Reading the Mousepad News article from the newspaper in GA today, made me remember a conversation I had recently with a DL guest. The parents and 2 kids were talking to me and when I asked if they were having a good time, the kids said "Yes, we went to Legoland and hated it..so glad we are not going back ever again". When I looked puzzled, the parents said they had gone one day and had bought a 3 month pass. They were so upset with how their family was treated, that the employee's were rude and the park was dirty. They said they were going to write a complaint letter and mail back the passes.

Since I have never been there, was just curious if this was a normal reaction to Legoland. If so, I am surprised it has stayed in business as long as it has. Of course, I was glad to hear the glowing reports on their experiences at DL, but just wondered what others have experienced.

:confused:

We live by it and we love it. You didn't say the kids' age but I think it's best for 3 to 9 year olds. We find it very pleasent. The food is better and cheaper than DL (not cheap however), especially for pass holders.

We have always found it clean and the bathrooms are great. They have big stalls were a parent can sit (on a small bench) with their young children.

There is a nice mix of rides and children (in the key age group) and Miniland is always entertaining for adults and seniors.

A big plus--it's usually not that crowded.

I agree with The old man.

The last time we were there, we noticed that some of the rides could use some sprucing up. There were lots of spider webs and broken pieces on Fairytale Brook, but I wouldn't say the place was dirty. The employees may not go out of their way like the CM's do in Disney Parks, but I've never been treated rudely by any LL employee.

It doesn't have the "Disney feel", by any means, but it's not a Disney Park...

Our last visit to Legoland was very unpleasant.

I was alone with my three boys. I'd done my research into the rides and restrictions online. Between my research and our trip, they changed some of their policies which caused massive confusion and frustration on our parts. The MCs were not very helpful. The first two were helpful because it was very early in the day and their ride was empty. After that, it was a series of unbelievable encounters with MCs.

When I called AVP and told her the story she kept saying 'You're KIDDING me. They DIDN'T." To the point that we had so many bad situations that they OFFERED me, without me asking, OFFERED me a compensation for the horrible experiences we'd been having. And later in the day we were detained at a ride by a ride operator who had called a lead who then approached us and asked us to return the compensation.

Yes.

Not because we'd violated any rules, mind you. But because I was given the compensation "in error." "We don't do that anymore. But don't worry! It won't happen again! We made sure to tell the person that we'd changed the policy and he won't give this to anyone else who visits our park."

Really, that realllly wasn't my problem.

So in the end, they let us keep it.

And at the very next ride, the MC said to me "Oh, I've heard about YOU."

Ok, so to sum it up...

They changed their policies.
No two MCs knew what the policies were.
We, the guests, couldn't figure out the ride policies.
The MCs who we talked to were unhelpful and rude.
So they offered us a compensation.
Then a few hours later, they stopped us at a ride and told us "No, you can't have this"
And then the MCs went to being condescending and rude to us.

Good Bye.

We don't need to go back any time soon. The rides weren't good enough to put up with being treated like that. I'm not a difficult customer, believe it or not. I'm very friendly and usually rather patient with people I'm dealing with. I am a big believer in the philosophy of, "You catch more flies with honey." I say "Thank you so much" and "No worries!" Very often when dealing with situations.

Yeah, not going back.

Adrienne

My sole family visit to Legoland was met with underwhelming impressions.
Its an ideal place for kids under 10--anyone else would probably not be jazzed by it as much.
The rides are definitely for the kid set, as are 90% of the other attractions there.
My then-10 year old step-son enjoyed the place, but later confessed that Disneyland itself was much more interesting.
The one thing I personally found fascinating where the large Lego diorama displays in the centre of the park--probably the highlight of the visit.
The food was decent-crowds were moderate to light during our visit and the place seemed well-managed to me. It just felt like an also-ran after the Disney experience--and we feel no need or interest in going back.

My kids love it, and even though we have Disney Ap's my 6 year old especially often asks when we are going back. We usually go once a year, in the off season. We have foudn it to be clean, easy to get around and very relaxing. Mostly my kids ride the rides with each other while DH and I watch, some of them we all go on. We've only gone as a family of four. They are very casual about letting the kids ride together. Even when they were 4 and 7 they rode Coasterasauras about 5 times in a row together.

