car at LEGOLAND Driving School. We’re thrilled to invite families across the northeast, the country and the world to make our theme park a tradition for summer fun.”
“Our Park is in high gear and we’re on track for opening,” said LEGOLAND New York Senior Divisional Director John Ussher. “Buildings are going up, concrete is being poured and construction is buzzing across our site. Ride components, such as the track for our Dragon coaster, are arriving in Goshen to be installed. Our LEGO® models – more than 15,000 of them – are being shipped to our site from Merlin Magic Making workshops all over the world. This is truly a global effort, with thousands of people working together to build the ultimate LEGO theme park destination here in the Hudson Valley.”
LEGOLAND New York Resort will be the largest LEGOLAND theme park Merlin Entertainments has ever built, with more than 50 rides, shows and attractions across seven themed lands on 150 acres. The theme park also announced that its three tiers of Annual Passes are on sale starting at $119.99, along with single-day tickets starting as low as $62.99. All are available for purchase on LEGOLAND New York’s website: www.LEGOLAND.com/New-York.
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| artist aerial rendition courtesy of LEGOLAND New York |
Details about Grand Opening celebrations will be announced in 2020, Besterman said. “The opening of the first major theme park in the northeast in decades is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and you can be sure we’ll throw a star-spangled party to celebrate it!”
And check out this never before seen, sneak peek video of what's coming to LEGOLAND New York!!
Flashback to the LEGOLAND New York Grand Media Event
2018 (from their press release): More than 100 members of the media (including yours truly) and special guests joined officials with Merlin Entertainment to get the first look at the eight themed lands that will make up the 150 acre LEGOLAND New York Resort at the family theme park's future site in Goshen, New York. Thousands of LEGO bricks cascaded down, resembling a waterfall revealing a 10-foot LEGO model of the entire theme park (which, I might add, I failed to capture on video because my camera wasn't working. I did get still shots, though!). The model is made of more than 135,000 LEGO bricks and took 20 master model builders more than 1300 hours to design and build. And let me tell you, it was awesome. The crowd actually gasped.
About LEGOLAND Theme Parks and LEGOLAND New York
You might have already visited one of the local LEGOLAND Discovery Centers (I wrote all about LEGOLAND Discovery Center Philadelphia, which is a really fun place), but the LEGOLAND theme parks are on a different scale altogether. LEGOLAND New York will be a 150 acre theme park (built on a 500 acre site) with more than 50 rides, shows and attractions. It's slated to be a multi-day experience, great for kids ages 2-12 with their families. It's located in Goshen, New York, about 60 miles Northwest of New York City. I can tell you New Jersey folks, personally, that it took me about an hour and 20 minutes to reach it from Central New Jersey. I was totally shocked! It was waaaayyy closer than I thought, and extremely easy to get to from the highway.
Even better news for New York City folks, transportation provider Shortline Coach USA announced that they will be providing a one-seat ride from Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City to LEGOLAND New York. How cool is that??
Scheduled to hold its grand opening on July 4, 2020, LEGOLAND New York will eventually be open seasonally from Spring until Fall.
LEGOLAND New York will take visitors on a journey through seven themed lands. And just to disclose here, the information about each land (written below) was taken directly from their press release. And since the park is not built yet, the photos are from other LEGOLAND theme parks around the country, or artist's depictions of what the rides might look like upon completion, and also came directly from LEGOLAND New York's press information.
The Factory
The Factory is the beginning of the LEGOLAND New York experience. Once you pass under the iconic arch, you’re in a world that appears to be built of LEGO bricks – and your first stop is the Great LEGO® Adventure! This ride, which is exclusive to LEGOLAND New York, will let you feel what it’s like to be a LEGO Minifigure, as you travel through the manufacturing process, into a box, and into the hands of a child just waiting to build!
Bricktopia
Bricktopia is the land with no rules, where all those bricks are put to work to build anything you can imagine! Here you’ll work with Master Model Builders to build and test your LEGO creations – whether they’re designed to ride, float or fly – and see if your tallest tower can stand up against the Earthquake Table. You can also take a spin on the Imagination Celebration ride, or jump on the Stepping Tones to trigger crazy LEGO instruments!
LEGO NINJAGO World
LEGO NINJAGO World is where aspiring ninjas can master the ancient art of Spinjitzu. You’ll start in Training Camp, where you’ll learn to spin, climb, and become a master of the elements. Then put your training to the test on NINJAGO: The Ride, where you’ll help defeat the Great Devourer using just your hands as weapon.
Heartlake City
Heartlake City is the home of the LEGO Friends: Emma, Olivia, Stephanie, Andrea and Mia. You’ll get to meet them all at the outdoor stage, then take a balloon ride over Pinefall Woods! While you’re there, you’ll want to sample some delicious Granny’s Apple Fries. This tasty treat is legendary among LEGOLAND visitors!
The balloon ride is apparently a first of its kind for a LEGOLAND theme park here in the United States, so here is an artist's rendering of what it will look like:
Knight's Kingdom
Knight's Kingdom is home of the LEGO Castle, is a land where you’ll receive a royal welcome! In this land of knights, princesses, wizards and dragons, you’ll find the Dragon Coaster – not too big or scary, but perfectly sized to give kids their first roller coaster experience. Younger knights can help a new flock of baby dragons learn to fly at Dragon Rider School.
LEGO City
LEGO City is home of the Minifigures – and it needs heroes! Learn to be a LEGO City firefighter and help save the day at Rescue Academy, or, attend LEGO Driving School and get your official LEGOLAND driver’s license. Restaurants, shops and a theatre – there’s always something to do in this bustling metropolis!
Pirate Shores
Pirate Shores is the place for young buccaneers to find adventure! Climb aboard a galleon and say “Anchors Aweigh” as storms pick you up, toss you from side to side and spin you around! Or take a trip on the Rogue Wave Riders and do battle with water spouts and hungry beasts!
Miniland
Miniland is the heart of every LEGOLAND Park, a massive panorama of LEGO built cities from across the country, with interactive features around every corner. Go from the Statue of Liberty to Times Square in just a few steps, and see bustling streets full of busy, animated pedestrians – even a moving subway!
LEGOLAND Hotel
LEGOLAND New York will also feature a LEGOLAND Hotel, which will be open year round. Each of the hotel's 250 rooms will be themed to a popular LEGO toy (to be announced at a later date). LEGOLAND Hotel will also feature:
-a restaurant with a kid sized buffet table
-a castle play area
-children's entertainment every night
Other LEGOLAND New York Facts
-LEGOLAND New York Resort is expected to generate 1300 jobs by opening day, including 500 year-round full time employees, 300 part time employees and 500 seasonal employees.
-the resort is expected to generate 800 construction jobs in its development
-LEGOLAND New York is Merlin Entertainment's 9th LEGOLAND theme park and its third in the United States. At an expected cost of $350 million, LEGOLAND New York is Merlin's largest investment in a single park to date.
-LEGOLAND New York is the first major theme park to be built in the northeast in decades
I go all out to bring you the details, see? I even had to wear a hardhat!
Read more about LEGOLAND New York's opening on their website
or visit them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/LEGOLANDNewYork
And be sure to check out my other LEGO related posts:
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Philadelphia: A Jersey Momma Review
The LEGO Americana Roadshow
Fall 2018 LEGO Preview Show in New York City
And be sure to check out my other LEGO related posts:
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Philadelphia: A Jersey Momma Review
The LEGO Americana Roadshow
Fall 2018 LEGO Preview Show in New York City
