lego land, its not just for bricks (Legoland Windsor)

Member Name: deb10

Product:	Legoland Windsor
Date:	19/04/04 (668 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: keeps the younger ones amused, good parking, has themed events

Disadvantages: expensive

What is it?
It?s a large theme park built around the famous lego brick?s.
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Where is it?
Lego land is very easy to find, it is well sign posted as soon you hit (not literally I hope) the M4 towards Slough.
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What are the parking facilities like?
There is a huge car park and unlike a lot of theme parks, they don?t cram you in like sardines. If you buy the annual pass you are entitled to privilege parking. This means you can have a slot near the front.
Even if you end up in the over flow, its not a marathon to the turnstiles and there are pavements leading you up to the front.
There are also disabled parking bays available.
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What time does it open?
These vary from month to month.
MARCH ? 10AM TO 5PM (the park doesn?t normally open until the last week of March)
APRIL ? 10AM TO 5PM. Over Easter it?s open till 6 pm.
MAY ? 10 AM TO 5PM
JUNE ? 10 AM TO 5PM
JULY ? 10 AM TO 5PM The first week, then after its open till 7 pm.
AUGUST ? 10AM TO 7PM.
SEPTEMBER ? various closing times dependent on the season.
OCTOBER ? the same as above.
Bank Holidays its 6 PM close.
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What is peak time?
This too is dependant on the month in question. All Bank Holidays and when the children are off become peak times.

How much to get in?
Adults Children Seniors
Peak £23 £20 £20
Off Peak £21 £19 £19
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What is an Annual Pass?
This is a one off payment that gives you a pass to return to the park as often as you want over the next 12 months. An annual pass gives you discount to many of the restaurants inside the park and to the shops.
Pass Type Adult Child Senior
Restricted Pass £40 £37 £37
Full Pass £55 £45 £45
2 day pass £39 £36 £36
Lifetime pass £500 £500 £500
A restricted pass however will not allow you in free to the special events, sale evenings or in August.
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Is it value for
money?
In my opinion, a full annual pass is, especially if you will make good use of the park during the better weather.
Just for a one off day out, then I think it is well over priced.
For example, a family of four will end up paying £86 in peak time for a day out, a bit extortionate. Once you get inside, the children always want ice creams, a trip to the sweet booth, a toy on the way out etc.
The shops aren?t exactly value for money but with a pass, at least you get a discount so every little bit helps.
There are also theme nights, such as the Firework Extravaganza and Christmas opening.
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What is a theme night?
It?s a special one off day/night.
For example the firework display is well worth making the journey for and the rides stay open till late (usually around 10 pm). Its not just fireworks, the music is pounding and there are the odd laser light thrown in. The display is for a good 20 minutes. This normally happens around the end of October/start of November.
In September there is a boy band extravaganza, Blue are playing! I am sure the park will be full to busting for that one.
In July there is a jousting event for the day. Check out the www.LEGOLAND.couk website for exact event times and dates.
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What age range is Lego Land suitable for?
From babies to 9 year olds. Any older and they will probably be bored as the rides will be too ?tame? for the older children.
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What is there to see and do?
The park is separated into sections.
Here is a very brief description of each part. There are too many restaurants and chocolate shops to mention; besides if I did you would probably feel sick afterwards.
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THE BEGINNING:
This has the biggest shop in the park, the annual pass room, the pick a brick shop, the pit stop café and the best look out point over Windsor you?ll ever see.
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IMAGINATION CENTRE:
The imagination theatre, Papa Mole?s ice cream shop
, sky rider, build and test work shop, robolab workshops and Lego Racers 4D are all here.
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MINILAND:
Basically it?s the world in miniature Lego blocks, in two paces you can be in Paris then outside the London Eye. Very appealing for younger ones. There are also many bench seats situated around this area.
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DUPLO LAND:
Whirly birds rides, Duplo play town, Duplo train ride, Theatre puppet show, Fairy Tale Brook (another ride), various restaurants and the best bit ? the water works.
You will need to bring the kids swimming gear for this bit.
There are jets and springs that shoot up from the floor and water hoses. Its good wet fun.
There are big stand in BODY DRIERS around this point. Like a hand drier but on a bigger scale.
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TRAFFIC:
The mini cars are here and there are two age ranges for driving school. The 3-5 group and the 5 and upwards. Be warned this is not inclusive of your ticket or pass. To get the driving licence of lego land it costs £4.50.
There is also a boating school here and balloon school.
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MY TOWN:
This is where the harbour is situated. There are lots of shows on around this point, watch the view board for show times. The divers are very talented and this is a popular area so get there at least 30 minutes before show time to get a seat and a view.
There is also Bricadilly?s carousel (not a fast ride, even I can stomach this sedate little carousel), the Magic Theatre (inside theatre complex you just walk around at your own leisure).
The Chairoplane is a small helicopter that goes up and down at your will, the controls are in your kid?s hands and it doesn?t go too fast or too high.
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WILD WOODS:
Gold wash is here and it?s not free. Expect to pay £5 for your kids to find a small gold nugget in the wash and swap it for a medal at the end.
Pirate Falls is a fast wet ride, like Loggers Leap. You will get wet here.
There is also an
Amazing Maze and Enchanted Forest to walk around.
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KNIGHTS KINGDON:
There is a man made castle here with a shop and a restaurant. You have to walk over a drawbridge to gain access. There are disabled ramps and slopes everywhere though.
Dragons Apprentice is a small roller coaster but still it?s fast in my eyes! It doesn?t go upside down and there is only a bar to hold the kids down and yourself in.
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NEW ADVENTURE LAND:
Here is where the new ride is ?JUNGLE COASTER?. My husband went on it, not me and he said it was quite tame. His example of tame is Nemesis at Thorpe Park, yeah right! There is a Climbing Wall which isn?t free, once again hand in your pocket time.
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Is there a height limit on rides?
Yes and its strict. Don?t cue up for ages on the chance they will let your youngest on the roller coaster without checking.
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Is there adequate baby changing facilities?
Loads of them and mother and baby feeding rooms.
The toilets all have low sinks for children.
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Are there disabled facilities?
Lots. Disabled people are catered for just as well as the children for most facilities.
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If you tire of your picnic and want some sustenance before you go home, treat yourself to a meal in the CROSSED RIBS outside restaurant.
Its BBQ food and very Moorish, though a bit over priced (but then what isn?t). It?s situated in the Wild Woods Town at point 45 on the map.
You are given a map on entrance and safety stickers for your children. You write your mobile number on them incase the worst happens and they wander off.

I hope you give it a try if you have never been before. It?s a nice day out and even better if you time it for the grand sale in the Marquee outside the park. This is a good opportunity to get some early Christmas presents for the kids at very reduced prices.

I hate to admit this, but I am old enough to remember when Lego Land
in Windsor was originally a Safari Park. I spent many a weekend there when I was knee high eating soggy cheese sandwiches and dodging the giraffes that once escaped into the picnic field. Hand on my heart I preferred it before it was converted to plastic bricks, but my three young one?s would disagree with me completely.

Enjoy ?..

For full park address details or events:
Call 08705 04 04 04
Or www.LEGOLAND.co.uk
Lego Land, Windsor, Berksh

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