We don't need to go back any time soon. The rides weren't good enough to put up with being treated like that. I'm not a difficult customer, believe it or not. I'm very friendly and usually rather patient with people I'm dealing with. I am a big believer in the philosophy of, "You catch more flies with honey." I say "Thank you so much" and "No worries!" Very often when dealing with situations.

Yeah, not going back.

Adrienne

Can you be a little more specfic. I mean there aren't many ride policies except the usual height requirements. You don't even say what the compensation is? Money, free tickets, front of the line (which I don't think they have), what?

Legoland can be one gigantic bore!!! If you manage to go on an off day its not so bad, but with a crowd, horrid. The lines move sooooooo slowly, the rides are short and the last time we were paint was chipping and several of the legos displays on the Storybook ride and the Safari were covered in cobwebs. The apple fries which were our favorite thing we're so good the last couple of times we went. My kids were not thrilled, they see ads and want to go back, but when we start to make plans they tell us they would really rather go to seaworld or the zoo. Did I mention the lines move at the speed of molasses pouring!!!

I guess if you are a big fan of Legos, or have kids that are very patient for the lines and like their rides gentle and non threatening legoland could be a great place. My children, no patience (sadly) and are both daredevils, for my family legoland just doesn't quite fit the bill :(.

Legoland can be one gigantic bore!!! If you manage to go on an off day its not so bad, but with a crowd, horrid. The lines move sooooooo slowly, the rides are short and the last time we were paint was chipping and several of the legos displays on the Storybook ride and the Safari were covered in cobwebs. The apple fries which were our favorite thing we're so good the last couple of times we went. My kids were not thrilled, they see ads and want to go back, but when we start to make plans they tell us they would really rather go to seaworld or the zoo. Did I mention the lines move at the speed of molasses pouring!!!

I guess if you are a big fan of Legos, or have kids that are very patient for the lines and like their rides gentle and non threatening legoland could be a great place. My children, no patience (sadly) and are both daredevils, for my family legoland just doesn't quite fit the bill :(.

I really would like to see ages posted in this thread. I think that 9 is really the cut off point for LL. As for lines, we've never really waited in any during the 5+ years we've been going there. Like DL there are tricks and tips that makes it so there are very short waits.

at the time of our last visit 3 1/2 and 6. I can accept that our timing may have been bad, its hard to for us to go "off season" during the week due to school and with the park being closed mid week, it makes it all that much harder.

at the time of our last visit 3 1/2 and 6. I can accept that our timing may have been bad, its hard to for us to go "off season" during the week due to school and with the park being closed mid week, it makes it all that much harder.

Well that's the ideal age group. Sorry it went so bad.

Well that's the ideal age group. Sorry it went so bad.

It really is just the attention span of my kids, I would certainly try again if I can work out a nice weekday before school lets out, they are a bit older and might do better. I just dont think there is any way to fix my biggest complaint, the sloooooow loading times :).

We were underwhelmed, too. I found the food to be expensive for what you got (of course, we only had one meal, so maybe others were better).

The other thing I found was that they do not post the names of the rides, height requirements or anything on the park maps - it makes it very confusing and hard to navigate around the park. Plus, it made for lots of crying when we got up to a ride and found out that the height requirement was different than posted online.

We had a 2 year old and 4 year old. We had some fun, but it wasn't something I would focus a whole trip around in the future. I might go back, but I would plan on eating elsewhere and maybe only if we got discount tickets or something.

The other thing I found was that they do not post the names of the rides, height requirements or anything on the park maps - it makes it very confusing and hard to navigate around the park. Plus, it made for lots of crying when we got up to a ride and found out that the height requirement was different than posted online.

Does DL? We research before we go.

It really is just the attention span of my kids, I would certainly try again if I can work out a nice weekday before school lets out, they are a bit older and might do better. I just dont think there is any way to fix my biggest complaint, the sloooooow loading times :).
Disclaimer: I'm not a LL employee--really.

There is no doubt that LL has some very slow loading rides. That said we have never waited in line. Just like DL there are strategies that must be used.

When we went, in 2005, my kids were 14, 10 and 9. It was ok. Definitely not Disneyland, but we had fun. My kids who are now 16, 12 and 11 would like to go back, but mostly because we didn't do ONE ride. That was the rollercoaster that you peddled yourself. I loved the cities done in Legos and so did the kids. I didn't have a terrible experience, but I am not sure I would be going back any time soon.

Disclaimer: I'm not a LL employee--really.

There is no doubt that LL has some very slow loading rides. That said we have never waited in line. Just like DL there are strategies that must be used.


Ohhhh you must share!!!!! :)

My family loves LL, as a matter of fact we're going today. My kids are 2 and 4, and actually prefer LL over DL, though they love DL too. The food at LL is much better than DL.
There are some drawbacks such as the slow load times for the rides. The general strategy is to head to the back of the park when it opens and back to the front a little past midday. You'll avoid more lines that way as most park visitors follow a straightforward front to back to front walk through the park. Some of the height restrictions are ridiculous, the safari should have no restriction at all. I mean if PotC has no restrictions and babies can go on it, then I see no reason why babies or toddlers cannot go on this very gentle safari ride. The churros with chocolate dipping sauce at the Fun Town Market are awesome but only available on weekends for some strange reason. The Volvo Driving School rides are way better than Autopia in DL in every way. Fun Town Fire Academy is a great "ride" reminiscent of a challenge on Survivor. The theming of the park is excellent. I've found the staff to be friendly for the most part and it's well landscaped and clean for the most part. If your kids are between 2 and 10, then they will probably like LL.

My sole family visit to Legoland was met with underwhelming impressions.
Its an ideal place for kids under 10--anyone else would probably not be jazzed by it as much.
The rides are definitely for the kid set, as are 90% of the other attractions there.
My then-10 year old step-son enjoyed the place, but later confessed that Disneyland itself was much more interesting.
The one thing I personally found fascinating where the large Lego diorama displays in the centre of the park--probably the highlight of the visit.
The food was decent-crowds were moderate to light during our visit and the place seemed well-managed to me. It just felt like an also-ran after the Disney experience--and we feel no need or interest in going back.

Very well said. DS is 6 and he was the perfect age to take. As much money as we spend on Legos, and believe me it is a lot, I was disappointed in the merchandise offerings. I was also disappointed in the cleanliness of the park, especially in comparison to DL. The employees had the attitude like they did not want to be there. Don't get me wrong, we had a nice day and are glad we went but will not go back again.

We went a few weeks ago and walked out buying AP's. Our ds, age four had a better time there than he does at DL right now. He's so scared of the rides at DL right now. Okay, well his favorite ride was the cars that he could drive around in. It took him a few tries to figure it out...and luckily we went at opening so he was able to go a few times on those. We had just bought him a new camera and he had alot of fun going around Mini-land and taking pictures. I'm sorry to those who didn't have a good experience.

My kids were younger (2 1/2, and 1), and it wasn't much for that age set to do. My DD at the time was about 34 3/4", which meant she couldn't go on much.

The rides we did go on were very slow loading, not great for a 2 1/2 year old.

Some of the rides DD was tall enough for I couldn't bring DS on (he was 1). The rides were really (REALLY) tame, so I don't know why I couldn't bring DS on, but whatever...that was the policy.

I don't think we will go back until both kids are older.

I agree that the rides are very tame and I don't know why LL has such a stringent and restrictive policy on boarding. I mean Disney lets anyone, including infants, on PotC which has two small drops, and I've never heard of any problems with it. LL needs to loosen up unless it's some kind of overprotective San Diego County rule.

If you like Spider webs, dirty displays and BIRD CRAP (everwhere) you could be a Legoland supporter. We used to love the place under original ownership. This new group is cluless.

We had some friends come out from Memphis and they were basically grossed out and the best thing they could say was "It ain't Disneyland."

Lethargic and uncaring, unattentive help (MCs) and a general shabbiness was reported as well. Last time we say to anyone they should visit our neighborhood park.

Too bad.

Oh...

Legoland is wonderful, on par with disney in every way but cost & value-LL is the better deal. If you don't like thrill rides, it's an even better deal. That being the case, I admit...I ain't a roller coaster person...